Frizzy hair? Dry hair? Damaged hair? Any one, or all of them? Deep-conditioning may prove to be your saviour!
Practised by people across the world, deep conditioning can improve your hair health drastically and make your mane soft, shiny and easy-to-manage. It involves a product packed with nutrients and moisture in order to repair and rejuvenate your hair.
Let’s take a look at what deep-conditioning can do for your hair and how you can incorporate it into your hair care regimen.
What Expert Says
“Deep conditioning is highly beneficial for repairing hair breakage and split ends. It promotes healthy hair growth and reduces frizziness. Even if you do not have damaged hair, incorporating deep conditioning is still advisable as a part of your monthly hair care routine.”
Abhishikta Hati, Senior Product Development Executive, SkinKraft
Highlights:
- What Is Deep-Conditioning?
- How To Deep-Condition Hair?
- Homemade Deep-Conditioners
- Benefits Of A Deep-Conditioning Treatment
- Dos And Don’ts Of Deep-Conditioning
- How Long Should You Leave Your Product On For?
- How Often Should You Deep-Condition Your Hair?
- Should You Condition Your Hair After Deep-Conditioning It?
- What Happens To Your Hair If You Deep-Condition It Everyday?
What Is Deep-Conditioning?
Deep conditioning is a procedure in which your hair is coated and treated with nourishing products. It restores your hair’s moisture, strengthens it and reduces the damage caused to it by chemicals and styling products.
How To Deep-Condition Hair?
Whether you have dry hair, damaged hair, or frizzy tresses, deep conditioning your hair is the one way to bring back its health and shine. Deep conditioners are packed with nutrients and moisture that rejuvenate your hair and make it easy to manage. Here’s how you can go about it.
What You Need
1. Shampoo
2. Conditioner
3. Blow dryer
This entire deep conditioning procedure may take up to 35-45 minutes.
Step 1: Choose Your Product
It's important that you figure out your hair needs. Choose the right kind of product according to your hair type and scalp type. While a heavier conditioner can suit textured hair, opt for a lighter product if you have straight and fine hair.
Step 2: Wash Your Hair
Deep conditioning treatments work best when applied on squeaky clean hair. Use a shampoo that suits your hair type. Wash your hair such that your scalp is free of excess oil and dirt. Your shampoo should however not strip your hair off its essential oils.
Step 3: Apply Your Deep Conditioner
Now, carefully apply your deep conditioner to your hair shaft. Ensure that the ends of your hair are well coated with the deep conditioner. Avoid applying the product too close to your hair roots. You may use a wide-toothed comb to evenly distribute it through your hair.
Step 4: Let The Conditioner Set In
Leave the deep conditioner in your hair for approximately half an hour. As different products come with different leave-in instructions, you can also follow the directions that come with your product.
Step 5: Use Heat If Required
Certain products also require you to blow dry your hair. In such cases, the heat enables the product to get properly absorbed in your hair. So, use heat if your product requires you to do so, but do make sure that the heat settings are not too high.
Step 6: Wash With Cool Water
Finally, wash your hair with cool water to enable the hair cuticles to close. Let your hair dry naturally for best results. Ideally, you should deep condition your hair once or twice a week to maintain your hair health.
Homemade Deep-Conditioners
A number of ingredients that can be found in your kitchen can be used as a homemade hair-mask to deep-condition your hair. Here’s how you can make your very own DIY hair mask:
1. Honey And Coconut Oil
Honey has been used to moisturize hair and skin for years. It is also a popular ingredient of the cosmetic and beauty industries. It contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes that help in repairing damaged hair. Coconut oil is used to strengthen hair follicles and is also a great moisturizer.
How to use:
- Take one cup of warm coconut oil.
- Mix it with one cup of honey.
- Apply it to your hair and rinse off after an hour.
2. Banana Hair Mask
Bananas are a great way of deep-conditioning your hair as they are rich in natural oils and vitamins. Bananas reduce frizzy hair and breakage.
How to use:
- Mash one banana and mix it with 2-3 tablespoons of yoghurt.
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and honey each.
- Apply it to your hair and rinse off after an hour.
3. Olive Oil And Egg Hair Mask
Olive oil is a great moisturizer while eggs are packed with protein that can benefit your hair in many ways.
How to use:
- Mix up an egg with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of water to the mixture before application.
- Apply it to your hair and rinse off after an hour.
Benefits Of A Deep-Conditioning Treatment
Healthier and stronger hair calls for a perfect hair care regimen. Even though the selection of hair care regimen depends on your hair type, it is safe to say that deep conditioning is highly effective for almost everyone. In fact, Our senior product development executive, Abhisikta Hati says, “Deep conditioning is highly beneficial for repairing hair breakage and split ends. It promotes healthy hair growth and reduces frizziness. Even if you do not have damaged hair, incorporating deep conditioning is still advisable as a part of your monthly hair care routine.”
1. Hydrates Your Hair
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.
2. Reduces Damage
Regular 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.
3. 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 shinier.
4. Strengthens Your Hair
Deep-conditioners contain nutrients that help reduce breakage, repairing your hair from within and strengthening your follicles.
5. Nourishes Colour-Treated Hair
Colouring takes a huge toll on your hair strands. After all, it is a chemical process that alters your hair structure which leads to dryness and weak roots. That’s why deep conditioning on coloured hair is a great choice to keep your mane soft and healthy. It will reverse the effect of chemicals and make the hair stronger.
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.
DON’Ts
1. Don’t Leave On For Too Long
Leave on your product as specified on the instruction label. In case it is not specified, don’t leave your product on for more than 30 minutes.
2. Don’t Focus On The Price
A high price doesn’t mean a better product. Focus on the ingredients.
How Long Should You Leave Your Product On For?
It is recommended that you leave your deep-conditioner on for not more than 30 minutes. Over-conditioning your hair can result in product build-up that can weigh it down. This also makes it difficult for other products to penetrate through the hair shaft.
How Often Should You Deep-Condition Your Hair?
This depends on your hair type. If you have fine and straight hair, practising deep-conditioning just one or two times a month should be sufficient. Over-conditioning your hair can cause a moisture-protein imbalance. It can also weigh your hair down and make it fall flat, making it more difficult to manage and style.
If your hair is textured and dry, you can even deep-condition upto once a week. Talk to your hairstylist about how often you should deep-condition your hair based on its type.
Should You Condition Your Hair After Deep-Conditioning It?
Deep-conditioning in itself provides your hair with nutrients and moisturizes your hair, making it appear soft and shiny. You do not need to condition your hair if you have deep-conditioned it. This will only result in product build-up and can even weigh your hair down.
What Happens To Your Hair If You Deep-Condition It Everyday?
Deep-conditioning your hair everyday or too often can result in hair that just falls flat. This means it is over-moisturized. Over-moisturizing your hair causes an imbalance that can make your hair prone to breakage and make it appear lifeless. Over-conditioning also prevents other products from penetrating through your hair shaft and reduces their efficacy.
Wrapping Up
You can definitely achieve healthy, soft, shiny and lustrous hair if you deep-condition your hair regularly and follow the right steps. Do consult your hairstylist for the ideal deep-conditioning treatment for your hair type.
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