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Hair conditioner is a hair care cosmetic product used to improve the feel, texture, appearance and manageability of hair. Its main purpose is to reduce friction between strands of hair to allow smoother brushing or combing, which might otherwise cause damage to the scalp.^[1] Various other benefits are often advertised, such as hair repair, strengthening, or a reduction in split ends.^{[weasel words]}

Conditioners are available in a wide range of forms, including viscous liquids, gels and creams, as well as thinner lotions and sprays. Hair conditioner is usually used after the hair has been washed with shampoo. It is applied and worked into the hair and may either be rinsed out a short time later or left in.

History

For centuries, natural oils have been used to condition human hair.^[2] A conditioner popular with men in the late Victorian era was Macassar oil, but this product was quite greasy and necessitated the pinning of a small cloth, known as an antimacassar, to the headrests of chairs and sofas to preserve the upholstery from being damaged by the oil.^[3]

A bottle of modern-day hair conditioner by Clairol (right)

Modern hair conditioner was created at the turn of the 20th century when the Edouard Pinaud company presented a product he called Brilliantine at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris.^[4] His product was intended to soften men's hair, including beards and moustaches.^[5] Since the invention of Pinaud's early products, modern science has advanced the hair conditioner industry to include those made with silicone, fatty alcohols and quaternary ammonium compounds. These chemical products have the benefits of hair conditioner without feeling greasy or heavy.

Mechanism of action

The outermost layer of a hair follicle is called the cuticle and is composed largely of keratin.^[6] This is rich in cysteine groups which are mildly acidic.^[7]^[8] When the hair is washed these groups can deprotonate, giving the hair a negative charge.^{[citation needed]}

The ingredients in conditioner, especially positively charged quaternary ammonium species, such as behentrimonium chloride or polymers that are known as polyquaternium-XX, where XX is an arbitrary number, can then become attached to the hair via electrostatic interactions. Once attached these compounds have several effects. Their long hydrocarbon backbone helps to lubricate the surface of each hair follicle, reducing the sensation of roughness and assisting combing. The surface coating of cationic groups means that hairs are repelled from each other electrostatically, which reduces clumping. The compounds can also act as antistatic agents, which helps to reduce frizzing.^{[citation needed]}

Types

Conditioners, also called deep conditioners or hair masks, are heavy and thick, with a high content of cationic surfactants that are able to bind to the hair structure and "glue" the hair surface scales together. This type of conditioner is designed to restore hair's moisture levels and reduce breakage. These are usually applied to the hair for a longer time (30–45 minutes).
Leave-in conditioners are thinner and have different surfactants, which add only a little material to the hair to avoid weighing down the hair or causing greasiness. They are based on unsaturated fatty acid chains, which are bent, not straight. Leave-in conditioner is designed to be used in a similar way to hair oil, preventing the tangling of hair and keeping it smooth. Its use is particularly prevalent among those with naturally curly or kinky hair.
Rinse-out/rinse-through conditioners are the most common or generic on the market. Ordinary conditioners are generally applied directly after using shampoo, and manufacturers usually produce a conditioner counterpart for different types of shampoo for this purpose.
Hold conditioners, based on cationic polyelectrolyte polymers, hold the hair in a desired shape. These have a function and composition similar to diluted hair gels.
Cleansing conditioners are a newer category, typically based on a combination of amphoteric and cationic surfactants that can be used either in place of shampoo or as a pretreatment before shampooing for hair that is damaged or very curly.^[9]

Ingredients

There are several types of hair conditioner ingredients, differing in composition and functionality:

