Wash day, wash day, wash day. Doesn’t the sound of it just make your teeth grind? Well, I know it does for me. And I can’t even say that it’s because I’m one of those natural sisters who’s hair is just south of difficult to deal with. Wash Day for me is that chore that you never want to get done and is constantly looming over your head. Can anyone else relate to this? I mean the only thing more exciting than wash day is getting up and making your way to work on Monday mornings. Peep that sarcasm.

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Now, one thing I’ve noticed about my hair is that sometimes it isn’t all that dirty. Instead, it just need a bit of oomph or even just a spark to bring some life into the beast. Well ladies, that’s where conditioning can come in. I’m sure you’ve heard of co-washes and how they can be extremely beneficial when you’re like me and don’t like to spend a lot of time going through all the joys of prepping your tresses. When compared to a typical wash day, cowashing is a lot less tedious and can give you just what you need to stretch out your hair (no pun intended) in between washes. Now, as great as it may sound, there is one question that seems to be on everyone’s mind: how much conditioner is too much? In other words, how often should I condition my hair? Should I do this on a daily basis until I decide to wash it or should this be a weekly phenomenon? Keep reading to get the inside scoop.  

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After doing some digging and researching, I came up with this conclusion: it depends on your hair type. Or, as my professor use to always say in college “it’s contextual”. Your hair type is the determining factor in how often you should condition your tresses. I’ll go ahead and run through each below, starting with thick chicks (Yes, I mean hair!). Those who are fortunate enough to have thick, volumptuous locks already have a lot to deal with. Since their hair is on the thicker side, they usually have to add a good bit of product in it to keep it tamed. If this sounds like you and your mane, then you don’t need to cowash all the time. All it’s going to do is cause excess glob and possible breakage. Contrary to popular belief, hair that is too soft is not as great as it’s cracked up to be. So again, if your hair is super thick, you don’t want to co-wash too often. I hate to be the bearer of bad news sis, but you are actually a lot better off just using your conditioner after each shampoo. Try LENGTH₂O Aquaholic Moisture Shampoo + Conditioner Duo for this. 

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On the other hand, if you have hair that is on the thinner side of the density spectrum, you can stand to condition a little more often. In fact, the right kind of conditioner should give your hair more volume, and not make it appear heavy. Speaking of heavy, that’s something that you may run into if you decide to cowash on a regular basis. Just like with most products, conditioner can make your hair feel flat. The best thing you can do is apply a lightweight leave-in conditioner or oil that can help your hair look and feel healthier without all of that extra weight.

Now, if your hair is damaged, you can just about forget anything that I said as far as thick versus thin hair. Damaged hair needs moisture. Period. The best way to get moisture is to condition and moisturize. Therefore, any type of extra conditioning definitely won’t hurt. Try Shedavi's Crowned Protein Masque if you have damaged locks. Again, you need moisture and hydration to bring your hair to life.  Additionally, a conditioner that has some type of butter or essential oils would be ideal if you’re looking to manage the damage. Keep in mind that you technically can’t repair damaged hair; however, you can make it look a lot better as you’re waiting for it to grow back. Now, be careful when you’re using all that conditioner on your head. Remember, too much conditioner can make your hair prone to damage because it’s so soft. Therefore, don’t condition every single day. Shoot for once every 3. If you’re hair is really thick, then it’s best for you to use a leave in as opposed to an all out conditioning treatment. It will keep your hair looking alive and it won’t weigh the hair down. If you're looking for a complete cleanse and condition set, try Grow + Hydrate + Restore Everything Set. 

How often do you condition your hair? We want to know about it in the comments!

Written By Bianca Scott