As you navigate the hair care aisle for a quick conditioner restock, you're bombarded by a myriad of vibrant bottles with catchy names. Amidst the sea of conditioners & leave-in conditioners, you're pulled in multiple directions, leaving you to wonder if there's any real distinction between them. When comparing leave-in conditioner vs. conditioner, it's important to understand their distinct benefits for your hair type.
Do you need one or the other, or—dare you even suggest it—both?
We’re glad you asked. There is a difference between leave-in conditioner vs. conditioner, & if you’re the proud owner of curly tresses, using both could benefit your luscious locks. Join us as we demystify the mystery that is conditioner vs. leave-in & offer our pro tips on incorporating them into your routine.
What is a Regular Conditioner?
It’s a tale as old as time. You use shampoo & conditioner because, well, that’s how it’s always been. But why?
The simple explanation is that the ingredients in shampoo cleanse your scalp of unwanted oil & impurities, while conditioners work to detangle your hair & minimize frizz.
How does conditioner actually work, though?
Many different types of conditioners use ingredients such as proteins & oils to make your hair soft by adding moisture to your strands. This effectively conditions your hair, as the name suggests. From a scientific standpoint, those conditioning ingredients coat the cuticles of your hair, neutralizing the negative electrical charge & introducing positive charges. Regular conditioner is typically rinsed out after a few minutes, providing everyday moisture & manageability. In contrast, deep conditioners are left on longer to repair damage & provide intense, long-lasting moisture to your hair.
This process achieves several advantages for your natural texture, such as:
- Sealing the cuticle for enhanced smoothness
- Boosting shine & overall hair appearance
What is a Leave-In Conditioner?
Many consider leave-in conditioners as a bonus to their regular conditioning routine. Used on clean hair, this leave-in moisturizer stays put, allowing your hair to soak in its hydrating properties. Products like the PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner provide ongoing hydration & protection, making it perfect for keeping your natural texture vibrant, healthy & full of life.
Leave-ins are a must-have product for curlies & coilies for a few beneficial reasons:
- They help to detangle freshly washed hair, potentially reducing pulling, breakage & curly split ends.
- They provide your locks with an extra dose of moisture. This is crucial because curly hair tends to have lower porosity, meaning it takes longer to absorb & retain moisture.
Key Differences Between Leave-In Conditioner & Regular Conditioner
The biggest difference is pretty straightforward: regular conditioner gets rinsed out, while leave-in conditioner, true to its name, sticks around. (All the better to cozy up to those hair follicles, right?) But that’s not where the differences end.
Below, we explore the other fundamental differences between conditioner vs leave-in conditioner:
- Purpose – Regular conditioner concentrates on immediate hydration & smoothing. Leave-in conditioner, however, offers a deeper level of moisture & provides all-day hydration, which can tame flyaways & enhance those voluminous curls.
- Formulation – Normal conditioner often has a thicker consistency, whereas leave-in conditioner is generally lighter. Its lightweight texture makes it ideal for remaining in your hair, providing optimum moisture without weighing down your curls.
- Usage – Most curlies use regular conditioner on wash days to detangle hair & maintain a normal amount of moisture. In contrast, leave-in conditioner is typically applied on an as-needed basis. Many coily-haired goddesses, however, use it more frequently to seal in an extra layer of moisture, ensuring their spirals remain juicy & bouncy until the next wash day.
How to Choose the Right Conditioning Products for Curly Hair
The beauty of your curls is that they’re unique to you. As such, they deserve their own personalized hair care routine—including conditioning treatments. But with so many options in-store & online, how do you choose the right one for your natural curls?
As someone with curly or coily hair, it’s important to recognize that your locks might benefit from using both a regular conditioner & a leave-in conditioner. Combining these products can help your curls thrive from one wash day to the next, offering both deep hydration & long-lasting moisture.
Below, we offer some insight on how to narrow down the plethora of options to help you find the perfect conditioning combo:
- Opt for hydrating conditioners – From volumizing to color-compositing, there are numerous types of conditioners on the market. For curly, coily or tightly textured hair, look for conditioners designed to moisturize deeply & with natural ingredients. These will provide your curls with natural hydration, which keeps curls happy & bouncy!
- Check the ingredient label – The proof is in the pudding (or in this case, the ingredient label). Look for moisturizers like Shea Butter, Coconut Oil & Jojoba Oil, which offer extra hydration for your hair. PATTERN’s curly hair conditioners are formulated with these moisture-rich ingredients in mind, so you can feel the difference with every use.
