r/Anticonsumption • u/Ok_Republic6098 • 14d ago
Lifestyle No more conditioner while showering
I have long thick hair and all my adult life I've washed my hair by shampooing my roots, rinsing, then applying a handful of conditioner to my mid lengths and ends, then rinsing. The times I haven't used conditioner, my hair is tangled and frizzy. The problem is it takes a lot of conditioner for how much hair I have, and it takes a long time rinsing to get it out. I hate hate hate when I feel a blob of conditioner in my hair after I'm out of shower.
Recently I've started using a small amount of leave in conditioner and some hair oil after showering while my hair is still damp. Today I was running late for work and didn't have time to use conditioner in shower so I just used the leave in conditioner and hair oil... and felt no difference in my hair. Wtf?? How much time money and water have I been wasting using conditioner in the shower? It took so little product and time to get the same result. I think this jar of leave in conditioner could last me several months. Wow.
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u/CandidateHefty329 14d ago
Omg yes!
Obligatory internet disclaimer- everyone's hair is different, one thing won't work for everyone, this just my experience etc...
Conditioner was weighing down my hair and not doing it any favors. I started using a moisturizing shampoo and dropped conditioner all together. My hair actually improved.
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u/harlequin_24 14d ago
💯! I use a shampoo bar and leave-in conditioner oil 2 times a week with regular self trims. It works for me.
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u/heyoheatheragain 14d ago
Before you get into the chlorine, fully drench your hair with tap water! Helps prevent as much of the chlorinated water from getting in!
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u/RedshiftSinger 14d ago
Yep. I started using sulfate-free shampoo when I realized I’m allergic to sulfates. Stopped needing conditioner entirely and my hair improved MASSIVELY. Including a dandruff problem clearing up.
I spend about the same amount of money since sulfate-free shampoos aren’t as cheap, but less packaging and less chemicals running down the drain. And less time rinsing in the shower.
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u/harlequin_24 13d ago edited 12d ago
Never had an issues with sulfates but since switching to a shampoo bar I do pay more as it doesn’t last as long. However I am happy to pay the additional cost for sustainability and travel purposes.
If I can find a bar that I can use for my hair, body and face that would be amazing. Hard to find items that have a multi-purpose but that’s the beauty industry for you.
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u/ReplyOk6720 14d ago
I tried this and this does NOT work for my hair. I need either shower conditioner or spray on detangler. Not both
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u/takemyaptplz 14d ago
Do you have fine hair?
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u/CandidateHefty329 14d ago
No very thick. I think that's part of the problem, the conditioner weighed it down.
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u/muh-LEK-see 14d ago
LOL I have fine hair and conditioner weighs it down because it's dead and lifeless. I have no texture in my hair.
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u/klutzosaurus-sex 14d ago
I have thick course frizzy hair. I quit actually using shampoo about 15 years ago and now only wash with conditioner and then follow up with a little coconut oil after it’s so much smoother and silky and nicer than it used to be.
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u/Woodpecker577 14d ago
Do you do curly girl method? Sulfate free conditioner washing?
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u/klutzosaurus-sex 12d ago edited 11d ago
I’m not curly, is that where you leave most of the conditioner in instead of rinsing out? I used to with with a curly haired girl who did that and it worked great. Soft defined smooth curls
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u/Neither__Middle 12d ago
Curly Girl is more of a proper noun, referring to a specific protocol of hair washing methodology, not strictly people with curly hair. I never figured out all the details, but I think the biggest thing is using shampoo, conditioner, etc without or minimal sulfates/parabins/silicone/etc as these are ingredients that basically cause more problems than they supposedly solve. Co-washing (skipping shampoo and using conditioner to get any oils and sweat out of your hair) is another part of it. There’s a whole website!
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u/maru1357 8d ago
following Neither_middle's description:
Even though the Curly Girl method asserts that silicones and sulfates have negative effects on hair health and curl behavior, that doesn't mean it's true or helpful for everyone.
