Q&A for How to Apply Conditioner to Your Hair

A daily conditioner only needs to sit on the hair for 1-5 minutes. A treatment conditioner may need up to 20 minutes to maximize benefits.

You can; it's called co-washing and it's especially popular on curly hair. Co-washing works best with lightweight conditioner and some are made especially for this purpose.

You should use conditioner every time you wet your hair, but you don't have to use a lot. If your hair feels soft and smooth already you can just run a small amount through your ends.

Conditioner hydrates the hair and smoothes the cuticle so that it's less likely to catch and tear. Some conditioners also include protein for strengthening or powder that makes hair appear fuller.

Yes. However, you should avoid using a deep or heavy conditioner since it may be too moisturizing for your hair type.

This isn't necessary. Applying conditioner to your roots will only make your hair oily and weigh it down.

Yes, you must rinse out conditioner unless it specifically states that it is a leave-in conditioner.

You will find a suitable conditioner by trial and error, meaning, finding what brands work best for you. It is best to conduct research and read reviews before making a purchase.

Washing hair only with conditioner is known as "co-washing." Many people find it works much better for their hair type than using shampoo. The rationale behind co-washing is that conditioner is softer and less harsh than shampoo, a quality that can be useful for damaged or unruly curly hair, for example. What is important is that you wash out the conditioner as completely as possible, and you’ll probably have to scrub a bit more, as there is none of the lathering you’d get with shampoo. And co-washing can cause a buildup of conditioner that needs to be washed out with a clarifying shampoo every now and then before resuming the co-washing. Remember, this only works for some hair types, it may be a terrible choice if your hair tends to the oily side, and if it doesn’t work for you, then at least you tried!

Most people use conditioner after shampooing, so as often as you shampoo, you can also be using conditioner. In fact, shampoo should be used less often than conditioner, as it is harsher on your scalp and hair oils, so you could choose to use conditioner more frequently than you use shampoo (just be sure to rinse it out properly). It is important to choose a conditioner suited to your hair type for the best results and you only use small amounts evenly distributed through your hair to avoid buildup.

The standard rinse-out hair conditioner for regular use is meant to be washed out within a few minutes of application and not left in your hair. Leaving it in your hair provides no benefits but could increase oiliness/stickiness or weigh your hair down, making it appear limp and lifeless. Deep conditioners are also inappropriate to leave in for longer than the conditioning treatment instructions recommend. Leaving such conditioners in too long can make it hard to clean your hair properly and may cause an itchy scalp. There are leave-in hair conditioners purposefully made for leaving in your hair, which are much lighter than rinse-out or deep conditioners.

You cannot apply conditioner if your hair is dry; you have to wet it first. Once your hair is wet, you can apply a regular conditioner and rinse it out, or you can apply a leave-in conditioner instead. If your hair becomes unruly during the day, consider applying a hair-smoothing cream instead; those can be applied to dry hair.

Not at all. The most you will do is waste money on conditioner as you will go through it fast if you are constantly using too much. Use the best amount of product. If you have average hair length and thickness, divide your hair in half and work dime-sized amounts into different sections until every strand below your ears is covered evenly.

Yes you can, depending on the thickness/thinness of your hair. If you hair is thick, then you can use it once a weak. On the other side, as in the case of fine hair, you have to use it twice a week. In short, after every hair wash, you need to use conditioner for shiny look.

No, you wash your hair before applying conditioner. If you're talking about rinsing, yes, you have to rinse the conditioner out. If you want a treatment you can leave in your hair, there are leave-in conditioners and other leave-in treatment products available.

Yes. But before you do that, remember to first use a shampoo to remove the oil from your scalp and then you can condition it. Remember that it's best to oil your hair in the night and shampoo and condition it in the morning, this will help your hair be healthy, and you don't want that greasy look throughout the day.

You can do it whenever you prefer. It's not mandatory to oil your hair.

No -- it just makes your hair a bit greasy wherever you apply it.

It moisturizes and softens your hair, repairs some of the damage that can be done by shampoo and other products (as well as heat styling and general wear and tear), and generally helps keep your hair healthy.

No. Sperm does not influence the growth rate of hair.

No. You should only be applying shampoo to the hair roots and scalp. You should focus the conditioner on the ends of your hair, and part of the main shaft, if necessary. If you apply conditioner to your scalp, your hair may look limp and greasy once it dries.

Add in a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week and then condition normally the other days. If this isn't enough, use a leave-in conditioner also.

Yes, you do, unless it says on the bottle of conditioner that you should leave it in. If you still don't know what to do, look on the back of tge bottle. It almost always says how to use the conditioner.

You could, but it would defeat the purpose of the conditioner. Shampoo strips away the natural oils of the hair and the conditioner helps replenish the oils and seal in moisture.

You can. However, for most people it's a good idea to shampoo at least some of the time.

It keeps your hair healthy, soft and shiny. It reduces breakage and makes it strong.

It's optional and harmless. It could make your hair super greasy though. It is probably best to just choose one option, not both. It depends on your hair though. If you have dry hair, conditioning might not be the best option -- argan oil can be a pleasant and effective alternative, or avocado or coconut oils.

No, it does not reduce the thickness. Conditioner strengthens your hair against breakage by moisturizing it.

No, not at all, if anything it helps repair damage. I use it daily, and it helps a lot.

You might need to use more conditioner, or you might want to try a different brand. You might want to ask a professional hair stylist what conditioners they recommend.