Why It's Important to Condition Your Hair

Has your hair been feeling rough, brittle? Is your hair prone to tangle and snap at the ends? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to use a conditioner. Conditioning your hair after shampooing can make hair softer, smoother and less prone to breakage and tangling because a good conditioner flattens hair cuticles.

Hair cuticles protect the hair shaft. Hair cuticles are similar to fish scales, only they coat your hair strands. The purpose of cuticles is to protect hair strands and seal in moisture. Because afro hair is curly, the cuticles are slightly raised to accommodate the curves of the hair strands. Raised hair cuticles causes the surface of curly or kinky afro hair to feel coarse. Raised hair cuticles also allow moisture from hair strands to escape which makes the hair feel dry, which is why afro hair requires additional moisturising, unlike straight European hair types. Cuticles typically lay flat for straight hair textures because they do not have to adapt to the curl of the hair strand.

Shampooing, colouring or relaxing your hair causes hair cuticles to rise. For people with afro hair types, shampooing, relaxing or colouring your hair can cause hair cuticles that are already slightly raised to rise even more. For example, should you decide to shampoo your hair, the cuticle, which are the outer layers of the hair strands are rubbed together, this causes the cuticles rise. When you relax or colour your hair, the cuticles rise to allow the colour or relaxer to penetrate the hair shaft. Raised cuticles makes hair strands feel rough, look dull in appearance and more likely to tangle or snap. See diagram of cuticle below. 

So how does conditioning our hair make it softer, smoother and less prone to breakage and tangling? Well, a GOOD conditioner (emphasis on GOOD), smooths and flattens the hair cuticles. A smooth cuticle is healthier, shinier, thicker in appearance and has more elasticity. Conditioners also balance the pH levels in your hair as well as sealing hair moisture in the hair stand. This is why it is important to condition your hair at least once a week. If you are using ProTress Essential Scalp Therapy Energising Shampoo and Lotion, we recommend incorporating a conditioner into the treatment process. Wash your hair with ProTress Shampoo, apply a conditioner of your choosing then rinse. Towel dry your hair and then apply ProTress Lotion directly to the scalp whilst hair is still damp.

If you are suffering from hair loss or hair breakage, or your hair is thinning, ProTress Essential Scalp Therapy Energising Shampoo and Lotion is effective at preventing further hair loss, restoring hair growth and thickening hair. For proven results see below.