Conditioner vs Hair Mask: Knowing The Difference
Hopping into the healthy hair journey sometimes can cause so much confusion especially when you have stumbled across not knowing the difference between a hair conditioner and a hair mask. You are stuck on whether you should just use one or both at the same time. Today we will go ahead and get into details helping you better understand the difference between these two.
Purpose of a Conditioner:
A hair conditioner is a popularly used conditioning agent that works to make your hair shafts smooth, re-hydrate it, and reduce frizziness. It prevents your hair from breaking and damage caused by sun exposure. The formula of a conditioner is light which allows an easy application on your hair.
Hair conditioner should be applied with every hair wash into damp hair strands (not the roots), left for a few minutes and then rinsed thoroughly. Conditioners usually have a creamy and soft texture that help to improve the look and feel of the hair instantly.
Purpose of a Hair Mask:
The hair mask is a hair nourishing treatment, it is enriched with natural nourishing oils and do-good ingredients that work great on damaged and dry hair. It nourishes and moisturizes your hair and brings it back to health. A hair mask deeply hydrates your hair strands and deeply conditions it too.
Hair masks give extra protein and essential nutrients to the hair. The method of applying hair masks is slightly different. Shampooing causes the hair follicles to open up, so slathering the mask immediately after your wash will really help the conditioning ingredients to penetrate. Leave it on for three to 20 minutes, rinse it off and apply conditioner. Limit masking to once a week.
Conditioner vs Hair Mask:
The main difference between masks and conditioners is the varying levels of moisture and hydration provided. Hair masks are reparative treatments which fix an issue by penetrating the hair shaft deeply. Conversely, conditioners cannot be expected to perform the task of masks, especially for very dry or damaged hair. A conditioner boasts more instantaneous results, while a mask works long-term from the inside out.
Simply put, hair masks deep condition, whereas conditioners just… condition.
Are Both Needed for Healthy Hair:
To keep it short and sweet– yes, you do. The two products serve different purposes but are equally as beneficial for your hair. While conditioner is the surface level option, it is necessary to keep your hair healthy and shining on a daily basis. On the contrary, deep conditioning masks penetrate deeper into your hair, providing an abundance of hydration from the inside out.