Acidifiers are acidity regulators that maintain the conditioner's pH at about 3.5. In contact with an acidic environment, the hair's somewhat scaly surface tightens up as the hydrogen bonds between the keratin molecules are strengthened.^[10]
Antistatic agents, which bind to the hair and reduce the static, can include cationic polymers such as polyquaternium-10 and guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.
Detanglers modify the hair surface pH as acidifiers or coat it with polymers as glossers.
Glossers are light-reflecting chemicals that bind to the hair surface and are usually polymers, usually silicones (e.g., dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane).
Lubricants such as fatty alcohols, panthenol, dimethicone, etc.
Moisturizers, whose role is to hold moisture in the hair, usually contain high proportions of humectants. These could also be provided by natural oils such as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (sweet almond) oil.^[11]
Oils (EFAs – essential fatty acids) can help dry/porous hair become more soft and pliable. The scalp produces a natural oil called sebum. Sebum naturally contains EFAs.
Preservatives protect the product from spoilage by microorganisms during the product's shelf life.
Reconstructors, usually containing hydrolyzed protein, supposedly penetrate the hair and strengthen its structure through polymer cross-linking.
Sequestrants improve function in hard water.
Sunscreen provides protection against protein degradation and color loss. Currently, benzophenone-4 and ethylhexyl methoxy cinnamate are the two sunscreens most commonly used in hair products. Cinnamidopyltrimonium chloride and a few others are used to a much lesser degree. The common sunscreens used on the skin are rarely used for hair products due to their texture and weight effects.
Surfactants – approximately 97% of hair consists of a protein called keratin. The surface of keratin contains negatively charged amino acids. Hair conditioners therefore usually contain cationic surfactants, which don't wash out completely, because their hydrophilic ends strongly bind to keratin. The hydrophobic ends of the surfactant molecules then act as the new hair surface.^[12] Examples are behentrimonium chloride and cetrimonium chloride.
Thermal protectors, usually heat-absorbing polymers, shield the hair against excessive heat caused by blow-drying, curling irons, hot rollers, etc.

pH

Conditioners are frequently acidic, as low pH protonates the keratin's amino acids. The hydrogen ions give the hair a positive charge and create more hydrogen bonds among the keratin scales, giving the hair a more compact structure. Organic acids such as citric acid are usually used to maintain acidity.

References

^ Barel, André O.; Paye, Marc; Maibach, Howard I. (3 March 2009). Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Third Edition. CRC Press. pp. 687–. ISBN 978-1-4200-6968-6.
^ "Argan oil as a geographic indication". www1.american.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Antimacassar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 127.
^ Gaspar, Enrique (2012-06-26). The Time Ship: A Chrononautical Journey. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 978-0-8195-7239-4.
^ "The History of Conditioner". Prell. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
^ Yang, Fei-Chi (2014-10-14). "The structure of people's hair". PeerJ. 2: e619. doi:10.7717/peerj.619. PMC 4201279. PMID 25332846.
^ Dawber, Rodney (January 1996). "Hair: Its structure and response to cosmetic preparations". Clinics in Dermatology. 14 (1): 105–112. doi:10.1016/0738-081X(95)00117-X. PMID 8901408.
^ Longo, V. M.; Monteiro, V. F.; Pinheiro, A. S.; Terci, D.; Vasconcelos, J. S.; Paskocimas, C. A.; Leite, E. R.; Longo, E.; Varela, J. A (April 2006). "Charge density alterations in human hair fibers: an investigation using electrostatic force microscopy". International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 28 (2): 95–101. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00280.x. PMID 18492143. S2CID 6402716.
^ Chung, Madelyn (May 29, 2017). "Everything You Need to Know About Cleansing Conditioners". Fashion Magazine. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
^ "Introduction". wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
^ Hair Conditioner, Moisturizer. "Understanding Scalp Issues". Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
^ "How does hair conditioner work? » Scienceline". scienceline.org. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

External links

[BarelPaye2009-1] Barel, André O.; Paye, Marc; Maibach, Howard I. (3 March 2009). Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Third Edition. CRC Press. pp. 687–. ISBN 978-1-4200-6968-6.

[2] "Argan oil as a geographic indication". www1.american.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

[EB1911-3] One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Antimacassar". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 127.

[4] Gaspar, Enrique (2012-06-26). The Time Ship: A Chrononautical Journey. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 978-0-8195-7239-4.

[5] "The History of Conditioner". Prell. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

[6] Yang, Fei-Chi (2014-10-14). "The structure of people's hair". PeerJ. 2: e619. doi:10.7717/peerj.619. PMC 4201279. PMID 25332846.

[7] Dawber, Rodney (January 1996). "Hair: Its structure and response to cosmetic preparations". Clinics in Dermatology. 14 (1): 105–112. doi:10.1016/0738-081X(95)00117-X. PMID 8901408.

