About Hair Conditioner

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By Lauren Vork
eHow Contributing Writer

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Hair conditioner is a common household item, and we often take it for granted. But what is hair conditioner made of, and how does it work? The scientific and chemical processes behind this beauty product are more interesting and complex than most people would guess.

History

For many centuries, humans have been using certain naturally-occurring oils to condition their hair, many of which are still used in modern conditioners (such as tea tree oil and jojoba).
Modern hair conditioners got their start, surprisingly, as a men's hair product. In the Victorian era, macassar oil was used by gentlemen to give their hair a stylish shine, but it was exceedingly messy to use and could even ruin furniture if used improperly.
In Europe in the early 1900s, a substance called Brilliantine was presented as a way for men to soften their hair, including beards and mustaches. This type of product stuck around and eventually evolved and was altered by scientific means to become the conditioners we use today.

Function

Hair conditioner is used to perform many functions. It can be used to keep hair from tangling, give it shine, prevent static cling, soften and build body, though basic moisturizing is the most common usage.
Conditioners may also be specially designed to counter the effects of conditions such as dandruff or to help preserve moisture and color in dyed hair. Many conditioners are also designed for people who want to treat specific problems such as more or less moisture, preserving curls or helping hair be straighter.

Misconceptions

One common misconception about conditioners is that they somehow "nourish" hair. This is actually impossible, as hair cells are dead to begin with. Instead, conditioner effects hair by coating it. This process is optimized through the use of surfactant agents, chemicals that bind with the keratin proteins in hair and cling to the hair's surface, creating a new surface coating on each strand.

Types

There are many different types of conditioners. Nowadays, the two most common types are rinse-outs and leave-in conditioners, named for how they are used. Rinse-out conditioners have a higher viscosity (thickness), whereas leave-ins are thinner and will not make hair appear greasy when applied and left on all day. Both types of conditioners contain (among other ingredients) surfactants, but of different types and densities.

Effects

The long-term effects of hair conditioner use can be quite beneficial from a beauty standpoint. Conditioning is often considered a necessary counterpart to hair shampooing because it restores the moisture from natural oils that are depleted through the use of shampoos. This means that hair will be less prone to frizz, breakage and split ends.