We are always told to follow shampooing our hair with conditioner. Certainly hair behaves differently if we don’t use it but why? What is in all these conditioning choices that makes them unique? How does one know what to choose?
Decisions about which conditioner to use is based on various qualities of your type of hair and what you are trying to accomplish. Conditioners fall in to three basic groups:
• Oil/moisture replacers: Shampooing removes moisture and oil from our hair. Moisturizers in conditioner come in the form of concentrated humectants. These types of conditioners are good for those with dry, curly, frizzy or coarse hair. Humectants in conditioners have names such as cetyl or stearyl alcohol, panthenol, silicone or other “cone” ending names along with other essential oils.
Oil based conditioners contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) and are intended to act like the natural sebum oil your scalp produces. These are important for use on color-treated or extremely dry hair.
• Reconstructors, volumizers or body enhancers: Conditioners that contain protein or volumizers are called reconstructors. The protein coats the hair shaft and ends as well as fills in damaged areas to the outer cuticle, giving the appearance of thicker smoother hair. The effect is temporary so claims that they permanently strengthen the hair are untrue. These conditioners are helpful to use on thin or limp hair to give it more body and shine.
• Detanglers and manageability enhancers: These types of conditioners act to close the cuticle layer of the hair using acidifiers (low pH solutions of 2.5 to 3.5). Each strand of hair then resists becoming tangled in the other hairs. Acidifiers act to increase elasticity and bounciness of hair. These are good for people with “fly away” hair or more textured locks. Additionally, some conditioners may include thermal protectors in the form of polymers that distribute heat. This is important if you are someone who blow dries your hair to give added protection.
Some conditioners have multiple products listed so it is important to look for the ones that are aimed more at your specific hair needs first and the other benefits second.
Regardless of what type of conditioner you choose, you want to apply it correctly after shampooing to provide the effect your are looking for. Only apply conditioner to the hair shaft and ends, never to the scalp. Conditioner applied to the scalp will cause build up and leave the hair looking limp. Since hair is technically “dead”, conditioners only coat the shaft and ends temporarily but this protection does help hair from becoming damaged and improves its appearance.
sources:
www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/bn_hair_Conditioners_101.htm
www.salonweb.com/pro/conditioner.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_conditioner
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s health care and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles