Hair Conditioner - Choosing Hair Conditioners for healthy hair

The primary function of a good hair conditioner is to treat the hair after shampooing has taken place and keep it nourished and tamed. All types of hair have to be conditioned to keep it shiny and flexible. Conditioner adds to the natural oil supply and gives shine as well as bounce and strength. Essentially, hair conditioners help replenish the look and feel of the hair after shampooing so they look shiny, healthy and smooth.

Effective hair conditioners help moisturize, add gloss and manageability to hair after it has been subjected to a head-bath with shampoo or other detergents that deplete its natural protective coating. Thus, in this manner, hair conditioners function much like fabric softeners work for clothing: as a softening after-wash for detergents. Hair Conditioner gives a security over hair and makes them lustre. Hair can be dried either by wrapping a towel around the head or with the help of a hair-dryer.

When to apply Hair Conditioner?

Hair Conditioner is identical in its look to shampoo. Apply conditioner when hair are dry. Conditioner helps in hair-setting. Rub it into scalp gently for a couple of minutes so that it reaches the roots and gets absorbed. Wash hair again but do not scrub too hard or use too much water. Otherwise, it will be washed off.

Choosing Hair Conditioners

A hair conditioner helps to replace natural oils removed by the detergents in shampoos. Therefore the best product for hair that needs the oil, i.e. dry, curly, often frizzy and coarse hair are conditioners containing cetyl or stearyl alcohol, panthenol and methicones, silicone/dimethicone, or essential oils and botanicals like avocado, jojoba oil or shea butter.

Volumizing hair conditioners give body and temporarily fluff up fine, limp or damaged hair to give it a lush appearance. These are labeled re-constructors and coat the hair with a layer of protein that fills in gaps if the outer cuticle is damaged, giving the hair a smoother look.

Those with color treated hair will benefit from a conditioner meant for chemically processed hair.

How to Condition Your Hair

1. After shampooing gently squeeze the excess water. 
2. Comb the hair with the fingers or with wide toothed comb from the roots to the ends gently. Remove tangles.
3. Apply little conditioner and rub the conditioner through the hair with the fingers. Never rub on the scalp.
4. Keep it on the hair for 5 minutes
5. Now gently massage the hair to loosen the conditioner.
6. Rinse the hair and remove all traces of conditioner. Now dry the hair.