Is It Okay To Skip Conditioner in Your Hair Care Routine? Learn Why Blake Lively Does

In today’s day and age, it’s more common than not to have thorough, multi-step beauty routines from skin care to hair care full of different products that work to target different concerns. Skin care routines and hair care routines are trending all over TikTok and other social media platforms, with influencers and creators sharing all of their favorite products that work for them. With that being said, it’s safe to say we’ve advanced from the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner our moms bought for us in the ‘80s. But sometimes, we may just want to take a day off from those lengthy routines, and keep it simple with just a good hair wash — but is it okay to skip conditioner? Well, we just learned that Blake Lively does, which might be why her gorgeous long blond tresses always look great. And she's so anti-conditioner that her new, buzzed-about hair care line, Blake Brown, doesn't include one in the lineup. Here, we break down if it's a smart strategy and what we (and Blake) suggest using instead to achieve glorious locks just like the A-lister's. 

What does conditioner do for hair?

You probably are already aware of what shampoo is intended to do for your hair, which is cleanse. But what exactly does conditioner do for our locks?

Aside from, well, conditioning, conditioner can also keep strands strong and healthy. When hair is properly moisturized, it is less likely to break, leading to less split ends and damage. On the other hand, when you have dry, damaged hair, you’re more likely to see those unwanted split ends pop up. Conditioner helps to soften, detangle and smooth the hair cuticle so that you experience healthier, stronger hair.

Conditioner is especially great for extra dry hair that naturally lacks moisture. Shampoo is intended to cleanse our scalp of excess oil, product build up, etc., but it can sometimes be too stripping on dry hair. This is when a conditioner comes in to help restore that lost moisture.

Is it okay to skip conditioner?

Now you know the benefits of conditioner, but you may be wondering if it’s ever okay to skip the step in your hair routine. 

For some, conditioner is a vital part of their hair care routine if they have super dry, unruly hair. But for others, like those with fine, more oily prone hair, ditching the conditioner can be a game changer.

In the TikTok above, @yolandaadiazz shares that she doesn’t use conditioner, and her hair is better than ever. Instead, she uses moisturizing leave-in products after her shower. By doing this, hair will feel less weighed down and heavy.

Even more, you should absolutely skip applying conditioner onto your roots — especially if you’re over 50. Trichologist and creator Taylor Rose explains in the TikTok below how applying conditioner on your roots can lead to product build up and an unhealthy scalp environment. And surprisingly, this can actually lead to hair loss. Women over 50 are more prone to hair loss and hair thinning, and applying conditioner on the scalp could exacerbate the problem.

If you feel your hair is still greasy even when only applying conditioner on mid lengths to ends, you can try reverse hair washing. The trend is described by conditioning hair first, and then shampooing to cleanse away any conditioner residue.

What to use instead of conditioner

As mentioned previously, actress Blake Lively, recently announced her own hair care line at Target, “Blake Brown,” that is made up of 8 products (shampoos, hair masks and styling aids) that early reviewers are already raving about. The line launched August 4 and is already selling out in stores. And before you think this is another pricey product line from an A-lister, all products are less than $25.

But one of the more notable aspects of the launch is that the line doesn’t include a conditioner; This is because Lively shared she actually doesn’t use regular conditioner on her hair, and rather, she uses deep conditioning masks for extra nourishment. If that's the secret to Lively's infamous head of hair, then we are down to try skipping conditioner too.

See more hair care tips and tricks:

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