Leave in conditioner, good or bad

[HotRag]

Today I for the first time used usual conditioner as leave in. I used a very small amount from my washing conditioner.

It feels really great! Like generously oiled, but do not look oiled, and do not draw dust and lint.

But I wonder if anyone know about if it is bad to use usual conditioner as leave in. Will it harm in any way? Should it just be used for a limited time, rinsed out? Could i dry my hair by forming a film like cones?

I checked a leave in conditioner (for dogs) that I found in the pharmacy, and the ingredients looked like the ones in usual conditioner. So are they (conditioner to rinse out and leave in conditioner) the same, but with different amount of water?

[Naava]

As far as I know, leave in conditioners are pretty much the same stuff as regular, only a little lighter.

I have used normal conditioner as a leave in for a couple of years and nothing bad has happened because of it :)

[HotRag]

As far as I know, leave in conditioners are pretty much the same stuff as regular, only a little lighter.

I have used normal conditioner as a leave in for a couple of years and nothing bad has happened because of it :)
Good, I think I will keep using it, if it keeps on feeling as good as now, and if nobody comes into this thread and tells something bad about it.

I don't know anything about leave in conditioners, so I don't know if they are considered good or not.

[Mairéad]

I got some of the most compliments on my hair after leaving just a tiny bit of my usual conditioner in. :)

As long as you don't accidentally put too much in it should be fine.

[virgo75]

My hair is more curly than yours, but I can't live without leaving in conditioner.
My hair would be a big poufy mess! :lol:
It would also be dry. :(

Leave ins are a good thing I think.

If it starts to build up, you could always stop using it. ;)

[Carolyn]

You should be fine using your regular conditioner as a leave in. I've done it with various conditioners for years and I've used different commercial leave ins. Both worked fine. I've often put too much on which meant I had to bun it and maybe wash it again sooner than planned. I always have hair lint, leave in or not leave in. I'd love to have that go away :D

[ButterCup02]

I use my normal conditioner as a leave in as well :) Do it every time after I wash it. It's never hurt it, always makes it a lot nicer!

[GRU]

This is one of the main parts of The Curly Girl Method. It's totally fine to leave "regular" conditioner in your hair -- I'm one who does it with EVERY CO-wash or WO-rinse.

Check out this site (http://tightlycurly.com/technique/curlyprimer/) and you'll see just how much conditioner some of us curlies leave in every day... it might shock you!

[Chamomile betty]

Hey if you love it go for it.
I have been using Suave Humectant Conditioner a few times a week as a leave in. Honestly, I didn't care for it as a regular conditioner but found it works better as a leave in. I did it just on a whim and have loved it ever since.
Just make sure to watch for buildup if any.

[HotRag]

Thank you all for your answers and thoughts!


This is one of the main parts of The Curly Girl Method. It's totally fine to leave "regular" conditioner in your hair -- I'm one who does it with EVERY CO-wash or WO-rinse.

Check out this site (http://tightlycurly.com/technique/curlyprimer/) and you'll see just how much conditioner some of us curlies leave in every day... it might shock you!
So some curlies actually do not at all rinse out the last conditioner? (English is not my first language, so I might have missed something.)

I have gotten problems with stickyness from oiling. So I would love something that works better. I used to oil a lot, but not since I got the sticky feeling. I think I will keep trying with conditioner. It made my hair much easier to comb, and the braid tassel did not tangle at all (it do not use to really tangle in a severe way, but much enough to not just run a comb straight through, which I could with the conditioner left in).

[Othala]

I use an ordinary conditioner as a leave-in every winter when the central heating dries out the moisture in the air. No harm done, only benefits.

Just keep it away from your scalp if it has any objectionable ingredients in it. You would not want propylene glycol, for example, on your scalp for long periods of time.

[OhMyCurlz]

Leave-in Conditioner and regular conditioner are the same thing. Just repackaged. Conditioner is conditioner...leave-in conditioenr is just a regular conditioner left in the hair. ;)
Pet conditioner has a different ph than regular conditioner...but they're the same too and I've used them on my hair with good results.

Lotion, condtioner, leave-in condtioner, cream, are all the same thing in a different bottle. I use them interchangeably all the time. it's cheaper doing it that way too.
Today I for the first time used usual conditioner as leave in. I used a very small amount from my washing conditioner.

It feels really great! Like generously oiled, but do not look oiled, and do not draw dust and lint.

But I wonder if anyone know about if it is bad to use usual conditioner as leave in. Will it harm in any way? Should it just be used for a limited time, rinsed out? Could i dry my hair by forming a film like cones?

I checked a leave in conditioner (for dogs) that I found in the pharmacy, and the ingredients looked like the ones in usual conditioner. So are they (conditioner to rinse out and leave in conditioner) the same, but with different amount of water?

[ktani]

It depends on the ingredients and amounts used. There are ingredients that are recommended to be used in rinse out products in certain amounts and not used in leave-in products or in the same amounts.

There are several good sources on cosmetic ingredients I recommend highly. Ruth Winter's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients which is updated regularly, cosmeticsinfo.org. and cosmeticscop.com.

