What does conditioner do for hair? As mentioned before, it makes unmanageable hair softer, smoother, and easier to control. But what is the mechanism behind this effect of conditioner on your lovely tresses? Before you get into the mechanism of hair conditioner, first have a look at each hair strand up close.

The coating of your hair strands is made up of a protein called keratin. Layers of keratin overlap each other, such that they look like fish scales or roof shingles. When hair is damaged or dry, the keratin appears very bristly, causing strands to easily get tangled up. Imagine how the rough ends of Velcro attach to each other. That is how you get mussed up hair.

Now, this is where hair conditioner comes into play. The pH of hair conditioner is slightly acidic, which means that it contains many hydrogen atoms. When they come in contact with the keratin on the hair surface, hydrogen bonds are formed, causing the shingles to flatten out and smoothen.

No longer is there a scaly or bristly appearance on the surface of hair strands. In this same manner, hair is untangled, leaving is smooth and soft at the same time. This is why hair becomes easier to brush after applying conditioner.

However, hair conditioner does more than just improve the texture of each hair strand. This hair product also is significant in maintaining the health of your tresses and your scalp. Because conditioners also contain moisturizers, the skin on your scalp becomes healthier and more nourished. When the scalp is healthy, good hair growth is achieved as well.

How do you use hair conditioner? After shampooing, wring out the excess water from your hair, and apply your conditioner while massaging your scalp. This also improves blood circulation in this part of your body. When done, rinse off the conditioner and towel try your hair. There are certain treatments that require conditioner to incubate on the hair to help penetrate it better, an example of which is deep hair conditioning.

Here are simple recipes you can try for a home made hair mask, to moisturize your hair and keep your tresses nice, soft, and of course naturally healthy. For dull, damaged, and dry hair, olive oil or eggs can be used. You can create a basic mask by beating together one egg with a few tablespoons of olive oil.

These two items are high in fats that help replenish the lost moisture in dry hair. Massage this onto your scalp, paying close attention from roots to tips of hair. You may cover your head with a hot towel and a shower cap to allow the oils to penetrate your strands. After about half an hour, rinse off the mask thoroughly using gentle shampoo.

Another way to get rid of dry hair is to use honey and milk as a hair mask. In some recipes, yogurt is also used because of the high moisture content found in dairy products. At the same time, honey also helps make hair strands shiny. After using these types of hair masks, be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly and use a mild shampoo.

If you have that ever-present scalp irritation known as dandruff, there are also hair remedies you can try at home. You can create a hair rinse from an infusion of thyme, a very fragrant yet powerful herb. Boil a handful of fresh thyme leaves or a few tablespoons of dried ones in some water. Allow the solution to cool and drain off the leaves. Use this to rinse hair and soak it. It is best if you do not shampoo afterwards.

You can search more sources to find out useful recipes you can try on your hair. However, be careful about what you put on your tresses, as too much may be a bad thing. Another good word of advice would be to eat a healthy diet and maintain proper hygiene to be able to perfectly take care of your hair.