[8] Longo, V. M.; Monteiro, V. F.; Pinheiro, A. S.; Terci, D.; Vasconcelos, J. S.; Paskocimas, C. A.; Leite, E. R.; Longo, E.; Varela, J. A (April 2006). "Charge density alterations in human hair fibers: an investigation using electrostatic force microscopy". International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 28 (2): 95–101. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00280.x. PMID 18492143. S2CID 6402716.

[9] Chung, Madelyn (May 29, 2017). "Everything You Need to Know About Cleansing Conditioners". Fashion Magazine. Retrieved July 21, 2021.

[10] "Introduction". wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

[11] Hair Conditioner, Moisturizer. "Understanding Scalp Issues". Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2015-09-18.

[12] "How does hair conditioner work? » Scienceline". scienceline.org. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Hair care product}}
 {{distinguish|Air conditioner}}
-[[File:Hair detergent.jpg|thumb|A 19th-century advertisement for hair-care products]]
+[[File:Hair detergent.jpg|thumb|A 19th-century advertisement for hair care products]]
-'''Hair conditioner''' is a [[hair care]] cosmetic product used to improve the feel, texture, appearance, and manageability of [[hair]]. Its main purpose is to reduce friction between strands of hair to allow smoother brushing or combing, which might otherwise cause damage to the scalp.<ref name="BarelPaye2009">{{cite book|author1=André O. Barel|author2=Marc Paye|author3=Howard I. Maibach|title=Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Third Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAPLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA687|date=3 March 2009|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-4200-6968-6|pages=687–}}</ref> Various other benefits are often advertised, such as hair repair, strengthening, or a reduction in split ends.
+'''Hair conditioner''' is a [[hair care]] cosmetic product used to improve the feel, texture, appearance and manageability of [[hair]]. Its main purpose is to reduce friction between strands of hair to allow smoother brushing or combing, which might otherwise cause damage to the [[scalp]].<ref name="BarelPaye2009">{{cite book |last1=Barel |first1=André O. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAPLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA687 |title=Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Third Edition |last2=Paye |first2=Marc |last3=Maibach |first3=Howard I. |date=3 March 2009 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4200-6968-6 |pages=687–}}</ref> Various other benefits are often advertised, such as hair repair, strengthening, or a reduction in [[split ends]].{{Weasel inline|date=September 2023}}
-Conditioners are available in a wide range of forms including viscous liquids, gels, and creams, as well as thinner lotions and sprays. Hair conditioner is usually used after the hair has been washed with [[shampoo]]. It is applied and worked into the hair, and may either be rinsed out a short time later or left in.
+Conditioners are available in a wide range of forms, including viscous liquids, gels and creams, as well as thinner lotions and sprays. Hair conditioner is usually used after the hair has been washed with [[shampoo]]. It is applied and worked into the hair and may either be rinsed out a short time later or left in.
 ==History==
-For centuries, natural oils have been used to condition human hair.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Argan oil as a geographic indication|url = http://www1.american.edu/ted/argan-oil.htm|website = www1.american.edu|access-date = 2016-01-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170319051617/http://www1.american.edu/ted/argan-oil.htm|archive-date = 2017-03-19|url-status = dead}}</ref> A conditioner popular with men in the late [[Victorian era]] was [[Macassar oil]], but this product was quite greasy and necessitated the pinning of a small cloth, known as an [[antimacassar]], to the headrests of chairs and sofas to preserve the upholstery from being damaged by the oil. <ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Antimacassar|volume=2|page=127}}</ref>
+For centuries, natural oils have been used to condition human hair.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Argan oil as a geographic indication|url = http://www1.american.edu/ted/argan-oil.htm|website = www1.american.edu|access-date = 2016-01-01|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170319051617/http://www1.american.edu/ted/argan-oil.htm|archive-date = 2017-03-19|url-status = dead}}</ref> A conditioner popular with men in the late [[Victorian era]] was [[Macassar oil]], but this product was quite greasy and necessitated the pinning of a small cloth, known as an [[antimacassar]], to the headrests of chairs and sofas to preserve the upholstery from being damaged by the oil.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Antimacassar|volume=2|page=127}}</ref>
