Ask ten people what does conditioner do and most will say something vague about nourishment. The real answer is mechanical, measurable, and a good deal more convincing than the marketing version.
The physics, briefly
Shampoo strips the natural lipid film and leaves the hair surface negatively charged, with the cuticle scales slightly lifted. That is why hair frizzes and tangles right after washing.
Conditioner carries cationic — positively charged — agents that are drawn straight to that negative surface. They lay the scales flat and lay down a slip layer.
Why this matters: wet detangling is when most mechanical breakage happens. Conditioner cuts the force needed to pull a comb through by a large margin. Everything else it is credited with is secondary to that.
Conditioner vs hair mask
| Conditioner | Mask | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Every wash | Weekly |
| Time on hair | 1–2 minutes | 5–10 minutes |
| Job | Close the cuticle now | Deliver actives inside |
They are not substitutes. A mask every wash is expensive and eventually weighs hair down; a conditioner alone is not enough for bleached or coarse hair.
Choosing from a large range
Faberlic, running since 1997 with its oxygen-cosmetics Aquaftem positioning, splits its conditioners across core hair-type ranges, the plant-based Botanica line, and dedicated colour-treated and damaged-hair care. Match the product to your lengths, not your roots:
- Dry, porous lengths → richer formulas with oils and ceramides
- Fine hair → the lightest option you can find, ends only; the best conditioner for fine hair is almost always the one that deposits least
- Colour-treated → a colour-specific formula, usually at a lower pH
- Oily roots, normal lengths → a standard conditioner, kept 10 cm clear of the scalp
Products rotate, so see the current catalogue on faberlic.com for what is available now.
Five things that go wrong
- Applying at the roots. This is the single most common cause of "my hair goes greasy the next day".
- Applying to dripping hair, so the product dilutes and runs off.
- Rinsing immediately. Give it a minute.
- Rinsing hot. Cool water closes the cuticle better.
- Skipping it because your hair "seems fine". Breakage prevention is not only for damaged hair.
Note the limit: conditioner works on the length and does nothing for the scalp. Persistent itching, flaking or heavy shedding is a different problem — see a doctor or trichologist for significant hair loss.
For the full sequence from shampoo to leave-in, see the haircare guide.