Conditioner: A secret weapon to protect your hair

You may shampoo your hair often, even every day, but here's a question: How often do you use conditioner?

It might seem less important than cleaning the hair itself, but conditioner can actually play a vital role in fighting hair damage. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, conditioner should follow shampoo every time to keep the hair in good shape.

There are also other reported benefits to conditioning regularly, such as keeping longer hair easier to untangle and potentially helping to protect it against the sun if the conditioner contains zinc oxide, the source said.

Also, swimmers can use conditioner to help their hair after exposing it to chlorine in pool water. Over time, you might notice all sorts of added perks to having this conditioner in your hair, the least of which could be a new look and feel to it.

Why does conditioner help?
In a word, the key thing conditioner brings is more hydration. Your goal in washing your hair shouldn't be just cleaning it, but also refreshing it and leaving it stronger. This can actually go against what most people know about hair care. Still, the results could be worth it if they leave hair stronger and more resilient.

Using conditioner before shampoo in the shower can be known as "reverse washing." As Lifehack pointed out, though, this style of hair care doesn't necessarily have to replace normal washing completely. Instead, we can view it as an alternative form of hair care with its own advantages. And it might be most useful for thinner hair in need of fullness and nourishment.

Some important caveats
If this sounds like an exciting way to put more life in your hair, you could be ready to use more conditioner immediately. However, there are some important points of caution to keep in mind.

• Conditioner takes time: Not just time for the regimen to take effect, but time for each use to sit in your hair. The aforementioned Lifehack piece recommended leaving conditioner in the hair for as long as five minutes before moving on to the rest of the wash.
• Pick the right one carefully: A Women's Health article advised readers that not all conditioners are going to work the same for them. With this in mind, you should look for a product that will both fit your type of hair and also contain no harming elements, such as silicone. Once you find the right conditioner, make that your preferred brand and keep it in your bathroom as a go-to.
• Watch where you apply the conditioner: You don't have to work the conditioner into your entire scalp, and in fact you might want to be choosy about how you apply it. Women's Health also recommended this, saying that those with (presumably long) hair should comb the conditioner from the ends in, keeping it away from the roots for the best effect. This is because the conditioner is meant to affect the follicles, not the roots, and will have the most notable impact there.

It's useful to know that this regular care may leave thinning hair in better shape, but sometimes other methods are needed. For hair restoration treatments, contact Long Island Hair Restoration specialist, Dr. James Marotta today. You can also click on the banner below to set up your free consultation and take the first steps toward a newer, fuller look.