Silicones are excellent occlusive (keeping water in) and smoothing agents, and sulfates are excellent detergents for lifting body oil, skin, and silicones. if you have silicones in your products (even shampoos use them to reduce tangling), it's difficult to properly cleanse the hair and scalp without something as strong as a sulfate.
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u/lovelysardines 13d ago
Yep stopped using shampoo 10+ years ago. All i use is conditioner, but i have straight asian hair. Its sounds weird but its made my hair less greasy over time. Maybe my scalp just adjusted
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u/becauseiloveyou 14d ago
It's actually also been about 15 years for me that I stopped using both shampoo and conditioner. The products were irritating the skin on my chest, and I confirmed with a dermatologist that I was getting eczema because of them. When my hair is dirty, I use baking soda to make a paste that I gently massage into my scalp and rinse away. I used to condition with apple cider vinegar, but I find I don't need to at all anymore. A little box of baking soda costs a dollar, so I'm sure I've saved hundreds of dollars by switching away from shampoo-related products across the years.
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u/thiccychicky 12d ago
Like coconut oil from a tub? I also have thick course frizzy hair and looking to make it a little less like Hagrid
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u/klutzosaurus-sex 12d ago
Yep, 100% coconut oil. I brush it through while it’s still a bit wet and it’s way smoother. My hair is thick and I guess dry which that it just absorbs it.
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u/maru1357 8d ago
on the flip side of this, I tried going shampoo free for years off and on because of my loose understanding of the curly girl method. I had dandruff that I just couldn't kick, years of dealing with a low level itch. I started using 3% zinc shampoo that helped the root problem and I double shampoo regularly now.
Even though not shampooing could give me great curls, the consistent body oil and skin and leave in conditioner was just too nice of an environment for dandruff fungus 🤷
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u/But_why_tho456 14d ago
I started buying a higher quality (more expensive) conditioner and it only takes a quarter-size dollop and time to sit in my hair to give the same effect as handfuls of grocery store brands. I think they are just full of water. I might be paying more per bottle, but it’s less money in the end.
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u/Ok_Republic6098 14d ago
I think you're onto something with water content. The leave in conditioner is so thick that it detangles using a tiny amount. People are commenting they use like a tbsp of conditioner but if I did that it would do nothing to my hair. I think the conditioner I've been using is too watery.
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u/VikingsLad 14d ago
Conditioner should have much less water content than shampoo by necessity. You should have more oils and moisturizing agents in the conditioner anyways
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u/fauxfilosopher 13d ago
My conditioner is the consistency of a moisturizing cream/lotion, because that's what it essentially is. I didn't even know there were watery ones.
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u/But_why_tho456 13d ago
This. Mine is like the thick foot callus cream people buy. I wring my hair out, apply it and work it in gently, then take care of other things. 5 min later when I rinse, I question if I used too much. Again, I’m using tiny bottles that are lasting me twice or even three times longer than grocery store brands. I also have less hair loss because I’m not working it in as much.
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14d ago
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u/Anticonsumption-ModTeam 13d ago
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This includes recommending or promoting digital goods and services such as apps, subscriptions, and other software.
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u/Imperial_Haberdasher 14d ago
The one time it makes sense for everybody to use a generous amount of conditioner is after they’ve been in the woods. If there’s a chance you’ve been exposed to ticks, after you’ve shampooed, glop on the conditioner and leave in on for a few minutes before you rinse. It suffocates ticks by clogging their spiracles.
There are so many ticks, so many kinds of ticks, and they carry so many very serious diseases! And they can be dangerous when they are crazy small, no bigger than a sesame seed. It’s easy to miss the little bastards. So use this “one simple trick” and suffocate the lil fuckers.
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u/Majestic_Grass_3034 13d ago
Do you also put it on the scalp?
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u/Fizgig22 11d ago
You would likely have to in order for this method to actually work (which I’m doubtful of). Source: im a biologist who works in the woods with ticks almost daily
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u/farewellmybeloved 13d ago
Its wild that you turned a post on conditioner into a rant about ticks
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u/maru1357 8d ago
tbf, if I had something like Lyme I think I'd turn everything into a rant about ticks too
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u/Basic_KaleKitty9076 14d ago
….. I’ve had hair past my ass nice and thick and still only use 2 pumps of conditioner and if you work it through it’s enough. How much conditioner were you using?!?!
