What Does Conditioner Do, and Why Should Men Care?

For many guys, showers are a necessity, not a ritual. We lather up our bods and vigorously shampoo our scalps. But after the rinse, we’re outta there. We sanctimoniously skip the conditioner because it’s an extra step we don’t want to think about. Turns out, though, that extra step is doing more than most guys realize.

So, what does conditioner do, and why should it earn a spot in your shower routine? Stick around for a no-nonsense guide for guys who want better hair without turning their routine into a full-time job. You’ll learn what conditioner is, what it does, and how to use it properly. Chances are, by the end, you’ll realize that conditioner is worth the extra two minutes.

What’s Conditioner Used For?

Science has entered the chat. A paper published in Polymers offers a science-based explanation of what happens to your hair after you shampoo and what conditioner brings to the table. It notes that while shampoo uses various ingredients to strip dirt, oil, and hair products from your mane, it also takes some of your hair’s built-in protective oil (sebum) along for the rinse. Once that protectant bails, your hair’s on its own against heat, humidity, and everything else trying to dry it out.

That means your hair ends up more frizz prone and susceptible to damage from the elements. And since hair’s made up of dead cells that can’t repair themselves, there’s no bouncing back — just chronic bad hair days.

Conditioner offers damage control. It coats your hair cuticle to seal in moisture, flatten the surface, and reduce friction and tangling between hair strands. This leaves your hair smoother and shinier, while also making it less prone to damage from hot styling tools. On top of that, it makes your hair easier to manage, so you can comb through it without a fight.

Types of Conditioners and Conditioning Agents

Conditioner comes in more flavors than you'd think, including intensive treatments, hair thickeners and leave-ins, and even 2-in-1 shampoo hybrids for the truly time-strapped. Here, we're sticking to the daily kind you use after shampooing.

Within these daily conditioners, manufacturers use three main types of conditioning agents. Here’s a breakdown of key ingredients and results:

Hair Conditioner Benefits Every Guy Should Know

If you’re still on the fence about adding a couple extra minutes to your shower routine or even whether men should use conditioner at all, here are the heavy-hitting, science-backed benefits of hair conditioner:

• Makes combing easier: Minimizes friction between hair strands so it’s easier to comb through without painful pulling or breakage

• Restores natural protection: Mimics your hair’s natural protective oils to prevent frizz and flyaways

• Seals and smooths the cuticle: Smooths down the hair’s outer layer to protect against everyday damage and neutralizes electric charge to eliminate static

• Boosts shine and manageability: Leaves your hair glossy, touchably soft, and easier to style

Is Conditioner Necessary?

Yes. Shampoo and conditioner are a tag team. Shampoo cleans and strips. Conditioner restores moisture balance. Skip conditioner on the regular, and your hair starts to show it via dryness and frizz, more tangling and a rough texture, and difficult-to-manage strands.

That said, hair type changes the playbook. Guys with long or curly hair usually want a consistent root-to-ends treatment, since curls dry out faster and long hair's been baking in the elements longer than shorter, younger counterparts. However, those with thin or oily hair may want to bypass the roots and focus their conditioner on the middle to end of the hair shaft where dryness shows up first. 

When To Use Conditioner

The rule is simple: Every time you shampoo and rinse, follow it with conditioner. The two are a package deal, not separate decisions. When you strip your hair of moisture, you need to add it back. Full stop. That said, you don’t need to wash and condition your hair every day. While you certainly can if your hair feels dirty, overwashing can lead to breakage and damage . 

While a daily conditioner should be your go-to product, sometimes you need some reinforcements. If your job requires a daily battle with the elements, or you just spent a week sweating through a wilderness adventure, you might need to bring in a deep conditioning hair mask. Simply slapping it on once a week for a while can provide a massive surge of moisturizing power.

How To Use Conditioner Properly

Knowing why you need conditioner is only half the battle. You also need to know how to use it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you apply your conditioner correctly.

Shampoo First and Rinse Thoroughly

Reverse-washing, where you condition first and shampoo second, is a hair-care myth , not a valid strategy. Conditioner always comes last. So, get in there first with the shampoo to clear out dirt, sweat, and oil. Then, rinse every last bit of those suds down the drain so you have a clean slate for the conditioner. That way, it can coat your strands without fighting through layers of leftover product.

Squeeze Out Excess Water From Hair

Before you apply conditioner, take a second to squeeze excess water out of your hair or maybe even dab out excess moisture with a towel. If your strands are dripping wet, the conditioner can slide right off instead of sticking where it needs to.

Apply to Mid-Lengths and Ends, Not Roots

Focus the bulk of your conditioner on the middle and ends of your hair shafts, which are the oldest and driest parts of your hair. If you work too much into your scalp, it can leave hair feeling heavy or greasy, especially for finer hair types.

Let It Sit for Two to Five Minutes

Don’t rush. Give your conditioner time to do its job before you rinse, as rinsing too soon reduces effectiveness. For the best use of your time, shampoo and condition at the start of your shower. Then, use your wait time to clean the rest of your body before you rinse out the conditioner.

Rinse Thoroughly With Lukwarm Water

Finish with a thorough rinse, ideally with lukewarm water. A lower temp is gentler on hair (and your scalp) than scalding hot water. Water at a temperature that steams up your mirror can dry out your scalp and cause damage to your delicate cuticles, leading to split ends and breakage.

Level Up Your Hair Routine With Dr. Squatch Conditioner

At this point, the takeaway is clear: Conditioner is an essential, not an extra. It smooths the cuticle and makes your mane shiner and easier to manage. It’s time to drop graduate from your one-and-done routine to a simple but effective haircare routine. 

Dr. Squatch natural hair products are the perfect level-up. Formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter and avocado oil, our conditioners leave you with soft, shiny hair. And with manly scents that don’t mess around, you’ll smell as good as you feel.

Check out the full lineup of Dr. Squatch Natural Conditioners and level up your routine. After all, clean is good, but conditioned is better.