Hair conditioner

A hair-care product applied after shampooing to improve hair’s softness, smoothness, manageability, and resistance to tangling.

Cationic surfactant: A surfactant whose hydrophilic group carries a positive electrical charge. Positively charged ingredients bind to negatively charged sites on damaged hair.
Hair shaft: The visible portion of a hair fiber extending above the skin. Conditioner acts mainly on this nonliving fiber rather than the follicle.
Rinse-out conditioner: A conditioner applied after shampoo and rinsed from the hair after a short period. It is the standard format for routine conditioning after washing.
Shampoo: A cleansing product formulated to remove sebum, dirt, and residues from hair and scalp. Shampoo primarily cleanses; conditioner primarily improves fiber feel and manageability.
Behentrimonium chloride: A cationic surfactant used as a conditioning and antistatic agent in hair products. This common conditioning agent helps coat strands and reduce friction.
Hair porosity: The extent to which a hair fiber absorbs and releases water and other substances. Porosity affects how readily conditioning ingredients deposit on hair.
Leave-in conditioner: A conditioner designed to remain on the hair without rinsing. Its lasting film can aid detangling and styling between washes.
Hair mask: A concentrated hair treatment generally used less frequently than everyday conditioner. Masks are usually richer or used longer, though their functions overlap.
Hair cuticle: The outer layer of overlapping, scale-like cells covering each hair shaft. Conditioner smooths the cuticle surface and reduces snagging between strands.
Hair damage: Structural or chemical deterioration of hair fibers caused by processes such as bleaching, heat, or abrasion. Damage exposes charged sites that can attract conditioning agents.

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