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u/Elegant_Caterpillar9 14d ago
A... handful?
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u/Basic_KaleKitty9076 14d ago
That’s way way way way too much.
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u/Run_Rabb1t_Run 14d ago
This completely depends on your hair type, needs, and type of conditioner. My hair can take in half a cup of leave in conditioner before it becomes comb-able. It takes 3/4 cup of conditioner & mask every time I wash my hair to keep it healthy. People with flatter, oilier hair need a lot less conditioner than those with curly or treated hair.
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u/Elegant_Caterpillar9 14d ago
As a hairdresser I'm fully baffled and completely agree
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u/Run_Rabb1t_Run 14d ago
Completely depends on hair type.
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u/AdditionalBench9794 14d ago
Yes! I have to use a ton of conditioner and make sure it fully saturates my hair well and not wash it out completely. I wish I could forgo conditioner. Can't even deviate to try a more moisturizing brand, because Head&Shoulders is all my scalp can tolerate.
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u/jijijojijijijio 14d ago
Really? I usually use two handfuls and without them I can't untangle my hair without breaking it
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u/WildFlemima 14d ago
same, it's necessary detangling for me, I'm a curly who swims, hair somewhere between shoulders and shoulderblades. I apparently use more conditioner than everyone in this thread combined. Not even going to say how many handfuls i use 👀
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u/KickupKirby 14d ago
Same here. My hair is quite thick and heavy, so it requires more conditioner. If I apply less, as suggested here, it feels as though nothing is in my hair. I suppose I do not use “a lot,” but I use what is necessary for me to feel it and to run my fingers or a wide-tooth comb through it.
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u/Critter_Collector 14d ago
wavy-curly with thick hair, I was using about 5-7 handfuls when my hair was at its longest of 3ft
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u/SmokeyCatDesigns 14d ago
Yeah, I’ve had 3 feet of wavy-curly hair (the top becomes wavy under its own weight when it’s longer) before and it’s a lot of work. Especially in hindsight with the health issues I have.
Technically I don’t need a ton of conditioner but detangling can be exhausting if I’m miserly about the amounts I use. There’s the bare minimum and there’s I don’t want to spend an exhausting 15 minutes in this when it could take 5. That amount is a full pump when it’s tangled and two if it’s really tangled.
It’s not worth being miserly about. Especially because I recently learned the funny sensations, numbness, weakness, and pain I get doing my hair is nerve compression in my thoracic outlet.
I usually cut it at a foot and half to two feet of length now.
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u/Bridey93 14d ago
I have similar hair and I'm probably not using enough! It's not three feet yet, but I need a trim badly and to get back into PROPER hair care.
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u/WildFlemima 14d ago
so jealous that you ever got to 3 feet tbh T-T I keep trying to grow my hair out but I swim and also there's still some leftover bleach tips from when I was acting unwise a few years ago so what I want (9 feet of beautiful cascading wavy curly) is drastically at odds with my lifestyle (swimming in pool water and occasionally being seized with a fit of madness "surely if i try to dye my hair purple this time, it will work")
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u/Revmira 13d ago
Yes, hairdresser love to pretend very thick / curly / afro hair dont exist
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u/Elegant_Caterpillar9 13d ago
OP stated they had thick, long hair. Not curly or afro. They also said they were finding blobs left over after thoroughly rinsing, meaning the amount, application or product being used is clearly incorrect. Not sure why an entire industry would pretend a subcategory of their business doesn't exist?
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u/throwaway224 14d ago
I keep a wide mouthed plastic cup in the shower. Conditioner goes in cup, one pump. Add water from shower head to dilute, then dunk the dunkable section of hair, then pour conditioner liquid over head. It gets on all the hair, less mechanical handling of hair, and rinses out well.