-[[File:Herbalessencebottles.jpg|thumb|A bottle of modern-day hair conditioner by [[Clairol]] (right).]]
+[[File:Herbalessencebottles.jpg|thumb|A bottle of modern-day hair conditioner by [[Clairol]] (right)]]
-Modern hair conditioner was created at the turn of the 20th century when the [[Edouard Pinaud]] company presented a product he called ''[[Brilliantine]]'' at the [[Exposition Universelle (1900)|1900 Exposition Universelle]] in Paris.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gaspar |first=Enrique |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAUiSP_Mr6wC&dq=edouard+pinaud+brillantine+1900&pg=PA183 |title=The Time Ship: A Chrononautical Journey |date=2012-06-26 |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |isbn=978-0-8195-7239-4 |language=en}}</ref> His product was intended to soften men's hair, including beards and moustaches.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The History of Conditioner|url = http://www.prell.com/blog/the-history-of-conditioner/|website = Prell|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref> Since the invention of Pinaud's early products, modern science has advanced the hair conditioner industry to include those made with [[silicone]], [[fatty alcohol]]s, and [[quaternary ammonium]] compounds. These chemical products have the benefits of hair conditioner without feeling greasy or heavy.
+Modern hair conditioner was created at the turn of the 20th century when the [[Edouard Pinaud]] company presented a product he called ''[[Brilliantine]]'' at the [[Exposition Universelle (1900)|1900 Exposition Universelle]] in Paris.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gaspar |first=Enrique |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yAUiSP_Mr6wC&dq=edouard+pinaud+brillantine+1900&pg=PA183 |title=The Time Ship: A Chrononautical Journey |date=2012-06-26 |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |isbn=978-0-8195-7239-4 |language=en}}</ref> His product was intended to soften men's hair, including beards and moustaches.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The History of Conditioner|url = http://www.prell.com/blog/the-history-of-conditioner/|website = Prell|access-date = 2016-01-01|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045215/http://www.prell.com/blog/the-history-of-conditioner/|url-status = dead}}</ref> Since the invention of Pinaud's early products, modern science has advanced the hair conditioner industry to include those made with [[silicone]], [[fatty alcohol]]s and [[quaternary ammonium]] compounds. These chemical products have the benefits of hair conditioner without feeling greasy or heavy.
 ==Mechanism of action==
-The outermost layer of a hair follicle is called the cuticle and is composed largely of [[keratin]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yang |first=Fei-Chi |date=2014-10-14 |title=The structure of people's hair |journal= PeerJ|volume=2 |pages=e619 |doi= 10.7717/peerj.619|pmid=25332846 |pmc=4201279 }}</ref> This is rich in [[cysteine]] groups which are mildly acidic.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dawber|first1=Rodney|title=Hair: Its structure and response to cosmetic preparations|journal=Clinics in Dermatology|date=January 1996|volume=14|issue=1|pages=105–112|doi=10.1016/0738-081X(95)00117-X|pmid=8901408}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Longo|first1=V. M.|last2=Monteiro|first2=V. F.|last3=Pinheiro|first3=A. S.|last4=Terci|first4=D.|last5=Vasconcelos|first5=J. S.|last6=Paskocimas|first6=C. A.|last7=Leite|first7=E. R.|last8=Longo|first8=E.|last9=Varela|first9=J. A|title=Charge density alterations in human hair fibers: an investigation using electrostatic force microscopy|journal=International Journal of Cosmetic Science|date=April 2006|volume=28|issue=2|pages=95–101|doi=10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00280.x|pmid=18492143|s2cid=6402716 |url=https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/32280 }}</ref> When the hair is washed these groups can [[deprotonate]], giving the hair a negative charge.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}
