GENERAL HAIR CARE
Hair conditioner is usually a cream to be used as a rinse after the hair has been washed, its basic ingredient being an antistatic compound that forms a residual film on the hair. Shampooing decreases the hair’s normal oily film, resulting in a dry and dull appearance. This may lead to static electricity, making the hair unmanageable; in this state the hair is more prone to tangling, and combing may result in breakages. Conditioners help to control these problems by making the hair more manageable, and leave it feeling soft and glossy. Egg or beer conditioners simply leave a layer of sugar or protein on the hair which may appear to provide more ‘body and manageability’. Protein conditioners, like other protein-containing products for the hair or akin, are not absorbed. They therefore do not change hair structure, affect hair growth, or in any way permanently after the hair. Although hair consists of a protein known as keratin, the hair above the skin is dead tissue that cannot be fed or revitalized. Furthermore the protein derivatives used are derived from animal tissue, not human hair, and are hence incompatible. Protein conditioners have the same effect as any other conditioner, namely to coat the hair shaft with a film that tends to temporarily make the hair appear thicker and improve its appearance and manageability. It does nothing to strengthen the hair or restore its structure, and its affect is only temporary.
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