Guide Note

Hair conditioner is a cream used to moisturize the hair to make is softer and shinier. Conditioners are sold with a number of different functionalities including moisturizing, straightening and detangling. Most conditioners are rinsed out, however there are leave-in conditioners which add smaller amounts of oils to the hair, allowing it to still be manageable.

Fast Facts

1. Types include:
   • Pack Conditioners
   • Leave-in Conditioners
   • Ordinary Conditioners
   • Hold Conditioners
2. Conditioner ingredients include:
   • Moisturizers
   • Reconstructors
   • Acidifiers
   • Detanglers
   • Thermal protectors
   • Glossers
   • Oils
   • Surfactants
   • Lubricants,
   • Preservatives

History

For many years oils had been used to moisturize the hair, however earlier types would leave hair oily and would stain clothing and furniture. The first modern day conditioner, brilliantine, was introduced in 1900 at the Exposition Universelle in Paris by Ed. Pinaud. Modern science has improved the quality of hair conditioner by adding silicone, fatty alcohols, and quaternary ammonium compounds, allowing it to moisturize without feeling oily and weighing hair down.