How annoying it is when celebs step out with flawless, shiny hair every time even after going through so much hairstyling damage. The secret juice is probably in their hair care and diet routine to nourish from within. We’ve figured out one such product that can prove to be a game-changer for your hair- Deep conditioners. You might wonder how it could be different from your regular conditioners. We’ve got all the notes ready for you to dive deep into them. Go ahead!
What is deep conditioning?
Deep conditioning may sound like just an exaggerated version of conditioning, but it does much more than just what your regular conditioning can do. Deep conditioning is the process of using a rich and dense moisturising conditioner as a treatment to manage your dry and damaged hair.
Our hair goes through a lot of damaging stressors like UV rays, heat, chemical treatments, hard water, extreme weather, etc. Deep conditioning offers benefits that can potentially undo the damage that these caused to your hair. One may wonder if a regular conditioner does not offer the same benefits? Well, no. Deep conditioners go a little farther to repair and moisturise your hair. Let’s look at certain differences to clear out how deep conditioning is different from regular conditioning-
1. Formulation
While conditioners may seem to be a bit thicker than our shampoos, deep conditioners are even thicker. Deep conditioners are denser in moisturising properties since the content of Emollients, Humectants, Ceramides.
2. Properties
Conditioners can probably straighten up your hair and make them more manageable by reducing frizz, deep conditioners will repair your hair from deep within. So while making your hair manageable, deep conditioners will also ensure that your hair heals from within and gains its strength.
3. Method
Conditioners are applied for around 5 minutes after shampooing. Whereas deep conditioning is a process where you keep the conditioner coated on your strands for 20-30 minutes.
What are the benefits of deep conditioning your hair?
Knowing the difference between your regular conditioner and deep conditioners, it’s safe to say that the benefits provided by deep conditioners are also additional. Let’s have a look at what it can provide to your hair-
1. Reduce breakage
If your hair strands have all the vital elements that it needs to be strong, then they will remain healthy. But due to the stressors that you face every day, they are likely to be damaged. Deep conditioning will bring back those vitals that can undo the damage and reduce breakage which is the first sign of damaged hair.
2. Improve shine
Due to a lack of moisture and hydration, your hair will turn dull and frizzy. Deep conditioners are rich in moisturising and hydrating your hair from deep within. This brings back the shine and life to your hair.
3. Reduce frizz
For dry and thin hair, conditioners are never enough to tame hair. You need more moisture to set your hair and improve the texture. Deep conditioning is the perfect answer to make thin and dry hair more manageable.
4. Nourishes chemically treated hair
Chemically treated hair tends to turn porous, thin and prone to more damage since they lose moisture easily. The perfect answer to manage and treat your hair after a chemical treatment is either a hair spa or deep conditioning at home. Of course, deep conditioning at home is much cheaper and instant. Deep conditioning chemically treated hair can restore moisture that one may lose due to chemicals.
How to deep condition your hair?
Yep! We are breaking down how to deep condition your hair since conditioners can be a bit finicky to use. Here’s your guide-
Step 1: Shampoo
Deep conditioning works great on clean hair. You can use any shampoo that just does the job of cleaning and soothing your scalp. We love to pick shampoos that have Aloe Vera, Rosemary, etc. Rinse your hair thoroughly after shampooing.
Step 2: Deep conditioning
Instead of your regular conditioner, pick a deep conditioner. Depending on your hair type, you must decide your fit. Someone with thin hair may opt for a lighter conditioner as compared to those with dry hair. There are also options available for curly hair, oily scalp, etc. Once you’ve made the right choice, you can apply the conditioner to your strands. Avoid the roots and scalp. Coat your hair well and keep it on for 20 minutes. Keeping it on for too long or using too much of it is also not advisable.
Step 3: Wash with lukewarm water
While washing, you want to ensure that the water is not too cold or too hot. It is never ideal for your scalp and hair to go through extreme temperatures. This is when your hair follicles are open and vulnerable and extreme weather can tear apart your hair quality. Use lukewarm water instead. One must also take care that they are not rinsing just halfway through. Residues of conditioners can damage your hair and so rinse till the bubbles in the water running through your hair are gone.
What are the ingredients you must look for in a deep conditioner?
The benefits that deep conditioners mainly provide are based on the composition of the product. Due to its rich moisturising and repairing properties, it has gained fame. Here are the ingredients that it mainly consists of that helps you revive your hair-
1. Humectants
Humectants are the ingredients that draw moisture from the surroundings to your hair to make them softer. Your hair shaft sure needs them. Some of the most common humectants that you will find in the ingredient list are Honey, Coconut water, Aloe Vera, Flaxseed gel, Agave nectar.
