Hair Care Ingredients
Hair conditioners work differently from skincare. Slip and detangling come from conditioning agents called quats, not from actives, and the oils and butters brands advertise often sit well down the ingredient list. These breakdowns show what is doing the work in each formula.
Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner
Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Hair Masque
How to read a conditioner label
The conditioning agent is usually the most important ingredient and rarely the one on the front of the bottle. Behentrimonium methosulfate and behentrimonium chloride both bind to damaged hair and provide slip. Despite the name, behentrimonium methosulfate is not a sulfate and is generally well tolerated.
Fatty alcohols such as cetearyl and cetyl alcohol give a conditioner its body. They are not the drying kind of alcohol. Proteins like hydrolyzed soy or silk smooth the hair surface, though some people find repeated protein use makes hair feel stiff.
Comparing something we do not carry? The comparison tool works on any two ingredient lists, including hair products.