Have you tried all possible shampoos that are supposed to be good for dry and damaged hair but still haven't found the right one? For you, the best shampoo might be no shampoo at all if your hair is very damaged and worn out. In that case, the conditioner-only method might be something to try. With the conditioner-only method, you clean your hair using only conditioner.
5 benefits of the conditioner-only method
With the conditioner-only method, you can wash your hair every day without compromising hair quality. The conditioner-only method:
Makes dry hair shiny.
Makes colored hair last longer.
Repairs damaged hair.
Enhances curls.
Causes the scalp to produce less oil. Generally, both hair and scalp become healthier with the conditioner-only method, and it's a simple way to save damaged hair.
Step 1: Deep cleanse with a "final shampoo" before you begin
A so-called "final shampoo" is needed to wash away buildup of silicones, mineral oils, and other hard-to-remove chemicals from your hair and scalp before you start with the conditioner-only method. If you already use natural and organic hair products, you don't need a final shampoo. Any of these shampoos work well as a "final shampoo":
– Shampoo no. 4 from Bruns
– Shampoo Repair from Eco Cosmetics
Your final shampoo should have clean, natural ingredients and strong cleansing properties. Often a shampoo with sulfates is recommended, but it works just as well if the shampoo contains milder cleansing agents like these.
Do this:
Massage the shampoo into your entire hair.
Rinse out.
Repeat the washing step until your hair becomes "squeaky clean". Your hair might feel tangled and rough (don't worry!).
Detangle your hair with a natural conditioner (see conditioner further down).
Wash your hair this way 1-3 times or until your hair feels truly clean, shinier, and more manageable. The reason your shampoo and conditioner should have clean ingredients is so they don't add more of the substances you're trying to wash away. They give your hair a good and fresh start so that the transition to the conditioner-only method becomes easier.
Tips! It's good to occasionally reset your hair with your final shampoo. This is because air pollutants and minerals in our water can firmly attach to hair strands and become difficult to remove with conditioner alone.
Step 2: Start washing your hair with conditioner
Since oil dissolves oil, it works excellently to clean your hair with just conditioner. But this places more demands on your conditioner. Further down you'll find our 3 favorite conditioners for the conditioner-only method. Keep in mind that conditioner doesn't lather, which requires a bit more time and effort to distribute in your hair and to dissolve dirt. With the conditioner-only method, you might need to wash your hair more frequently at the beginning. In that case, continue washing with conditioner until your scalp adjusts. Be patient and persevere!
Do this:
Wet your hair with water.
Distribute your conditioner on your scalp and massage thoroughly for a while so that dead skin cells and oil dissolve.
Rinse off the conditioner thoroughly with water. Be careful to rinse away all conditioner. Otherwise, your hair can feel flat and greasy after washing.
Finish, if needed, with a more nourishing conditioner like a hair mask for the ends and lengths that protects your hair, makes it easier to detangle, and repairs dry and damaged hair.
Rinse off with water.
Conditioners for the conditioner-only method
The conditioners you should use for the conditioner-only method must be free from sulfates, silicones, mineral oils, hard-to-dissolve chemicals, and drying alcohols. They should not weigh down your hair and should be lighter in consistency while still being able to clean hair and scalp thoroughly without leaving a greasy feeling. These organic conditioners are perfect for the conditioner-only method:
– Eco Cosmetics Conditioner with Jojoba & Green Tea
– Dr Sannas Volume Conditioner
– Bruns Conditioner No 04 Magic Citrus
Remember that a healthy scalp is the most direct path to healthy hair! Read more about how to take care of your scalp in the articles: Hair and Scalp Detox and The Ultimate Guide to Itchy Scalp.
