Blake Lively ditched conditioner 20 years ago and says her hair has never looked better

Blake Lively officially launched her new haircare brand Blake Brown this weekend, dropping the full range at Target for American customers to shop in-store and online.

However, we weren't surprised one bit when the Gossip Girl actress made the announcement last week teasing the launch of the brand.

The 36 year old's thick and lustrous head of blonde hair has been the subject of envy for decades, and for many years fans have speculated as to the contents of her haircare routine, but we don't need to wonder anymore.

"I’ve found a system that has worked wonders for me, a hack of sorts through decades of working with the very best people in the industry, and silly amounts of trial and error," she shared with fans via Instagram. "There’s a reason brands tend to have to make compromises, but we didn’t stop until we got there."

The brand contains two central nourishing and strengthening routines, and a third, which merges the principles of the two together, as well as a few key styling products (read: mousse and dry shampoo) that are intended to simplify your routine.

Lively has been developing and using the luxury-inspired, affordable range of haircare for several years, making it her mission to tick a plethora of non-negotiable boxes. But, despite Blake Brown's commitment to clean formulas and sustainable packaging, it's the lack of conditioner in the range that has garnered the most attention from fans. 

"I started using masks [instead of conditioner] almost 20 years ago now. I don’t ever use conditioner, unless I’m at a hotel and I poorly packed," Lively told Harper's Bazaar. "It’s like kind of an emergency scenario when I use conditioner, and when I do, it’s like I can’t brush through my hair."

"I have always just washed my hair first, then put the mask on, then do everything I have time for, then rinse the mask out last," she explained. "If my hair needs a little bit more love, sometimes I’ll just leave a little bit of mask in my hair. I don’t rinse it fully, fully out—and like, leave it in a ballerina bun for a few days."

We have to be honest, Lively's unique approach to her hair washing ritual left us intrigued, but we were also curious if it's a method that only works for her hair type.

We asked Jaye Edwards if using conditioner is outdated, and this is what the EdwardsAndCo and Jaye Haircare Founder had to say.

Can you use a hair mask instead of a conditioner?

"Switching from a hair conditioner to a hair mask can make your hair drastically more hydrated and smooth, but this kind of technique will vary depending on a person's hair type," says Edwards.

If you want to moisturise, repair, strengthen, and smooth your hair, or cut down on styling time, it might be worth trying this trend out for yourself. 

"Swapping to a mask could help with better curl definition, and can provide better control and weight. But there are a few steps to consider before trying this hair washing technique," Edwards advises.

"You need to think about your hair type and porosity, frequency of hair washes, the hair products you use, and your scalp health," he explains. "Replacing your conditioner with a hair mask can work for some hair types, especially if you have high porosity hair that needs extra nourishment and hydration."

"This technique isn’t universally recommended for all, but experimenting with frequency and product choice can help determine the best approach for individual hair needs," he continues.

He also warns that without a hair conditioner to smooth down the cuticle, your hair can become porous, and start to lose moisture. "This will eventually result in brittleness, split ends and tangling," he warns.

The best products to use instead of conditioner

"If you’re going to give this technique a go, make sure you are using salon quality hair care products," Edwards advises. "Experiment with the frequency of hair washes, and see what works best for your hair and your routine."

He recommends experimenting with a hair mask once or twice a week at first to see how your hair responds to the lack of conditioner. 

If you're unsure how to pick the right hair mask to replace your conditioner, Edwards has some recommendations: "I would look out for natural ingredients such as coconut oils, shea butter, vitamin E and organic extracts."

"The ingredients you look out for will differ based on your hair type, but these ingredients generally work for most hair types as they are gentle and natural," he tells BEAUTYcrew.

"O&M Power Base Masque ($44.95 from Adore Beauty) is a protein rich masque that helps to bind broken hair strands resulting in fuller and more lustrous locks," he suggests.

As for us? BEAUTYcrew rates the skelp! Stay Hydrated Moisture Mask ($36 from skelp!), which contains a blend of bond-strengthening and moisture-retentive ingredients that smooth, soften and enhance shine. Plus, it's a worthy K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask dupe.

We're also fans of the BodyBlendz Hair Treatment Mask ($26 from BodyBlendz), because it's packed full of moisturising and repairing hair oils that detangle and defrizz hair, without weighing it down.

Main image credit: @blakelively

Learning how to wash our hair without conditioner isn't the only piece of knowledge we've gained recently. Last week we finally figured out the difference between a thermal brush and a hot air brush.