If you’ve gone this long without using a leave in conditioner, you are missing out. Not to mention, you’ve committed one of the deadliest hair sins. It’s truly an underrated product. Do you know the type of hair power a leave in conditioner holds?
Maybe not, but kudos to you for taking the right steps to gain that knowledge.
As any reputable hairstylist would agree, having a good leave-in is your key to maintaining a healthy mane. Plus, it’ll help its ability to grow longer and stronger. Still skeptical? Tag along for this little hair adventure. I’m showing you just how important it is to use a leave in conditioner as a part of your hair rituals.
What is Leave In Conditioner?
First and foremost, leave in conditioner is a pre-styling product that preps and primes the hair. It’s usually a lighter concentration as compared to your regular conditioner. This means it won’t weigh down your hair- hence why you’re able to forego rinsing it out.
It comes as a spray or a cream/ lotion. Sprays happen to be my personal preference. They’re great for an easy, quick, and even application. Plus, you’re less likely to overload your hair, which may leave a greasy weighed down feel that no one likes.
What Are The Benefits?
Believe it or not, leave in conditioner can- and will– enhance the outcome of your hairstyles. I would even go as far as saying it’s one of the top hair growth products you should have in your possession. Here’s just a few of the top benefits:
Locks In Hydration & Moisture
Truth is, your regular conditioner can only do so much. Yeah, it smooths the cuticle down to make hair softer and more manageable. And while it offers some hydration and moisture, it’s just not enough to keep your hair balanced throughout the day.
Imagine having one glass of water before bed or first thing in the morning. Now if I told you that you couldn’t drink anything throughout the day ’til the next time you washed your hair, you’d look at me crazy. Right?
Exactly.
Leave-ins are the hairs ultimate thirst quencher.
They Protect The Cuticle Layer
Your hair undergoes A LOT of stress. Between hot tools, styling and manipulation, environmental pollutants, and UV rays, the hair cuticle is on the front line of defense. A majority of leave-ins today are designed with heat protection. Leave ins encapsulate the cuticle with a breathable shield. This helps to keep the goodness in, defending against any hair enemies.
Preps The Hair For Styling Products
It’s not unusual for your hair to have different porosity levels throughout. This means some parts of your hair can absorb more of the product than others. Using a leave in conditioner creates the perfect hair canvas for you by balancing it all out. Layer your choice of styling products over top for a more even and uniform hair style.
In addition, your styles are likely to last far longer. Enjoy second and third day styles that may only require a quick morning refresh!
Without a leave in, my curls become a tangled mess towards the nape of the neck. And by the end of the day I’m so ready to shave my hair. BUT, when I use a leave in, my curls stay more defined and less knotty. They’re even more manageable come my next wash day (about 4 to 5 days later). You deserve that, too.
Reduce Breakage & Promote Elasticity
Brushing through wet hair is a big no-no. Most of the time. That’s because your hair stretches when it’s wet. The friction of the brushing can snag tangles causing further breakage.
Using a leave-in adds more slip to the hair, making it easier to detangle with a wide tooth comb. You’ll notice a reduction in breakage. Plus, it promotes elasticity which helps your hair to bounce back to its normal state.
So now you have the gist of the benefits. Ready to flaunt your tresses for the world to admire? Scroll down for some simple ‘how-to’ steps.
When + How Often To Use Leave In Conditioner
Generally, leave ins are applied immediately after washing your hair in the shower. Using on damp hair provides the best results.
But, they can be used daily as a hair refresher. This is a great product to revive second or third day curls or waves, too. Be sure to spray hair with water first, as it can leave a greasy film.
How To Use Leave In Conditioner
It’s a fairly easy product to use, and doesn’t interfere with the efficacy of other styling products either. Keep reading below to understand the simplicity of these five easy steps.
1. Towel Dry
You’ll want to remove any excess moisture. This means that your hair shouldn’t be sopping wet. Leave in conditioner is already less concentrated. So applying it to extremely wet hair will dilute the product further.
2. Section Based on Hair Density
This is to ensure that the product doesn’t just sit on top of the hair.
Here’s my general rule of thumb:
Fine hair can be split into two halves, the right and the left. Medium density hair should be sectioned into quarters- two in the front, two in the back. And very thickly dense hair- depending, of course- may need five to six sections.
3. Apply
Personally I like the leave in sprays, like i mentioned earlier. They’re easy to use and mess free. Just spritz 2-4 times per section, from mids to ends.
If you’re using a leave-in that comes in a bottle, try a grape sized amount for each section, adding more if needed.
Too much can leave a greasy feel, so try not to over do it. Less is more, y’all.
4. Comb Through
Use a wide tooth comb to distribute the product evenly throughout your hair.
5. Style As Usual
Now, you can put your other styling products right over top of your leave in conditioner. Then you can either air dry or do a blowout!
Before You Go
Now that our little journey is coming to a close, it’s time to leave… but under one condition: that you understand the importance of using leave in conditioner in your hair rituals and how. You’ve read the benefits, know the steps, and get how it’s different from your regular conditioner. Be sure to check out my post on deep conditioning hair masks– another journey in itself.
If you’ve found this information useful, be sure to join my hair wellness community on Pinterest and stay up to date with the latest hair secrets! Catch ya on the next adventure.