You walk into the shampoo and conditioner aisle of your favorite store and are greeted by a wall of countless brands and hundreds of options to choose from. How do you know which one is right for your hair? Do you just walk up and grab the first nice-looking bottle you find? Lucky for you, there’s no need to worry! We’ll help you determine the differences between conditioners and how to choose the right one for you. In this post, we will go over the different types of hair and why hair texture matters, the purpose of hair conditioner, and how to choose the right conditioner for your hair texture.
Different Types of Hair
The first step in determining which conditioner to purchase for your hair is to figure out what type of hair you have. This not only includes the texture and thickness of your hair but goes all the way down to the type of scalp you have. Your scalp is the root of your hair, and knowing what kind of scalp you have can help determine the status and health of your hair.
For example, if your scalp tends to be drier and more prone to flaking, then that means your hair is not getting as much oil and you may need a more moisturizing conditioner. On the other hand, if you notice that your scalp tends to be more oily and your hair starts to look greasy quickly, then you may not need as heavy of a moisturizer in your conditioner.
It is also important to know the thickness of your hair to find the right conditioner. Thinner hair requires a lighter conditioner to not weigh it down too much, while thicker hair may need a heavier conditioner to make sure it soaks into your hair and provides needed moisturization.
Textures Matter
While your scalp type and the thickness of your hair play a role in the conditioner you choose, the most important thing to keep in mind is the texture of your hair. Different hair textures have different needs, and each texture of hair needs different treatments to keep it luscious and healthy. Each texture of hair has a distinct hair follicle shape and hair strand texture, and they need various levels of care and treatment. The four main categories of hair textures are straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, and coily hair.
For starters, straight hair is sleek and tends to lay flat. It also tends to be more oily than other hair textures, which means you do not want a heavy conditioner with extra moisturizing ingredients. Too much moisture can make straight hair look greasy or flat and lifeless, so you would need a lighter straight hair conditioner that won’t weigh it down.
Wavy hair is one step between straight and curly hair. Your hair is not pin-straight, but it also does not have the iconic spirals found in curly hair. Wavy hair can be thick or thin, and the thicker it is the more prone it is to frizzing. Depending on the thickness of your hair, you may need a wavy hair conditioner that helps protect against frizz.
Curly hair is in the middle of wavy and coily hair. It has curly cue spirals, but they are not as tight as in coily hair. The tighter your curls, the more coarse the hair tends to be, meaning you may need a curly hair conditioner with a little more moisturizer in it.
Lastly, coily hair forms very tight curls in a zig-zag pattern, making it more prone to being dry and spongy. Coily hair types typically need a deep moisturizing product to soak into the hair and keep it luscious and healthy.
What Is The Purpose Of a Hair Conditioner?
Hair conditioners vary slightly in their purpose depending on the type of product you purchase. Overall, the purpose of the conditioner is to moisturize your hair and prevent it from drying out. Dry hair is more prone to breakage and is more susceptible to heat damage, so using products to add moisture back into your hair can keep it luscious and healthy long-term. Some products are meant to sit for a bit and be washed out, while others are to be left in for long-term moisture.
Types of Conditioner
- Thickening Conditioner
- Deep Conditioner
- Moisturizing Conditioner
- Protein Conditioner
- Detangling Conditioner
- Cream Rinse Conditioner
- Instant Conditioner
- Leave-in Conditioner
How To Use Hair Conditioner for Your Hair Type
Using the right conditioner for your hair type can not only keep your hair looking fantastic, but it can actually help prevent hair loss by decreasing hair breakage and strengthening your hair. For straight or fine hair, be sure to use a cream rinse conditioner or an instant conditioner to quickly nourish your hair without weighing it down.
For wavy, curly, or coily hair, use a leave-in conditioner, deep conditioner, or moisturizing conditioner to treat any dryness or frizziness. Keep the thickness of your hair in mind, as you may need a stronger moisturizer the thicker your hair is. You could also use a protein conditioner to help rebuild your hair’s strength if you are noticing extensive breakage.
Regardless of the conditioner you purchase, the basic steps for washing and conditioning your hair include:
- Wash your hair
- Rinse out your shampoo
- Wring out your hair
- Apply your hair conditioner
- Let the conditioner sit for a few minutes
- Rinse out your conditioner thoroughly
Shop at AFAM For All of Your Hair Care Needs
Now that you know what type of conditioner your hair needs to flourish, where do you go to find it? Browse AFAM’s online store for all of your hair care needs, including our wide selection of hair conditioners for all hair textures and care needs! Whether you have straight hair or kinky hair, we have the products to make you and your hair happy.