Grooming

Jack Black Hair Conditioning Guide

January 10, 2023 by Jack

Even if you have a thick, healthy head of hair, don’t underestimate the power of conditioning. Even the most well-formulated shampoos can leave your strands susceptible to damage like breakage and split ends. While we offer practical, multi-tasking, two-in-one products, such as our Double-Header Shampoo + Conditioner, even men with the busiest schedules should make time for hair conditioning — here’s why.  

General Conditioning: What Does Conditioner Do? 

Shampoo cleans your hair and scalp of sweat, excess oils, styling products, and dead skin cells. While some formulations have ingredients that help soften strands, they don’t take the place of a conditioner, the second step in the hair-washing process. 

A conditioner protects hair shafts from wear and tear and makes hair softer and easier to style. It helps prevent static and split ends, thanks to humectants, naturally-derived fatty alcohols, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. If you’re wondering how to use conditioners, there is a right and a wrong way. 

• Make sure your hair isn’t sopping wet before applying conditioner. Otherwise, it can’t penetrate and coat the strands, which is where the benefits come into play. 
• Don’t use too much product. You only need a quarter size or less, depending on the length of your hair. 
• Apply conditioner to the ends only — especially if you have an oily scalp — to prevent a loss of volume at the roots. Of course, conditioners like our Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner are specifically formulated to treat the scalp and the hair without weighing it down. 
• Evenly distribute the product by combing or brushing it through your hair. 
• Wait 2-5 minutes before rinsing your conditioner so it has enough time to absorb. 
• Rinse thoroughly.
• “How often do I condition my hair,” you ask? Daily, providing you don’t have an oily scalp or ultra-thin hair that tends to get weighed down with product or natural oils.

Deep Conditioning

As the name suggests, a deep conditioner has all of the hydrating, reparative, and protective benefits of a traditional conditioner, but it works on a deeper level. It helps prevent breakage and split ends versus simply coating the hair shaft to cover up an existing problem temporarily. A deep conditioner is formulated with ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, cetearyl, alcohol, glycerin, and honey, among others, and is vital for maintaining the health of your hair. 

• Avoid applying at the roots. 

• A deep conditioner should be left on for around 30-45 minutes once a month or every other month if your hair is prone to oiliness. If your hair is extra dry or damaged, you can sleep with the product in your hair and rinse it out the following day. 

Hair Mask

Hair masks are more intense than deep conditioners. They help strengthen hair damaged by heat, chemical treatments, texture, and age. Masks contain similar ingredients to other conditioners but at a higher concentration. If you’re dealing with limp, oily hair, there are formulas with clays to absorb excess oils from the scalp. 

• Depending on the formulation, masks can be applied to wet or dry hair, so read the instructions to ensure you’re reaping all the benefits.

• Comb through for even distribution. 

• Wrap your head and hair in a towel for added benefits.

• Leave on anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes or overnight if your hair is extra damaged. 

Leave-In Conditioner 

Leave-in conditioners provide extra moisture and help protect the hair from damage. They also assist stying, thanks to their detangling benefits. Unlike traditional rinse-out conditioners, the leave-in variety is more lightweight, which prevents the hair from being weighed down. Every hair type can profit from a leave-in conditioner, especially those with frizzy, damaged, color-treated, or overly dry hair. 

Can I Use a Leave-In and Regular Conditioner? 

Despite the benefits of a leave-in conditioner, they are not meant to replace your regular conditioner simply because they don’t work on as deep of a level. Think of it as a product to give your hair extra nourishment during the change of seasons, when traveling to a different climate, after a chemical treatment like color, or to support extra dry and damaged strands. You can use a regular and leave-in conditioner simultaneously, especially if your hair is parched, damaged, or unruly. 

No matter what conditioning product you use, ensure it’s suitable for your hair type and texture. Try starting with our Hair Care Starter Set, a dynamic duo that will leave your hair clean, volumized, hydrated, and manageable. After washing and conditioning, check out our styling guide for tips on finishing your look.