Instant Conditioners
Designed for regular/daily use
Watery
Best for people with thin or oily hair
Don't deep condition well, they are very much surface acting
If you use an instant conditioner you also need a deep conditioner for weekly use
2. Cream-rinse (a.k.a. creme-rinse) conditioners
Great for detangling
Great for heat protection, so you can use this type of conditioner AFTER your regular condition and shampoo for heat protection element
Cream-rinse conditioners generally do not contain all the moisturizers, oils and ingredients that are strongly attracted to hair as found in a deep conditioner, a moisturizing conditioner or a protein conditioner. On average they are also thinner in consistency.
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3. Deep conditioners
Boost moisture
Boost protein
Strengthen the hair strands
Should be ideally done weekly or every 10 days
To improve product take-up, I wear a shower cap, blow dry on top of it for a couple of minutes then wear a thick scarf over the shower cap to trap the heat
4. Moisturising conditioners
Boost moisture
Boost hair elasticity
Reduce frizz
5. Protein conditioners
Temporarily rebuild damage along the hair's cuticle
They are surface acting so when you wash your hair you remove this protein
Also contain moisture boosting element unlike "protein reconstructors / treatments"
Protein reconstructors / treatments
Not really a conditioner because a conditioner is designed to boost moisture and protein treatments don't do that at all. In fact, you have to condition your hair after using one
Act on a deeper level, i.e. they penetrate the hair shaft they don't just act on the surface
Ideal for porous or damaged hair
If your hair is already healthy and balanced they will dry your hair out so don't overuse
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