Have you been deep conditioning your hair correctly?
Deep conditioning is an essential part of a healthy hair regimen- whether you're natural or not, and no matter your curl type. And yet, so many people don't know how to properly deep condition their hair, or neglect the practice altogether!
What is deep conditioning?
Deep conditioning is the process of applying a rich hair treatment to your hair. Some companies refer to these products as a hair mask. Deep conditioners should contain moisturizing ingredients as well as nutrients that power your hair (more on this later.) Unlike a normal rinse-off conditioner, you only use a deep conditioner every week or two, and you let it soak in your hair for at least 20 minutes. But unlike a leave-in conditioner, a deep conditioner eventually gets rinsed out.
How to deep condition at home
Deep conditioning your hair at home is so easy, and it will completely change how your hair looks and feels. You only need a deep conditioner in addition to your normal washing products, and a hair cap. If you don't have a hair cap, a clean plastic bag will work fine. Here is a guide with five simple steps to a deep conditioning routine.
Before you start, read the label on your deep conditioner.
Don’t be fooled by words like “all-natural” or “moisturizing” or “rapid repair” which commonly appear on hair product labels. Check the ingredients, and only use a deep conditioner that contains coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado: these are the only ingredients that can truly penetrate the hair shaft. (NaturAll's Fresh Frozé Treatment Deep Conditioners use all three!)
Other conditioners and hair masks will just coat and sit on your hair. This is how so many brands make you feel like your hair has been hydrated- you feel the slippery coating on your hair and it gives the illusion that your hair has been moisturized.
1. Get your hair wet.
Depending on your deep conditioner, you might apply the deep conditioner before you shampoo, or after you shampoo. But regardless, you should only apply a deep conditioner to wet or damp hair. This is the best way to ensure the product penetrates your hair strands and delivers all the rich moisture and nutrients.
At NaturAll, we recommend using your products in this order: 1. Shampoo, 2. Rinse-out conditioner, 3. Deep conditioner. After rinsing out the deep conditioner, you can apply your normal styling products. However, you should feel comfortable to follow the instructions on your products, or to switch up the order if that works best for you.
2. Focus on your ends.
Your ends are usually the most dry, since natural oils take a while to work down the length of your hair strands. The ends are also where you accumulate split ends and single strand knots. While a deep conditioner cannot fix split ends, it is a great way to prevent them. Applying a deep conditioner to your ends will restore oils, preventing breakage and split ends.
While it is important to apply deep conditioner throughout your hair, you don't need the product as much around your roots, where your scalp releases oil (sebum) naturally. That's why we recommend concentrating the most on your ends.
3. Apply heat and a hair cap to open the cuticle.
After applying a deep conditioner, cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic bag, and add low heat (wrap a warm, damp towel around your head.) This opens up the cuticle and allows the deep conditioner to penetrate your hair. Leave in the deep conditioner for at least 20 minutes (we recommend 20-40.)
Watch out- it IS possible to over-hydrate your hair, and this is the time when that is most likely to happen. This is called hygral fatigue, and it can lead to your hair feeling limp, weak, and lifeless. While it's okay if you forget and leave your deep conditioner in for an hour or even two hours, you may experience hygral fatigue if you leave it in all day or overnight. If your hair has been feeling weak, make sure you don't over-condition.
4. Rinse out your hair.
Rinse out the Deep Conditioner with cold water, which closes the hair’s cuticle and helps the strands retain moisture. Deep Conditioners are not meant to be leave-in products, so you want to ensure to rinse it out completely. If you're nervous about leaving product behind, or if your hair easily gets oily, it is totally okay to rinse our the deep conditioner with shampoo. We recommend NaturAll's all-natural Wash n' Go Bundle for this process.
5. And most importantly: Deep Condition REGULARLY.
Deep conditioners aren’t a magic solution to hair problems, and results will come slowly. Just like getting in shape after a long period of inactivity, hair growth and repair takes TIME and CONSISTENCY. This is why NaturAll offers subscriptions of all our products: every month, you’ll get everything you need to treat your hair with an all-natural, fresh, nutrient-rich solution. Browse NaturAll's products and subscriptions- you can subscribe to any product or bundle and save 10% and free shipping.
