We all know that using the right shampoo is vital for a healthy scalp, but the next step in your haircare routine is equally crucial. While shampoo should be applied directly onto the scalp, it can end up causing the ends of your hair to dry out, so it’s important to condition your strands to prevent breakage and frizz. 

READ MORE:
This Sun-Kissed Hair Colour Suits Every Skin Tone
I Tried Hair Botox and Filler Treatment And My Hair Has Never Looked Better
The 5 Main Causes Of Hair Loss In Women And How To Best Treat It

Conditioners should avoid contact with the scalp at all costs, and need to be worked into the shaft of the hair with a focus on the ends. While shampoos serve as basic cleansers, we want quality conditioners and hair masks to restore dry, frizzy or damaged hair.

The goal? Shiny, soft and smooth hair.

According to Chez Vous salon’s brand director Eugene Teo, there is a ‘wrong’ way to use your conditioner and hair masks; you end up wasting a lot of product, with only a fraction of your desired result. And if you’ve forked out a hefty sum for a hair conditioner in hopes it’ll transform your tresses, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve maxed out its benefits every time you use it, right?

(Photo: Stocksnap)

Here’s the kicker: it’s not just about how long you leave the conditioner in your hair, it’s the technique with which you work it into your hair. What you want to do is to work it into really small sections of hair. Here’s how:

  1. First, part your hair down the middle and gather the halves on either side of your face.
  2. Then split those sections further into smaller sections as you go, working conditioner into your hair one lock at a time.
  3. You want to be a little more generous with your conditioner, and massage it into your hair in a downwards stroking motion.

The trick is to continuously work on that one section of hair in strictly downwards strokes until it feels as smoothed out as possible. This also works to close up the cuticles in your hair, which will seal in all the nourishing goodness and also give your hair that great level of shine. Once you’re done with one small section, simply move on to the next.

Sure, it’s a slightly tedious process that can take a good five to 10 minutes in the shower, but the technique makes a world of difference and the way your hair looks and feels after makes it all worth it.

Of course, Eugene notes that you should continue to exercise caution with the drying process of your hair. Don’t rub your hair between your palms to dry it or when applying haircare products. Apply everything in a downwards motion, and use a towel or unwanted t-shirt to gently squeeze excess water from your hair. That way, you don’t cause your hair to frizz up again and ruin all your hair work.  

READ MORE: 
Hair Awards 2016: Top Conditioners To Restore Shine And Softness To Your Tresses
Wake Up To Gorgeous Tresses With These 7 Overnight Hair Treatments
Hair Awards 2016: Best Conditioner For Thinning Hair

Text: Alyssa Dhaliwal, HerWorld Plus / Additional Reporting: Elizabeth Liew