I've always washed all of the conditioner out thouroughly. I was wondering if I was supposed to leave a little bit in during the awkward stage.
I wouldn't...because your hair can look a bit 'yukky' & 'gummy.'
Rinse it out and then add something like a gel to damp hair...
until it is long enough to hang down on its own.
Always rinse out conditioner unless the label states otherwise (like, leave-in conditioner), especially if some sort of silicone is in the ingredient list. These work most effectively with a thorough rinse.