What is the difference between leave-in conditioner, conditioner, and mask?
Conditioner, leave-in conditioner and mask — all three care for your curls, but they work differently and are used in different situations.
In this blog, we explain step by step what each product does and how to combine them correctly.
Table of Contents
1. What does a conditioner do?
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A conditioner is a product that conditions the lengths of your hair immediately after shampooing.
What a conditioner does:
- provides moisture
- It makes untangling easier
- smoothes the hair surface
- reduces frizz
- makes curls softer and more manageable
When do you use conditioner?
- with every hair wash after shampooing
- if your hair lengths feel dry or rough
- if your hair tangles easily
2. What is a leave-in?
A Leave-in conditioner is a light conditioning treatment that is NOT rinsed out.
What a leave-in does:
- provides light, lasting moisture
- prepares the hair for styling
- reduces frizz all day long
- makes curls more defined
When do you use leave-in conditioner?
- after washing on wet hair
- before the gel or foam
- during the refresh on the second or third day
3. What is a hair mask?
A hair mask is a more intensive treatment that penetrates deep into the hair fiber.
What a mask does:
- provides deep moisture
- makes dry hair more supple
- strengthens hair in the long term
- ideal for heavy use, dryness, color or winter
When do you use a mask?
- if your hair is very dry
- after sun, winter or color
- Once a week or as needed
4. How do conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and face mask work together?
Here's how to best combine the three products:
- Shampoo → cleanses the scalp
- Conditioner → nourishes the lengths
- Mask → Extra care as needed
- Leave-in conditioner → Base for frizz control + styling
This covers EVERYTHING that curls need.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all three?
Not always — but conditioner and leave-in conditioner are beneficial for almost all curl types. Use a mask as needed.
Can I use conditioner as a leave-in conditioner?
Better not. Conditioner is heavier and can be cumbersome.
Mask before or after shampooing?
Apply after shampooing to allow the active ingredients to penetrate better.