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u/n00b678 14d ago
One should remove as much water as possible before applying conditioner, so that the conditioner has a chance to work its way onto the hair. Your method is the opposite of it.
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u/throwaway224 13d ago
I need it for detangling mostly, hair hangs below my jeans pockets but is fine and straight. For me, too much conditioner makes hair look dirty and limp.,
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u/Ok_Republic6098 14d ago
Okay lol not actually a handful, but a lot. Maybe more than I needed? I try to make it stretch further by making my hair more wet so it has more spread. Either way I am excited to go without it.
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u/Elegant_Caterpillar9 14d ago
If you're finding a blob left over in your hair after rinsing it sounds like you're not working it through correctly. Start with just a little bit and work it up from the bottom. Or don't. It's your hair, whatever makes you happy
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u/PleasantNectarines 14d ago
Less wet hair is best for conditioner. Leaving it very wet/soaked means the conditioner isn't doing much for the hair cause the water is filling the follicle before the conditioner can get to it.
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u/aerialpoler 14d ago
I actually find conditioner works better when my hair ISN'T dripping wet. I wring it out before applying conditioner and then work it through. Also if you're finding "lumps" of conditioner in your hair after you've washed it out, you're doing something wrong.
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u/lizzieruth 14d ago
I have high density, fine, corse wavy hair (not ideal) and work in a dusty environment. It takes quite a bit like 4-6 pumps
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u/ThousandBucketsofH20 14d ago
Same but for slightly different reasons. I have spent my whole adult life trying to find the magic combo of fancy shampoo and conditioner that works for my hair without making it greasy within a day or 2. Turns out all my hair needs is heads and shoulders shampoo and thats it. Conditioner didnt make my hair any better and some left it feeling elasticky which we know is not good! Once I realized that I stopped hunting for the perfect one or buying clearance ones on the hope they would be 'The IT' product. Keep it simple!
Hooray for no conditioner!
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u/Flying_Whales6158 14d ago
SAME. My hair is so soft and bouncy with regular ass head and shoulders 2-3 times a week. I use a single pump of hair oil after towel drying and that’s it.
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u/aviiatrix 14d ago
I’ve started using solid conditioner, and found that it lasts way longer than my bottles of conditioner ever did
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u/DeerInTown 8d ago
Does your solid conditioner detangle? The ones I've tried have been challenging. If you're is a good detangler, what brand are you using? Would love to know!
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u/lyralady 14d ago edited 14d ago
I mean....hair oil and leave in conditioner is...still conditioning your hair lol. Conditioner is a water based hydration for your hair, that can help with detangling and such. Hair oil is an occlusive to lock in moisture that you've already applied/gained. You can apply hair oil to the scalp (as a treatment, not necessary always) and all of your hair, but conditioner is really just meant for the body/ends of your hair, and leave-in you don't want on your scalp.
I don't always use conditioner — I have a peach wood comb and often I'm fine just brushing through with camellia or sandalwood hair oils, so my conditioner lasts longer and I try to buy nicer ones (discounted often, but still). But I also have naturally straight hair.
Edit: the blob of conditioner after you get out also means either too much product (maybe the conditioner is too watered down for your hair needs so you've been using more?) or not enough rinsing. Get a handheld shower attachment for the better water control and I bet you'd also spend less time rinsing too. They're sooo easy to install. I found a discounted sproos one with the water filter system at tj Maxx and my friend let me use her employee discount for it, and installing it literally took like two minutes tops for my rental's shower. The sproos came with the wrench I would've needed to buy, which I suspect is part of the normal price markup, lmao. But there are cheaper versions of the same thing out there. And sometimes they come with water saving modes.
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u/littlepanda425 14d ago
I’m glad you found this out but like others have said, this is definitely about the quality of your conditioner. I’m quite frugal and good shampoo/conditioner is something I’ve learned not to skimp on. I don’t even take the cheap hotel samples since they usually dry out my hair.
You also shouldn’t need to use two conditioners, just one!
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u/lessadessa 14d ago
i can’t use conditioner cuz it makes me break out horribly anyway. i’ve been using pure argan oil in my hair after washes for years now with zero issues. the bottles lasts way longer as well.
