What Comes First Shampoo or Conditioner? ...

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.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

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?

Related: Whats in Your Shower

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!

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.

Related: Top 10 Best Shampoos ...

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.

Related: 8 Fab 2in1 Shampoos ...

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?

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.

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

I’m going to try it also I have baby fine hair and have to wash it everyday because my scalp gets oily and if I don’t shampoo everyday it’s disgusting.

Funny I accidentally pumped conditioner in my hair before shampoo after wards my hair felt so soft then shampoo when I stepped out of the shower I hair had an oomph for those for you who don't know it is some volume any ho I will continue to stick to this new routine and see how it goes

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.

And by curly I mean kinky coily tight curls.

@Brittany Baker, some of us are just critical thinkers rather than buying into everything we see and read.

I feel like i SHOULD give it a go! :)

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!

I really hope it works going to give it a try !:)

Hey, I’ll try it!

I've been doing this for years. I have super curly hair and the condition mixed in with the shampoo in the beginning saves me from tangles. Try it!

Categories