- Choose based on your hair type – A Lightweight Conditioner is ideal for thin or fine curly hair, as it offers weightless moisture. For curly & coily hair, a Medium Conditioner provides plenty of hydration & slippage for optimum curl definition. Coilies & those with tight textures often benefit from a Heavy Conditioner, as its thick consistency & Avocado Oil are perfect for detangling & forming heavenly curl clumps.
- Incorporate a leave-in – Curly hair loves leave-ins. Treat it to what it wants with a leave-in that it won’t be able to get enough of. Along with our Leave-In Conditioner, our Moisture Milk is perfect for providing a dash of lightweight daily moisture to all types of curly hair whether it’s freshly washed or completely dry. It is oil rich, so it can seal in the hydration from your leave-in when combined.
Best Practices for Applying Regular Conditioner to Curly Hair
Once you’ve honed in on a hydrating conditioner tailored to your ringlets, it’s time to put it to the test. Below, we share some of our favorite tips on applying conditioner to receive the most hydrating benefits:
- Step One – After shampooing your hair, apply your conditioner from the middle to the ends of your hair, where the moisture is needed most.
- Step Two – For maximum hydration, allow the conditioner to sit for a few minutes. As it saturates, the combination of wet hair & conditioner allows for optimal moisture penetration. (However, leave-in conditioners can be used on lightly misted strands to refresh your style between wash days.)
- Step Three – Use the conditioner’s slip to your advantage by detangling your locks with your fingers or the PATTERN Wide Tooth Comb.
- Step Four – Rinse out the conditioner with cool water to help your hair cuticles lie flat & seal properly.
- Step Five – Towel-dry your hair with a microfiber towel before adding a leave-in conditioner or any curly hair stylers.
Best Practices for Applying Leave-In Conditioner to Curly Hair
On days you use a leave-in conditioner, try these tips for first-rate results:
- Know when to use it – The idea that leave-in conditioner should only be applied to wet, freshly washed hair is a myth. Sure, using it on wet hair is excellent for post-wash moisture & premium curl definition, but you can also use it on dry hair! When you’re on the go & want to smooth flyaways or give your up-do a light hold, a Leave-In Conditioner is the way to go.
- Apply to the mids & ends of your hair – Your scalp produces a natural oil called sebum that coats the roots of your hair. However, the curl pattern of your hair makes it challenging for the sebum to coat each strand from root to tip. When applying a leave-in conditioner, focus on the parched parts of your hair—the middle to ends—where the moisture is most needed.
- Distribute the leave-in evenly – When you apply a leave-in conditioner to your whole head in one go, it’s easy to miss a few areas. Instead, separate your hair into sections & apply the product one section at a time. As you go, use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to distribute it through each section.
- Adjust the amount as needed – After using your leave-in a few times, you’ll catch on to how much product your hair truly needs each time. If your hair is still hard to detangle after applying it, you might need a little more. If it feels sticky or heavy, you might have used too much. If it feels soft & smooth, it’s just right.
Using Leave-In Conditioner & Regular Conditioner Together
Why choose between leave-in conditioner vs. regular conditioner when you can have both? We certainly can’t, & you shouldn’t have to either. Treat your curls & coils to the best of both worlds by incorporating a conditioner & leave-in.
Start with a regular conditioner that packs the perfect punch of moisture for your hair type. After applying the conditioner, detangle your curls in the shower, rinse out the conditioner & lightly towel dry your hair while keeping your curl clumps intact.
Follow up with a leave-in treatment to seal in moisture, further define your curl clumps & keep your hair protected all day long. Combining both products will become your secret weapon for maximizing your hair’s health & radiance, leaving your locks bouncy, shiny & well-loved.
Condition to Your Heart’s Content with PATTERN
Conditioner is curly & coily hair’s best friend. & it’s not hard to keep this friendship going for life with a few specially chosen products made just for your hair type.
At PATTERN, we strive to create products catered to the needs of natural textures, whether your hair is thin & wavy or coarse & coily. We’ve developed formulas that contain natural wholesome ingredients like Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Aloe & Honey, giving your hair exactly what it wants (& leaving out all the rest).
From conditioners & styling creams to heat styling products & accessories, we have all of your curly hair care needs in one convenient location. Let PATTERN help you simplify your routine.
Want to dive deeper into product comparisons? Check out our blogs on hair oil vs. leave-in conditioner & detangler vs. leave-in conditioner to explore more about how to best care for your curls.
Sources:
NIH. Hair Cosmetics: An Overview. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4387693/
Healthline. How to Care for Low Porosity Hair. https://www.healthline.com/health/low-porosity-hair#low-porosity-hair-care
Vogue. Why a cold water rinse is the hair care tip every hairstylist swears by. https://www.vogue.in/beauty/content/cold-water-benefits-for-strong-hair-tips-hairstylist
