Conditioner is usually a follow up after washing your hair with shampoo and helps smoothen out the hair and makes it easy to untangle it. After shampooing, wash out the shampoo thoroughly and take a little conditioner into the palm of your hand. Rub your palms together and smooth them over your hair from the scalp down wards. You can also massage the conditioner into your hair. Bu remember that the shampoo has to be washed off thoroughly as the conditioner, while moisturizing the hair has a tendency to lock down the remaining shampoo into the hair and scalp. The shampoo then becomes flaky and resembles dandruff and can be quite embarrassing.
Some hair care experts recommend the use of only a conditioner on the hair for leaving the hair shiny and glossy. This recommendation is popular because most shampoos contain a compound called SLS – sodium lauryl sulphate or SLES – sodium laureth sulphate which are actually detergents. They are excellent cleaners and work up a good lather but this is not a sign of it being good for the hair. Prolonged usage can aggravate conditions such as eczema of the scalp and seborrheic dermatitis apart from leading to a thinning of the hair and the damage of hair follicles. If your shampoo contains these compounds it would be a good idea to switch from them.
Wash Hair with Conditioner
Conditioners are gentler than shampoos in terms of the chemicals present in them and it must be gently massaged into the hair and scalp. Leave it on for about fifteen minutes before washing it off. It might take a while for your hair to adjust to this and you may find that it appears greasy for about 6-8 weeks till your hair adjusts to the new programme. Use a boar bristle brush to spread the excess sebum that your scalp produces down the length of your hair. What appears as grease is then used to protect your hair and give it a natural shine. You may even wash your hair occasionally with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean the hair and condition it as well. Braid your hair or use a bandana or a scarf or even a variety of hats to keep your hair from showing the grease. If you have to attend a wedding, or any other function or occasion, you may want to wait before you switch to only conditioning your hair.