# Whgat does hair-conditioner DO? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474 "2015-04-12T05:07:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/1 "2015-04-12T05:07:11Z")
As per the thread title, what does hair conditioner do? I’ve got goddamned awful British-heritage hair that is dead straight, dull and now greying rapidly. For all the times I’ve used conditioner, I’ve never noticed any appreciable improvement in gloss or bounciness. 😛 What does it purport to do? ---
**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/2 "2015-04-12T09:51:07Z")
I have thick, straight hair that gets oily quickly and for me, the idea of conditioner is a joke. I think that “conditoning” is a controlled application of a uniform layer of some oily substance so that hair lays better, has more body, combs easier so conditoner may be important to people with dry or thin hair. When I tried some out of curiosity it felt like I had not washed my hair. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/3 "2015-04-12T10:06:16Z")
Thin hair person reporting in. Finally, a part of me that is thin! Without conditioner, I cannot get a comb through my hair. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/4 "2015-04-12T10:29:56Z")
Conditioner smooths the cuticle (the outer layer of the hair that gets “rough” and damaged by heat, chemical processes and combing). The key ingredients that do this are a silicone, and/or a quaternium compound. They coat and stick to the hair, even after rinsing out the conditioner. It also adds “slip” (for detangling wet hair), and gives the appearance of less damaged hair. In addition, conditioners are typically acidic, which will also help close up the cuticle after washing the hair with shampoo. Applying vinegar (acidic) before a final cool water rinse will achieve the same thing, if your hair cuticle isn’t that damaged. A smooth closed cuticle will reflect more light (i.e., shinier hair). These products can build up on the hair and weigh it down, in which case you can use a “clarifying” shampoo to remove the build up and start over. Pure coconut oil is one of the few oils that will actually penetrate the hair, so you can try that as a deep condition treatment, or applying lightly to damp hair as a leave in to add shine and smoothness. If your hair is naturally stick straight, no conditioner I know of will make it “bouncy” on its own. I suggest a lighter conditioner so it’s not as weighed down (no silicones), and give the vinegar rinse a try to increase shine without weight. There are also various mechanical methods (rollers, braiding while drying), heat (blow dry or iron), or chemical processes (perm, body wave) to add waves or bounce to your hair. Unfortunately, hair usually loses moisture and shine with age (grays hold less moisture and have a rougher cuticle that reflects less light). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/5 "2015-04-12T14:01:59Z")
I use it only for the detangling properties (and for shaving my legs if it is cheap). I have thin, straight hair that is long. If I use conditioner on my head, it makes my hair look oily and flat, so I just use it on the long part (about neck down) to detangle for brushing. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/6 "2015-04-12T15:13:34Z")
since it is a cosmetic there are billions of products. there are different types of conditioners doing different things. all empty your wallet. some are some kind of fat. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/7 "2015-04-12T23:01:07Z")
Conditioner is designed to fool you when you get in a hotel room shower. You spend the day cursing that cheap hotel shampoo for leaving your hair all greasy. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/8 "2015-04-13T01:23:22Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > Thin hair person reporting in. Finally, a part of me that is thin! > > Without conditioner, I cannot get a comb through my hair. Yep. However, my solution to this is to simply use cheap 2 in 1 shampoo. That works fine, but shampoo without the conditioner, it tangles, and I can’t comb it. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/9 "2015-04-13T08:43:35Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Yep. However, my solution to this is to simply use cheap 2 in 1 shampoo. That works fine, but shampoo without the conditioner, it tangles, and I can’t comb it. I wish that worked for me, I’d save so much money. My husband uses a 2 in 1 and I still find my hair is too tangly after. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/10 "2015-04-13T10:04:14Z")
> [@Nefario](#): > > I have thick, straight hair that gets oily quickly and for me, the idea of conditioner is a joke. … conditoner may be important to people with dry or thin hair. When I tried some out of curiosity it felt like I had not washed my hair. Ditto. Totally. > [@yabob](#): > > Yep. However, my solution to this is to simply use cheap 2 in 1 shampoo. That works fine, but shampoo without the conditioner, it tangles, and I can’t comb it. My problem is that it is hard to find shampoo without conditioner. And when I do find it, it is labelled, “For dry hair” or “for thin hair” or “for normal hair”. There used to be a brand called “FOHO - For Oily Hair Only”, but it seems there aren’t enough of us to have kept them in business. I tried googling it, and found that the Dope already discussed this four years ago; click [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=601713). ---
**Author:** ![jezzaOZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/11 "2015-04-13T10:23:36Z")
It slimes up the shower and clogs up the drains. Mix that with a long haired daughter and the shower becomes a lethal slip hazard and the drain is a scented but putrescent toxic waste dump. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/12 "2015-04-13T16:11:20Z")
When people say thick/thin hair are they talking about the density of the growth on the scalp or the size of the strands? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/13 "2015-04-13T16:33:01Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > My problem is that it is hard to find shampoo without conditioner. **Keeve** , are you in the U.S.? If so, [Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo](http://www.amazon.com/Suave-Shampoo-Daily-Clarifying-15oz/dp/B0000530LP) is ubiquitous in any grocery, drugstore, Walmart/Target-type places, etc. I was a little confused about your comment, though. ISTM that “plain shampoo” brands outnumber 2-in-1s decisively. Or is that “plain” shampoos have unadvertised “stealth” conditioning ingredients? Anyway, I also have super-oily hair and have no need for conditioner at all. I get great results from the Suave. And it’s cheap, too (ignore that oddball Amazon price … it’s invariably under $2 if you buy it in a store). ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/14 "2015-04-13T16:34:04Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > When people say thick/thin hair are they talking about the density of the growth on the scalp or the size of the strands? I believe diameter of the strands. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/15 "2015-04-13T16:45:24Z")
I’m a big fan of the plain vinegar rinse. I haven’t used conditioner in years, and the vinegar rinse not only gets the residual soap out of my hair is also acts as a de-tangler. Of course, YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/16 "2015-04-13T16:49:32Z")
It doesn’t _do_ anything: that’s the beauty of it! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/17 "2015-04-14T03:42:52Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > **Keeve** , are you in the U.S.? If so, [Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo](http://www.amazon.com/Suave-Shampoo-Daily-Clarifying-15oz/dp/B0000530LP) is ubiquitous in any grocery, drugstore, Walmart/Target-type places, etc. Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula is also a really good shampoo to leave your hair squeaky clean. Unless your hair is really oily, it will strip it too much if you use it every day. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/18 "2015-04-14T05:22:51Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Neutrogena Shampoo, Anti-Residue Formula is also a really good shampoo to leave your hair squeaky clean. Unless your hair is really oily, it will strip it too much if you use it every day. This is exactly what I use. But what does it mean to “strip it too much.” I have to admit, the language of hair care is mystifying to me. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/19 "2015-04-14T05:32:25Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > This is exactly what I use. But what does it mean to “strip it too much.” I have to admit, the language of hair care is mystifying to me. It means “removes too much oil, leaving your hair dried out”. (Used to work in the hair care industry. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474/20 "2015-04-14T13:59:42Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > \*\*It means “removes too much oil, leaving your hair dried out”. \*\*(Used to work in the hair care industry. 🙂 ) And for us super-oily-haired folks, this is never a concern 😃 I’m actually curious to purposefully dry out my hair just once to see how it feels (I know from experience that Dawn dishwashing liquid, for instance, won’t dry my hair out a whit). … The Nutrogena shampoo suggestion is a good one – love that stuff, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whgat-does-hair-conditioner-do/717474.md?page=2)