What Does Conditioner Do?

What are the benefits of using a hair conditioner?

Hair conditioner is an essential step in any hair washing routine. Each time we condition our hair we are helping it to grow and look its best. The outside world can have an impact on our hair cuticles, moisture and texture, and conditioner for hair is the primary step that seals and protects your hair throughout the day. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of hair conditioner:

Minimises breakage: hair conditioners deeply hydrate and help retain hair and scalp moisture. This results in less tangled, stronger and smoother hair, ultimately preventing breakage.

Improves appearance: conditioners impart a variety of effective oils, vitamins and extracts to nourish the hair. These ingredients encourage hydration and help prevent dryness or frizz.

More manageable: when learning how to use conditioner, a pro tip is to apply conditioner and then comb – this can easily untangle your hair. Once conditioning is complete, hair will look and feel smoother and easier to style.

Protection: shampoo cleanses the hair, while conditioner seals it. The protective layer conditioner provides can help block external pollution and damage.

How to use hair conditioner

Of course, you use hair conditioner after applying and rinsing shampoo. But let’s go further, detailing the process of using conditioner, so that you encourage the best results after every use. We’ll take you through a step-by-step process below:

1. Cleanse your hair with shampoo

Pick your favourite shampoo and apply small amount to your wet scalp. Massage your scalp until it begins to lather and then work the shampoo through your hair. Rinse your hair and scalp thoroughly under warm water.

You can repeat this step for an extra-thorough cleanse if it’s been a few days between washes. This will ensure you capture and remove all excess oil and product build up.

2. Apply a conditioner

Gathering a small amount into your hands, apply the hair conditioner from the mid-length to the ends of your hair.

Pro tip: if your hair is particularly long, thick or curly, you may want to section your hair before applying. This will encourage the conditioner to reach more of your hair.

3. Untangle your hair

While the conditioner rests in your hair, untangle your strands by gently running your hands, a comb, or a detangling brush through. For any tricky knots, use your hands, taking the time to avoid any breakage or tugging.

4. Let the conditioner absorb

If you’re wondering “can you leave conditioner in your hair?” The answer is yes! But, for a varying amount of time. Leave your hair conditioner in your hair, allowing it to impart nourishing ingredients and a protective shield, continuing with the rest of your shower routine in the meantime. The general time recommended is 1-2 minutes but follow package directions for the specific conditioner you’re using.

5. Rinse

Once your hair conditioner is absorbed, rinse with warm water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly to help prevent any product build up.

Find the right hair conditioner for you

Conditioner is available for all hair types, but not all conditioners will work ideally for yours. There are a lot of options, and it can be confusing to narrow down the right pick for you. Conditioners for hair will have different purposes – some will focus on hydration, others will strengthen, and others will be suitable for a specific hair type (curly hair, for example). To help you pick the best hair conditioner for you, the experts at Garnier have created this list of conditioners for every hair type.

Dry hair

Dry hair conditioners are formulated to deliver intense moisture and hydration. If you have dry hair, look for conditioners that have nourishing ingredients such as aloe vera extract and glycerin.

Fructis Aloe Vera Hair Food Conditioner enriches hair to help prevent and damage caused by dehydration. Infused with gentle and hydrating aloe vera, this hair conditioner can help soften your strands and scalp.

For a fruity option, try our Fructis Banana Hair Food Conditioner. Its natural origin formula is enriched with banana extract to promote hair’s balance and texture. See our entire Hair Food range to support dry, unruly or damaged hair.

Damaged hair

For damaged or weak hair, it’s important to fortify your mane with effective ingredients. When experiencing damaged hair, you may want to wash a bit less frequently, using shampoo twice per week, and support your hair with hair conditioner between washes. For more tips, check out our guide on how to strengthen weak hair.

Our Fructis Vitamin & Strength Conditioner is formulated with blood orange, vitamin C and biotin to help strengthen and promote visibly healthy hair. We recommend pairing this reinforcing conditioner Fructis Normal Strength & Shine Shampoo.

If your hair is damaged yet tangled, go for Fructis Hair Food Conditioner with Papaya. Infused with papaya extract, this hair conditioner can help gently untangle delicate hair, minimising hair loss as your hair strengthens.

Thin hair

For thin hair, you can opt for a more lightweight conditioner for hair. You may also want to condition more frequently (around 4-5 times per week), as oil may travel down your hair strands faster. Fructis Full & Luscious Conditioner is formulated for thin hair, imbued with pomegranate extract to promote fullness and thickness.

Normal hair

If you’ve got normal hair, lucky you! You can take your pick – the goal here is to keep your hair healthy and strong. Maintain your mane’s natural balance and strength by imparting vitamins and nourishing extracts into your hair. Our Fructis Normal Strength & Shine Conditioner is formulated with vitamin B3 and B6 to promote fibre strength and health.  

Now that you’ve learned how to use hair conditioner properly, read our guide on the benefits of heat hair protection spray to keep your mane in prime condition.