Tips for Choosing a Conditioner

There are so many kinds of conditioner on the market today that it is difficult to choose the right product for your hair type and styling needs. Different hair types require different formulas.

 

·        Coarse, curly hair: Curly hair should not be washed every day since it is usually dry. Curly hair becomes dry because it is more difficult for oils to travel from the scalp down the hair shaft of a curly hair. For this reason, people with curly or coarse hair should look for deep conditioners containing cetyl or stearyl alcohol, panthenol and methicones, silicone or dimethicone, or essential oils and botanicals such as avocado or jojoba oil.

·        Fine, oily, or limp hair: People with fine hair should look for lightweight conditioners. However, conditioner should never touch your scalp if you have fine or limp hair.   Gently massage the conditioner onto the mid-shaft of your hair and work it down, rinsing quickly after. If your hair is greasy, look for conditioners containing tea-tree oil, which absorb oil. Spray conditioners are also advisable for this hair type.

·        Chemically altered hair: If your hair is processed, look for a rich conditioner formulated for this hair type. Avoid conditioners that contain silicone, since they can strip hair of its color.

·        Damaged hair: As with dry or processed hair, damaged hair requires a thick, moisturizing conditioner. Look for one that contains shea butter.