Leave-in treatments are concentrated and work harder at keeping hair hydrated and smoother than regular conditioners. So always slick some on before you step out to keep fly-aways and frizz at bay.

Hair oil works best on damaged and parched hair. If you have normal, healthy hair, oils might be too rich for your tresses and make them limp. Leave-in conditioners would suffice.

If you apply them correctly, even the thickest hair oils and leave-in treatments will not weigh hair down.

Always start by working just a little bit of product into your hair; a five-cent coin amount will do. Spread the formula evenly onto your palms. Then using your coated hands, twist the lower ends of your locks to distribute the product. Repeat with more leave-in conditioner or oil when necessary.

To further spread the haircare formulas evenly, brush your hair thoroughly afterwards.

If you have extremely dry hair, you could layer on a leave-in conditioner after applying the hair oil. Think of the oil as a serum for the hair and the conditioner as a moisturiser.

Try not to get any of the oil or hair serum onto your scalp; it will only make your locks look flat and greasy.

Here are our picks from the latest non-rinse haircare formulas.

This article was published on April 25 in Urban, The Straits Times.

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