Deep Conditioning For Shinier And Smoother Hair
Get Longer and Healthier Hair By Deep Conditioning Weekly
Have you ever woken up in the morning, walked to the bathroom and sighed at your hair’s state? Do you feel like you look like a porcupine when you look into the mirror, frustrated with your dry and frizzy hair? How about the length of your hair; do you feel like it never seems to grow as quickly as you want it to? Do your ends constantly look burnt out, forcing you to go to the salon more often than you’d like, just to get a haircut? You are not the only one, this is a common issue for many of us, especially those that color treat our locks. The reason this happens is because the hair is more fragile when it’s chemically treated, making the hair brittle and dry in the process. This means that with some extra TLC we can all get healthier and smoother hair!
You may think that it’s too much work to invest even more time into your hair than you already do but believe me, it is so worth it! We throw so much stress on our hair: color treatments, hot styling tools, getting into chlorine pools or salty ocean water. Your hair is constantly dealing with the elements and the longer you wait to treat it, the harder it will be to correct the problem. This is especially true for those with curly hair, always having to fight off humidity and frizz. Luckily, there’s a way to make sure your hair is healthy and soft and all you have to do is invest 30 minutes, once a week! Doesn’t sound so hard anymore, right? Read on to see how you can make your hair more beautiful and manageable than you ever thought possible!
Heat It Up!
Deep conditioning your hair should involve more than just applying conditioner in the shower, waiting 5 minutes and rinsing it off. Why? Because 5 minutes is nowhere near enough time to make the deep conditioner work its magic. Don’t worry, I’m not suggesting you stand in the shower for 30 minutes. I find that the best way to do this is by applying your deep conditioner correctly, stepping out of the shower and adding some heat to the product. Just wet a towel with hot water from your tap (careful you don’t overdo it and burn yourself!). Then wrap the hot towel around your head, making your deep conditioner warm up as you wait out the half hour. The heat swells up the hair cuticles which helps the conditioner penetrate deeper into the hair, resulting in better moisture retention.
I like to multi task as I wait out the treatment; whether it’s doing my nails, playing a video game or reading a book, I find my deep conditioning time very relaxing. Do whatever makes you feel relaxed as you wait! We should all have some ‘me’ time, no matter how hectic our days. And who wouldn’t love to have beautiful hair as a result? If you’re just starting out a deep conditioning regimen and have very dry or color treated hair, you should apply it twice a week at first. It takes a few treatments to see the results, which is why you should stick to it!
Research Your Deep Conditioner Options
Just like not all beauty items are of the same quality, deep conditioners should also be well researched to ensure that you use the best for your hair. There are several options out there for your conditioning needs, and just like with shampoo, you should stay away from harmful chemicals. Some ingredients to stay away from are sulfates, polyethylne glycol, dimethicone and phenoxyethanol. These ingredients are can cause a range of problems from dermatitis to organ system toxicity.
Protein conditioners help strengthen hair but can also leave hair feeling a little stiff; just apply a leave in moisturizing conditioner after. A wonderful perk to deep conditioning is how it makes the hair stronger and healthier; this means your hair will grow faster than before, helping you achieve the long haired look you’ve always wanted in a shorter amount of time.
Oil It Up!
I’m a huge believer in oils; they work wonders on my skin and I even apply it after styling my hair for frizz protection. A great way to boost whatever deep conditioning mask you choose is to add some oil into it! After trying different kinds of oils, I’ve found that 100% pure argan oil is the best product in my beauty arsenal. Just add a teaspoon (or two if you have long hair) to help your hair get as much help as it can get. This can also act as a heat protectant as you style away with one of these amazing brush straighteners! Oils are amazing at retaining moisture in our hair and skin; argan oil even helps fight off acne when used on the skin (and works on both dry and oily complexions). A deep conditioning mask mixed with an oil is the best care you can show your hair and it will definitely show!
What do you like to do while you wait for your deep conditioner to work its magic? Tell us in the comments below.
