Whilst there is a great deal of information available about No Poo shampoo, recipes, and natural ingredients, guidance about the best No Poo conditioner is harder to find. I have therefore create this article to help shed light on the best ingredients and recipes for No Poo conditioners.
Conditioners add moisture to your hair and protect it from environmental damage. Conditioners can be used after washing, but are also used in the pre-poo stage, to condition and protect hair prior to washing. No Poo co-washing is popular as many conditioners have cleansing properties.
Conditioners are used within the No Poo haircare regime to provide hair with nourishing and moisture-rich ingredients that can strengthen and improve the health of your hair.
Read on to find out which type of No Poo conditioner will be best for your hair.
Best No Poo Conditioner
The No Poo movement believes that only natural products should be used to cleanse our hair. Man-made chemicals are not permitted.
The same goes for ingredients within conditioners.
To be No Poo, conditioners should not contain:
- Sulphates
- Silicons
- Parabens
- Chemical Fragrances
Ultimately, the best conditioner for No Poo method depends upon the type of hair that you have and the way in which you wish to use your No Poo products.
Here are a few examples:
- Dry Hair: A conditioner or conditioning treatment is definitely for you.
- Healthy / Oily Hair: Avoid regular or traditional conditioners, as the product build-up might be too great for your hair.
So What Is No Poo Conditioner?
Using a No Poo conditioner has many benefits, and finding the right one can quite literally change your hair world.
There are several reasons for using a conditioner, including:
- Moisture: Our hair needs moisture to be healthy and manageable.
- Strength: Conditioners can add protein and strength.
- Nutrients: Nourished hair is healthy hair.
- Tangle-Free: Conditioner helps to keep tangles at bay.
- Frizz Free: Nourished and moisture-filled hair is less prone to frizz.
If this sounds like something you are interested in trying, then take a look at the various No Poo Conditioner options that are applicable in the No Poo method:
1. Pre-Poo
Using a conditioner before washes can help in a number of ways.
Firstly, it can load the hair with moisture so that the wash is less harsh and dry. This is particularly important when using the renowned baking soda wash with an apple cider vinegar rinse.
Secondly, conditioner can add nourishment that may be lacking in the No Poo wash of your choosing.
2. Co-Washing
Conditioners often have a slight cleansing action.
Using conditioner rather than an actual wash is popular, especially with those who have curly hair.
3. Conditioning
You can use a No Poo conditioner after a wash to replace any moisture lost during the washing process.
4. Mask
Instead of leaving the conditioner on for several minutes and then rinsing it off, there are plenty of No Poo recipes for conditioning masks that allow you to add moisture to your hair for several hours.
Some recipes can even be left overnight!
These recipes not only contain moisturizers, but also protein and other strengthening agents that can give your hair the added oomph it needs.
Can You Use Conditioner During No Poo?
There are lots of reasons to use a conditioner when going No Poo. Not only can it add moisture and add nourishment, it can also improve the health of your hair.
When looking for a No Poo conditioner though, remember to have a list handy of the key ingredients that do not comply with the No Poo method requirements.
It is your choice whether you use the pre-poo method, the co-washing method, or simply use conditioners after a wash like the traditional method.
Pros And Cons Of Using Conditioner In Your Hair
If we take a closer look at what a No Poo conditioner actually is, we find that these conditioners do not contain the following chemicals:
- Silicons
- Parabens
- Sulphates
- Alcohol
- Perfume
As such they integrate perfectly within a No Poo lifestyle.
It is often the case that No Poo conditioners are made from similar (if not the same) ingredients as used in the No Poo shampoos. This is a testament to the versatility of the individual ingredients.
By comparison, commercial conditioners contain many more man-made chemicals that can ultimately damage our hair with long term use.
So, when the question ‘is conditioner good for your hair’ is asked, the answer tends to depend upon the type of conditioner used, and the type of hair that an individual has.
The answer to the query ‘is conditioning bad for your hair’ also depends upon your hair type and the No Poo method that you wish to follow.