[GRU]

So some curlies actually do not at all rinse out the last conditioner? (English is not my first language, so I might have missed something.)


My routine is:

Wet hair
Scrub scalp with conditioner
Detangle "head hair" with that conditioner and my fingers (roughly the first 4-6 inches from roots out)
Apply conditioner to length
Finger comb (and detangle)
Comb with wide-tooth comb (and detangle)
Comb with fine-tooth comb (and detangle)
Rinse with water
Rinse with ACV
Apply conditioner lightly from roots to ears and comb through to distribute
Use hands to squeeze out excess moisture/conditioner
Apply conditioner more heavily from ears down and comb through to distribute
Use hands to squeeze out excess moisture/conditioner
Apply some more conditioner to last 4-6 inches and comb through to distribute
Plop and wrap in a Turbie Twist towel
Get dressed
Remove towel
done!

Some folks use different conditioners to wash and condition and leave in, but I use the same product for all three steps.

[Loviatar]

I'm a 1bish hairtype and I use regular conditioner as leave-in. I've found I get better results with washing my hair and conditioning, then rinsing it all out, squeezing out a bit of water (but not all) then applying maybe a 5p sized blog of conditioner to the length from about ears down. I then fingercomb and squeeze again before getting out of the shower. I then get my trusty wide tooth handcut comb and comb the conditioner through. I then braid the wet hair in a loose braid.

About half an hour later I take the braid out, re-comb with a slightly less wide tooth comb (Mason Pearson) and rebraid the length a little tighter. My hair is SO happy with this regime. Label M or Biolage are the conditioners I use mostly.

But if I towel dry my hair before applying any conditioner or leave-in, it makes my hair feel scummy and weird.

[chipzahoy]

I never thought of using regular conditioner as leave-in. I've only tried the ones marketed as "leave-in", but they left my hair really weird and crunchy feeling. Wonder whats the reason for that?

[Sammich]

Hmm, I haven't really tried using a conditioner on my hair before, I've used conditioner, water, almond oil in a spray bottle but not my real condish... hmm.. :) Great idea though, thank you for sharing. It doesn't seem harmful in anyway, as long as you don't leave too much in(It'd look sticky/icky), in my opinion.



I never thought of using regular conditioner as leave-in. I've only tried the ones marketed as "leave-in", but they left my hair really weird and crunchy feeling. Wonder whats the reason for that?

Perhaps your hair doesn't react well with cones, leave in's usually have a ton of cones to give 'slip', but my hair reacts badly to most of them. :p (Except for my kids detangling spray and Aussie one!) Maybe it might have proteins in them, and your hair may be overloaded with proteins or doesn't react well with them... that can cause crunchyness. *Shrug* There's many possibilities, can't find out till you find the right routine! :p

[chipzahoy]

Sammich- good thinking. It's too bad I can't go back and check the product bottles since I've long given them away! It makes sense though since my hair isn't damaged enough to need protien and I don't use silicones anymore since I don't need them.

[auburn]

Most leave-in conditioners leave my hair like it's dusty. And the rest make it turn oily in just one day.I'd rather put on a mask and rinse it if I want an extra-care.
No leave-ins for me.

[HotRag]

Thank you all!


It depends on the ingredients and amounts used. There are ingredients that are recommended to be used in rinse out products in certain amounts and not used in leave-in products or in the same amounts.

There are several good sources on cosmetic ingredients I recommend highly. Ruth Winter's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients which is updated regularly, cosmeticsinfo.org. and cosmeticscop.com.

Thank you.

I found this, have you seen it? http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com/services/inci/index.aspx

Seem to link to a lot of articles about the ingredients.

But it also seem to a hard work to check up all ingredients in a normal conditioner. (And do that to several conditioners.)


My routine is:

Wet hair
Scrub scalp with conditioner
Detangle "head hair" with that conditioner and my fingers (roughly the first 4-6 inches from roots out)
Apply conditioner to length
Finger comb (and detangle)
Comb with wide-tooth comb (and detangle)
Comb with fine-tooth comb (and detangle)
Rinse with water
Rinse with ACV
Apply conditioner lightly from roots to ears and comb through to distribute
Use hands to squeeze out excess moisture/conditioner
Apply conditioner more heavily from ears down and comb through to distribute
Use hands to squeeze out excess moisture/conditioner
Apply some more conditioner to last 4-6 inches and comb through to distribute
Plop and wrap in a Turbie Twist towel
Get dressed
Remove towel
done!

Some folks use different conditioners to wash and condition and leave in, but I use the same product for all three steps.

Thank you for the description. I never before had a thought on leaving my conditioner in my hair. Not that I am afraid of it beeing oily or so, I use a lot of oil.


But if I towel dry my hair before applying any conditioner or leave-in, it makes my hair feel scummy and weird.

Good to know what doesn't work for others, if I get problems.

Maybe I try to apply some without rinsing the next wash (before it has dried that is).

