Should You Use Shampoo or Conditioner First?

Despite What You’ve Maybe Heard About the Benefits of Co-Washing, Where a Conditioner Is Used Solo for Cleansing, or Reverse Hair Washing by Starting with Conditioner and Ending with Shampoo — Our Experts Say Not to Buy into the Tiktok and Instagram Hype. Shampoo Comes Before Conditioner, They All Say, with Just the Tiniest of Exceptions to That Rule. “You Always Want to Cleanse the Hair Before Conditioning the Hair, ” Says Sophie Rose Gutterman, a Celebrity Hairstylist and Textured Hair Specialist Who Consults with All About Curls. “The Only Time I Will Use Something Before Washing Is If a Client Has Hair That’s Tangled or Super-Curly. Adding a Conditioner to the Ends Can Help Detangle the Hair and Make It More Manageable During the Cleansing Stage. ”

Why the Debate over Using Shampoo or Conditioner First

A Lot of the Opinions on Whether to Use Shampoo or Conditioner First Centers Around Finer Hair Types. That’s Because There’s the Idea That Limper Locks Can Benefit from Having Heavy Conditioner Thoroughly Rinsed out by a Good Suds with a Shampoo. the Proper Formula and Application of Conditioner, Though, Is What Allows It to Work Its Magic on Your Hair Without Weighing It Down — Its Eventual Removal Is Just Part of the Equation.

How to Make Sure Conditioner Doesn’t Make Hair Look Greasy

Unlike Shampoo, Which Cleanses the Scalp for Optimal Hair Health, Conditioner Is All About Hydration. to Avoid a Greasy Look, Gutterman Says to Only Apply Conditioner on the Mid-Lengths to Ends of Your Hair Shaft. “You Don’t Need Conditioner in Your Scalp, ” She Says.

General Hair Washing and Conditioning Tips

You Now Know Shampoo Comes Before Conditioner, but What Other Tricks Can up Your Washing Game? Here, the Pros Share Some Guidance on How to Get a Salon-Quality Clean at Home.

1. Wash Twice If You Can

A Double Shampoo Is Worth the Extra Time and Effort If You Use a Lot of Styling Products in Your Hair and/or Have Gone a Few Days Since Last Washing. “Normally, When You Wash Once, the Shampoo Is Fighting Through Product Build-up and Natural Oils, ” Says Gutterman. “Washing Twice Will Ensure You’re Able to Cleanse the Hair Properly. ”

2. Only Apply Conditioner Where Needed

To Condition Properly, Most People Should Stick to Applying Conditioner from the Midshaft of the Hair to Its Ends. “Leave It in While You Finish Your Shower and Then Go in with a Brush and Brush Your Hair with the Conditioner in It, ” Advises Gutterman. “This Will Help to Exfoliate the Scalp and Keep the Hair from Getting Tangled. ” and Make Sure You Rinse Thoroughly as Well —Unless You Have Thick, Wavy/Curly Hair and Style Hair with Your in-Shower Conditioner.

3. Rinse Conditioner with Warm to Hot Water

As It Turns Out, the Temperature of the Water You Rinse Hair with Is More Important Than You Might Think When It Comes to Removing Conditioner. “A Tip for Any Hair Type — You Want to Rinse Your Conditioner out with Warm to Hot, Not Super Hot, Water to Help Break up the Oils in the Product, ” Says Priano. “By Using Cold Water, You Risk the Chances of Keeping That Product Build-up in the Hair. ”

4. Find the Right Shampoo and Conditioner for Your Hair

When Shopping for Products, Don’t Fight Against Your Hair’s Texture. “If One Has Finer Hair, You Want a Conditioner That Is Lightweight, ” Says Priano. “If One Has Drier Hair That Can Be Hard to Detangle, That Could Be an Indication You Need a Mask Rather Than a Conditioner. ” Ask Your Hairstylist to Help You Identify Your Hair Type and Use That to Hone in on Your Shampoo and Conditioner Picks.

The Best Shampoo and Conditioner Sets Based on Hair Type

Keep Scrolling to Meet Your Ideal Cleanser and Conditioner Match from This Pro-Approved List.

If You Have Finer Locks, Priano Recommends Looking for Shampoos and Conditioners That Contain Volumizing Ingredients Such as Proteins (Like Keratin) and Panthenol, Which Help Add Moisture and Thickness to Each Strand. “Rice or Wheat Proteins Are Great to Provide Volume and Strength to the Hair, ” She Adds. “You Can Also Never Go Wrong with Using Lightweight Oils, Such as Argan or Jojoba Oils, as These Provide Moisture to the Hair Without Weighing It Down. ”

Unlike Fine Hair, Curls and Coils Can Benefit from All the Oils. Priano Loves Formulas with Hydrators Like Coconut, Avocado and Argan Oils or Shea Butter, as They Help to Coat the Hair with Moisture to Fight Frizz. “Another Great Ingredient to Look for Is Botanicals, Such as Aloe Vera or Flower Extracts, as These Really Help Balance the Scalp, Resulting in the Curls Looking Healthier, ” She Says.

If Your Tresses Are Thinning — Either in a Certain Spot or All over Your Head — Consider a Strengthening Formula That Contains Proteins. John Frieda’s Ultrafiller+ Shampoo (Buy from Amazon, $9.11), Conditioner (Buy from Amazon, $9.11) and Spray (Buy from Amazon, $10.97) “Are Great for Building Thickness to Hair, ” Says Stanwell. “The Formula Is Infused with Biotin and Hyaluronic Acid to Plump Overall Hair Thickness from the Inside Out. ”

For Dry and/or Colored Hair

Those with Dry Hair, Potentially Due to Heat or Coloring Damage, Should Seek Shampoos and Conditioners Packed with Hydrating Oils and/or Glycerin Ingredients for Moisture and Hydrolyzed Proteins (Like Keratin, Collagen or Silk) for Repair, Says Priano. “Aloe Vera Is Also a Great Ingredient to Look For, as It Provides Soothing and Moisturizing Properties to the Hair, ” She Says. Try Sexyhair Healthy Strengthening Shampoo (Buy from Ulta, $21.95) and Strengthening Conditioner (Buy from Ulta, $21.95). Both Are Color-Safe and Contain a Blend of Aloe Vera and Mango Butter to Nourish Distressed Strands and Reduce Breakage.

Shampoo or Conditioner First? Hair Pros Weigh In

By Alexander Ross

• Oct 8, 2026 • 10 min read

Shampoo or Conditioner First? Hair Pros Weigh In

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Hair Washing Never Used to Be So Controversial. Usually We Just Wash Our Strands with Shampoo, Rinse, Follow That with Conditioner, Then Likely Rinse Again. but with Tiktok and Instagram Turning Anyone with a Smartphone into a Creator, Challenging the Status Quo with Age-Old Beauty Routines Has Become the Norm. the Latest Debate: Do You Use Shampoo or Conditioner First? to Settle the Score, We Had Four Hair Pros — from Celebrity Hairstylists to a Trichologist — Weigh in with Their Answer to This Question as Well as Tips for Cleansing and Conditioning Your Mane. Read on for the Washing Secrets That Will Have Your Hair Looking Its Healthiest in No Time.

Alexander Ross

Gaming, Esports & Interactive Media Writer

Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.

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