Instant conditioners are aptly named, since they are applied directly from the bottle to the hair once it has been shampooed and rinsed. They are left in contact with the hair briefly for 1–5 minutes and then thoroughly rinsed. Due to their short contact time, they provide minimal conditioning and must be used after each shampooing to achieve the desired effect. The need for instant hair conditioners arose after hair shampoo detergents were developed with excellent sebum-removing capabilities. In addition, many of the currently popular hairstyles require frequent shampooing to remove styling gels, mousses, waxes, and sprays. Thus, the hair must be shampooed daily with a strong detergent leaving the hair unmanageable. Instant conditioners are used by persons who shampoo frequently and who have hair damaged by permanent waving or dyeing chemical processes.
Instant conditioners are the most popular type of hair conditioner for both home and salon use, even though they have limited ability to repair damaged hair. They contain water, conditioning agents, lipids, and thickeners. The conditioning agent usually consists of cationic detergent, known as quats.