+The outermost layer of a [[hair follicle]] is called the [[cuticle]] and is composed largely of [[keratin]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yang |first=Fei-Chi |date=2014-10-14 |title=The structure of people's hair |journal= PeerJ|volume=2 |pages=e619 |doi= 10.7717/peerj.619|pmid=25332846 |pmc=4201279 |doi-access=free }}</ref> This is rich in [[cysteine]] groups which are mildly acidic.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dawber|first1=Rodney|title=Hair: Its structure and response to cosmetic preparations|journal=Clinics in Dermatology|date=January 1996|volume=14|issue=1|pages=105–112|doi=10.1016/0738-081X(95)00117-X|pmid=8901408}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Longo|first1=V. M.|last2=Monteiro|first2=V. F.|last3=Pinheiro|first3=A. S.|last4=Terci|first4=D.|last5=Vasconcelos|first5=J. S.|last6=Paskocimas|first6=C. A.|last7=Leite|first7=E. R.|last8=Longo|first8=E.|last9=Varela|first9=J. A|title=Charge density alterations in human hair fibers: an investigation using electrostatic force microscopy|journal=International Journal of Cosmetic Science|date=April 2006|volume=28|issue=2|pages=95–101|doi=10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00280.x|pmid=18492143|s2cid=6402716 |url=https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/32280 |doi-access=free}}</ref> When the hair is washed these groups can [[deprotonate]], giving the hair a negative charge.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}
-The ingredients in conditioner, especially positively charged [[quaternary ammonium]] species, such as [[behentrimonium chloride]] or polymers that are known as [[Polyquaternium]]-XX, where XX is an arbitrary number, can then become attached to the hair via [[electrostatic interaction]]s. Once attached these compounds have several effects. Their long hydrocarbon backbone helps to lubricate the surface of each hair follicle, reducing the sensation of roughness and assisting combing. The surface coating of cationic groups means that hairs are repelled from each other electrostatically, which reduces clumping. The compounds can also act as [[antistatic agent]]s, which helps to reduce frizzing.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}
+The ingredients in conditioner, especially positively charged [[quaternary ammonium]] species, such as [[behentrimonium chloride]] or polymers that are known as [[polyquaternium]]-XX, where XX is an arbitrary number, can then become attached to the hair via [[Electrostatics|electrostatic interactions]]. Once attached these compounds have several effects. Their long [[hydrocarbon]] backbone helps to [[Lubrication|lubricate]] the surface of each hair follicle, reducing the sensation of roughness and assisting combing. The surface coating of cationic groups means that hairs are repelled from each other electrostatically, which reduces clumping. The compounds can also act as [[antistatic agent]]s, which helps to reduce frizzing.{{Cn|date=May 2021}}
 ==Types==
 {{More citations needed|section|date=May 2021}}
-* '''Conditioners''', also called deep conditioners or hair masks, are heavy and thick, with a high content of [[cationic surfactant]]s that are able to bind to the hair structure and "glue" the hair surface scales together. This type of conditioner is designed to restore hair's moisture levels and reduce breakage. These are usually applied to the hair for a longer time (30-45 minutes).
+* '''Conditioners''', also called deep conditioners or hair masks, are heavy and thick, with a high content of [[cationic surfactant]]s that are able to bind to the hair structure and "glue" the hair surface scales together. This type of conditioner is designed to restore hair's moisture levels and reduce breakage. These are usually applied to the hair for a longer time (30–45 minutes).
-* '''Leave-in''' conditioners are thinner and have different surfactants, which add only a little material to the hair to avoid weighing down the hair or causing greasiness. They are based on unsaturated fatty acid chains, which are bent, not straight. Leave-in conditioner is designed to be used in a similar way to hair oil, preventing the tangling of hair and keeping it smooth. Its use is particularly prevalent by those with naturally curly or kinky hair.
+* '''Leave-in''' conditioners are thinner and have different surfactants, which add only a little material to the hair to avoid weighing down the hair or causing greasiness. They are based on unsaturated fatty acid chains, which are bent, not straight. Leave-in conditioner is designed to be used in a similar way to hair oil, preventing the tangling of hair and keeping it smooth. Its use is particularly prevalent among those with naturally curly or kinky hair.
-* '''Rinse out/Rinse through''' conditioners are the most common or generic on the market. Ordinary conditioners are generally applied directly after using shampoo, and manufacturers usually produce a conditioner counterpart for different types of shampoo for this purpose.
+* '''Rinse-out/rinse-through''' conditioners are the most common or generic on the market. Ordinary conditioners are generally applied directly after using shampoo, and manufacturers usually produce a conditioner counterpart for different types of shampoo for this purpose.