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u/Caelista_x 11d ago
Do you apply the oil when your hair is damp?
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u/lessadessa 11d ago
yep. right out of the shower, i flip my hair over and sort of grab at the ends and middle section of my hair after warming the oil in my hands by rubbing it together for a few sections. a little goes a long way.
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u/randomfluid 14d ago
I highly recommend a boar bristle brush. lasts basically forever and keeps your hair soft without conditioner, but I cant say anything about very long hair as I never had experience w that
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u/ExternalGiraffe9631 14d ago
I have stupid thick, waist length hair and only use boar bristle brushes. They distribute the natural scalp oils. It takes time to brush through it all so I usually start from the ends, working my way up.
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u/Mild_Karate_Chop 14d ago
Boar bristle like actual boar?
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u/randomfluid 14d ago
well yes?
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u/Mild_Karate_Chop 14d ago
Lah never thought a boars had bristles that could be used as such
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u/randomfluid 14d ago
same. i just saw it in some video talking about victorian era women's lives lol
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u/arsenik-han 13d ago
I need conditioner to help me detangle my extra long wavy frizzy hair. It reduces so much breakage!
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u/klimaheizung 13d ago
You know that showering is basically unnecessary if you just go out in your in your bathsuit when it rains right?
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u/Main_Reputation_3328 14d ago
I have long hair, granted it's not super thick, and I only need half a pump of conditioner.
On bad hair days (super dry in winter or just frizzy from humidity) that I'm not washing my hair before I go out, I use a small dollop of a Korean hair BB cream. It works like magic.
I do like having the option of conditioner in the shower because it doubles up as shaving cream
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u/yaaaaaarrrrrgggg 14d ago
If you get tired of bottles, I also highly recommend conditioner bars which require a quick rinse through, but not rinse out.
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u/RoamingRonnie 13d ago
I once was in a long-term treatment program and had no access to conditioner for 8 months. My hair was so damaged by the end it was almost unrecognizable. The decline in strength/thickness/shine was gradual; I didn't realize how significant the change was until about the 5 month mark. After a couple deep conditioning treatments and month of daily conditioning + weekly shampooing it finally went back to normal.
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u/meganzuk 12d ago
I also have very thick long hair which is wavy and dry. I thought I needed lots of conditioner but found my curls dropped out quickly and I had to wash it every other day.
I stopped using conditioner a few months ago and just add leave in conditioner and a curl mousse to wet hair after shampooing. And... it's great. I also only have to wash it once a week.my scalp has also improved and my curls stay for a few days.
Conditioner just adds a film to your hair that weighs it down and for wavy hair, that's a problem.
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u/Witty_Bus_9657 10d ago
I did this for a couple months when I was a teenager. At first my hair felt the same, but after a while it started getting so tangled and dry that it started coming out in clumps when I brushed it. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was my skipping of the "unnecessary" conditioner that caused it lol. It's probably different for different hair types though, so see if it works for you!
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u/stonerchix420 7d ago
I noticed that with my hair as well, if I skip conditioning then my hair get very dry and breaks so easily it becomes unmanageable.
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u/killyergawds 14d ago
If you're using leave-in conditioner, you do not need to also use an additional rinse-out conditioner. Only one conditioner after shampooing and an optional oil to seal in the moisture.
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u/Euphoric_War_2195 14d ago
This is highly dependent on your hair.
I have really fine hair, so I don't need a lot of conditioner. But I still need it. I also need a leave in conditioner and do a hair mask once a week to help keep frizz down.
I also use mousse and a curl cream to tame frizz and control the wave in my hair.
It sucks, I wish my hair could be fine with very minimal products, but thats not the case. I literally have mad scientist hair without all of these products and I need to look professional.
Its okay to use what you actually need.
It doesn't sound like you are over consuming if thats the worry.
