How many of you use conditioner?

[cheese]

I've recently discovered that a lot of people I know use conditioner. I'm amazed by this. I've always thought of conditioner as an optional extra step, a luxury procedure, a beautifying/time-wasting/money-sucking and basically unnecessary step in the cleansing process that Big HairCare's suckered us into believing in. It's goopy, it takes forever to get off, and there's no way I'm standing in a shower in the middle of a winter bathroom with no heater for 5 minutes doing absolutely nothing just so my already adonis-like locks can soak up all the poison luxurious nutrients.

But I've found it's not just my female friends who think it's absolutely imperative and a matter of course - the males do too, or at least assume everyone does it. They, too, use conditioner. All the time.

Is this true? Is conditioner the new porn? The unstated assumption of which no one dares speak**?

*breaks ground*

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Note: Not making a poll because I want posted responses so I can trace the results and keep my files updated. Also I'd have to learn to make a poll.

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**except when expertly lured into an invasive and predatory conversation about bathroom rituals, and expertly hiding the film crew

 

[cheese]

No cheese, I don't use conditioner. I like my hair stripped and bare, the way GOD INTENDED. I find fragrances appalling and softness highly suspicious. Anyone with hair that feels like a bed probably doesn't spend enough time in the kitchen. And I don't need a bedfellow because of that of which no one dares speak. Yes.... conditioner is my friend. Not my hair's.

 

[Fukyo]

Gosh cheese, are you going to tell me you don't use the nourishing hair pack with karite butter and royal jelly, that costs 80$, and silicone hair drops to give your hair that extra brilliant shine after you've blow dried and ironed your platinum blonde hair?

 

[cheese]

Yes. Yes I do. I use the shit out of that royal jelly smush! And it loves me for it! That's right! We're in love, and we're getting married tomorrow! Right now! Tomorrow is now! The future is now! The way of the future! The way of the future. the way of the future. the way of the future. the way of the future....

Seriously though, do you condition? I am honestly surprised that people consider this an essential step. Showering is boring, and I only wash my hair to keep it clean. Years of shampoo-only use haven't done anything bad to it, afaik. What's really surprised me is that my male friends are in on it too, because some people don't usually do beauty procedures (generally men, for social? evolutionary? reasons), and I assumed this was a non-essential, almost laughable step for most people - definitely a luxury one. I'm sure conditioning wasn't the norm when I was a kid. Has this changed so drastically?

I am looking for real answers; please oblige! Do you condition, fukyo?

*edit
wtf is karite butter

 

[Bucca]

I call it cream rinse, though I can't remember where I got that.

Yes I use it. Shampoo supposedly "opens" the cuticles in your hair and takes out the oil/dirt. Then cream rinse closes the cuticles again, leaving your hair soft and shiny. Though you can get the same results from creating mixtures from basic household items.

 

[Lot]

I use it once every 3-4 days. It makes my hair too soft and appear thin if I use it more than that. Sometimes I don't even shampoo every day, just because I like how thick my hair looks when all the natural oils are spread over all my hair after a shower. So there you go.

 

[Cogwulf]

I just condition my beard (just kidding).

Most conditioners are based on silicone oils rather than natural oils, and whilst silicone is wonderful stuff, it's not really what your hair needs. It makes your hair look nice and shiny but doesn't keep it in good condition; most cosmetics manufacturers are far more interested in making products that encourage the users to use them as often as possible.

For a while I've been thinking of switching to the method of washing in a solution of bicarbonate of soda followed by a rinse in a weak solution of apple vinegar. The bicarbonate removes odours and dirt but leaves the natural oils behind and the vinegar corrects the hairs pH level. This has all of the benefits of simply not washing your hair at all, but you actually have clean hair.

Another good alternative is to eat lots of eggs, as well as plenty of fish and dairy, this is because a large proportion of westerners have been found to be slightly deficient in choline, and amongst other things, choline helps with hair quality. Many people claim it prevents hair loss but I doubt this is true, however I've been boosting my intake of related foods for a few weeks and my hair does seem a bit tougher, specifically my beard.

 

[skip]

Most commercial conditioners are little more than liquid plastic and bad for your hair, really bad if you have fine hair.

 

[redbaron]

Haven't washed my hair with product for years.

Hot water and massage thoroughly.