 * '''Hold''' conditioners, based on [[cationic]] [[polyelectrolyte]] [[polymer]]s, hold the hair in a desired shape. These have a function and composition similar to diluted [[hair gel]]s.
-* '''Cleansing''' conditioners are a newer category, typically based on a combination of [[amphoteric]] and [[cationic]] surfactants that can be used in place of a shampoo either as a pre-treatment before shampooing for hair that is damaged or very curly.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Madelyn |date=May 29, 2017 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Cleansing Conditioners |work=[[Fashion Magazine]] |url= https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/what-are-cleansing-conditioners/ |accessdate=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
+* '''Cleansing''' conditioners are a newer category, typically based on a combination of [[amphoteric]] and cationic surfactants that can be used either in place of shampoo or as a pretreatment before shampooing for hair that is damaged or very curly.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chung |first=Madelyn |date=May 29, 2017 |title=Everything You Need to Know About Cleansing Conditioners |work=[[Fashion Magazine]] |url= https://fashionmagazine.com/beauty-grooming/what-are-cleansing-conditioners/ |accessdate=July 21, 2021}}</ref>
 ==Ingredients==
 {{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}}
 There are several types of hair conditioner ingredients, differing in composition and functionality:
-* [[Acidifier]]s, [[acidity regulator]]s which maintain the conditioner's [[pH]] at about 3.5. In contact with [[acidic]] environment, the hair's somewhat scaly surface tightens up, as the [[hydrogen bond]]s between the [[keratin]] molecules are strengthened.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Introduction|url = http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ce457_527/ce457_pro/g8_doc.htm|website = wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
+* [[Acidifier]]s are [[acidity regulator]]s that maintain the conditioner's [[pH]] at about 3.5. In contact with an [[acid]]ic environment, the hair's somewhat scaly surface tightens up as the [[hydrogen bond]]s between the [[keratin]] molecules are strengthened.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Introduction|url = http://wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu/ce457_527/ce457_pro/g8_doc.htm|website = wwwcourses.sens.buffalo.edu|access-date = 2016-01-01}}</ref>
-* [[Antistatic agent]]s which bind to the hair and reduce the static, these can include cationic polymers such as Polyquaternium-10 and Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
+* [[Antistatic agent]]s, which bind to the hair and reduce the static, can include cationic polymers such as polyquaternium-10 and guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride.
-* Detanglers, which modify the hair surface pH as acidifiers, or by coating it with [[polymer]]s, as glossers.
+* Detanglers modify the hair surface pH as acidifiers or coat it with [[polymer]]s as glossers.
-* Glossers, light-reflecting chemicals which bind to the hair surface. Usually polymers, usually [[silicone]]s, e.g., [[Dimethicone]] or [[Cyclopentasiloxane]].
+* Glossers are light-reflecting chemicals that bind to the hair surface and are usually polymers, usually [[silicone]]s (e.g., [[dimethicone]] or [[cyclopentasiloxane]]).
-* [[Lubricant]]s, such as [[fatty alcohol]]s, [[Panthenol]], [[Dimethicone]], etc.
+* [[Lubricant]]s such as [[fatty alcohol]]s, [[panthenol]], [[dimethicone]], etc.
-* [[Moisturizer]]s, whose role is to hold moisture in the hair. Usually, these contain high proportions of [[humectant]]s. These could also be provided by natural oils such as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hair Conditioner|first1=Moisturizer|url=http://www.headandshoulders.co.in/hair-clinic/understanding-scalp-issues/scalp-issues|title=Understanding Scalp Issues}}</ref>
+* [[Moisturizer]]s, whose role is to hold moisture in the hair, usually contain high proportions of [[humectant]]s. These could also be provided by natural oils such as ''[[Almond|Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis]]'' ([[Almond|sweet almond]]) oil.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hair Conditioner|first1=Moisturizer|url=http://www.headandshoulders.co.in/hair-clinic/understanding-scalp-issues/scalp-issues|title=Understanding Scalp Issues|access-date=2015-09-18|archive-date=2016-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021054203/http://www.headandshoulders.co.in/hair-clinic/understanding-scalp-issues/scalp-issues|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-* [[Oil]]s (EFAs – [[essential fatty acids]]), which can help dry/porous hair become more soft and pliable. The scalp produces a natural oil called [[sebum]]. EFAs are the closest thing to natural sebum (sebum contains EFAs).