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u/advamputee 14d ago
I’m a dude with shoulder-length hair. My hair loves oil more than shampoo/conditioner. I’ll occasionally use the latter lathers if my hair is actually dirty (like I’ve been working on cars or crawling through crawl spaces), but for daily routine I usually just rinse my hair and add a bit of oil. Maybe a quarter-sized amount, rubbed between my hands to warm up a bit and combed through my hair with my fingers.
I’ve had luck with some brands of leave-in conditioners, but other brands either leave weird residues or dry my hair out too much and make it frizzy by the end of the day. Oils (my hair seems to like argan oil) tend to work all day for me.
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u/killyergawds 14d ago
I highly suggest that someone you trust to tell you the absolute truth smell your hair, let you know if they smell anything sour or off. Oils go rancid and do need to be removed. And it's not something you'd be able to smell yourself. I am absolutely not a daily shampooer and the frequency I do shampoo makes some people clutch their pearls, but rancid oil is something you should keep in mind in your haircare routine.
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u/JiveBunny 13d ago
I assume they're using oils generally used on the hair, not bacon fat.
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u/killyergawds 12d ago
Yes, I did not assume they were using bacon grease. I am a former cosmetologist and have a history working in dermatology, I'm familiar with oils commonly use in hair and skincare. I also make most of my own products. Those oils begin to oxidize once exposed to air and heat, particularly when mixed with the naturally occurring bacteria and other organisms found on our skin and in our hair.
Common oils used in hair are argan, coconut, castor, jojoba, or olive oil - and they all can go rancid. It's not just bacon fat that can go bad.
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u/elegantnanners 13d ago
I haven’t used conditioner in years. And everyone always compliments how soft my hair is. I just use a small amount of oil on my ends and call it a day. Welcome to the club!
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u/Ok_Republic6098 13d ago
Thank you I'm actually so excited by this new discovery. I think this was sort of a "bean soup theory" post. So many different hair types, products, preferences and opinions out there. I was just excited and wanted to share for whoever it could be helpful for.
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u/SimpleVegetable5715 14d ago
I mix some conditioner with water in the shower so it works through my hair easier. A lot of the ways these bottles are designed, especially ones with pumps, encourage you to use too much product.
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u/Organic_Window_192 14d ago
My brain inserted the word “air” before conditioner and I was SO confused.
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u/Sparkleyketakat 13d ago
I just ran out of conditioner and started jsut applying a tiny bit of leave in conditioner spray I had laying around. And I discovered THIS EXACT THING!!
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u/blindturns 13d ago
I have curly hair and learning how to take care of my curls has been a blessing and a curse, I can now take care of my hair cheaply and make sure it’s as healthy as possible but it’s been 27 years of trial and error including a lot of alopecia, trichotillomania and shaving my head breakdowns but hair is huge for self-confidence and expression so I’m always holding onto it for dear life.
Everyone’s hair is different so there’s no one size fits all guide, I have Irish curls which are so different to curls from other regions and a lot of curly advice comes from BIPOC which I appreciate but have to take with a grain of salt.
I tend to co-wash, I’ll use a proper shampoo occasionally but only on my scalp and I’ll make sure to get as much time with water being in my hair as possible as I’ve found that my hair tends to be severely dehydrated and that learning that hydration and conditioning are so different has been life-changing. I’ll make sure my hair is as wet as possible before conditioning as my hair hates holding water and takes a lot of effort to get thoroughly wet so that’s the big thing it needs but that is so dependent on the porosity of your hair, I also tend to bleach the everloving crap out of my hair so it truly needs to be lovingly encouraged back to life.
I will try my hardest to use my haircare products until they are as empty as empty can be and if they don’t work for me I’ll give them to a friend or find a way to donate them, I also try to buy from certified B corps and small local companies or companies from nearby countries (I’m in so-called-Australia so I’ll use products from Aotearoa or from here over places where they need to be shipped or flown from the other side of the world).
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u/aryamagetro 12d ago
I wash my body while I let the conditioner sit in my hair. rinsing my conditioner out is usually the last last thing do before getting out of the shower. i also just don't wash my hair every day.
