We all know how annoying dry hair can be. Add hair dyes, heat tools, and other styling products, and we’ll look as if we’re wearing a bad wig. Well, no more!
There’s one magical step that will help you heal your damaged hair. Yes, it’s deep conditioning. You’ll enrich your roots and strands with natural oils and, hence, be one step closer to healthier and stronger hair.
Does that sound tempting? Well, then, stick around to find out the secret of deep conditioning.
What Is Deep Conditioning?
Deep conditioning is a procedure where you apply a thick, restorative, and nourishing product to your hair. In other words, it’s a hair mask rich in nutrients and moisturizing ingredients. The goal of deep conditioners is to revive dry hair and reduce breakage caused by styling products and tools.
If you have colored hair, you’ve put your strands through a harsh chemical process that leads to dryness and breakage. But, no matter the condition your hair is in, deep conditioning treatments are recommended to all, whether as something that repairs the damage or prevents damage.
What Is the Difference Between a Regular Conditioner and a Deep Conditioner?
The main difference is that a normal rinse-off conditioner is not as thick and rich as a deep conditioner is. They basically do the same thing, with deep conditioner giving more of a long-lasting effect. In a nutshell:
- Regular conditioner: thinner, safe to use multiple times per week, usually left in the hair for about 1-5 minutes, provides instant glow and softness to the hair.
- Deep conditioner: thicker, safe to use only 2-3 times a month, usually left in the hair for about 10-30 minutes, uses heat to penetrate through each strand of hair, providing more moisture and promoting healthy hair growth.
How to Deep Condition?
To prevent further hair damage and frizz (the never-ending problem of curly hair, we feel you!), you should learn how to deep condition your hair properly.
No matter what your natural hair type is, if you want a proper deep conditioning treatment, you need to follow the steps below.
1. Choose a Product According to Your Hair Type
Some hair types are indeed more prone to dryness and frizz than others (again, curls and waves); hence, when choosing a deep conditioner, consider the natural texture of your hair.
A heavier conditioner is more suitable for curly and kinky hair or damaged hair, but if you have straight and fine hair, opt for a lighter formula.
2. Get Your Hair Wet
Some deep conditioners should be applied before you shampoo and some after. Nevertheless, your hair needs to be wet so that the product can truly penetrate the hair shaft and, therefore, reduce moisture loss.
3. Apply the Deep Conditioner
Gently apply the product of your choice to the damp hair. Work your way through the ends and hair strands, but avoid applying a heavy layer of deep conditioner to the roots, because that’s where the scalp already naturally releases oil.
Be free to use a wide-toothed comb (great for detangling hair!) to distribute the product evenly.
4. Use Heat and a Shower Cap
After you apply your deep conditioner, cover your hair with a shower cap or wrap it with a warm towel. You can also use a blow dryer to warm up your head, but make sure the temperature isn’t too high.
By adding low heat, the hair cuticle opens up and absorbs all the goodies from the product.
Those with low porosity hair will highly benefit from this step, so make sure you don’t skip it!
5. Let the Deep Conditioner Do Its Magic
Most products come with leave-in instructions, so make sure you check them out. We recommend you leave the deep conditioner for about 10-30 minutes.
In general, your hair texture is thin and fine, you can rinse the product after 10 minutes, but those with processed hair or with natural curls should deep condition a bit longer.
6. Rinse the Deep Conditioner Off
Rinse the product with cold water to enable the hair cuticle to close and retain moisture.
After rinsing your hair with cool water, proceed with your styling routine, or wash your scalp with a low-poo if you haven’t already.
Benefits of Deep Conditioning
To keep your hair healthy, you must first embrace a proper hair care routine. And, to improve elasticity, reduce breakage, and give your hair an intense moisture treatment, deep conditioning is a step you shouldn’t skip.
Here you’ll find the top 4 reasons to add deep conditioning to your regime.
1. Hydration
Your hair needs to be hydrated to stay strong and healthy, and deep conditioning is best at making that happen. Deep conditioners have humectant ingredients that provide moisture to the hair shaft and reduce damage. Hence, if you have weak hair, this process will help strengthen it.
2. No More Split Ends and Knots
Deep conditioning provides the hair with the nutrients it needs to stay soft and shiny. Your natural hair requires a boost of vitamins from time to time, and if you deep condition regularly, you’ll see that split ends will occur much less frequently.
3. Strong, Vital, and Long Hair
If you want to have long hair, then deep conditioning is a step you shouldn’t avoid. With reducing hair breakage, visits to the salon don’t have to be as frequent as before.
The best part of deep conditioners is that they repair your hair from within, allowing it to grow long like the hair of Rapunzel.
4. Shiny Hair
After you deep condition your hair, it’ll look slick, voluminous, and soft as if you just stepped out of the salon. That’s because deep conditioning restores the hair’s natural shine. By providing it with moisture and hydration, your hair will be revived, appearing fresh and glowy.
What Ingredients to Look for When Buying a Deep Conditioner?
When buying a deep conditioner, make sure it’s clean and free of all harsh chemicals. Nature has already provided us with the tools that help keep our bodies healthy and safe, we just need to find them.
Therefore, make sure you deep condition your hair with products that contain the following: olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and shea butter. These ingredients have the power to truly penetrate the hair shaft and thus transfer all the goodies.
Bottom Line
Will deep conditioning solve all your hair problems straight away? No.
Will deep conditioning in time improve the overall health of your hair? Yes.
Like with all good routines, you need to invest time to see results. Don’t expect magic to happen overnight. But, achieving healthy, strong, and vital hair through deep conditioning is possible.
Nurture your hair, love it, and enjoy the process!