Don't apply conditioner to your scalp. Run your fingers or a wide-tooth comb through the ends of your hair to work in the conditioner. Let it stay on your hair for a moment, following instructions on the label.
“Applying conditioner to the roots near the scalp doesn't necessarily cause damage, but it can cause the hair to be flat and/or limp,” Kalin shares. So if you're hoping to achieve voluminous locks, avoid putting conditioner on your scalp at all costs.
Shampoo first, and then apply conditioner starting at where you want it (some people start at mid-length) and work it down to the ends. Rinse the conditioner off your hands and then rinse your hair. Thanks to gravity, not much if any will get on your scalp.
If you have dry hair or tight curls, you'll likely benefit from applying deep conditioner very close, if not all the way, to the root. If your hair is oilier, use deep conditioner from the mid-shaft to the ends of hair, and use your regular conditioner closer to your scalp.
Shampoo is used to cleanse the scalp and roots (and subsequently the hair) of things like excess oil, product buildup, and dead skin cells. Conditioner, on the other hand, is meant to smooth the strands and seal in moisture. It should be applied directly to the lengths and ends of the hair — not the scalp.
Applying conditioner at your roots can weigh down your hair and cause your roots to appear greasy, even right after you've washed your hair. To avoid both, it's best to only apply conditioner on your lengths and ends.
Shampoo and conditioner aren't intended for the whole head. "Shampoo is made to clean the scalp, so that should always be your focus in the shower — not shampooing from top to ends.
Can You Deep Condition Too Much? Unfortunately, too much of a good thing is not healthy. An overabundance of conditioning can hyper-moisturize your locks and interfere with your hair and scalp's natural biome. Over-conditioning can lead to an affliction known as hygral fatigue.
Leave it on for the amount of time specified on the product label, from 10 to 30 minutes. Rinse out the conditioner.
While some conditioners are formulated for extended use (oil-based conditioners are one exception), and some are even meant to be left in overnight, the general consensus is that just a few minutes is plenty of time for conditioner to work its magic.
A well-formulated conditioner should work right away, so there is no need to leave it in in for longer than a few seconds. If you have particularly knotty hair, gently comb the conditioner through in the shower before rinsing using a wide tooth comb. Start at the ends of your hair and gradually work up.
Signs and Symptoms of Over-Conditioned Hair
You'll notice your hair becoming unmanageable, soft, limp, or flat. Any sort of updo will be impossible, as your hair has no natural grip. Over-conditioning thin, fine hair weighs it down and makes it look oily and perhaps stringy.
If your hair feels dry after deep conditioning, then more than likely you have not cleansed your hair properly, or you are dealing with a significant amount of product build-up.
The hair will feel mushy, limp and excessively soft. Your curls will struggle to hold their shape, they will have little definition and tend to fall flatter than normal. You will have more frizz than normal, a fluffy, soft type of frizzy hair.
When you leave a deep conditioner in your hair longer than you should, too much moisture can be absorbed which will lead to less elasticity and breakage. Here are some signs of hygral fatigue: Your hair feels gummy or mushy. Excessive hair breakage.
DON'T Overdo It
But for your everyday run-of-the-mill deep conditioner, it should begin to work instantly, and reach maximum capacity at around the 20 or 30 minute mark. If your deep conditioner doesn't work after 30 minutes, it's time to ditch it for one that's more effective.
Because your scalp is already oily, the conditioner oils can end up becoming a cause of dandruff. You'll notice that conditioners have a slightly greasy texture. If conditioners are used too often or in large quantities, your scalp oil has nowhere to go.
If you don't rinse out your conditioner, it gets dried up leaving behind a dusty residue on the scalp. This may again lead to clogging of hair follicles thereby leading to hair fall.
DO YOU APPLY CONDITIONER ON WET OR DRY HAIR? If you're wondering 'can you put conditioner on dry hair? ' the truth is, it's much more effective on wet or damp hair. Conditioner on wet or damp hair's easier to spread, ensuring no strands are missed and your hair gets the most out of the conditioning treatment.
The truth is conditioning after you shampoo is essential to having healthy, shiny hair. Conditioner smooths the hair cuticle and adds body. Avoiding conditioner makes your hair more prone to breakage, which can lead to the appearance of thinning hair.
Dry, weak, overly soft, limp and/or flat curls, no matter how much conditioner you add to it, are usually the first signs that your hair is over conditioned. Over time, hair that is excessively conditioned with moisture-based conditioners becomes porous and starts to develop dryness as a result.
Leave-in conditioner can be applied to both freshly washed and dry hair. To apply leave-in conditioner after washing your hair, simply spray the product all over your towel-dried tresses from ends to roots, avoiding your scalp.
Conditioning Treatments.
If you use a hot oil treatment, make sure it isn't too hot; warm oil or a deep conditioner applied the scalp twice a week can help moisturize and soothe an itchy, dry scalp. Deep conditioning and hot oil treatments can also make dry, brittle hair healthy and supple.