I advocate using conditioner after every wash, and a conditioner / masque before at least once a week. Ideally the conditioner should be on the hair for 20-30 minutes. I wanted to share with you how you can make the conditioner work better for you. These two techniques allow the conditioner to penetrate the hair shaft better, which will make you hair look and feel healthier. They will also save you time, as you won't have to keep the conditioner on the hair for so long. Finally, they can help influence the hair texture a bit.
First, spread out the conditioner evenly on towel-dried (moist, not wet) hair.Then try one of these two methods:
You should spend around 5 minutes on your method of choice. You will notice that you need to use more conditioner than usual, however you will be getting more effect out of your conditioner. You are using your hands to warm up the conditioner and mechanically help it to penetrate the hair cuticles. Your hair will end up shinier, softer and more manageable!
If you try this out, let me know how it works for you, especially how it affects your hair texture and curl / straightness.
First, spread out the conditioner evenly on towel-dried (moist, not wet) hair.Then try one of these two methods:
Scrunching
This method is best for curly / wavy hair, as it will accentuate the curls and keep frizz at bay. Gather a section of hair with your hand from below, lift it towards your scalp. Your hair should coil into your palm. Pump and squish the hair with your hand several times, before moving onto the next section. This method is very popular among the curly-girl community.Palm ironing
This is great for straight hair. Imagine your palms are a flat iron. Place a section of hair close to your scalp between your palms, press your palms together and "iron" the hair down towards the roots. Do a gentle rubbing motion with your palms. If you end up with all the conditioner escaping, that means your hair was too wet to start with. You can find a more detailed explanation on Henrietta's blog.You should spend around 5 minutes on your method of choice. You will notice that you need to use more conditioner than usual, however you will be getting more effect out of your conditioner. You are using your hands to warm up the conditioner and mechanically help it to penetrate the hair cuticles. Your hair will end up shinier, softer and more manageable!
If you try this out, let me know how it works for you, especially how it affects your hair texture and curl / straightness.
Photo credit: Eternalvoyageur