Deep conditioning your natural hair is one of the best ways to retain moisture and protect our hair from styling. Deep conditioning actually penetrates the hair, nourishing the cuticle layer and penetrating to the cortex. That just means it works on a deeper level to give your hair longer-lasting effects than just using a daily conditioner that conditions the hair on a superficial level.
6 Best Inexpensive Leave-In Conditioners To Try This Fall
What is a deep conditioner? Do I need to use a deep conditioner and how often? All legitimate questions and with fall coming in quickly, this is a necessary concern as winter weather is near and that’s bad for natural hair. Our hair is delicate and you need to properly protect it from the cold. The problem I am finding is far too many women do not do this important step nor exactly know HOW to do a proper deep conditioning.
What Is Deep Conditioning & How To Choose The Correct Product
Deep conditioning is applying a penetrating conditioner to your hair shaft that adds moisture, maintains elasticity, and strengthens the hair. They penetrate the hair shaft and not all conditioners can do that. That’s the magic behind a deep conditioner. Deep conditioning also fills the holes in the hair cuticle (which is a cause of poor porosity) from the damage and manipulation that occurred in the week and the parts that the conditioner may have missed.
Deep conditioning on a regular basis adds shine, prevents dryness and damage and improves the overall look, feel and health of your natural hair. A regular conditioner is not a deep conditioner because it won’t penetrate the hair shaft. So you have to choose one with natural and fortifying ingredients. It should be free from drying alcohol, parabens, and mineral oil. Your deep conditioning product should have humectants and emollients such as oils and good fatty alcohols such as cetearyl alcohol.
You can also create a DIY deep conditioner with bananas, olive and coconut oil, avocados, glycerin, or honey (if you have them at home) and mix it in a bowl. The biggest take away on buying the right deep conditioning product is to do a little trial and error and try several to get the right one for your hair.
How To Do A Deep Conditioning Correctly
One of the problems naturals suffering from lack of moisture, elasticity or seeing breakage is they are not doing a deep conditioning nor doing it properly. Yes, there is a right way to do it and there are tips that will allow you to get the most out of your deep conditioning treatment. Also, this should be done EVERY SINGLE WASH DAY!
- Section hair so you can work it in properly. I usually create two or three sections to work with.
- You should apply it from your roots down to the ends, mainly focusing on the ends of your hair.
- Slather it on! This is not the time to skimp. Part hair in each section to ensure all strands are completely and totally covered. Cover hair with a plastic cap once hair is completely covered.
- Last but not least, DEEP CONDITION WITH HEAT!!!
That means using a hooded dryer or simply a heat cap like my favorite one the HOT HEAD Deep Conditioning Microwavable Heat Cap from Thermal Hair Care. The heat allow the deep conditioning to work even harder at getting down into that hair shaft and imparting all the goodness in the product.
I have been using the Hot Head now for a few years and it really makes all the difference in the world. It’s filled with renewable flax seed which will generate heat when warmed in the microwave. It’s reusable and is the most environmentally friendly way to deep condition your hair with heat at home. There is no need to plug it into an outlet or use batteries to power the heat. With a few minutes in the microwave Hot Head will produce up to 30-45 minutes of gentle moist heat (microwaves vary).
Natural Ingredients That Will Make Your Conditioner GREAT!
Because I love and believe in this product so much, Thermal Hair Care was kind enough to sponsor an amazing giveaway. One lucky winner will win their own HOT HEAD cap along with a hair spritzer. The spritzer is in deep, rich coconut or lavender scent to spritz onto your HOT HEAD cap. They help to extend the life of your Hot Head . (Spritzers add the perfect amount of moisture, allowing the flaxseed to retain its heat producing capabilities longer.)
There are several ways to enter and this giveaway ends Friday, 28th at midnight. Make sure to enter now and share this amazing giveaway with all your friends and family.
Hot Head™ Microwavable Deep Conditioning Heat Cap Giveaway
Good luck Lovelies!
Sabrina
Thank you Thermal Hair Care for sponsoring this post.
Love your site, so much great information. Thank you for all you do!
I deep condition once a month. I cover my hair with a plastic bag, put a hot small towel on top and then another plastic bag. Winning this would be a much needed upgrade for me.
I’ve only deep conditioned with heat once. But loved the results.
Ps, I love that you’re natural and your curls look amazing !
I deep condition once a month, usually at my salon.
I deep condition after every wash. I try to use heat at least once a month.
Hi, Sabrina!
I am a beginner. And I have low porosity 3B curls. I use the Camille Rose Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment (protein free) as my Deep Conditioner once every week.
Your post was highly informative.
Thank you for this !
about once a month
Once a month.