Most people I know have commented on its healthy feel and look, and every hairdresser I can remember being to has asked me about which shampoo/conditioner I use. They're always surprised when they find out I don't use anything.

 

[Cognisant]

I use conditioner on my beard and my pubes, softness where softness matters.

It may seem like a hassle to you cheese but it's not for you, I mean nobody wants to go down on someone with scratchy pubes that are liable to shed in their face, hell I wouldn't let a girl go down of me if I haven't conditioned recently, it would be embarrassing.

So you can either be lazy and shave or look after yourself and believe me it will be appreciated.

Soft and silky smooth

 

[skip]

Haven't washed my hair with product for years. Hot water and massage thoroughly.

What kind of hair do you have?

 

[Jennywocky]

I always use conditioner.

In fact, I use it more than shampoo.
Too much shampooing strips the hair of natural oils and can dry it out.
The conditioner really keeps the hair soft.

 

[RedN]

,...... everyone should use conditioner....... use it every other day, guy or girl long hair or short

i actally just go with the same frequency as jenny up there

 

[Hadoblado]

I use both shampoo and conditioner once every 3-4 days. I don't know what the benefits are, but I've been witness to enough bitch fits to know that greasy hair is judged harshly. I honestly don't know if the conditioner does anything, but for the extra $2:00 every 3 months or so I don't much care.

 

[MissQuote]

I use conditioner every day, or at least every other day, and I only shampoo twice a week at most.

But I have very dry hair (and skin, moisturizer is a must).

Between the two, shampoo is the less needed item for me. In fact I could just use bar soap or handsoap or whatever soap (though I prefer decent quality shampoo), but I need conditioner.

The day I both cleanse and condition my hair it is utterly unmanageable, so I try to not have that happen too often.

I feel lame about this post. Even worse, i have been thinking most of my posts have been lame as of recent. Damn busy, only taking the time to type out reply's to the simple topics and just internalizing anything i have to say or think about about any of the better topics.

 

[skip]

I'm pretty sure what you're doing is making your hair worse, Missquote.

 

[cheese]

Cog, you seem oddly sex-obsessed of late. This is a thread about CONDITIONER. No one said anything about blowjobs.

And I thought shaving was the hard way out, not the lazy way. (Plus razor burns, nicks, etc.) Most people prefer less hair in the way, anyway.

Also don't know how to parse this sentence:
"It may seem like a hassle to you cheese but it's not for you"

Then it became a sexual advice column.

Interesting response though.

*backs slowly out of room*


For general clarification: Do you people use conditioner on YOUR HEAD? Thanks. What people do on their little australians is best left private; what I'm curious about is how many people see conditioner as an essential hair product these days.

And thanks everyone else for the responses, including missquote. Some people use only conditioner if they've got dry hair, I think, or oil.

 

[redbaron]

What kind of hair do you have?

I have no idea. I can't remember ever using shampoo/conditioner regularly since I was a kid. Originally it was just because it made my hair fluffy and soft, and everyone knows that soft fluffy hair is for bitches.

In seriousness though I think that once you start using product with any regularity, your hair loses its own natural oils and healthiness, so when you stop using product it gets greasy/smelly.

Either that or I'm just the best at stuff (well, my hair is).

 

[Roran]

I condition my hair every time I wash it, which is about twice a week. My hair is very thick and very long (for a dude, at least, it's about eight inches at its longest), so if I don't condition it, it gets frizzy and knotted and difficult to brush.

 

[skip]

I have no idea.

Why? Do you keep it a secret from yourself?

In seriousness though I think that once you start using product with any regularity, your hair loses its own natural oils and healthiness,

Any quality shampoo line has several different kinds that you cycle through so that doesn't happen.

 

[Jason]

If I don't use conditioner everyday I will have super frizzy hair and shampoo makes it worst. My hair is quite long and get out of control easily. Being a smoker if I don't do something to it daily it can smell like an ashtray . Do any of you ladies have any recommendations for a good conditioner? I have tried a lot of them and even use a couple different leave in conditioners but still haven't found what I'm looking for.

 

[skip]

Your shampoo and tap water are probably making your frizzy hair worse. Then you add a liquid plastic conditioner which makes it feel better initially but over the long term dries it out.

Put a filter on your shower head, use a gentle, all-natural shampoo, and a keratin leave-in conditioner.