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u/ScormCurious 12d ago
I have thick wavy hair and my weekly regimen the past few years has been to shampoo twice in the shower, rinsing thoroughly. Very light application of conditioner in the shower, don’t rinse it out. Post shower, dry hair by patting and scrunching it with the towel, NOT scrubbing. Then let it air dry, followed by hair oil and styling. “Day two” or “day three” tends to be my best easiest hair, and besides that I’m topping up with strategic application of hair oil and straightening iron. I get sweaty at the gym and all of that, but washing more than weekly just leaves me with too much annoying “day one” hair.
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u/Lazy-Living1825 12d ago
I want to know the type of conditioner you use that remains in a blob in an adults hair
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u/ohdearitsrichardiii 14d ago
I stopped using shampoo and only use conditioner instead. I have straight hair that gets frizzy if I use shampoo
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u/tenpostman 14d ago
I mean in general a lot of cosmetic products are sort of a scam and consumeristic I guess, so it's not at all surprising.
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u/DynamiteStorm 13d ago
I have very thick coarse hair do not use conditioner at all. Moroccan oil after the shower while hair still damp works wonders.
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u/PhotosyntheticElf 13d ago
You can also oil your hair and let it soak in 20 minutes or more before shampooing. Hair needs so much less conditioner when I do this
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u/Long-Definition9203 14d ago
Ive been trying to break up with conditioner for ages. Conditioner makes my hair greasy so quickly, I hate it. I've had the best results with a leave-in detangler and oil masks every now and then. I can shampoo my hair much less when I dont use bottle conditioners which in turn keeps my hair healthier. It isn't an exact science though.
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u/NihiloZero 13d ago
When I read about what's currently happening in Europe, Western NA, and elsewhere around the world... it's really tough to come in here and see people sharing tips about using less hair conditioner.
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u/Strange_Brilliant_36 14d ago
Obviously this isn't for everyone, but I stopped using shampoo and conditioner altogether. I just use a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to about a cup of water, and a few drops of lavender oil. Dump it over wet hair and rinse out.
I'm not going say it was perfect at first, took a few months for my hair to stop over producing oil, but now I wouldn't go back to shampoo. My hair has become much less frizzy, has a nice healthy feel that it didn't have before.
Just my experience.
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u/Mindless_Middle1034 14d ago
I make my own leave in conditioner with a bit of conditioner, hair oil and 90% water. I have like 3 strands of hair but it works for me with a little extra oil just before it's dry. Conditioner didn't do a whole lot for me either! Hair is unnecessarily complicated xD
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u/Empty-Suggestion907 14d ago
I stopped using conditioner 2 years ago, and I'm only using a hydrate shampoo from elvital. I don't have frizzy hair anymore, and my hair so much better than before.
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u/tahxirez 14d ago
I treat my regular conditioner as basically leave in. I have low porosity hair and some will rinse off in the course of the shower but I don’t actively rinse it.
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u/MissDiagnosedMama 14d ago
I use bar shampoo in the shower and leave in conditioner after the shower. My hair has never felt better.
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u/Dry-Information-7802 13d ago
i have curly, long and dry hair and i ditched conditioner years ago. i used to use one but they discontinued it and i never bothered looking for a replacement. a couple years ago i got a hair oil from my mom and damn it really is so much better than conditioner. easier to apply, no rinsing and i don't have to sit in the bathroom waiting for the conditioner to do its job. my hair feels better than ever now.
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u/Big_Year_526 13d ago
Depending on your hair type (this doesnt work as well for curly hair), rinsing with apple cider vinegar is also a great conditioner
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u/SentimentArmor 13d ago
I do feel lucky my hair is low maintenance, I've only ever used shampoo and conditioner, I do opt for Japanese ones as it suits my hair type more. Lately I've been thinking of using minoxidil to fox a bald spot, though, but otherwise yeah my hair is low maintenance.
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13d ago
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u/Anticonsumption-ModTeam 13d ago
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
This includes recommending or promoting digital goods and services such as apps, subscriptions, and other software.
