Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

Mar 27, 2020

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

Can leaving conditioner in your hair overnight be a damaging move? In this blog, we compare the Pros and Cons of overnight Conditioning and what it does to your hair.

Unless you have an allergic reaction to a product, using a conditioner isn't going to cause harm if it is in contact with your hair throughout the day. A conditioner is used as a final step in the hair washing stage to lock in moisture, add shine, protection and detangling agents. In short, sleeping in a conditioner overnight in excess is not recommended for your hair or even necessary.

Using a Conditioner overnight can be harmful to kinky and curly tresses if 'directions of use' (which should be found on the packaging) are not followed. For example, according to the directions for using our Moisturising Conditioner, a simple three minutes is sufficient before rinsing your hair through. It isn't recommended as an overnight hair conditioner.

OVER-CONDITIONING

Anything in excess is not good for us. It is all about getting the balance right. The same can be said for too much water absorbed into our hair.

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

As moisture is absorbed through the shaft, our hair strands contract and expand. Sleeping with a conditioner in your hair can put your strands at risk of hygral fatigue. This is the direct opposite of dry, brittle hair as hair loses its elasticity and becomes fragile from continuous wetting and drying.

Our advice is to be careful. There are different techniques that work for different hair types. The trick is to be observant of what agrees with our hair and what doesn't. Through education and a kind hand, it can be easier to identify what works resulting in healthy hair.

If you don't yet have a hair routine, it may be a good time to start thinking about creating one. Starting with the right products!

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

  • What Is Conditioner?
  • Why Not Leave Rinse-Off Conditioner in Your Hair
  • Conditioners to Leave in Your Hair
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • So, Can You Leave Conditioner in Your Hair?

The hydration benefits of conditioner lead many to wonder, “can you leave conditioner in your hair?” However, you may be disappointed at the results if you do. Whether or not you can leave the conditioner in your hair is determined by the type of conditioner you use. 

What Is Conditioner?

Some conditioners are designed to spend longer in your hair, while others should be rinsed out within a few minutes. Before deciding to leave the conditioner in your hair, ensure you know how the conditioner is designed and whether or not leaving it in your hair will cause more harm than good. 

Most conditioners contain chemicals that are foreign to your hair and are designed to add a layer of cleansing to your hair that the shampoo may have missed.

The additional ingredients used to cleanse the hair, mixed with the oils and moisturizing agents, create a product you don’t want to deny your hair. Conditioner strengthens the hair with a protective coating to prevent breakage and aid in hair growth, but it also leaves it soft and smooth. 

For conditioner to work the way it should, it is vital to understand what conditioners work best when rinsed out after a few minutes, and which work better for leaving in your hair.

Read Next: What Is Hair Conditioner Used For?

Why Not Leave Rinse-Off Conditioner in Your Hair

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

Hazal Ak/Shutterstock

I have to admit, I was the girl in high school that left a rinse-off conditioner in my hair. I found it easier to brush through my thick, curly hair when it had left-over conditioner from my shower, ultimately making my morning routine go faster.

While leaving the rinse-off conditioner in my hair helped with the initial brushing, it had drawbacks – some that I am still suffering from in my late 20s. Leaving conditioner in your hair every once in a while won’t cause permanent damage.

So don’t freak out if you remember a time 10 years ago when you didn’t get your conditioner fully rinsed out. However, leaving conditioner designed to only be in your hair for a few minutes regularly can cause issues.

Leaving Conditioner in Your Hair Can Cause Damage

The most serious drawback to leaving the conditioner in your hair is the damage it can cause to your hair structure. The chemicals in the rinse-off conditioner can cause breakage and ultimately do more harm than good if left in longer than intended.

This breakage and structure damage will leave your hair looking flat and limp it will become unhealthy. And if you’re using conditioner, those are the very opposite results you’re seeking.

Conditioner Can Cause Your Hair to Become Dirty Faster

We know that shampoo’s main goal is to remove any dirt or unnatural buildup in your hair. Pairing conditioner with your shampoo provides an additional cleansing while adding back nutrients to keep your hair soft and smooth.

However, if you leave the conditioner in your hair it can work against you and cause buildup or clog up the hair follicles resulting in dirty hair faster. 

Itchy Scalp? Lurking Conditioner May Be the Issue

If you have issues with a dry and itchy scalp, a lurking conditioner may be the issue. The unnatural chemicals in rinse-off conditioners, if left in the hair, make their way to your scalp and irritate it. 