Learn more about Humectants here.
Sublime loves True Frog Deep Conditioning Essentials that has Coconut water, Aloe juice as Humectants and also has Emollients, proteins, stimulants in their formulation. It’s a pack of conditioners and deep conditioning masks. It can efficiently be used to repair and maintain hair that is prone to dullness, frizz and breakage.
If you have normal scalp and healthy hair then you can use Coccoon Enriching Hair Mask With Coconut & Honey that has Vitamin E, Coconut oil and Honey to keep your hair manageable and add shine to it. We swear by it on days before a big function.
2. Emollients
Emollients work by nourishing your shafts’ inner core to improve the strength of the hair. They play a key role in improving the elasticity of your hair. You can spot it in deep conditioners in the form of kinds of butter and oils mainly. Some of them could be Shea butter, Coconut butter or oil, Avocado oil, Cocoa butter, etc.
Sublime loves Flawsome Kinky Berries Moisturizing & Strengthening Hair Mask. It is just so rich in kinds of butter and oils to nourish your shafts from deep within. If you have damaged and weak hair or your hair have been dulling off late then this is a must-try!
3. Amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks for protein formation. They can help you fix the missing gaps in your hair shaft caused due to damage. They will bond with the existing protein in the hair to revive the structure. This way, amino acids will strengthen your hair.
Sublime loves Fix My Curls Hydrating Deep Conditioner that has a range of hydrolysed protein to fix your hair and also has Humectants, Emollients since protein can be drying on your hair if used without moisturising ingredients.
What are the dos and don'ts of deep conditioning?
Deep conditioning comes with its rule books and to see maximum results out of it, one must take care of the following dos’ and don’ts-
Dos
1. Use steam
As mentioned earlier, washing your hair is when your hair is the most vulnerable since your hair follicles are open. After applying the conditioner, use a steam room or a warm towel to increase the efficacy of the conditioner. Steam will help you increase the penetration of conditioners. Ensure that the towel you’re using to wrap your hair is not scathing hot.
2. Pick the right product
For every hair type, the needs change. For thin hair, you need a deep conditioner that doesn’t weigh it down and make them look greasy but at the same time, it does nourish them. For curly hair, you need a deep conditioner that defines your curls and nourishes them to make them more manageable. So it is important to pick just the right product to see good results.
Sublime recommends The Switch Fix Calming Blue-Tea-Ful Deep Conditioner. It is specifically designed for those with oily or normal hair so that it does the job of deep conditioning!
In case, you have dry hair, then you can pick The Switch Fix Hair Strengthening Acai Of Relief Deep Conditioner that perfectly quenches your hair locks to leave you with visibly shinier hair.
Don’ts
1. Deep conditioning regularly
You don’t need treatments every day. Every day you need to protect your hair but not treat it. Deep conditioning should be used as caviar for your hair. In case you have dry, damaged, colour-treated hair then you can use it once a week or alternate washes to make your hair manageable. If you have healthy hair then for maintenance you still need deep conditioning. But in this case, you can use it just once in two weeks.
2. Leaving it for too long or using too much
If you leave it on for too long then it will weigh down your hair since it may turn greasy. This will allow more dirt to stick onto your scalp and then disturb the pH of your hair. Using it too much is also a problem. Like we said, use it as caviar. You don’t need too much of it. A little goes a long way to sway off dryness and frizz.
Learn more about the ideal pH that your shampoo and conditioners should have here.
Who can use some deep conditioning?
Deep conditioners should be in everybody’s shopping cart ideally. However, the frequency of usage will change according to the hair type. Healthy hair does not need deep conditioning in every hair wash. However, those with dry, limp, damaged hair needs more moisture to add life and shine to it. So individuals with such hair types may use it in alternate washes.
Deep conditioning can also be used by those who expose their hair to heat, styling, chemical treatments more often. All these processes lead to loss of moisture which is where deep conditioners play a vital role in restoring the vitals to your hair.
The takeaway
Deep conditioning is the process of coating your hair with a dense conditioner and leaving it on for 20-30 minutes. It is more suited for those with itchy and dry scalp with thin, chemically treated, and frizzy hair. However, those with healthy hair must also use it once in a while to maintain their hair health. This sounds like an optional process for those who have good hair days most of the time but it is a must-have process to achieve hair goals. Try it to believe us!
- Divya Salvi
