How to Pick a Hair Conditioner for Your Hair Type

Co-authored by Michael Van den Abbeel

Last Updated: March 1, 2022 References

Though you might think that taking care of your hair is as simple as "shampooing and conditioning," a quick walk down the haircare aisle at the grocery store will show you just how wrong you are. Shampooing is a harsh process that strips your hair of many natural oils needed to maintain hair health; conditioners boost the moisture after a shampoo, trying to repair the damage and keep your strands intact. There are a wide variety of products out there, each type specializing in a particular hair type. The needs of fine, flat hair and those of natural African American curls are vastly different, as are those of oily and dry hair. To keep your hair as healthy and happy as possible, you need to know what type of conditioner to treat it with.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Choosing by Hair Texture

1
Use volumizing conditioner on fine, flat hair.^{[1]
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Research source} If you have straight, silky hair with no frizzing problems, you want a conditioner that's going to add some much-needed texture to hair that might otherwise seem to just hang from your head. Volumizing conditioner is lighter than a regular formula, and doesn't add extra weight to hair when used regularly.
- People with fine, flat hair should never use smoothing conditioners; these heavy products will make your hair hang even more flatly.
2
Look for light-weight moisturizing conditioner if you have wavy hair. Wavy hair can be hard to work with — in humid weather it can frizz out of control, and in dry weather it can grow limp. The more curl there is in a strand of hair, the dryer the end of the strand gets, because it's hard for the natural oils from the scalp to wind their way down a curled strand than a straight one. Although wavy hair doesn't tend to be as dry as curly hair, you still need a moisturizing conditioner to stand in for those oils that aren't making their way down to the tips of your hair.
- However, since wavy hair can still flatten out throughout the course of the day or in dry weather, you want to avoid moisturizing conditioners that will weigh down your hair.
- Look for products marketed specifically to wavy hair, rather than curly hair.
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3
Moisturize thick, curly hair with a deep-hydrating conditioner.^{[2]
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Research source} The curlier the hair, the dryer it gets. If you have thick, curly hair, odds are that without a deep-hydrating conditioner to make up for the lack of oils making their way from the scalp to the tip of the strand, you'll have dry, dull hair with a tendency to frizz.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.}
- Look for conditioners labeled as “deep hydrating” or for curly hair specifically.
- You should also consider using a leave-in conditioning mask on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. These conditioners are meant to be left in your hair for 10-15 minutes, then washed out like regular conditioner. With regular use, you should see a significant change in the way your curls hold together rather than frizzing away.
- You should also purchase leave-in conditioner in spray form. You can spray this product onto your hair when it's either dry or wet to keep it soft and hydrated.
4
Protect the intense curl in African American hair with a deep-hydrating conditioner or oil-based products.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} African American hair is sometimes described as “kinky” due to the intensity of its curl. However, with the right conditioning products, even the curliest hair can be shiny and healthy. In the grocery store, look for the section of the beauty aisle geared specifically toward African American hair products; they're designed to boost moisture in a way products for non-black hair usually can't compare.
- Products with shea butter or various types of oils — from coconut oil to the more expensive Moroccan argan oil — are a good bet.
- Though this is unrelated to conditioners, you shouldn't shampoo your hair regularly. Shampoo every 7-10 days — every 14 days at the minimum.^{[5]
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  Research source} Over-shampooing will strip the hair of natural oils, causing even more dryness and counteracting the positive benefits of your conditioning routine.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Choosing by Hair Health

