Deep Conditioning: An Essential

Jan 16, 20213 min read

Literally what the title says.

Deep conditioning is a natural hair routine staple. If you don't already have this step in your routine, here's why you should:

Maximum Hydration: Just like your skin, your hair needs to stay hydrated to maintain its health and stay soft. Deep-conditioning helps improve your hair’s moisture content and keeps it hydrated. Deep-conditioners contain humectants that draw moisture to your hair shaft, reducing damage and breakage.
Damage Reduction: Regular (every wash day or at least twice a month) deep-conditioning keeps your hair healthy and hydrated. It improves the health of your hair by providing it with nutrients that are vital to reduce damage. They also help repair, strengthen and moisturize your hair, preventing breakage and making it less prone to any damage.
Improves Shine: All of us love a good shine and deep-conditioners do just that. By adding moisture and nutrients to your hair, deep-conditioners allow for it to appear softer and more shiny.
Strengthens your Hair: Deep-conditioners contain nutrients that help reduce breakage, repairing your hair from within and strengthening your follicles.

Source: Skinkraft

How To: Deep Condition

✨Sourced from Vanessa Garcia of Wiki How✨

Step 1. Choose a product. Find a deep conditioning treatment that's right for your hair type! There are many products on the market, and while they're all made to restore moisture to hair, you should find one that's tailored for your specific needs. * If you have kinky, textured hair, look for products made specifically for kinky hair.

Step 2. Wash your hair. Use a gentle shampoo that won't strip your hair too much. Avoid shampoos made with sulfates, parabens etc. which are abrasive cleaning agents that cleanse hair of its natural oils and lead to dryness and breakage. Y’all already know I’m going to recommend my faves @sheamoisture! 🧴all their products are sans sulfates, parabens, paraffins, and all other bad things.

Step 3. Apply the deep conditioning product. Squeeze the conditioner about the size of the hair section into your hands and rub your hands together. Then apply the product to your hair, beginning about halfway down the shaft and moving towards the tips of your hair. Then spread the any product that remains on your hands from the roots to the tips. Pay special attention to the roots and tips, which tend to get drier than the rest of your hair. If necessary, use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product.

Step 4. Let the product set in. Deep conditioning treatments require at least 20 minutes to get to the core of each strand of your hair (especially if you have type 4 hair like myself!). You may want to keep the conditioner in place by covering your head with a plastic shower cap or bag

Step 5. Apply heat. If you have low porosity hair like me, you NEED heat to make sure the deep conditioner does it’s job. Make sure the hair dryer doesn't get too hot!

Step 6.Rinse out the product. Remove the shower cap and rinse your hair with cool water, which will tighten the hair shaft and make it look shiny. After rinsing, towel dry your hair gently, then let it air dry and then style as usual.

Dos And Don’ts Of Deep-Conditioning

DOs

1. Deep Condition Regularly

Deep-conditioning your hair is a practice that should be done regularly for your hair to be able to actually benefit from the process. Doing it just once will give you instant results, but will not actually repair your hair from within. The results may be quite superficial and will fade away when you wash your hair again.

2. Use Steam And Heat

Using steam and heat will not only speed-up the process, but will allow for deeper penetration of the product. It also helps with easy absorption of the product.

3. Look For A Product For Your Hair Type

Your hair is unique and needs a product that will address its concerns. Look for a product that is tailored to suit your hair’s needs. The ingredients, their concentrations and the amount of moisture should be considered when you are purchasing your conditioner.