[HotRag]

Most leave-in conditioners leave my hair like it's dusty. And the rest make it turn oily in just one day.I'd rather put on a mask and rinse it if I want an extra-care.
No leave-ins for me.
I can get that dusty feeling from oils. Even camellia and coconut. It can feel a bit sticky and rough.

And I got a bit of it when I used a conditioner that felt a bit waxy as deep conditioner base.

Maybe a lighter conditioner would work better for you, if your hair gets oily?

[alwayssmiling]

I've discovered leaving-in regular conditioner (from LHC, thank you). Its changed my hair for the better, the frizz has reduced ALOT, and it's shiner and more relaxed. I have had to experiment with different conditioners to which works best for the second (leave in). I apply the second conditioner when my hair is soaking wet then squeeze the excess water out. This seems to help me not over load the hair with conditioner, but just lightly coat it. I only ever use leave in from ears to ends. I couldn't wash my hair without a leave in now.

[GRU]

Thank you for the description. I never before had a thought on leaving my conditioner in my hair.

Honestly, if you'd told me a year ago that I'd be leaving regular conditioner on my hair, I'd have thought you were insane!

I was so very skeptical about it, thinking it would leave my hair looking dull, greasy, and/or sticky. If I put conditioner on dry hair, it does look gunky. But putting it on wet hair makes my curls curl even more (scary, I know!:lol:), and they frizz a lot less and are very very shiny too.

I never would have believed it, though, until I saw it for myself.


Also, I've been meaning to tell you, I LOVE your waves in your signature picture! I've always been so jealous of people with nice uniform waves like that!

[GRU]

This seems to help me not over load the hair with conditioner, but just lightly coat it.

alwayssmiling, you might want to try a wet styling comb (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Styling-Essentials-Wet-Styling-93565-Comb/14654069) for distributing the conditioner. I picked this one up about a month ago, and I don't know how I lived without it!

[HotRag]

Also, I've been meaning to tell you, I LOVE your waves in your signature picture! I've always been so jealous of people with nice uniform waves like that!
Thank you :)
They are mostly from a braid in that pic. In my album I have different pics that shows from 2a (?) or something, to 1b (I don't think 1a since it never is as smooth as the 1a people's hair). The waves keep together, but when I had my 80's cut (in the 80's :D) I hated those big waves that just made my cut look unsymmetrical, looking like I had styled it completely different on the right and left side :mad:

[GRU]

when I had my 80's cut (in the 80's :D) I hated those big waves that just made my cut look unsymmetrical, looking like I had styled it completely different on the right and left side :mad:

You think YOU looked unsymmetrical in the 80s??? That was NOT a good decade to be me!!!! :lol:

[GRU]

Here's a picture of my hair after being loose all day at the office.

I CO-washed, conditioned, and leave-in conditioned with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=5683&pictureid=77562

Soft, shiny, happy hair...

No gunkiness, dullness, or stickiness, and very limited frizz for being loose for the past 12 hours.

[ktani]

Thank you all!



Thank you.

I found this, have you seen it? http://www.specialchem4cosmetics.com/services/inci/index.aspx

Seem to link to a lot of articles about the ingredients.

But it also seem to a hard work to check up all ingredients in a normal conditioner. (And do that to several conditioners.)


I have not seen that one. I am looking for more about the individual ingredient when I am researching it. Knowing how it is classified and used is very important too though. Thank you!

[HotRag]

GRU: your hair looks fantastic :) And I can see it still holds together and looks great after those 12 hours.

[GRU]

GRU: your hair looks fantastic :) And I can see it still holds together and looks great after those 12 hours.

Thanks HR!

As long as I don't run my fingers through it, it really doesn't move much throughout the day. As was evident in my album, curly hair does NOT like to be messed around with -- just let it do its thing and it behaves MUCH better! ;)

[EmpressRi]

I remember trying Terri's method from tightly curly...well let me rewind, I actually used to leave in regular conditioner when transitioning from my relaxer.

Of course I used way less products then so I'd leave in a pantene conditioner. Fast forward to now, I can't leave everything in because some made my hair feel dry and coated (i.e. organix mocha expresso conditioner) but the other night I cowashed with pure & basic cherry almond moisturizing conditioner (wasn't that moisturizing IMHO) and then detangled with GVP matrix biolage conditioning balm.

I noticed that curls soaked it up and looked as if I had a styler in it...so I just went about by merry way and left it in. So, if I'm going to leave a conditioner in, my hair has to soak it all up and I know I'll get that hair lint if I can still see the conditioner while my hair is still wet.

I did use a gel on top though, without it my hair just expands everywhere.

[spidermom]

I leave conditioner in my hair, too. From waist length and longer, it has needed the extra moisture. I like it a lot.

[squiggyflop]

if it works for you i say go for it.. it doesnt work for me though.. when i leave in even a tiny amount of regular conditioner i end up looking nasty and the hair goes all gross.. i use a childrens leave in detangler usually so im not against leavins in general

[Artsy]

When I tried leaving in regular condish, it was years ago, my scalp was getting a rash and my hair was getting oily faster. However any creamy leave ins don't work on my hair at all, they all leave buildup. I can only use clear silicone and oil based serums and detangling spray
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