Deep Conditioning: What? Why? How? Where?

What is a Deep Conditioning Treatment?
It is an intensive conditioning treatment  for dry, damaged, chemically treated and over-processed hair. It is specially designed to  strengthen, moisturize and protect your hair.

Why should you deep condition?

Deep conditioners provide the following benefits and more.

• Strengthens weak hair
• Leaves hair soft and silky to the touch
• Repair damaged and over-processed hair
• Rehydrates dry, brittle hair
• Restores moisture
• Improves elasticity

SallyBeauty.com | Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol Conditioning Treatment

How often should you deep condition?
You can use a deep conditioner several times per week. But really who has the time? I would suggest doing a deep condition treatment every 1-2 weeks. That is once per week or once every other week.

Can any conditioner be used as a deep conditioner?
No, some conditioners do no penetrate the hair shaft as well as a specially formulated deep conditioner.

What’s the difference between a deep conditioner and a regular conditioner?

A Deep Conditioner will say deep conditioner on the package or will clearly state that it should remain in the hair for at about 5-15 minutes. A deep conditioner is more potent than your everyday conditioner and as such is not supposed to be used everyday. Deep conditioning products can be identified by words such as: deep penetrating, masque, replenishing, reconstructive, nourishing, cholesterol etc. Deep Conditioners are also normally more expensive than normal conditioners. However you can find some relatively inexpensive deep conditioners that may work just as well for you.

Examples of Deep Good Conditioners

View More Deep Conditioners Here

Deep condition caps /bonnets

How long should you deep condition for?
Most package directions will suggest 10-15 minutes. Personally I think that anything less than 20 minutes is not enough time.

Can you deep condition on dry hair?
Absolutely. I personally don’t do this because:

• I don’t want to have to shampoo my hair right after deep conditioning
• It seems like it takes a lot more product to coat the hair when applying it to dry hair.
• Some deep conditioners work best on damp hair because the product absorbs better in clean wet hair as opposed to dry dirty hair.

Can you deep condition without heat?
Yes, you can but it is believed that the product will penetrate your hair shaft faster and better if heat is used.

So How is it done?

Package Directions

Shampoo and towel dry hair. Liberally apply Cholesterol Conditioning Treatment ensuring the ends are covered. Comb-blend for even coverage.

Leave on hair for five to seven minutes (Use a heating cap if desired). Rinse well. Style as desired.

SallyBeauty.com

Deep Conditioning Without Heat

To Deep condition without heat. You can do any of the following:

• Place a shower cap or self warming conditioning cap over your hair and leave on for at least 1 hour but you could leave it on the entire day if you wish.
• Use a hot towel. Heat a wet towel in the microwave for a few minutes and then wrap it around the plastic cap on your head.
• Deep condition overnight. Apply the conditioner, cover with a plastic shower cap, go to bed and rinse in the morning.
  • I find that putting on a stocking cap /wig cap over the plastic cap helps to keep the plastic shower cap in place and minimizes leakage.
• Wrap your head in aluminum foil. I have never tried this but this works for some people. Whether you want to first cover your head with a plastic cap and then wrap with the foil or just skip the plastic cap all together, it’s up to you. But the aluminum foil is supposed to generate heat without having sit under a hooded dryer.

Next time I’ll post how I personally do my deep conditioning treatments.

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