Does hair conditioner do any good?

I need it otherwise my hair becomes very dry and unruly. It’s also prone to more static if I don’t use conditioner.

Yes, it makes my (slightly wavy and uncomfortably thick) hair much more manageable from wash to wash.

I don’t ever use it, because I have very straight hair.

But we started using conditioner on my daughter when she was a toddler, because her hair is very curly. On her, without conditioner, her hair gets in knots that make it impossible to comb, and difficult to brush.

I have a grand daughter like that. Masses of curly hair.

The outside layer of hair, the cuticle, is a bunch of cells layered on top of each other like scales. You can feel this by pulling you hand down a few strands (which feels smooth) and then back up the strands the “wrong” direction (which feels slightly sticky or rough).

The shampoo used to lift dirt and oils off the hair also “opens up” the “scales” of the cuticle, making them stick out… From what I read a while ago, this has something to do with the pH balance of soap… When the cuticle is open like this, the hair feels sticky or rough, and it tangles with itself very easily (think velcro). Conditioners are designed to flatten the cuticle back down so that the hairs have a “smooth” direction once again, and can slide against each other without getting caught in each other. (Again, I think it has something to do with the pH, but I don’t totally understand chemistry.)

Conditioners that smooth the cuticle out best tend to have phrases like “manageable hair/improves manageability” or “softens hair” or “detangles.” Sometimes “smooth and/or sleek and/or silky” indicates that as well… Although a smooth cuticle will give hair a shiny appearance, conditioners that advertise making hair “shiny” or having a “________ appearance” aren’t necessarily smoothing out the cuticle. (Though they may offer the hair protection via silicones or oils that give the hair a shiny appearance.)

Nice @Soubresaut!

:)

You mentioned the main reason that I use it. I have long hair, and it is easier to comb with less breakage if I use conditioner. Reason enough for me.

I don’t use the stuff, my hair Is very expensive. Well it’s actually not my hair, but it IS very expensive.

I assume it protects hair in some capacity since it leaves a coating on the hair.

I have dry, thin, hair that gets extremely tangled. If I don’t use conditioner it’s a really bad situation.

If I don’t use conditioner, I can barely brush my hair when it’s wet and it looks like shit. Totally like dry straw. I need conditioner. Not necessarily expensive conditioner – I find the cheap stuff does a decent job. I just need any conditioner, and a decent amount each time I wash my hair.

[Mod Says] Moved to Social
Please flag and ask, if you make a mistake with your choice of section.

Thanks @Stinley. Posting on the phone app is quite different. I’m trying to remember to choose my section, before I ask the question.

Not for me

Sometimes the dangdest questions go all popular and stuff!