Do you need a conditioner?
Changing to a natural conditioner takes a little time for adjustment in the same way as it does with the shampoo
Many will not need a conditioner at all, especially those with fine hair that gets weighed down with traditional chemical shampoos and conditioners. Some may just need a quick rinse with a herbal PH balancing infusion or rinse, some may need a spritz of a more intense formula and some may need to use a deep conditioning bar either as a regular conditioner or periodic conditioning treatment.
When you first start using natural products it may take several weeks to adjust. The transition period can be frustrating but is well worth it. If you need a little help with conditioning, either for the time of adjustment or possibly long term, any or all of the mehods may suit your particular need, and can change over time.
See all the methods far natural conditioning below.
Our Deep Conditioning Discs are small but powerful . They have many of the same nourishing ingredients as the shampoo bars with some extra special conditioning ingredients added. In our formula we use Carnauba Wax, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Argon Oil, Avocado Oil, Vitamin E Oil and Vitamin B.
The Stan & Essie Deep Conditioning discs are available in our shop.
Instructions for use:
As a conditioner after shampoo
The Stan & Essie Deep Conditioning Discs are packed with super conditioning vitamins, oils and waxes. As an after shampoo conditioner they need to be used very sparingly.
After shampooing with Stan and Essie natural shampoo bars and rinsing thoroughly with clean water, rub your fingertips over the conditioner bar until you have a very light film of product and apply to the ends of the hair. Use a minimal amount of conditioner at first and only add more as needed. Without adding more product distribute through the rest of the hair.
Rinse thoroughly with clean, warm to hot water, running your fingers through to further distribute. The heat from the water and massaging with your fingertips will spread the conditioner to wherever you need it.
If you find you use too much conditioner, which many do until they get used to just how little you need, just shampoo again and rinse thoroughly.
As an intense pre-conditioner or deep treatment masque - this is probably the best way to use it
Rub dry hands over the dry conditioner bar until you have a thin film of product on your hands. The heat from your hands is enough to melt it. Massage through from root to tip concentrating on the areas that really need it. Experiment with how much you need to use for your hair type but start with just a small amount. Leave for at least 20 minutes as a pre-conditioner, or up to overnight as a deep treatment masque. Wash out with Stan & Essie natural shampoo bars. Only follow with a PH blancing rinse if you really need it.
Stan & Essie Deep Conditioner can also be used as a conditioning soft hold styling wax
Conditioning Spritz
We have a conditioning spritz available in our shop. It contains a mix of water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Aloe Vera Gel and Fragrance. After washing with a Stan & Essie Shampoo bar and rinsing thoroughly, spray the conditioning spritz all over then massage and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
When you purchase the spritz the package will contain recipes for you to make your own conditioner to refill the spray bottle or see below. The raw apple cider vinegar we use has the stringy substance floating in it known as the 'mother' . This is completely natural and the sign that the vinegar used is raw and natural and still fermenting and producing all the good stuff.
Botanical Rinse Recipes
You can make your own botanical conditioning rinse to suit your own needs as and when you need it.
Conditioner #1
100ml apple cider vinegar
100ml water
5 drops of Essential OIl (see the botanicals page to find an essential oil to suit your needs. Lavender, Lemon or Rosemary are always good)
Add all the ingredients to a spray bottle and shake to mix. After washing with Stan & Essie Natural Shampoo bar and rinsing thoroughly, spray with conditioner rinse, leave for 2 minutes then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Conditioner #2
200ml water
1 tablespoon Dried Rosemary
1 tablespoon Dried Calendula Petals
100ml apple cider vinegar
Heat water to a simmer and remove from heat. Add herbs. Leave the herbs to infuse until the liquid is cool. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle, add vinegar and shake well. After washing with Stan & Essie Natural Shampoo bar and rinsing thoroughly, spray with conditioner, leave for 2 minutes then rinse thouraghly with clean water.
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Conditioner #3
200ml water
6 dried Rosehips
50ml apple cider vinegar
5 drops Essential Oil (Rose, Sweet Orange and Rosemary all work well with Rosehip)
Heat water and rose hips for 15 minutes on low heat and remove from heat. Cool, strain out the hips, and add vinegar and essential oil and pour into a spray bottle. After washing with Stan & Essie Natural Shampoo bar and rinsing thoroughly, spray with conditioner and rinse.
You can mix and mtch the botanicals and make your own recipe using the basic water and apple cider vinegar.
Chamomile works well to brighten fair hair, mint can help with dandruff, and dried nettles are said to balance the hair so it is neither dry nor greasy.
