Washing your hair might seem pretty straightforward, but not knowing how to apply conditioner properly is one of the most common hair care mistakes you can make, according to hairstylists.
Isn’t conditioner sort of self-explanatory? Apparently not, considering that multiple top stylists from across the country cite improper conditioning as the biggest hair care no-no their clients are guilty of. First things first: Yes, you really should be regularly conditioning your hair, so make sure not to skip it after you shampoo.
“I would never skip the conditioner when shampooing my hair,” says Jenna Spino, hairstylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “Many people think conditioner will make their hair flat, but even those with fine hair need a little deep condition, even if it’s just on the the ends.”
In fact, conditioner helps restore your hair after cleansing. “Shampoo removes grease and dirt, but it also strips the hair of its natural oils that keep the hair moisturized,” Spino says.
Just make sure to read the label before you begin: “Some conditioners are meant for your lengths only, but a lot of the newer ones are made to go all the way from scalp to ends,” says Sunnie Brook, a Biolage global ambassador and celebrity stylist.
Read on for exactly how (and where) to apply conditioner when you shower.
First, wring out damp hair before conditioning.
A big conditioning mistake is using product on hair that’s still too wet. “A hair care no-no is applying conditioner onto hair lengths without squeezing out water first,” says hairstylist and L’Oréal Professionnel global ambassador Min Kim. “Hair is a fiber; squeezing out the excess water before applying a rinse-out conditioner allows it to penetrate instead of rolling off hair that’s saturated with water.”
Translation? Just as with a sponge—or beauty blender—your hair won’t properly absorb what’s being applied if it’s still soaking wet.
Then apply conditioner to midlengths and ends.
Now, onto technique: After wringing out your hair, be sure not to put any conditioner on your roots but instead focus on your midlengths and ends. “Applying to the roots is unnecessary as this is newer hair that doesn’t require conditioning, unless you’re naturally curly; it can leave hair feeling flat, especially if you’re on the fine side,” Kim says.
Celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena agrees, saying that built-up conditioner is not great for direct contact with skin. “It makes your hair and scalp greasy. And let’s say you’re using a conditioner that has silicone in it; it starts to drip into your skin, clogs your pores, and can cause breakouts on your back and skin,” he says. “And after a while, using too much conditioner on the scalp increases buildup, clogs your hair follicles, and can cause hair loss.”