+* [[Oil]]s (EFAs – [[essential fatty acids]]) can help dry/[[Porosity|porous]] hair become more soft and pliable. The [[scalp]] produces a natural oil called [[sebum]]. Sebum naturally contains EFAs.
-* [[Preservative]]s that protect the product from spoilage by microorganisms during the product shelf life.
+* [[Preservative]]s protect the product from spoilage by [[microorganism]]s during the product's [[shelf life]].
-* Reconstructors, usually containing [[hydrolyzed protein]]. Their role is supposedly to penetrate the hair and strengthen its structure through polymer crosslinking.
+* Reconstructors, usually containing [[hydrolyzed protein]], supposedly penetrate the hair and strengthen its structure through [[polymer]] [[cross-link]]ing.
-* [[Sequestrant]]s, for better function in [[hard water]].
+* [[Sequestrant]]s improve function in [[hard water]].
-* [[Sunscreen]], for protection against protein degradation and color loss. Currently Benzophenone-4 and Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate are the two sunscreens most commonly used in hair products. Cinnamidopyltrimonium Chloride and a few others are used to a much lesser degree. The common sunscreens used on skin are rarely used for hair products due to their texture and weight effects.
+* [[Sunscreen]] provides protection against [[Proteolysis|protein degradation]] and color loss. Currently, [[benzophenone]]-4 and ethylhexyl [[Methoxy group|methoxy]][[Cinnamic acid|cinnamate]] are the two sunscreens most commonly used in hair products. Cinnamidopyltrimonium chloride and a few others are used to a much lesser degree. The common sunscreens used on the [[skin]] are rarely used for hair products due to their texture and weight effects.
-* [[Surfactant]]s – approximately 97% of hair consists of a [[protein]] called [[keratin]]. The surface of keratin contains negatively charged [[amino acid]]s. Hair conditioners therefore usually contain cationic [[surfactant]]s, which don't wash out completely, because their [[hydrophilic]] ends strongly bind to keratin. The [[hydrophobic]] ends of the surfactant molecules then act as the new hair surface.<ref>{{Cite web|title = How does hair conditioner work? » Scienceline|url = http://scienceline.org/2014/01/how-does-hair-conditioner-work/|website = scienceline.org|access-date = 2016-01-01|date = 2014-01-09}}</ref> Examples are Behentrimonium Chloride and Cetrimonium Chloride
+* [[Surfactant]]s – approximately 97% of hair consists of a [[protein]] called [[keratin]]. The surface of keratin contains negatively charged [[amino acid]]s. Hair conditioners therefore usually contain [[cation]]ic [[surfactant]]s, which don't wash out completely, because their [[hydrophilic]] ends strongly bind to keratin. The [[hydrophobic]] ends of the surfactant molecules then act as the new hair surface.<ref>{{Cite web|title = How does hair conditioner work? » Scienceline|url = http://scienceline.org/2014/01/how-does-hair-conditioner-work/|website = scienceline.org|access-date = 2016-01-01|date = 2014-01-09}}</ref> Examples are [[behentrimonium chloride]] and [[cetrimonium chloride]].
-* Thermal protectors, usually heat-absorbing polymers, shielding the hair against excessive heat, caused by, e.g., [[Blowdryer|blow-drying]], [[curling iron]]s or [[Hair roller|hot rollers]].
+* Thermal protectors, usually heat-absorbing polymers, shield the hair against excessive heat caused by [[blow-drying]], [[curling iron]]s, [[Hair roller|hot rollers]], etc.
 ===pH===
-Conditioners are frequently acidic, as [[PH|low pH]] [[protonate]]s the [[keratin]]'s amino acids. The hydrogen ions give the hair a positive charge and create more [[hydrogen bond]]s among the keratin scales, giving the hair a more compact structure. Organic acids such as [[citric acid]] are usually used to maintain acidity.
+Conditioners are frequently acidic, as low [[pH]] [[protonate]]s the [[keratin]]'s [[amino acid]]s. The [[Hydronium|hydrogen ions]] give the hair a positive charge and create more [[hydrogen bond]]s among the keratin scales, giving the hair a more compact structure. [[Organic acid]]s such as [[citric acid]] are usually used to maintain acidity.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 * [[Brilliantine]]
 * [[Brylcreem]]
+* [[Macassar oil]]
 * [[Pomade]]
 * [[Shampoo]]
@@ Line 56: / Line 57: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Commons category|Hair care}}
+{{Commons category|Conditioner (hair care product)}}
 * [http://h2g2.com/A851627 How Hair Conditioner Works] at [[h2g2]]
 * [http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Conditioner-to-Your-Hair How to Apply Hair Conditioner] at [[wikiHow]]