How long should I leave conditioner in?

Give it two to three minutes to soak in. Rinsing straight away is the same as not using it. Finish with cooler water to keep the hair smooth and shiny.

Should fine hair use conditioner?

Yes, but only on the ends and a smaller amount, kept well away from the roots. Fine hair goes flat from conditioner on the roots, not from conditioning itself.

Is conditioner the same as a hair mask?

No. Conditioner smooths the cuticle for the day. A mask or bond treatment does the deeper repair and needs five to ten minutes, once or twice a week. Struggling ends want both.

The One Thing You Are Probably Doing Wrong With Your Conditioner

Q: Where should I put conditioner?

On the mid-lengths and ends, never the roots. Start about two fingers width below your roots and work down to the tips. Your scalp already makes its own oil, so it does not need more.

Tasha Meyerhoff
Jul 15
3 min read

The most common conditioner mistake I see at my chair is people working it into their roots. Conditioner belongs on the mid-lengths and ends, not your scalp. Your roots are the newest, healthiest hair you have, and they already get plenty of natural oil. The dry, older hair sits at the bottom, and that is where conditioner earns its place.

The short version

• Conditioner goes on the mid-lengths and ends, never the roots.

• Your scalp makes its own oil. It does not need more.

• Leave it on for two to three minutes before you rinse.

• Rinse with cooler water to keep the hair smooth and shiny.

• Use it after every wash, even fine hair, just less of it.

Why your roots do not need it

Think about where the oil comes from. Your scalp produces sebum, which slowly travels down the hair. The hair closest to your head is coated and conditioned for free. By the time you reach the ends, that oil has run out, which is why the bottom of your hair feels drier and looks duller.

Putting conditioner on your roots just weighs them down and makes you greasy faster, so you end up washing more often, which dries the ends out even more. Start about two fingers width below your roots and work down to the tips.

How much, and how long to leave it

A lot of people use either a tiny blob that never coats the hair or a huge handful that never rinses out. For most heads a ten pence sized amount is plenty, a bit more if your hair is long or thick. Smooth it through with your fingers or a wide tooth comb so every strand is covered.

Then leave it. Rinsing straight away is the same as not using it. Give it two to three minutes to actually soak in, so do it first in the shower and wash your body while it works. Finish with cooler water. Hot water opens the cuticle and leaves hair looking frizzy, cooler water helps it lie flat and shine. None of this is salon secrecy. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using conditioner after every shampoo and concentrating it on the ends of your hair, which is exactly what I tell clients.

Fine hair, thick hair: the amount changes

Fine hair gets blamed for going flat, and conditioner usually takes the fall. It is not the conditioner, it is where you put it and how much. Fine hair still wants conditioning on the ends, just a smaller amount, kept well away from the roots. Thick or curly hair drinks it up, so be generous on the lengths.

If you colour your hair, this matters even more. Lightened and toned hair is more porous, so it loses moisture faster and needs the cuticle smoothed after every wash. Skipping conditioner on coloured hair is a quick route to brassy, straw like ends within a few weeks.

Conditioner is not a treatment mask

People often ask why their conditioner is not fixing dry ends. It is not meant to. Conditioner smooths the cuticle and adds slip for the day. A mask or a bond treatment does the deeper repair and needs longer, usually five to ten minutes, once or twice a week. If your ends are really struggling you want both, not a heavier hand with the daily conditioner.

And if your hair feels like straw no matter what you try at home, that is worth a proper look in the salon. Sometimes the fix is a treatment, sometimes it is a small trim, and a stylist can tell you which by feeling your hair wet and dry.

What we do differently in the salon

When you have a colour or a treatment with us, the conditioning step is chosen for your hair, not squeezed from a one size bottle. After a balayage or a set of foils we will often use a bond treatment and a toner so the colour stays looking expensive and the ends stay soft. You can see our full colour and care options on our services page.

Our prices are on the website and there are no surprises. A cut and finish is £42 to £55, a blow dry is £28 to £35, and a toner refresh is £35 to £40 if your colour just needs freshening up. Sabrina, Sheree and I will always tell you the truth about what is worth it and what is not.

You will find us at Shop 660, Jansel House, Hitchin Road, Stopsley, Luton LU2 7XH. We are open Tuesday and Wednesday 10 to 8, Thursday 10 to 6, Friday 10 to 3, and Saturday 10 to 4:30. Call us on 01582 730381 or book online, and Klarna is there if you would rather spread the cost.