Do we really need a leave-in conditioner?

So we co-wash with conditioner, we condition with conditioner, and we deep condition. So do we still need a leave in?

Well that depends on what your hair needs. As naturals the one thing our hair needs is the holy grail which is moisture. Leave in conditioners temporarily moisturizes in the same way moisturizers for the face or body do.

Leave-In's help to condition and moisturize, smooth, and protect the hair . Most leave in conditioners often use some form of silicon to coat the hair & make the cuticles lay flat so it appears to be healthy. The main problem with cones is that it doesn't wash off the hair easily leaving a nasty build up on the hair which means your hair cannot absorb moisture from conditioner. Some naturals just leave in their regular conditioner , some use the infamous glycerin and water mixture, and some buy a separate leave in conditioner. Everybody hair is different and we each know what our individual hair needs and what it doesn’t. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.





I decided before I went out to buy a leave in conditioner or any other conditioner for that matter I would use all the conditioners I have hoarded underneath my bathroom sink. Either these conditioners were never used or were just left over, because before I knew better I always ran out of shampoo way before I did the conditioner. ( how many can relate to that one?) So I had a bottle of Nexxus Humectress and Nexxus Headress weightless leave in conditioner. I grabbed a spray bottle and added


1/4 cup Headress (moisture w/protein)
1/2 cup Humectress (moisturizing)
1/4 cup Water (enough to thin )
2tsp olive oil or coconut oil
1tbsp honey (humectant) or glycerin. Because my hair is sensitive to glycerin, I do not use it.
1tsp vitamin E oil
2 Evening Primrose Capsules (I also take them orally daily)
10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops sage essential oil
5 drops of Tea tree oil.

After Co-Washing or Shampooing I part my hair in sections and spray, and massage throughout my hair.

No-Poo, Low-Poo, Co-Poo, Shampoo...Which To Do?

O.k. I'm sure you heard the terms and may not know what they mean exactly. So here's a brief description on the topics.

No- Poo: No shampoo is used/ Low Poo: shampoo is limited to once a month
Usually for those who feel their scalp is very dry after using shampoos.


According to Lorraine Massey Who actually coined the phrase and who is the author of the book Curly Girl Suggest baking soda and water be used.
I tbsp of baking soda to 1 cup of water ( doubled or tripled according to hair length). Combine ingredients in cup or spray bottle and spray or pour on hair and scalp. Let sit for 1 minute and rinse out. Follow with a deep conditioning conditioner.

Co-wash - Conditioner is used instead of shampoo


Easy right? Well it basically it is. When I first big chopped I basically didn't use any shampoo. I washed using only conditioner (a very cheap one). I first used Vo5. Now I use Suave Naturals Tropical coconut. For my co-wash. I also used my Nexxus Humectress conditioners left over from when my hair was relaxed. Conditioners contain mild cleansers and are moisturizing so you get the best of both worlds. Co-washes can be done daily if your wearing wash and go hair style, or after a workout. In the summer I did it 2-3 times per week. And at the end of the week I used shampoo (Cream of Nature)

Saturate the hair with conditioner, massage in, rinse, apply leave in conditioner and style as usual.

Pre-Wash / Pre-Poo

Pre-wash or Pre-poo are often done as the name suggest before shampooing the hair. This is the best time to apply your hot oil treatments or sometimes I use conditioner. This treatment helps to infuse your tresses with moisture, and Organic Virgin or extra virgin coconut oil is excellent for this treatment. Coconut oil is one of the few oils that actually penetrate the hair shaft. While others simply coat it. Coconut can be drying for some so i find mixing it with sheabutter,cocobutter,jojoba oil works for me.

It should be applied to the hair then covered with a plastic cap. To make sure the plastic cap stays in place I often tie a band around the edges tying it in the back. Next I wear a bonnet on top of the that. I usually leave in overnight and wash out the following morning. This treatment is done only during my wash regimen