How often to use leave in conditioner 4c hair

When you have natural hair, you do everything in your power to keep it healthy and moisturized. You use a variety of creams and oils. You make sure that your hair is in a bonnet or a silk scarf before bed to keep your pillow from absorbing all of your hair’s moisture. Usually, another staple in the natural hair maintenance kit is a leave-in conditioner. But, does leave-in actually do anything? Or, is it just another waste of money when hair maintenance is already costly? Should you use leave-in conditioner in your hair? The answer is a resounding yes! Continue reading to learn the importance of leave-in conditioner.

The differences between a leave-in, deep and regular conditioner

Maybe you are wondering what separates leave-in conditioner from a regular or deep conditioner. After all, they are all conditioners, right? However, there are some differences between them. As you already know, the normal conditioner is what you use after you shampoo. It is designed for application and then immediate rinsing. It is only meant to stay on your hair for a few minutes before it is rinsed, otherwise, there is a buildup. Deep conditioner, like a regular conditioner, is rinsed out. However, when it is time to deep condition your hair, you leave it in for an extended period of time. The length of time you deep condition depends on the product and instructions. I usually a deep condition for about an hour. Also, unlike the regular and leave-in conditioner, you do not have to deep condition every time you wash your hair. I usually deep condition about twice a month. It just depends on what your hair needs when it comes to moisture. Leave-in conditioner is applied to your wet hair after you shampoo and condition with a rinse-out conditioner. It remains in your hair to provide continuous moisture. You can also use it between washings to maintain the moisture in your hair. Whether or not you decide to use one or all of these products, you need to use some sort of conditioner to give your hair the moisture it needs. I try to use all the products for maximum moisture.

Why should you use a leave-in conditioner?

Maybe your hair is just fine with just a good shampoo and conditioner. I know that my hair has a difficult time retaining moisture. Leave-in conditioner helps with this problem. Also, when you have thick, curly hair, sometimes you need something besides detangler to make your hair more manageable. This is where leave-in conditioner can come in handy. I believe the most important benefit to leave-in conditioner is that it strengthens your hair. Some leave-ins contain protein. Protein helps in making the shaft of the hair strong. It never hurts to add some additional strength to your hair. This is especially true in places where the water conditions are questionable. I spent a considerable amount of time in places where the water was not only undrinkable but of questionable quality when you are washing your hair. This water used to leave my hair feeling dry. It did not help that I was wearing a hat or some other sort of headgear, without the benefits of a scarf or bonnet. In these types of places, you never know what sort of minerals or chemicals are in the water that can weaken your hair. So, it doesn’t hurt to use some leave-in to give your hair a little extra strength.

How often should I use a leave-in conditioner?

This depends entirely on what your hair needs. Some people need to use it every day to combat dry hair. Or they use it every day to detangle and style their hair for work. It may replace the moisturizers they would normally use. Others use it less often. They may only apply it after a shampoo and conditioner. Then, they may never pick it up again until the next time. You just have to identify how much conditioning your hair needs. It could change week to week, depending on what is happening. If you are constantly losing moisture due to a helmet, maybe daily usage is required.

What is in leave-in conditioner that makes it so helpful?

Don’t forget the primary reason for using a leave-in conditioner is to keep your hair moisturized. Whichever leave-in conditioner you use, it should contain some essential ingredients. It should go without saying that water should be an ingredient. Your hair shaft absorbs and stores water, so leave-in conditioner is just giving your hair what it wants. Depending on your environment, glycerin can be another important ingredient. However, if you live in an extremely humid climate, it can also cause frizz. On the other end of the spectrum, if you live in an extremely dry environment, glycerin can lead to dry hair. If you live in a dry or humid place, there are leave-in conditioners on the market that are glycerin-free. If you live in a place with a mild climate glycerin can keep your hair moisturized. The final main ingredient is oil. My personal favorite is coconut oil, but leave-in can have any number of oils like jojoba, olive oil, or avocado. It just all depends on the brand. The oil helps to give your hair some shine. It also seals in moisture. There are other ingredients that are added to a leave-in conditioner that help with moisture, shine, and scent. For me, it is about experimenting and finding the leave-in that works for me.

Can I use regular conditioner as a leave-in?

Sometimes, you cannot afford to spend money on a separate leave-in conditioner. Other times, you may not have time to go to the store or you realized that you are out of leave-in when you are ready to apply some. Or, maybe you do not want to add another product to the long list of products you already use on your hair. Whatever the case, a leave-in conditioner is not available. In these instances, can you use regular conditioner as a substitute? The answer is yes, but there is a caveat. A regular conditioner is more concentrated than leave-in conditioner. If you decide to use regular conditioner as a leave-in, you need to use less than when you are rinsing it out. If not, you will have a buildup. The buildup will make the other products such as gel less effective. Also, you may have flakes from the excess conditioner.

Conclusion

As you can see, leave-in conditioner is just as important as everything else in your hair maintenance kit. A good leave-in provides different benefits than its cousins rinse-out and deep conditioners. It provides additional moisture after you rinse regular conditioner because water is the main ingredient. You can use it daily to keep your hair manageable, or only after you shampoo and use regular conditioner. It helps in keeping your hair strong when it contains protein. Make sure to be aware of your environment when your leave-in contains glycerin. You can even use a small amount of rinse-out conditioner as a leave-in, just watch out for build-up. You cannot go wrong having a product as versatile and beneficial as leave-in conditioner in your natural hair routine.

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