Best conditioner for very dry, damaged hair?

[lolablue]

I'm new here but am a regular on the hair board of makeupalley.com, so I learned a lot there. I'm currently co washing 2-3x/week (with Vo5 to clean my scalp and Loreal hydragloss on the length) and washing with a mild sulfate shampoo once a week.

My problem is my hair has been super dry and it seems no matter how gentle I am (little heat styling and styling products, stopped coloring 6 mos ago), it still breaks off and is very dry. I'm basically looking for a truly moisturizing conditioner for very fine hair.I know I'm dry/damaged from years of colorings that were done (improperly) at home.

Thanks for any suggestions and I'm looking forward to posting/reading more.

[chrissy-b]

Hi and welcome to LHC! :waving:

My favorite conditioner of all time is Biolage's Conditioning Balm. It's very moisturizing and doesn't weigh down my fine hair. It is a little spendy, but Sally's makes a generic version and it is almost as good.

You may also want to try a leave-in and possibly shea butter or oil to protect the ends (depending on how your hair reacts to oils). For a deep moisture treatment I would definitely try a SMT (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=128&highlight=snowymoon) I actually did one tonight and my hair is soooooo soft! I hadn't done it in so long and I forgot how wonderful my hair feels after.

As a last resort, you may have to simply trim off the damaged ends. My hair was breaking off so badly from repeated coloring and heat styling that I had to chop. While I'm still growing out the color, my hair is now the length it was when I chopped about 9 months ago but in much better condition.

Good luck with finding something that works. I'm sure others will help too, and you'll find tons of info by searching the boards.

[Anlbe]

I have very dry brittle hair which I highlight - hence it's also damaged. The conditioner which changed my life was aveda damage remedy treatment, hair heaven. Also I have to use it tiny bit of jojoba oil on the hair at the nape and ends otherwise I get a birds nest which of corse causes alot of breakage. Hope this helps.

[OR Cowgirl]

It could be that your hair needs some protein too. I have coated my ponytail in high-fat all natural yogurt, wrapped it in plastic wrap and left it for an hour. Then rinsed it out very well and coated it with a moisturizing conditioner, wrapped and left for an hour also. It made my hair very soft and silky! But remember to always follow protein treatments with moisturizing treatments immediately.

Mariah

[lolablue]

:waving:

My favorite conditioner of all time is Biolage's Conditioning Balm. It's very moisturizing and doesn't weigh down my fine hair. It is a little spendy, but Sally's makes a generic version and it is almost as good.

Yes! I was wanting to try the generic version. I'm glad it's just as good.

(Sorry, I'm just learning how to reply with a quote,so I hope it comes out okay).

I'll also look into something with shea butter. I used to use Jessicurl Too Shea and that was nice. Thank you!

[Aditi]

Hey and welcome to LHC :flower:. You already have very good inputs from some of the members of the community. Even i have dry hairs and so i use Wella Rich Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner for my hair and after wash apply a very little amount of live-in serum in my hair. That makes my hair much more manageable and less prone to breakage. Even deep conditioning treatment or protein treatment once in a month is a very good starter for repairing your hair. and also i would like to suggest you that you go through articles of this community you will learn a lot from them. All the Best:thumbsup:.

[Marlowe]

Out of all the conditioners I've tried I've found the Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner to be the most moisturizing, followed by the NOW brand 'Herbal Revival' one. I've also found it helps to towel dry your hair a bit before putting the conditioner on to sit for a few minutes to let it absorb better.

[plainjanegirl]

Pantene offers a deep conditioner it comes in a tub like container and it is very good but a bit cheaper.

[Kirin]

the recommendations you are getting are great, and as far as products I have little to add. However, with the change of seasons too, if your hair is becoming drier and drier, you might want to invest in a humidifier for your house.

My hair just this past week is turning disasterously dry, no matter what I put on it. I got a humidity guage for my house, and realized my house is running at about 30 percent relative humidity, which is actually cracklingly dry. Since i got it around three years ago, I use that as my cue that the air around me is too dry. When the air is dry, the air will leech moisture from hair and skin, bleh.

If you cant afford a humidifier, or don't want the hassle of one, definately try keeping a few open containers of water around the house (such as in pans and the like). If my household air gets below 30 percent, to the point i crackle on everything I touch, I boil a teakettle for ten minutes letting it steam up the place. My hair then returns to happiness.

[lolablue]

Out of all the conditioners I've tried I've found the Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner to be the most moisturizing, followed by the NOW brand 'Herbal Revival' one. I've also found it helps to towel dry your hair a bit before putting the conditioner on to sit for a few minutes to let it absorb better.

I was interested in AO but wasn't sure I could use on very fine hair. I'll look into the NOW product. Thanks!

[Dark40]

Hi and welcome! :) I'd say the best conditioner for very dry and damaged hair is Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioning Cream. I use that religiously. It really moisturizes my chemically-treated hair. I use it once or twice a week.

[thunderseed]

My hair used to be super dry and brittle, and now it's very soft and moisturized and healthy, and the most important thing is using a Clarifying shampoo (I prefer the one by Paul Mitchel) about once a week to remove product build up, chlorine and other impurities that dry out the hair.

I started shampooing my scalp only (except for the time when I use the clarifying shampoo), and conditioning the rest of my hair. I LOVE the Live Clean Unscented or Argan Oil Conditioner, those conditioners are completely natural and healthy, and they are super creamy and moisturizing. Plus they are really cheap. I leave the conditioner in for a few minutes, and then rinse.
The second most important step is applying about 2 palm fulls of avocado oil into my hair when it is wet or damp (I have long hair so only use as much as it takes to saturate your hair, but not make it too oily). The oil will absorb into the hair as it dries. It does not work when the hair is dry, only when the hair is wet or damp. I've tried all other oils, but avocodo oil is the one that makes my hair the most soft and moisturized out of all of them, plus I like using it for cooking, so I always have a huge bottle of it around.

[Upside Down]

A lot of people (me included), you can do a search for it, swear hy Joico kpak, protein treatment, and their intense hydrator.

i use it once a month or so, when I feel my hair needs it, and also their clarifying shampoo (I use silicones). They are pricey but they last a very long time.

[Groovy Granny]

I have fine wispy silver and love Joico K-PAK Intense Hydration :love: