The Best Conditioner for Every Hair Type

Before we can tackle the kinds of conditioner you can use, let’s start with the basics: what does conditioner do? One of the roles of sebum is to nourish the follicle and help the cuticle lie flat — this helps to protect your hair, keeping it shiny and moisturized. But everyday wear and tear, overly-frequent shampooing, and heat styling can strip away too many natural oils or raise the cuticle, which makes your hair look frizzy and dull. The science behind conditioner is that the negatively charged hair strand will bind with the positively charged surfactants (the main cleaning agents) in conditioner, helping to coat the hair, smooth the strands, fight tangles and help re-fortify the cuticle.

Here are some of the most common benefits to making conditioner a part of your hair routine:

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what conditioner can do for your hair, let’s talk about the main kinds you can choose from. While most people won’t have hair that falls into one solid category (you can have colored hair that’s also thin or dry), try to see which kind fits with your hair type the most, and consider rotating different kinds into your routine to see what your hair best responds to.

BEST FOR: Thinning or fine hair

HOW TO USE: Use after every shampoo and follow the instructions on the packaging. As a general tip, it’s probably best to test out washing your hair less frequently if you’re experiencing fineness or thinning — and be sure to check out our blog post on how often you should wash your hair for more information.

BEST FOR: Most types of hair

HOW TO USE: Since deep conditioners are much richer than normal conditioners, you should use them less frequently. Start by swapping in a deep conditioner for your regular conditioner once a week and see how your hair responds, leaving it on your hair for at least 10-15 minutes before rinsing off.

BEST FOR: Dry hair

HOW TO USE: After cleansing and rinsing, apply your moisturizing conditioner and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out.

BEST FOR: Damaged hair, especially from chemical treatments or heat damage

HOW TO USE: After cleansing and rinsing, apply your protein conditioner through your lengths and ends, ensuring an even application. Let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

BEST FOR: Curly or wavy hair

HOW TO USE: After rinsing out your curl shampoo, apply conditioner to lengths and ends. Comb through and leave on 5-10 mins. Rinse thoroughly, towel dry and use your favorite styling products to style your curls.

BEST FOR: Leave-in conditioners are suitable for all hair types, especially those prone to dryness or frizziness

HOW TO USE: Apply about 10 spritzes to towel-dried hair from lengths to ends, then proceed with styling as usual.

BEST FOR: Most hair types, but especially frizzy hair

HOW TO USE: After rinsing out your smoothing shampoo, apply a small amount of conditioner to lengths and ends. Comb through and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, towel dry and use your favorite styling products to blow dry.

With so many products out there, it can seem intimidating (and potentially very expensive) to find the right conditioner for your hair type. But now that you know the basics of what the different kinds of conditioner offer, as well as what won’t be beneficial for certain hair types to use, you should have a better idea about what you should be trying. And since one step can’t carry your entire hair care routine, remember to follow other best practices for healthy hair: washing no more than a few times a week, brushing gently, and using other sulfate and paraben-free hair products like the ones we carry at Davines. If you have any other helpful tips on choosing the right conditioner for your hair type, or still have lingering questions you’re saving for your hairstylist, let us know in the comments below!