For years, I thought my conditioner was doing its job. I’d smooth it through my hair, wait a minute, rinse, and admire how soft everything felt. I truly believed I was nourishing my hair. Except I wasn’t — I was coating it with silicone. That silky slip I loved so much was only a surface illusion. Underneath, my hair was still dry, stressed, and suffocating. Here’s the truth I wish I had realized sooner: most conventional conditioners don’t actually nourish your hair. They si