How much leave-in treatment should you apply depending on your hair type?

Why use a leave-in treatment?

A leave-in treatment is applied to damp or towel-dried hair and, unlike a classic mask, is not rinsed out. It works continuously on the hair fiber between shampoos to provide intense nourishment, heat protection, or make styling easier.
Made with hydrating and nourishing actives such as shea butter, argan oil or aloe vera, it is ideal for sealing in hydration and limiting frizz. It can come in the form of a hair cream, spray, hair mist or protective balm.

Why the amount of product makes all the difference

If your hair care isn't giving you the results you hoped for, it may simply be a question of quantity!

Leave-in treatments are absolutely essential for textured hair: whether your hair is wavy, curly, coily or afro-textured, this step is extremely important to nourish, hydrate and preserve the health of your hair.

There are different leave-in treatments, suited to each texture, but choosing the right one is not enough.

The result can be very different depending on the amount applied.

Applying too little product risks leaving curls dry and undefined, while applying too much risks weighing hair down and leaving a sticky feel.

To know how much to apply to your hair, you need to take several factors into account, such as hair thickness, texture and porosity.

We explain everything in this article!

Wavy hair and fine curly hair require a lot of care when it comes to dosage. They tend to be weighed down quickly by treatments and can become very sticky if the products are poorly dosed.

On the other hand, too little product can leave your hair dry and poorly defined. 

For naturally wavy hair or loose type 3A-3B curls with a fine hair fibre, the ideal treatment is the Hydrating Milk.

With its light, non-greasy texture, it is the perfect balance between hydration and nourishment without weighing hair down.

The For My Curls Hair Milk is specially designed for wavy and curly hair that tends to get weighed down. 

Although the hydrating milk is designed for these textures, it is important to dose the treatment correctly according to different hair needs and concerns.

Thick wavy hair will need a larger amount of product than medium or fine wavy hair.

If your hair is rather thick, apply a generous amount of hair milk, about a hazelnut-sized amount per section of hair. Thick hair needs more product to be properly hydrated.

If your hair is medium, use a moderate amount, about the equivalent of two hazelnuts for all your hair. Adjust according to your hair's density.

If your hair is fine: use a small hazelnut-sized amount for all your hair. It is better to start with a little and add more if needed, to avoid weighing hair down.

If you have curly but fine hair, apply a small hazelnut-sized amount, section by section, focusing on the lengths and ends, while taking care not to overload the roots to keep volume.

Finally, adjust the amount to your hair length and porosity: the longer and more porous the hair, the more generous the amount. 

here is a tip to find out the thickness of your hair:

Take a single clean hair between your thumb and index finger.

➡️ If you can barely feel it, your hair is fine.

➡️ If you can feel it a little, it is medium.

➡️ If you can feel it clearly (it feels solid to the touch), your hair is thick.

Coily hair has a tighter spiral shape and tends to dry out more quickly. Just like thick curly hair, it needs a nourishing treatment that is richer than the Hair Milk. 

For coily hair and very thick curly hair, we recommend using the For My Curls Nourishing Smoothie.

This treatment is rich enough for tight curls and thick hair. Thanks to organic Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and Pequi Oil, it penetrates to the heart of the hair fibre to nourish intensely while fighting frizz, ensuring soft, easy-to-style hair with no crunchy effect.

Fine coily hair: Start with a small hazelnut-sized amount of product for all your hair. If needed, add a little more to avoid overloading and keep volume.

Thick coily hair: Apply a dab of product per section of hair

(divide your hair into 4 to 6 sections). Thick hair needs more product to be properly hydrated.

Thick curly hair: use about a hazelnut-sized amount per section as well. If your curls are loose but the strands are thick, don't hesitate to add a little more product to coat each strand well.

For very dry, very damaged coily hair that needs deep repair, you can use the Leave-in Conditioner once a week.

This treatment, normally intended for afro-textured hair, can be used as a weekly repairing treatment for coily hair in need of repair and deep nourishment.

Thanks to organic Shea Butter, it deeply nourishes the hair, repairing damaged ends and strengthening the hair fiber.

Apply it to damp hair after your cleansing treatment, dividing it into sections for better distribution. You can also apply it before putting in a protective style to help protect and repair your lengths. 

Afro-textured hair (types 4A, 4B, 4C) is characterised by very tight curls, sometimes "Z"-shaped, with high density and strong natural porosity. This texture needs a lot of hydration and nourishment, with a leave-in treatment richer than the milk and the smoothie. 

After cleansing, apply the For My Curls Leave-in Conditioner.

This leave-in treatment is specially designed for type 4 hair. It repairs the lengths and strengthens the hair fiber against external aggressors, while providing deep nourishment thanks to organic Shea Butter, organic Aloe Vera and plant oils ideal for afro-textured hair.

You can also use a lighter treatment between washes to give your lengths a boost of hydration. For this, you can use the Nourishing Smoothie once or twice a week. 💆🏻‍♀️

Note: You can also use it in your routine instead of the Leave-in if that one is too rich for your hair! 

Fine afro-textured hair: apply a small, hazelnut-sized amount of Leave-in per section of hair (4 to 6 sections depending on your density). If the Leave-in is too rich for your fine afro-textured hair,

Medium afro-textured hair: apply a generous hazelnut-sized amount per section, focusing on the lengths and ends.

Thick afro-textured hair: apply a generous hazelnut-sized amount per section, and don't hesitate to add a little more if your hair absorbs the product quickly.

For best results, work on damp hair to help the product penetrate.

Divide your hair into 4 to 6 sections depending on its density, then apply your Leave-in Conditioner or Smoothie strand by strand, focusing on the lengths and ends.

To maximize hydration and definition, you can seal in moisture with a light oil suited to your porosity. 🌿

Conclusion

Dosing your leave-in properly means personalizing your routine

Finding the right amount of leave-in isn't always easy: it's above all a matter of observing and adapting to your hair's unique needs.

Take the time to understand your texture and your needs so you can give your hair the care that suits it.

You know what to do: observe your porosity and how your hair reacts to products to build a truly effective routine!

Want to go further? Discover our personalised hair routines for your hair type on jiaparis.com!