Have you ever purchased a conditioner that was highly recommended and when you tried it at home it fell flat on everything it promised? It hurts even more when the conditioner was expensive and you feel like you did not get your monies worth.
Before you purchase a new conditioner you need to pay close attention to the ingredients and think about how much time you have to allow the conditioner to process, how you would like your hair to feel after the conditioner is rinsed out, what type of style you want to achieve. Here is a guide to follow before you purchase your next conditioner.
They should be smoothing
If you are looking for a conditioner to use when you want to wear your textured hair straight, you need to look for ingredients that will prevent heat damage and moisturize your hair as well. Good alcohols such as cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are known to moisturize and condition the hair. Amodimethicone will help prevent damage from hot tools, add shine, and not cause buildup. Cyclomethicone, which allows the conditioner to spread on the hair easily, softens the hair without weighing it down and helps other ingredients of the conditioner to penetrate into the hair. Smoothing conditioners with these ingredients are:
They should provide slip
If you need a conditioner that combats tangles and supplies moisture that last a few days, look for ingredients such as behentrimonium methosulfate, which is a conditioning agent that provides hair conditioners with effective detangling properties and allows the hair to have elasticity. Glycerin acts as a humectant and moisturizer in conditioners and jojoba oil and shea butter helps to soften and seal in moisture. Conditioners that contain these ingredients are:
They should penetrate the hair without heat
- For curly hair, conditioners penetrate and adsorb better when you use heat. If you do not have time to use a hooded dryer, steamer, or electric treatment cap to process your conditioner, try a conditioner like Aquage Biomega Intensive Conditioner. This conditioner has coconut oil, which is known to absorb quickly into the hair fibers to provide ultra-hydration and shine. Mango seed butter provides an excellent source of omega-3 and omega-6 provides elasticity and softens the cuticle for silkier hair.
- Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm has butylene glycol and sorbitol, which provide slip and prevent moisture loss.
- You can also use Joico Moisture Recovery Treatment Balm and Aquage Biomega Intensive Conditioner for hairstyles needing a strong hold styler, which will help prevent dehydration of your hair.
What ingredients do you look for in your conditioner? How do they improve the health of your hair?
