Hair hack: can you skip the conditioner?

From simple shampoos to all manner of masks and serums, we go all out to prevent a bad hair day. But is that really necessary? Or will our locks be healthier if we sometimes ignore our conditioner?

So many people, so many desires! But from bottle blondes to natural brunettes and from curly to sleek, we all want to look good. And that, of course, includes groomed to the nines.

Skip the conditioner?

To dispel a persistent myth: no, you’re not helping your hair by skipping your conditioner. Speaking with Well + Good, hair stylist Ryan Trygstad states that it’s important to always use a good conditioner after your shampoo. “Shampoos remove moisture from your hair and conditioners rebalance that moisture,” he says.

Do you have oily or thin hair? If so, you may have heard that it’s best to skip the conditioner once in a while. Trygstad, however, wouldn’t be so quick to recommend that. “I tell all my clients with thinner hair to only apply conditioner from the middle of their hair to the ends,” she says.

Smart use

Still, some people swear by skipping the conditioner. However, that may have more to do with using your conditioner incorrectly. For one thing, it’s important to choose a conditioning product that suits the needs of your locks. For example, do you naturally have hair that gets oily faster? Then you need a very different type of care than someone with fragile, decolorized hair.

Also, you often need much less conditioner than you think. A small dot to spread over the lengths of your hair is enough. This will make your conditioner last longer and prevent your hair from looking limp. Use too much conditioner? Then you quickly see limp, weighted hair. And that’s exactly what we want to avoid!

Good routine

And finally, it can also make quite a difference exactly how often you wash and condition your hair. Hair that is dyed or decolorized can often use a little more tender love and care. Also, the use of heat-based styling tools means that your locks will benefit from a thorough care routine. Conditioner is a must. This is because without it, your hair is more likely to break.

So exactly how often you should condition your hair can vary. However, according to Trygstad, it is good to treat your hair with a mask once a week. But above all, listen to your hair.

Source: Beau Monde archives, Well + Good | Image: Adobe Stock