What Comes First, Shampoo or Conditioner? 🤔🚿 ...

What Comes First, Shampoo or Conditioner? 🤔🚿 ...
By Eliza • Apr 3, 2021 • MD

The short answer is: yes! This is a new trend and it sounds weird, but there’s science behind it. I have never in my life done conditioner before shampoo so I was intrigued when I heard about this. Apparently it’s a thing. And it’s a thing that has merits so you should definitely give it a try before you decide if it’s for you or not. To help you decide, I went to the experts and learned everything I could about shampoo before conditioner. Here’s all the facts.

1. The Conditioner Acts as Primer for the Shampoo

hair, blue, hairstyle, long hair, You know how great a primer can be for keeping your makeup in place and it turns out that using conditioner before shampoo has the same effect. It creates an even and smooth palette for your shampoo to stick to. That means a more even distribution throughout your strands, leaving you with a cleaner head of hair every time and less product buildup at the same time. Interesting, right?

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2. Conditioner before Shampoo is Perfect for Girls with Thin Hair

hair, human hair color, face, blond, hairstyle, As a person with pretty thin hair, I’m always on the lookout for ways to add volume. According to hair experts who love this trend, using conditioner first helps keep from weighing your hair down so there’s a fullness that you don’t see when you shampoo first. For this reason alone, I’ve got to give this a try!

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3. Condition from Root to Tip if You Plan to Shampoo Last

New York City, hair, human hair color, face, clothing, You might generally only condition from the ears down, which many experts recommend, but if you plan to shampoo after you condition, you should apply the conditioning product to your entire head of hair. Rub the product in well all over your head, then shampoo as usual.

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4. This Crazy New Hair Washing Trend is Great for Hydration

hair, face, eyebrow, black hair, photography, One of the reasons why conditioner before shampoo is getting so much attention is because it’s great for hydrating parched strands. You get the hydration you need without weighing your hair down. Experts say it’s an especially good practice during the summer when your hair is naturally a bit drier than in cooler months.

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Embrace your individuality and transform your look by trying out a unique shade. Did you know that green hair is associated with nature, creativity, and growth? So go ahead, experiment with this bold hair color to represent a new phase in your life, waiting to blossom like a fresh spring leaf.

5. You’ll Get a Longer Lasting Blow Dry

hair, face, hairstyle, blond, brown hair, Hate blow drying your hair? Me too! If you want to get more mileage out of your blowout, you should be conditioning before you shampoo. Switching up the order of things gives you a fresh mane of hair, which means your styling treatments penetrate deeper and last longer. Who doesn’t want that?

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6. Use Heat to Make the Change Even More Effective

eyewear, hair, sunglasses, glasses, vision care, Some hair care experts say that applying the conditioner, then blasting your strands with a blow dryer for a few minutes before washing drastically improves the benefits. The heat allows the conditioner to penetrate more deeply into your hair, boosting the benefits. Once you finish with the blow dryer, hop in the shower, shampoo and you’re done.

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7. Some Products Might Not Work as Well as Others for Reverse Washing

hair, human hair color, face, black hair, clothing, Some girls who have tried reverse washing say that it doesn’t work with all combinations of shampoos and conditioners. If you want to give it a try, experiment with various brands and combinations to find the one that gives you the luxurious head of hair you crave. Some hair care products are even coming out with partner products that are specifically designed for reverse washing.

Have you ever tried conditioner before shampoo? Did it work wonders on your hair? If not, do you plan to try it now?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

  • Taylor

    2015-10-18T21:40:07.014Z

    @brittany maybe because we're shocker the author hasn't done research and we're trying to help the average reader? I for one hate all the "put lemon on your face" articles because they will harm your skin. I'd feel bad if someone got a chemical burn from one of these articles since people don't do research first.
  • Brittany

    2015-10-18T04:36:27.148Z

    Every article I read, there has to be someone who wants to wants to correct the writer, it's rude. Plain and simple. Anyways, thank you for the wonderful read! Definitely going to give it a try!!
  • Catwoman

    2015-10-20T00:19:31.546Z

    I already do this! And my hair Is always smooth and silky. 😍
  • Jcwriter

    2015-10-19T01:34:34.053Z

    I read this years ago, in what I believe might have been my father's Scientific American, actually that would have make it over 20 years ago! The article was about the discovery of how when conditioner was applied first, it excited the ions in the hair meant to bind with the shampoo. Since conditioner is always applied last, there is little residue of the shampoo left in the hair for the chemical reaction to occur. It cited the pure accidental discovery of this by a girl who accidentally applied conditioner, thinking it was shampoo, then tried to wash it out. That's all I can remember; I have a good memory, but it has its limitations.
  • AlexSalem

    2015-10-18T02:27:21.607Z

    I love ya Eliza and I'm not being particular in your writing, but your question is backwards?? Please re-read lol. Call it the writer in me I guess. Not sure if there is a proofreader, but I love this app. I do notice a lot of mistakes in the editorials lately!
  • Stefani

    2018-01-14T10:12:27.323Z

    Hey, I’ll try it!
  • SJC

    2015-10-18T12:53:48.453Z

    Soft for a day or so*
  • Robin

    2016-01-20T01:07:14.890Z

    What would happen if you condition , shampoo , then condition again ?
  • Karam

    2015-10-18T20:20:31.495Z

    Use olive oil instead of the conditioner, believe me it works much better.. And it's more useful because it's natural!
  • Nani

    2018-02-15T13:55:02.816Z

    Hello dear
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