Deep Conditioning: An Essential Part of Black Hair Care

Deep conditioning is a sure shot way of introducing moisture and bounce to your hair. As the name suggests, deep conditioning is different from just conditioning, which is achieved just through the application of a conditioner after each shampoo wash. Deep conditioning requires the use of completely different products in addition to more leave in time and sometimes the use of heat.

Deep conditioning is essential for Afro-American hair, which is inherently dry and weak. Hydration with the help of deep conditioning can make a difference to your hair in the following ways and prove its necessity in your hair care regime:

• Improve elasticity of hair
• Make your hair more manageable
• Reduces knots and tangles in the hair making it combing friendly
• Significantly reduces the porosity in the hair strands
• Reduces the occurrence of frizz
• Add weight and bounce to your hair
• Make your hair appear healthy and glossy
• Significantly increases the softness of your hair

Deep conditioning conditioners

The products that you use for your deep conditioning treatment would completely depend on the kind of hair you have including its texture as well as nature. For hair that is light and limp, a conditioner that adds volume, bounce and weight to the hair is required. For hair that is damaged due to chemical use or extreme exposure to sun and other elements needs a conditioner with protein for hair reconstruction.

Just applying the conditioner on your hair is not enough for the proper absorption of the nutrients, water and other ingredients of the product. To achieve this, it is important that the product has a high pH content and that you apply it leave it on for at least 30 minutes. You can choose to add heat for maximum absorption by sitting under a hooded dryer or by simply using a heat cap. Some women also make use of just a plastic cap or a shower cap and leave the product on for a longer time.

Frequency of deep conditioning

Deep conditioning can be done quite frequently to manage and hydrate your hair. The exact number of times in a week or a month strictly depends on the condition of the hair. Damaged and weak hair may require more sessions of deep conditioning. It is important to remember that moisturizing deep conditioners can be used frequently but not the protein varieties, which have to be used more sparingly.

Trying to incorporate a deep conditioning routine to your hair care will prove to be very rewarding and chances are that you will fall in love with your tresses all over again.