3 Signs You Should Ditch Your Shampoo and Conditioner for a Combo Cleansing Conditioner, According to a Hairdresser

I have a confession to make: I was a two-in-one hair product hater for most of my life. Maybe it’s because I never thought a product like that could work for my type 3a curls or because I knew it got on my brothers’ nerves when I teased them about using it, but regardless, I always turned my nose up at anything that promised to take the place of two or more hair products.

That is, until I came across WEN’s cleansing conditioner. After the success I had with WEN’s brush dryer styling tool, I wanted to give the hair-care line a shot, too. I consulted with my hair stylist Gabrielle D’Ulisse and decided to give the cleansing conditioner—not just a two-in-one, but a five-in-one, replacing shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, and leave-in-conditioner (you can even use it as shaving cream)—a chance.

The me from before using this product would be aghast at the thought, but D’Ulisse’s stamp of approval had me intrigued. Plus, the fact that I could snag the WEN cleansing conditioner (along with any other WEN product) for 20 percent off for the entire month of March was a major bonus. With how moisturized and healthy my hair feels after using it for just two weeks, I’m glad I did. Here are three signs that your hair might benefit from your trying it, too, according to D’Ulisse.

WEN by Chaz Dean 32 oz Cleansing Conditioner — $41.00

Originally $51, on sale for $41

Scents: Cucumber aloe, fig, lavender, pomegranate, sweet almond, tea tree

Pros:

• Convenient
• Different scents correspond to different hair types
• Uses natural ingredients
• Protects, hydrates, and clarifies hair

Cons:

• Not as customizable as a typical hair routine

1. Your hair feels dry after washing

You know that feeling when you get out of the shower and your hair still feels dry and brittle, despite your conditioner? This used to happen to me, too. After my shower, my hair would be so tangled and unmanageable that only a million sprays of detangler could make it brushable. D’Ulisse informed me that most likely this was a sign that my shampoo was too harsh for my hair.

“If shampoo is stripping the moisture out of someone’s hair, the cleansing conditioner will allow them to eliminate build up while nourishing their strands at the same time,” D’Ulisse says. The difference in my hair’s moisture levels since I’ve started using the cleansing conditioner was noticeable right away. Just make sure you’re following the directions on the bottle and using the appropriate amount of product for your hair length for best results, D’Ulisse says.

2. Your hair feels weighed down

When you have finer hair, products like conditioner are more likely to weigh it down, D’Ulisse says. Luckily, each of the WEN cleansing conditioners was developed for different hair types and concerns (think: dryness, oiliness, etc.) so you can customize your bottle to whichever issues your strands and scalp may be facing.

“A person with hair on the finer side will find the lavender or pomegranate type to be the best for their hair,” D’Ulisse says. “The natural extracts will protect and hydrate their hair without weighing it down.”

3. You want to save time

Convenience is a big draw of this cleansing conditioner for me.  Since I like to work out in the mornings, I felt like I had to rush through my hair-care routine to make sure I was still on time for work. While using the cleansing conditioner (which cuts out a lot of my regular products), I’ve found that I have more time to pay attention to my morning self-care regimen, without it feeling rushed.

“The best part of WEN’s cleansing conditioner is you are receiving all the benefits of a multiple-step hair-care routine in a more quick, efficient way,” D’Ulisse says. “If you’re someone who is on-the-go, but the health of your hair is a top priority, this cleansing conditioner is perfect for you.”

If you’re still a skeptic like I was, I get it. But don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it. My soft, manageable curls and I have officially been converted into two-in-one product believers.