8 Biggest Mistakes You're Making With Conditioner

Conditioner in hair
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Why is it that no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to style our hair like they do at the salon? At home, it inevitably falls flat and is missing that extra oomph.

Aside from lacking the training that hair pros have, mistakes that we make in the shower could also be to blame. Lifeless hair often results "from an excess of conditioner or not rinsing it well enough," says Lorean Cairns, Fox & Jane founder and creative director. And that's just where the problems begin. Here, professionals share the dos and don'ts of conditioning your hair. (Short on time? Cleanse your hair between washes with this organic dry shampoo for dark hair from the Prevention store.)

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Mistake #1: You glob it onto the roots of your hair.
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Your roots don't actually need any conditioner, since your scalp produces sebum, a natural oil. What's more, your roots have much less damage than the ends of the hair shaft. "Your roots are the youngest, healthiest part of the hair shaft," says Nick Arrojo, master stylist and founder of Arrojo salons in New York City. To do it right, condition just the ends of your hair, focusing on massaging the last three inches of the hair shaft, which is the oldest and driest part.

Mistake #2: You OD on conditioner.

Easy, tiger: You don't really need that much. Using too much conditioner can weigh down your hair, especially if your strands are ultrafine. "We try to use 2 quarters-worth of product," says Cairns. That said, if you have super thick hair that absorbs conditioner easily, Arrojo recommends adding more.

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Mistake #3: You skip it entirely.

Even if you have superfine or oily hair, you still have to use conditioner (especially if you have curly hair). "Some people get conditioner phobic, but the catch 22 is that without conditioner your hair will become brittle and eventually lifeless," says Cairns. If you're going to a wedding or another special event, it's OK to skip your conditioner that day, but she advises against making it a habit. One thing that can help: If you have oily hair, avoid products that contain silicone, which tend to be heavy and greasy and can make the hair feel dirty. 

Mistake #4: Your hair is average or thick and you don't have a deep-conditioning treatment in your arsenal.
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Deep-conditioning treatments can revitalize your dry, damaged hair. "I absolutely recommend using a deep conditioner no less than once a week," says Cairns. People with dry or color-treated hair are good candidates for even more frequent conditioning—aim for every other wash, says Cairns. With its blend of argan oil, extra virgin olive oil, and jojoba oils, this deep-conditioning mask reconstructs, smoothes, and repairs your hair. If your hair is fine, using a leave-in conditioner (like this one from Feed Your Ends) should do the trick, as ultrafine hair can't handle the weight of a deep-conditioning mask.

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Mistake #5: You try to kill two birds with one stone.

Two-in-one shampoos sound great in theory, but they aren't all that effective. If your hair is chin-length or longer, this kind of product won't be strong enough. That's because, according to Cairns, hair that is chin-length is usually at least a year old, which means that the ends will need a more targeted conditioner. One good bet: This lightweight aloe and rosemary conditioner by Josh Rosebrook, which is perfect for all hair textures, but particularly oily hair. 

Mistake #6: You aren't using the right products.
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Customize your routine. If you have color-treated hair, choose a product for color-treated hair, like this Arrojo conditioner, which contains a soothing blend of Vitamin B5 and oat proteins. If you have fine hair that's thinning, use a leave-in conditioner, which will lightly moisturize your hair and make it easier to style without weighing it down (or try this lightweight conditioner by Feed Your Volume). Cairns recommends avoiding products that promise to "bulk up" your hair because they often contain waxes and fillers that are drying. 

MORE: Why The Heck Is My Hair Falling Out?

Mistake #7: You let it sit too long.
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Read the bottle, and follow the directions. "Leaving conditioner on for too long can weigh hair down or make it feel oily," says Arrojo. Experts agree that 2 to 3 minutes will generally do the trick.

Mistake #8: You shampoo first every time.
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As weird as it sounds, try conditioning your hair first and shampooing second. Cairns uses this trick with models during fashion week, when their hair has been put through the ringer and needs conditioner, but also must be voluminous. "What we do is we condition the hair, leave it on for a few minutes, then use a mild shampoo to remove the conditioner," says Cairns. When you shower, a trace of your conditioner is always left behind, which may reduce the volume of your hair. Shampooing after you condition ensures that none of the conditioner residue is left behind, so your hair can gain volume and bounce.

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