This results in an itchy scalp and can even lead to dandruff buildup. As someone with naturally curly hair, I already have the issue of a dryer than a normal scalp. Add the left-in conditioner, and it’s a natural disaster!

Conditioners to Leave in Your Hair

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

New Africa/Shutterstock

The best part about the conditioner is that there is a version of the product designed for every hair need. While the benefits of rinse-off conditioners are endless if used properly, the leave-in conditioner offers similar benefits, and you don’t have to worry about removing it from your hair. 

Leave-in conditioner has lighter chemical composition, which doesn’t weigh down your hair or contain chemicals for quick hydration.

Rather, the oils in this type of conditioner have a slower release causing them to hydrate over time. This slow hydration process leaves your hair looking cleaner and healthier. 

Hydration Is Key

As with rinse-off conditioners, there is a variety of leave-in conditioner options. While there are plenty of options to choose from, the best types of leave-in conditioners have natural oils in them like aloe vera or argan oil to promote hydration and shine. Without proper hydration, your hair may look dull and become coarse. 

Our Favorite Leave-in Conditioners

Because I have naturally curly hair, my hair tends to remain dryer than average. Therefore, I like to frequently use a leave-in conditioner to promote hydration. When I say I have tried every type of leave-in conditioner, I mean it.

To spare you the expense of purchasing a variety of leave-in conditioners, I’m here to share my top two favorite options.

Our Top Pick

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

My absolute favorite is the Virtue Purifying Leave-In Conditioner. This conditioner is more expensive, but the easy-to-apply and lightweight mist is what my coarse hair needs.

Our Top Pick

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

Another option that works well for my curly hair but won’t break the bank is én Love Moisture Affection Leave-In Conditioner. Oils like marula and argan add moisture that leaves my hair happy. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does leaving conditioner in your hair help

Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock

There are multiple questions surrounding the benefits and drawbacks of leaving the conditioner in your hair. Here are the top five most frequently asked questions surrounding the topic.

What happens if I leave the conditioner in my hair?

Leaving conditioner in your hair once or twice won’t cause extensive damage. However, leaving the rinse-off conditioner in your hair frequently can cause hair fatigue and result in damaged hair follicles and dull, coarse hair. An itchy and irritated scalp is another potential repercussion of leaving the conditioner in your hair.

How long can you leave the conditioner in your hair?

The average rinse-off conditioner you find at the department store shouldn’t remain in your hair for longer than three minutes. This ensures the foreign chemicals in the product won’t cause your hair to become weighed down or cause damage.

Is it okay to use conditioner without shampoo?

You don’t have to use shampoo every time you use conditioner. Shampooing your hair every day is known to dry hair and remove the natural minerals your hair needs to remain healthy. Therefore, you may want to avoid shampooing your hair every day, but using conditioner every day is a good way to keep your hair moisturized.

How often should you condition your hair?

If you have short hair, you should condition your hair at least five times a week. We recommend conditioning once a day to keep long hair hydrated and healthy.

Should you put conditioner on your roots?

Your roots do not need conditioner. Your scalp naturally produces sebum, an oil to help hydrate your roots and scalp. Therefore, the hair roots have less damage than the ends of your hair.

For the sake of your hair, it is vital you only use a leave-in conditioner in your hair. If you leave the rinse-off conditioner in your hair for long periods, it can cause damage and leave your hair looking dull.

Use your conditioner as intended and alternate between rinse-off and leave-in conditioners for best results. And while you’re here, be sure to check out our other hair styling and care guides. Your hair will thank you!

How long should you leave conditioner in your hair?

Leave It On Long Enough to Be Effective Typically, you'll want to leave the conditioner on for the amount of time listed in the directions on the packaging, which is usually between one and three minutes — just enough time to wash your face.

Is it bad to leave some conditioner in your hair?

Drawbacks Of Leaving Rinse-Out Conditioner In Your hair It can cause your hair to become weak and limp. In the most severe cases, you could experience split ends and breakage. Also, if you use a leave-in conditioner on already-moisturized hair, it can cause your hair to look greasy and cause product buildup.

What happens if you leave conditioner in your hair without washing it out?

Build-Up: Your hair could begin to feel coated, heavy, and sticky as a result of the ingredients not being washed out. Since most conditioners are formulated with heavier ingredients, if left on the hair, they have the potential to cause buildup on both the scalp and hair.

What happens if you leave conditioner in your hair too long?

"Leaving conditioner on for too long can weigh hair down or make it feel oily," says Arrojo. Experts agree that 2 to 3 minutes will generally do the trick.