Deep Conditioning Natural Hair

Deep conditioning helps our hair bounce back from damage inflicted by manipulation (braiding, twisting, pulling), use of heat tools, pollution and weather conditions. All these factors weigh in to dehydrate our hair. Deep conditioning is aimed at helping our hair retain healthy water balance that provides elasticity, minimizes breakage and allow it to show its full glory.

• Start with clean hair: If it’s been a while since you last paid attention to your strands, start off with clean hair. You can even try a clarifying shampoo or making one of your own by adding a teaspoon of baking soda into your regular shampoo. This will help remove buildup that could prevent the deep conditioning ingredients from doing their job.
• Divide and conquer: Split your hair into sections, as many as you wish and have time (and clips) for. working in sections allows an even distribution of the product.
  Apply from ends: Work with a quarter-sized amount of conditioner starting from your hair ends. Why? Ends are the oldest part of your hair, they have suffered the longest and are the most exposed to friction and damage.
• Be generous: Work up the amount of product per section until you feel your hair is completely coated and saturated. Full coverage guarantees your hair will recover and replenish evenly.
• Cover it: Creating a fairly sealed environment for the deep conditioner to act will make use of your own body heat to encourage the moisturizing process. You can use a simple plastic cap.
• Let it act: A minimum of 30 minutes with no heat is the gold standard for deep conditioning. Time lets ingredients penetrate the hair and seal up moisture before rinsing.
• Cold rinse: Use cold water to rinse out the product. Water can act as cuticle sealant, trapping moisturizing ingredients into your hair and giving it a smooth appearance that bounces off light to give your hair a full, shiny look.

• Heat assistance: Using heat can speed up the conditioning process. Heat acts by opening up the hair cuticle and letting the product penetrate faster. There is more than one way to use heat while deep conditioning.
• Warm up your conditioner: Use a microwave-safe container to warm up your conditioner. Warning – Do not put the product bottle inside the microwave, sealed or open.
  Use a hooded dryer or a blow dryer over your cap on a low heat setting. You can generate some extra steam by using a damp face towel between your hair and your plastic cap.
• Buy a heat cap or a steamer.
• Double conditioning: After rising your deep conditioner, follow up with a lighter conditioner (usually labeled for daily use) as their composition is geared towards making detangling and managing easier.
• Overnight conditioning: If you have a great plastic cap and an extra towel, go ahead and give overnight deep conditioning a try. We recommend using this method with low porosity hair and more lightweight conditioners. Don’t do it for more than 8 hours since trapped moisture can create bacteria.

The main ingredient of a moisturizing deep conditioner is water. The rest of its components aid to retain hydration and are mostly oils, fatty alcohols, and proteins. Deep conditioners include protein components that are fundamental to give our hair structure. Keratin, wheat, collagen, soy and other sources of protein can be beneficial to restore limp, lifeless hair. Here are some guidelines to shop for a deep conditioner:

• Oil is your friend: Natural oils are a great moisture component, they help by trapping water into each strand and providing sheen.
• Be wary of the silicones: We’re getting a little technical here but it’s for a good cause. Silicone can be great for managing hair as it coats the hair shaft and prevents it from tangling. However, these components are usually not water-soluble and can prevent much-needed hydration to enter the hair cuticle over time.
• Ceramides: Also a sealing component, ceramides aid in producing an even, smooth hair surface. A much better alternative to silicone.
• Protein: When using a protein conditioner, look for where it’s ranked in the ingredients list. The closer it is to the top of the line, it likely means the product is protein intensive and should be used in a monthly or bi-weekly basis.
• You’ll be better off without sulfates: Often a main shampoo component, sulfates can also be used in conditioners to achieve product consistency. They are known for stripping moisture out from hair, doing little service to restoring your hair’s moisture.

Looking for the perfect product to deep condition can be challenge as there are endless options available on the market, so we’ve narrowed it down with these tried and tested products.

If your hair is currently damaged from using heat or chemicals the  DevaCurl’s Deep Sea Repair is a great option to get you back on track. The key ingredients of this luxurious mask are seaweed and sea lavender, also incorporating vegan protein from rice, wheat and soy. These strengthening ingredients will recover the inner structure of your hair and make it bounce back to its natural curl pattern. Distribute evenly and rinse thoroughly, don’t leave it on for more than 40 minutes.

We love:

Its thick consistency lets you know it’s there.
Nice scent.
Vegan and cruelty-free!.

The cons:

A little pricey for the amount of product.

If you’re a fan of refreshing tropical scents this mask is a match! Maui’s Moisture Heal & Hydrate series is a lightweight mask with a wonderful coconut smell. The Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Deep mask uses aloe vera juice and coconut water instead of water as its main hydrating ingredient and that’s a perfect choice. It delivers on the promise of instantly feeling your hair softer an bouncier. Its consistency will allow you to re-apply as leave in or mid-week conditioner and we encourage you to do so!

We love:

Smell is fantastic.
Good price point.
Incredible list of high quality ingredients.

The cons:

Not the best choice for thick hair.

The SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil mask is a perfect choice for anyone looking for the perfect deep conditioner with organic ingredients. Oils and shea butter are key components that will do the most to moisturize your hair. The nuts and roots used in this product are not common in the market and that might explain its alluring difference. One tip with this product is not skipping heat while conditioning, it really gives the masque a boost!

We love:

Hair feels coated and smooth even after rising.

The cons:

Not the best choice for low porosity hair due to its thickness.

Would you define your hair as lifeless? Check out Camille Rose’s Algae Deep Conditioner. Hair that has lost its natural pattern, lacks shine and feels brittle is in desperate need of protein. This deep conditioner deliver high quality protein that doesn’t leave your hair feeling heavy or tight. The smell is refreshing and its consistency is creamy but not thick.

We love:

Protein treatment that doesn’t make hair feel stiff
Good price point

The cons:

As in most protein-inclined conditioners, not a great choice for low porosity hair.

Talk about a heavenly list of ingredients. SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex is a crowd’s favorite when it comes to deep conditioning. Raw shea butter is the star of this product, providing great slip that makes your hair immediately smoother and replenished. We recommend this mask to make amends with hair that has been abused with color processing. When using steam, apply it directly to your hair and skip the cap!

We love:
A tried and true consistent product that delivers every time
Protein boost!

The cons:

Using more product than usual to saturate hair.

• Follow-up: After finishing your deep conditioning routine, make sure to apply a good leave in conditioner and a sealing oil. Jojoba, black castor or coconut oil are great choices.
• Don’t touch your hair: Choose hairstyles that help you from manipulating your hair too much: braids, buns, updos that keep your hair away from your shoulders and friction damage.
• Hydrate and nourish your body: Your hair’s look is also a reflection of your overall health. Drink, eat healthy oils, fruit and veggies to keep your tresses looking great!
• Use a satin scarf or pillow case: Cotton fabric can dry out your hair, consider buying a satin scarf or pillow case to wrap your hair and protect your deep conditioning efforts.