 

[Trebuchet]

We have some of the hardest water in the US, and combined with swimming in a chlorinated pool (even with a cap on), this dries my hair like crazy. So I have to use conditioner if I don't want a head covered in straw.

I don't use anything with plasticizers, though. They are not good for you. I use expensive non-plasticky stuff by Aubrey Naturals that smells faintly like flowers.

I used to use brands with plasticizers, but then I did some research on parabens, and anyway those smell icky to me now. A water softener is a good idea, but I haven't gotten around to that yet.

 

[Irishpenguin]

If conditioner is there in the shower, and I'm not in a rush, then yeah I just use it. I mean I don't consider it necessary, but I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty awesome to have that silky smooth hair when you get out of the shower


...although apparently my female friend always things my hair looks nice after I haven't washed it in 2 days, dat grease man

I might try just using conditioner soon to just have extremely slick hair, see how that goes out in public

 

[Dapper Dan]

As the previous owner of some seriously long, thick, curly hair, I can say with confidence that conditioner is not optional for some people. Hair health doesn't even come into it. Without conditioner, I could barely get my fingers through my hair, let alone a brush.

 

[Oedipus]

I have very fine, curly hair. It's like baby hair, and without conditioner it's just puffy little wisps. It's either conditioner or a buzzcut.

 

[PhoenixRising]

Whether or not you need conditioner really depends on what kind of hair you have. You probably have medium to thick hair, which naturally tangles less (lucky you!). People with fine hair often get knots that can't be brushed out without the aid of some sort of conditioner.

 

[Meer]

I like my hair when it's slightly greasy. Yes, I use conditioner.

 

[redbaron]

Why? Do you keep it a secret from yourself?

All I know is. My hair is boss.

I used to have it shoulder length, never washed it, never got tangled and never got dirty/greasy.

I don't really compare hair to others, but I think my hair is really, really thick.

Maybe that's why I get away with it?

 

[preilemus]

LOL


...For the record, I use conditioner every time I shampoo, that being roughly every other day. But yeah, with short hair, I hardly notice a difference when I use hair products, but as i grow it out, it sort of becomes a necessity for me, otherwise my hair gets really oily and greasy. I used to only shampoo when my hair got like that, but it left my hair quite prone to poofing. Conditioner leaves it supple and managable.

 

[xbox]

ofcourse i use conditioner. it is a must. how can you not use conditioner?

 

[cheese]

A *must*, really? Aren't we just showering to get clean? When did all this fanciness get into getting clean, for the average everyday person?

I have started using it, experimentally, and it makes shower time less boring, especially as I've discovered I can do it rather quickly. I'm not sure how long this'll last though. My hair feels softer and is perhaps somewhat smoother but I tend to find small improvements like that annoying, since they don't actually change anything overall, not enough to be significant anyway.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

A *must*, really? Aren't we just showering to get clean? When did all this fanciness get into getting clean, for the average everyday person?

I have started using it, experimentally, and it makes shower time less boring, especially as I've discovered I can do it rather quickly. I'm not sure how long this'll last though. My hair feels softer and is perhaps somewhat smoother but I tend to find small improvements like that annoying, since they don't actually change anything overall, not enough to be significant anyway.

 

[birdsnestfern]

I only wash my hair once or twice a week. I have thick wavy brown hair so, it self conditions.
Most often, I use OGX tea tree mint without conditioner, no need for conditioner, my hair is already soft and thick.
I rotate sometimes with aussie miracle or burts bees baby shampoo.

However, I just read that OGX has a reputation for making hair fall out! It doesn't do that to me, but I don't use it every day. I think I'd better change my shampoo. https://www.prevention.com/beauty/hair/a37102895/ogx-hair-loss-lawsuit-johnson-and-johnson/

Once a year I use a residue remover like Neutrogena Residue Buildup to strip off excess oils.

Years ago, when I shampoo'd daily, I used Biolage Matrix or Nexxus Keraphix conditioner, but that I found is just too much conditioner.

If you don't shampoo daily, hair just likely doesn't need it. And, if your thyroid is out of balance hair can get brittle, so
the type with Keratin is helpul to make it plyable and less likely to break.

 

[Hourglass]

I rarely use shampoo. I could probably go 2 weeks without it. I couldn’t live without conditioner though because I have long hair that gets tangled easily.

 

[ZenRaiden]

Eh guy intp. I use shampoo sometimes during the week or just soap. Usually once or twice a week.