Deep Conditioning Curly Hair

  • July 13, 2017

Deep conditioning curly hair every once in a while will help build the strength and integrity of your curls and give it a good dose of hydration. Let’s look into the details!

Ingredients in a conditioner

There are mainly 2 types of ingredients in a conditioner that help hair – penetrating ingredients and ingredients that cling on to the surface of the hair.
1) Ingredients that can penetrate the hair shaft – These ingredients plump up your hair (just like water pumps up a dried raisin) and give it shine, hydration and manageability. The ingredients’ molecules should be small enough to penetrate the hair shaft. There are a few ingredients that do that:

Read more about moisturizing oils vs sealing oils – Oils and curly hair – Benefits, types and ways to apply

2) Ingredients that attach to the surface of hair(adsorption) – Surfactants (like behentrimonium chloride and behentrimonium methosulfate) and emollients like cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol etc. help to soften the hair, smooth the cuticle and minimize static.

Is there any way to increase the penetration and adsorbtion?

Yes, and that’s where deep conditioning comes into picture. Deep conditioning is leaving on certain products for longer time so that they have more time to penetrate your hair shaft or attach onto hair. Increased time and temperature increase the penetration as well as adsorption.
Temperature – A good value is around 35°C. Heat caps like Tempcap Pro are a good way to achieve this.
Time – Adsorption stops after around 30 minutes whereas penetration can continue even after 30 minutes. 30-60 minutes is a good time for a deep conditioner.

Do we really need a separate product for deep conditioning?
If you have been following me on Instagram or even checking my product reviews, you would have noticed that I don’t use or advocate deep conditioners as much as products like conditioners and gels.
If your regular conditioner has the above mentioned ingredients, just keep them on for longer – they become deep conditioners!
If not, just mix any of the easily available ingredients (oh how I love coconut oil and olive oil for this) into your regular conditioner and leave it on for longer. Add just 2-3 drops of oil (just enough to not make your hair greasy).
If you do fancy buying a deep conditioner, make sure the first 5-8 ingredients have at least 2-3 of the above mentioned ingredients.

Should we deep condition on washed hair or dirty hair?
Freshly washed hair is your best bet so that the deep conditioner can easily penetrate your hair. However, if you are using pure oils (without mixing in conditioner), apply it on dry hair before shampoo.

What is to be done after the waiting time?
Just rinse your hair in water. Do NOT shampoo. That would negate the hard work you and your deep conditioner just did hehe (if you are using pure oils on dry hair before washing, follow it with shampooing and regular conditioning) and go on to apply your styling products.

How often should we deep condition?
Once a week is a standard measure, you can increase or decrease it to suit your hair’s needs.

Happy deep conditioning curlies!!

Source : Deep Conditioning: Everything You Need To Know – The Natural Haven Bloom

Blog Comments

Hi Anjana,
which hair masks (homemade)will be suitable for low porosity hair?
My hair is very frizzy after drying……Can u suggest some routine for low porosity hair?

Hi Neena, using heat will help low-po hair. Use products with humectants like honey, panthenol and glycerine. Also make sure to use a light leave in and a light gel after washing.

Thanks for the response Anjana

Hi Anjana
I have been trying various products for a while and nothing seems to be working to maintain my curls! Hoping your blog will help me get back my ringlets and maintain them!

It will..have you gone through this – Start Here

Helo anjana…!!
I have low poo … Would you recommend me to deep condition my hair and if yes what kind of product you suggest …?

Yes, please use the tips mentioned in this post

Hi Anjana Amazing content. I have always been following naturally curly but yours is so much suited to someone living in India. Over the last 2 days so many of my questions are getting answered. Its still beginning for me…..loads more to go 🙂 My question is how frequently to deep condition? Does oiling hair once a week before shampooing replace deep conditioning?

Hey Ankuran..thanks a lot 🙂 Deep conditioning once a week is a good idea..which oil do you use?

I have been using a blend of almond, olive & castor oil. I want long hair like you 🙁 it just does not grow past a little below my shoulder. Now thinking will shift back to coconut oil. So if I oil once a week, can I do away with any other type of deep conditioning?

Use any of the penetrating oils mentioned in this post for deep conditioning..you may want to do one post wash also so that surfactants can get adsorbed better, making your hair softer

Thank you so much Anjana for the quick reply. I will try to be regular now with my oiling 🙂

My hair has become very dry post coloring & hair cut . Curls just don’t form. Do I need gelatin treatment

Much required article

Glad it helped you 🙂

How is the L’Oreal 6 Oil Nourish Conditioner as a deep conditioner of curly hair? Is it safe to use for type 3a curls?

What are the 1st 5 ingredients?

Ingredient list in order

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Esters, CI 19140, CI 14700, Cl 42090, Coconut Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Olive Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Trideceth-6, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Limonene, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool, Amodimethicone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sweet Almond Oil, Hexyl Cinnamal.

Coconut oil is not very high. Nevertheless, deep conditioning with this will atleast give you softness and frizz control

I’m using this as my conditioner.. What if we additionally add coconut oil to this to make it a deep conditioner as mentioned in your article? Also, do you recommend wrapping hair in something after applying the deep conditioner? Maybe a hot wrap?

