About 6 months ago, under the recommendation of Claire Marshall (the queen), I kicked my shampoo/conditioner routine into touch and replaced it with cleansing conditioner, and it was a real game changer. Here's everything you need to know about cleansing conditioner.
What is cleansing conditioner?
Cleansing conditioner is an alternative to shampoo and conditioner, and is a no-shampoo method for washing your hair.
What makes cleansing conditioner different to shampoo and conditioner?
It is aimed to cleanse and refresh your hair without stripping it of it's natural oils and nutrients, making it a great alternative for dry or damaged hair. Cleansing conditioners are much more gentle, sulfate-free and don't lather.
How do I use cleansing conditioner?
Saturate your hair completely with cool water and gradually apply the recommended number of pumps for your length of hair (it always says on the back of the bottle) - whilst you apply, you can gradually dip your head under the shower to dilute the conditioner which makes it easier to distribute it through your hair. When applying, you need to really massage it into the scalp. You can then comb the hair at this point or just run your fingers through just to distribute it evenly. Leave it on your hair for the duration of your shower (at this point you can get on with everything else you need to do in the shower). After about 5 minutes you can rinse it out and repeat or just leave it as is. You can also add 1/2- 1 pump to your hair now as a leave-in conditioner.
Is there a technique?
- Use cool water
- Really spend time massaging it into your scalp but don't scrub the hair
Budget cleansing conditioners vs more expensive cleansing conditioners
I tried the Wen cleansing conditioner first as this is the one Claire uses and I absolutely loved the results. However, Wen is quite expensive for a hair cleanser and so I tried the Palmer's alternative. Whilst the Palmer's one did reduce the amount of frizz, it's nowhere near as good as the Wen. Also the Wen scents are so much nicer than the Palmer's one, I especially love the summer coconut lime verbena scent from Wen, but you do get used to the Palmer's one. What I tend to do now, is alternate between the two brands in order to keep expenses down and avoid breaking the bank.
Will I be using cleansing conditioner in the future?
I'll definitely continue using cleansing conditioner! This is a definite pick for people with dry, frizzy, thick, or hard to control hair. Whilst I'm not a huge fan of washing in cool water, it really is improving the quality of my hair - plus it always makes the switch back to hot water for my body so much nicer. Also, I do like to use shampoo every now and again if I'm feeling lazy or if I'm travelling.
Have you tried cleansing conditioner?
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