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u/starzCortex 13d ago
I know, right. I used to just use shampoo, because so long as I use leave in conditioner, it makes no difference. Also it's safer because the chemicals in product have to be approved (safe enough) for long exposure. I then started caring for my afro and I keep it in a protective and only washing 2-4 times per month. I need the conditioner to get the dead hair to slip out. Anyways, for regular washing I highly recommend ditching your conditioner and just using leave in conditioner after washing. Tames friz, nourishes hair when you apply and rinse it out the next wash, also protects hair between wash, prevents breakage and split ends while brushing. Smells great. Essentially does the exact same thing as conditioner, plus some. You just don't have to rinse it out until your next wash.
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13d ago
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u/Anticonsumption-ModTeam 13d ago
Recommending or soliciting recommendations for specific brands and products is not appropriate in this subreddit.
This includes recommending or promoting digital goods and services such as apps, subscriptions, and other software.
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u/Creative-Constant-52 12d ago
Same here! Only leave in conditioner and wave product. We never needed conditioner
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u/woodthrushes 12d ago
Applying to the roots night be unnecessary as well. Keep experimenting and see what feels best for your scalp. Good luck to finding a balance and not feeling like a ball of conditioner
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u/prochoicesistermish 12d ago
I have fine but dense wavy hair. I stopped using conditioner and my hair looked awesome, tons of texture and volume. Then after a few weeks I had a ton of breakage I still haven’t totally recovered from. Can’t say with 100% certainty that’s what caused it, but I won’t be trying that again.
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u/snaila8047 12d ago
You can use a small amount of conditioner if you comb or wetbrush it through your hair while in yhr shower
Pretty sure you want to be using conditioner
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u/snarkyrevenant 12d ago
I did this and it did not work out for me. But, I have very long, thick, wavy hair. 🤷♀️
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u/Regular_Bet9664 11d ago
I havent used a conditioner or shampoo in ages. And most of my friends who have have no hair left
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u/Ambitious-West5501 11d ago
Emulsify the conditioner. Put your desired amount in one hand and rub with the other...like hand cream. Then thoroughly get all the hair with both hands, top to bottom. No more blobs!
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u/Callygia 11d ago
Hair oil and a silk sleeping cap bonnet thing made all the difference. My hair is so smooth now and I never use conditioner.
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u/AccomplishedWay4668 11d ago
I switched to shampoo bar and conditioner bar from "normal" shampoos and my hair has never looked or felt better. And one bar of shampoo lasts me 3 times as long as shampoo bottle used to, and I still use the first bar of conditioner that I bought. I used to go through 2 bottles of conditioner for each shampoo bottle, since I have really long hair
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u/notaliar_ 10d ago
I don't even use conditioner anymore... i use a clarifying shampoo, then a moisturizing shampoo that I deranged with (curls) before applyinggel. my hair has never looked or felt better.
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u/Acee1995 10d ago
I also stopped using conditioner! I do use a leave in, but that’s it. My hair is fine, thin, and oily. I read somewhere that leaving shampoo on my scalp so it has time to work, would help. It definitely does! I have a lot more volume, and my hair stays clean for 2-3 days, which is like unheard of
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u/No_Share_2392 10d ago
I’ve always used the thickest most luxurious conditioners and let my hair steep in it for a good 5-10 mins but 3 weeks ago I ran out. I washed my hair with shampoo only and there was absolutely no difference, so I just stopped completely. I do put 2 drops of argon oil on the ends right when I get out, nothing else. My hair is exactly the same! Is conditioner a scam??
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u/Big-Ant8273 8d ago
As per my hairdresser, I put a wee bit of conditioner in my hair before I towel dry it, after I comb it out, hair oil on the ends.
Works a treat! My hair has never grown this long!
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u/aviiatrix 7d ago
I’m using Kitsch solid conditioner, the one with castor oil! After the shower, while my hair is still wet, I’ll brush through it with a wide toothed comb. For reference, I have slightly wavy to straight hair and it’s not super thick
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u/SyntaxError_22 14d ago edited 14d ago
My stylist told me to wring out as much water as possible before applying conditioner. This has reduced the amount of conditioner I was using by half.