Home Made Recipes
One of the key benefits of the No Poo movement is that the No Poo conditioner can be made at home, which allows you to choose the best ingredients for your hair and lifestyle.
Simplicity
The recipes can also be as simple or as complicated as you like, and all have benefits that are not possible when using a traditional conditioner.
Optional
Although the use of conditioner is very well established in our traditions, this is not a mandatory stage within the No Poo haircare process. In fact, some individuals argue there isn’t even a need for conditioner at all!
No Poo followers vary with their beliefs towards using conditioner, or not.
For instance, those who follow the water only or sebum only No Poo methods do not use conditioner, nor do they consider the application of conditioner necessary. This is because they believe that the natural oils from our scalp provide sufficient nutrients and moisture for the hair to be healthy and well-nourished.
However, there are still many others who use and would not stop using a conditioning agent for their No Poo regime.
How Often Should You Use Conditioner?
The frequency with which you should use conditioner depends upon your hair type, what you wish to achieve, and the No Poo method that you are following.
Below is a handy guide to how often conditioner should be used, according to the No Poo method in question:
- Water Only: Never
- Sebum Only: Never
- After Wash: As often as you wash your hair – perhaps once every 7-10 days?
- Co-washing: Dependent upon you hairs needs – perhaps every 4 days at first?
- Masks: Conditioning masks (dependent upon hair needs) required every 2 weeks.
If you live in an environment that is very drying to your hair, or work in an air-conditioned office, etc. then it is perfectly possible that the frequencies of use listed above will increase.
This would also be true if your planned exercise included regular swimming or activities that increase body moisture loss i.e. sweating!
At the end of the day, how often, and how much conditioner you use is totally dependent upon the needs of your hair.
There are no hard and fast rules. If your hair needs moisture or protein, then choose an appropriate conditioner. If you can successfully go without for double the usual length of time, then think about doing so.
Ultimately, the less product of any type that you put in your hair, the less likely that your hair will become dull through the excessive build-up.
Is Conditioner Bad For Curly Hair?
Curly hair is often dry and therefore can be improved by the use of a conditioner.
However, over-use or insufficient cleansing after use can lead to build-up that can weigh down the curls, leaving them limp and lifeless.
Using conditioner without washing can simply mean that moisture is added on top of dirt, which is never going to improve the health of your hair.
Instead of being bad for curly hair, conditioner can help those with curly hair to be able to de-tangle successfully.
Best No Poo Conditioner For Curly Hair
There are increasing numbers of conditioners that are commercially available for those who want to No Poo.
To be able to be No Poo, conditioners should not contain:
- Sulphates
- Silicons
- Parabens
- Perfume
- Alcohol
The conditioners that are best for curly hair are those that contain moisturizing and moisture-sealing ingredients.
Oils and shea butter have the reputation of being good for curly hair.
The best shampoo and conditioner for curly hair is possibly the ones that you make at home with ingredients that are specific to your hairs needs.
However, if you need to purchase a commercial product you should give this conditioner a try (link to Amazon). It fulfils all of the No Poo requirements as well as includes a wealth of beneficial ingredients for your hair.
What’s not to love?!
Conclusion
It is not possible to tie down only one product as the best No Poo conditioner for your hair as every individual’s hair requirements are different.
Conditioners that you make at home are likely to be better for your hair though, as you are responsible for the ingredients that go into it and can thus tailor the conditioner to your own personal needs.
Ultimately, there is a place for conditioner in No Poo, but how and when you use conditioner remains the choice of each individual.
Related Questions
Best No Poo Shampoo For Wavy Hair
Wavy hair can often be hard to look after. There is a wealth of information for those with curly hair and straight hair, but not wavy. No Poo Method For Wavy Hair is a must-read in this situation.
Best No Poo Shampoo For Curly Hair
The best No Poo shampoo for curly hair is the shampoo that you rustle up in the kitchen at home. You know what your hair is lacking, so you can add ingredients that combat these imperfections.