Shampoo vs. Conditioner: What’s the Difference?

You probably already know shampoo and conditioner are part of a healthy hair care routine, and chances are, you’ve used both. But you might still have questions about shampoo versus conditioner.

Shampoo and conditioner are complementary hair care products — they work differently but support each other’s effectiveness.

Here, we’ll discuss how shampoo and conditioner work, their differences and benefits, and the order to apply them (hey, it’s not as simple as you may think). We’ll also answer some frequently asked questions about shampoo and conditioner.

Shampoo is a cleanser for the hair and scalp. It helps remove dirt, sweat, pollutants, oil, and product buildup, keeping your hair looking clean (and smelling good), your scalp healthy, and your hair follicles free from congestion.

Shampoo is made with cleansing agents (more on the specific ingredients later) called surfactants, which help remove impurities.

Hair conditioner adds moisture back into cleansed hair and can help prevent breakage. It can also strengthen and, well, condition hair. Conditioner coats strands with nourishing, softening ingredients to smooth the hair cuticle, leading to less frizz and a smoother appearance.

Conditioner is typically thicker than shampoo and is made with moisturizing ingredients.

Shampoo and conditioner go hand-in-hand, but like most famous duos, they have some key differences, which we’ll cover below.

Shampoo vs. Conditioner Ingredients

Generally, shampoo and conditioner have different key ingredients.

Shampoos tend to have cleansing ingredients, like detergents and surfactants, which create that foamy lather. Surfactants bond to oil and water to clean hair.

Conditioners are usually made of a blend of moisturizing ingredients, such as natural oils (think argan, coconut, and jojoba), botanical extracts, and proteins like keratin or silk amino acids. They can also contain conditioning agents, like silicones or dimethicone, to help smooth the hair and eliminate tangles.

As you probably know from your own informal research (aka taking showers), there are many benefits to using shampoo and conditioner.

Benefits of using shampoo:

• Removes buildup from the scalp, hair follicles, and hair

• Removes odor

• Gives hair a clean, shiny appearance

• Helps prevent scalp issues like dandruff and itching

Benefits of using conditioner:

• Detangles and makes hair easier to brush

• Helps manage frizzy hair

• Helps reduce split ends

• Makes hair soft

Basically, they’re both important, and you should use them both.

Let’s answer some frequently asked questions about shampoo and conditioner.

In What Order Should I Apply Shampoo and Conditioner?

Generally, shampoo is applied and rinsed out before conditioner.

However, you may have heard of reverse shampooing or pre-wash conditioning — when you apply conditioner before shampooing. The thought is that by using these products in reverse order, your hair will reap the benefits of conditioner (moisture, shine, etc.), but following with shampoo will cleanse your hair so it won’t be weighed down.

Another option is to apply conditioner first to the lower half and ends of your hair and let it sit for a few minutes (like a deep-conditioning hair mask) while you lather your shampoo onto your scalp. Then rinse them both out at the same time.

Do I Need to Use Conditioner?

Most people can benefit from using conditioner, but not everyone absolutely needs to use it, especially those with very short haircuts.

If you have very thin or oily hair, you may want to skip conditioner, use it every other wash, or only apply a small amount on the ends of your hair. Using too much conditioner on fine or thin hair can make it look greasy or weighed down.

Which Is Better, Shampoo or Conditioner?

One isn’t necessarily better than the other. There are some exceptions (like if you have very short or fine hair), but in general, we don’t recommend using just shampoo or only conditioner on a regular basis.

Shampoo and conditioner are like toothpaste and floss: partners on a shared mission to support personal health and hygiene.

What Is Co-Washing?

Some people also wonder if shampoo is optional. Co-washing (conditioner-only washing) is when — as you probably guessed — you use conditioner only.

Most conditioners contain very small amounts of detergents known as cationic surfactants (or ​​quaternary ammonium compounds, aka “quats”). These can lightly cleanse hair without leaving it squeaky-clean like shampoo.

If you have particularly dry hair and want to try co-washing, look out for a lightweight cleansing conditioner.

What Type of Shampoo Should I Buy?

Wander down a drugstore aisle, and you’ll see tons of different types of shampoo: hydrating, clarifying, moisturizing, volumizing, nourishing, thickening, sulfate-free, hair loss shampoos, dandruff shampoos, and so on.

Like skincare products, there’s not one “best shampoo” for everyone — it all depends on your hair type and the state of your hair.

For example, someone with curly hair that quickly gets greasy may opt for a clarifying shampoo so they can go longer between washes), whereas someone with fine hair may prefer a hair shampoo that adds volume.

We offer the following shampoos and conditioners for men with different hair types:

• Max Volume Shampoo

• Max Volume Conditioner

• Thick Fix Thickening Shampoo

• Thick Fix Thickening Conditioner

• Dandruff Detox Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo

If you’re unsure where to start or want recommendations for your hair texture, ask your hairstylist for shampoo suggestions.

How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

How frequently you should lather up depends on several factors, including your hair type, the formulation of your shampoo and conditioner, and how you like to style your hair. Some folks like to wash their hair daily, and others prefer to wash it once or twice a week.

If you’re struggling with oily hair, it’s possible you’re actually washing your hair too much. Overwashing can strip the scalp of natural hair oils, making your body overcompensate by producing more oil. It seems counterintuitive, but washing too often can lead to oily hair.

If you want to go more days between washes, it can take some time for your hair and scalp to adjust. Dry shampoo can help your hair on those in-between days — just make sure to wash well and rinse thoroughly to avoid dry shampoo buildup.

If you’re into research, get this: A 2021 study found that washing hair five to six times per week tended to yield the most satisfaction in hair and scalp health among the Asian populations studied. Formal studies haven’t been replicated among other populations, so the findings could be different for other hair types.

Here’s the TL;DR on shampoo versus conditioner:

• Shampoo and conditioner serve different purposes, but they work together. Shampoo cleanses the hair and scalp, while conditioner restores moisture and smoothness to the hair strands. They’re both crucial for hair health.

• How often to use them is subjective. How often you wash your hair is largely a matter of personal preference and may vary depending on your hair type, what treatments you’ve done (like coloring or chemical relaxing), and hormonal fluctuations (periods of hormonal change can contribute to extra oil).

• Application order matters. Typically, shampoo is applied first to cleanse, followed by conditioner to nourish, though reverse shampooing can offer unique benefits for some hair types. Co-washing is a technique where hair is gently cleansed with conditioner instead of shampoo.

To optimize your hair health, explore prescription and over-the-counter hair care products on our men’s telehealth platform. You can also take our free hair quiz to see what options might be best for you.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.