I’m using this as my conditioner.. What if we additionally add coconut oil to this to make it a deep conditioner as mentioned in your article? Also, do you recommend wrapping hair in something after applying the deep conditioner? Maybe a hot wrap?

Yes adding coconut oil would work. Yes heat improves deep conditioning

Thanks a lot for your articles Anjana! they are a great help.😊

😊😁💟

Hi , i wanna ask you some said that using condition in every washing day make hair greasy and turn them into grey.Is this really true

Conditioners can make your hair greasy if you pick a wrong type. But it CANNOT cause greying. What all products do you use?

Hi Anjana! After applying conditioner i wrap my hair using a hot towel then after some time i feel like i am having a headache . Does that mean i am wrapping the towel the wrong way or there can be some other reason?

Maybe the heat or weight is too much

Thanks for the reply:) I also want to ask while deep conditioning whether the conditioner should be applied to scalp as well or only to hair?

Only hair

Hi Anjana,
While oiling other than scalp should we apply it to the hair and the ends ? Or just a few drops that we use to detangle is enough?

That’s enough

I am blown away by the amount of research u have done … Just Amazing and so glad I have found ur blogs 😘

I am so glad to hear that 🙂

u said not to shampoo after deep conditioning here. but we will left out with oily hair na even after wash..???

That’s the whole idea – use only a few drops of oil in DIY masks, in store bought conditioners, you won’t have oiliness left back anyway

hai anjana,
should deep conditioner be applied when hair is still wet after shampooing (in place of regular conditioner)? or wait till hair dries?

Thanks in advance

Both work 🙂

His dear for deep conditioner ..if i mix conditioner n coconut oil……n just rinse my hair with water it wont make my hair greasy na?

Add only 1-2 drops of oil

hi anjana.. i have 2c curls. what type of DIY DC will suites with my hair type. Please help me😘

You can try any mentioned in the blog Harishma

Hello Anjana,

When we condition after gelatin treatment, just leave the regular conditioner for 30 to 60 minutes is enough? Is this sequence right?
Shampoo
Gelatin
Wash thoroughly
Squeeze off excess water from hair
Apply regular conditioner
Leave for 30mts
Wash
Apply leave in s
Style

Did I get that right?

Spot on!

Thanks!

Also you’ve never mentioned using steam for hair routines. Wondering why. I steam once a week after applying coconut oil. Is it unnecessary? Would like to save the time if so. Time is a luxury with a little one around ☺️

First tell me why you steam your hair 🙂

I’ve read it opens hair follicles, improves circulation, kills dandruff and helps in absorbing oil into scalp, softens dead skin cells etc.

If you find it helps you, you can

Hi Anjana
Your article on deep conditioning is very informative.. I oil my hair with coconut oil an hour prior to washing. After shampoo do I need to add few drops of oil to the conditioner and then rinse it off? Or do I leave it back. Also the L’Oréal smooth intense conditioner is no longer available. Can you suggest an alternative. My hair is damaged due to straightening but I’m looking forward to follow your routine to get my curls back!

Hi Prachi, It’s best to rinse off deep conditioners as they can be quite heavy. I’ve heard Re’equil is a good alternative to L’Oréal smooth intense.

thank you A.

Hello Anjana..
Can you tell me what coconut protein ester is ? It is an ingredient in my store bought dt and I tried looking up what it is but can’t really locate what is it.. Could you help me if you know what it is?

Esters are emollients and help soften hair Anisha

So is it or is it not a protein? Or just an emollient?

It sounds like an emollient only, but you could write to the company just to be fully sure.

can i use my regular loreal conditioner for deep conditioning??? also if i add coconut/olive oil to it…so after rinsing with water, wont the hair feel greasy.??? should i use shampoo then to wash hair after deep conditioning??

You should add only 2-3 drops

if i do gelatin treatment on my hair once a month….can i use hair masks containing egg in between….would there be a chance of protein overload if i use egg hair mask every week with the gelatin treatment once every month???

how often should i deep condition my hair ????

Once a week is a standard measure, you can increase or decrease it to suit your hair’s needs.

When to apply products then after deep conditioning?

Hi Gupti, as mentioned in the post “Just rinse your hair in water. Do NOT shampoo. That would negate the hard work you and your deep conditioner just did hehe (if you are using pure oils on dry hair before washing, follow it with shampooing and regular conditioning) and go on to apply your styling products.”

Hi Anjana,
Can deep conditioning be done after a co-wash?

Yes Krutika

Thank you for the response

Hi

Can u suggest a gud cold pressed
olive oil.

Garima, Figaro or Borges should be good

Hi!

I read on shea moisture’s website that shampoo opens the cuticles, hair mask hydrates the hair and conditioner closes the cuticles again. Does this mean that we should always condition our hair after using a mask (deep conditioning)? Even if that isn’t the reason, do you recommend conditioning after using a hair mask?

Thanks in advance!

Hi, as mentioned in this post, deep conditioning is just extended conditioning. So there’s no need to condition after that. But if you are using homemade masks which don’t have the ingredients mentioned in this post, you would need to use a conditioner.

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