5 types of conditioner for natural hair and a frizz-free tip!

18/9/2014

Not all conditioners are made equal! Some are designed for daily use, others for weekly use and yet others for less than weekly use.

To reduce frizz: leave a little rinse-out conditioner in your hair. This works best for thick or course hair, according to the Science of Black Hair.

1. Instant Conditioners

Designed for regular/daily use
Watery
Best for people with thin or oily hair
Don't deep condition well, they are very much surface acting
If you use an instant conditioner you also need a deep conditioner for weekly use

2. Cream-rinse (a.k.a. creme-rinse) conditioners

Great for detangling
Great for heat protection, so you can use this type of conditioner AFTER your regular condition and shampoo for heat protection element

Cream-rinse conditioners generally do not contain all the moisturizers, oils and ingredients that are strongly attracted to hair as found in a deep conditioner, a moisturizing conditioner or a protein conditioner. On average they are also thinner in consistency.

3. Deep conditioners

Boost moisture
Boost protein
Strengthen the hair strands
Should be ideally done weekly or every 10 days
To improve product take-up, I wear a shower cap, blow dry on top of it for a couple of minutes then wear a thick scarf over the shower cap to trap the heat

4. Moisturising conditioners

Boost moisture
Boost hair elasticity
Reduce frizz

5. Protein conditioners

Temporarily rebuild damage along the hair's cuticle
They are surface acting so when you wash your hair you remove this protein
Also contain moisture boosting element unlike "protein reconstructors / treatments"

Protein reconstructors / treatments

Not really a conditioner because a conditioner is designed to boost moisture and protein treatments don't do that at all. In fact, you have to condition your hair after using one
Act on a deeper level, i.e. they penetrate the hair shaft they don't just act on the surface
Ideal for porous or damaged hair
If your hair is already healthy and balanced they will dry your hair out so don't overuse

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Ref: The Science of Black Hair, pages 78-80

aminah

30/11/2012 09:42:31 am

Can you please give a list of deep conditioners, and shampoos. because my daughter has sandy brown hair and no matter what i put in it, it still seems to be dry, and she is 9 years old. Can you tell me some protective styles to do for her hair and mine. Thanks in advance

Heather @ Neno Natural

26/3/2013 10:04:41 pm

Hi Aminah,

Products I recommend are here: http://www.nenonatural.com/products.html

No single product works on every head so you need to try a few before finding the best one for you.

As for styles, have you had a look at YouTube? I have some protective hair-dos on my channel too: http://www.youtube.com/user/hkatsonga

My best
H x

Fediben Gal

18/3/2013 07:43:28 pm

hi Heather
Could you explain to me what exaclty is cholestorol used for. I use it too deep condition but may be using it wrongly.

Stancy

10/4/2013 05:56:42 am

Hi Heather,

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to post this question but I've been reading your very imformative blogs and had a question about 'moisturizers' vs. sealing oils. I have seen a bunch of examples of the types of oils that can be used to seal in moisture during the hair care routine but what about examples of moisturizers. Sometimes in your posts you indicate that a moisturizer should be used first then the oil to seal- you state examples as leave in moisturizers- can you please tell me an exact brand that you recommend or use? that would be extremely helpful. I have access to all the oils but I don't know what to do about the other component. Sorry for the long winded question.
Thanks so much ( great website!)

Diane

3/7/2013 04:38:57 pm

Hi Heather,

Tonight is my first time subscribing to your blog and so far I am loving it! Thank you for all the time and info you have poured into it...ALL OF MY NAT-FRIENDS WILL SOON HEAR ABOUT THIS SITE!!! The BEST that I've found thus far... QUESTION: You mentioned that people with normal to healthy hair should be careful NOT to overuse protein treatments or their hair will dry out...WELL, I THINK I HAVE BECAUSE MY HAIR HAS STARTED TO FEEL VERY DRY and it NEVER used to at all. What's more, I am a Lo-Po (low porosity) gal with thick (thin strands...lots per square inch) 4a/b/c hair. HELP! How can I reverse the damage that I may have done to my hair by doing too many protein treatments BEFORE I got to know what to and not to do with my already very healthy and shiny hair (that is now getting dull). Sigh :-(

Ang

24/9/2013 07:52:15 pm

Hi Heather, I really like the idea of using natural products for natural hair. are you able to give a list of natural products and oils for the various conditioning types you spoke about and especially for leave in conditioners. at the moment I have coconut oil, shea butter, olive and castor oil and I will like to know what to mix with what to keep for daily or weekly use. many thanks

Mary link

7/4/2014 02:48:51 am

I will be more attentive on using the right conditioner for my hair! Didn't know that conditioners have different types/classifications until I read this! Thanks for the help! :)

Nicole Carroll

18/9/2014 07:00:34 am

Do you make the growth stimulator for children?

Heather Katsonga-Woodward

2/10/2014 03:15:57 am

Hi Nicole,

I put a pause on that one because the sales were much slower than on the adult one. If you have the adult one you can use it on kids 5+. Try it first and if there is no reaction it'll be fine.

The only difference is the concentration of essential oils. The adult one contains 2% essential oils, the kiddie one contains 1% which is a bit better/milder for kiddies.

My best
Heather

Losbeauty link

10/1/2015 02:13:24 am

Thank you for sharing this amazing info. We never knew that there were these many conditioner types. Please feel free to stop by our beauty blog specially created for women and men of color here at www.losbeauty.info.

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5 types of conditioner for natural hair and a frizz-free tip!

By Heather Katsonga-Woodward

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