1
Use color-safe or color-depositing conditioner if you dye your hair.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2019.} As time passes after your initial dye application, you'll notice that the dye in your hair will get washed away by your showers. To keep the color vibrant for as long as possible, you'll want to choose an appropriate conditioner.
- It's the water, not the conditioner, that washes the dye from your hair when you shower.
- However, color-safe conditioners seal hair cuticles, allowing your hair to hold onto the dye for a longer period of time.^{[7]
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  Research source} Look for packaging that advertises products as “color safe,” “color extend,” “color care,” or “sulfate-free.”
- Color-depositing conditioners actually deposits a small amount of color each time it's applied in the shower, not only maintaining the richness of the original color, but also hiding the roots that emerge as your hair grows out for a period of time.
- Make sure to choose a shade of color-depositing conditioner that matches your dyed color.
2
Skip conditioner altogether or use volumizing products on oily, limp hair. If your hair is oily, then adding moisture back into your strands after shampooing isn't really your concern. However, if skipping conditioner altogether makes you uncomfortable, stay away from products advertised as “hydrating” or “moisturizing,” as they will only make your hair greasier and flatter.
- Look for products styled as “volumizing,” “light,” “strengthening,” or “balancing.”
3
Use hydrating conditioner on slightly-to-moderately dry hair. If your hair isn't severely brittle or damaged, but feels a little on the dry side, switch to a product that advertises as “hydrating,” “moisturizing,” “balancing,” or, if you have wavy or curly hair, “curly.”
4
Use “damage repair” conditioner if your hair is extremely dry and frizzy. For this kind of hair, you'll need to use more intensive formulas. Hair often becomes “damaged” and dried out by prolonged exposure to heat from regular styling, but heat damage is not the only reason for extremely dry hair. Your hair may be unhealthily dry simply your scalp has trouble producing enough oil to distribute throughout the strands. Either way, conditioners that advertise themselves as treatments for “damaged” hair will be effective on hair that's dry both because of heat exposure and natural causes.
- In addition to your daily conditioner, you should also purchase a deep conditioning mask and use it at least once a week.
- Coconut oil is also an effective weekly treatment for extremely dry hair.
5
Look for “relaxed” conditioners or leave-in masks for relaxed hair. Many African American women choose to have their hair “relaxed,” or chemically straightened. While the process may yield the smooth results you want, it can also dry out your hair. To fight that problem, you should avoid over-washing your hair — no more than twice a week. When you do wash your hair, you should use either a deep-conditioning leave-in mask instead of regular daily-use shampoo, or conditioners specially formulated for relaxed hair.
- Relaxed conditioners can be found in the “African American” section of the beauty aisle or online.^{[8]
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  Research source}
- When using leave-in masks, remember to let the product soak into your hair for at least 10-15 minutes before rinsing it out, or else it won't have time to hydrate your hair effectively.
6
Treat dandruff with light, fragrance-free conditioners. Dandruff is a scalp issue, not a hair issue; the skin on your scalp grows and dies at a faster rate than in people without dandruff, leaving an embarrassing flaky white residue in your hair and on your shoulders. The shampoo you choose will have more of an effect on your dandruff than your conditioner, but there are still many products on the market geared toward treating this condition.
- Look for lighter conditioners rather than high-moisturizing or oil-heavy ones that can contribute to the problem on your scalp.^{[9]
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  Research source}
- Hair products with heavy fragrances often irritate the scalp, which leads to more itching, and more evidence of your dandruff on your clothes. Avoid heavily perfumed conditioners.

Expert Q&A

Question

What sort of conditioner should I use if I have dry hair?

Michael Van den Abbeel
Professional Hair Stylist
Michael Van den Abbeel is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar in Orlando, Florida. He has been cutting, styling, and coloring hair for over 17 years. Michael loves showing his clients how to wash and wear their hair easily and effortlessly. Mosaic Hair Studio and Blowout Bar is recognized as a Diamond Top Tier level Wella salon.

Michael Van den Abbeel

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Pick a conditioner that's labeled as "deep-conditioning" or "moisturizing" to help add shine to your hair and keep it healthy.
Question

What type of conditioner I should use for thin hair?

Community Answer

You could choose a damage repair conditioner for brittle hair, that will not break your already thin hair.
Question

How do I use TRESemme Smooth n Shine conditioner?

Community Answer

With any conditioner, follow the instructions provided to you on the bottle.