Stylist’s Corner: When & Why to Use a Leave-In Conditioner for Natural Hair
Within the tight curl + natural social media spaces, there seems to be some lingering questions regarding leave-in conditioners. Black Girl Curls would like to shed some light on leave-in conditioners to help provide clarity on where this product may fit into your hair care routine.
We recently sat in on a live stream hosted by Curl Specialist and Owner of Freshly Rooted Salon in Norman, OK, JC Dobson. She shared 5 really insightful points about leave-in conditioner that you may or may not know.
Q1: What is a leave-in conditioner?
A: A leave-in conditioner is a lightweight conditioning style prepping product with many functions. This comes in the form of liquid, gel (not styling gel) and creams.
Q2: What is a leave-in conditioner supposed to do to the hair?
A: Leave-ins are to help smooth the hair’s cuticle, make the hair more pliable and provide some level of softness. Some leave-in conditioners have the ability to lower balance pH, provide protection from heat, reduce frizz and tangles and be humectant.
Q3: When should a leave-in conditioner be used?
A: You should use a leave-in conditioner on damp or towel dried hair. This way the hair can take in the appropriate properties and be prepped and pliable for styling.
Q4: How and when do you use a leave-in conditioner in your behind-the-chair practice?
A: I would use leave-ins on towel dried hair before foam for twists on coarser hair textures for added smoothness, on damp or towel dried hair for braid prep before blow drying and for use in chemical services.
Q5: What’s something that you think people should know about leave-in conditioners that they don’t know?
A: Leave-in conditioners aren’t meant to be used daily and should not be used in place of rinse-out conditioners that typically follow shampoo. Doing so leads to build up, dryness and sometimes hair loss. This is especially true for leave-ins with silicone in the formulation.
Using Leave-In Conditioners for Children Styling
When styling children’s hair, we know that they can often get into things. Leave-in conditioners have a place in children styling as they provide lubrication and slip for styles such as twists, ponytails, plaits, braids or buns.
Leave-ins also work to provide a barrier layer for added moisture, given the frequency at which you are typically cleansing, conditioning and styling your child’s hair. (For many caregivers/parents, this can on average be every 2 or so weeks.)
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Black Girl Curls has always been clear that when it comes to products knowing the how and why will be helpful in helping to make decisions about your hair care and styling. In addition to the how and why we also encourage you to have an understanding of what you desire in your finished look. In the end, the products will be as good as the person applying them.
In need of more specific hair care guidance? We cover all the natural hair fundamentals and more in our digital consumer education platform, The SeeSomeCurls Visual Library.
Our 1.2K+ course community of tight curl + naturals are shaving more than 50% of time off their wash day, being showered left and right with hair compliments, and are receiving direct support of a very encouraging community of tight curlies + naturals who have been exactly where you are.