The best way to deep condition natural black hair

24/1/2013

First and foremost, note that not every conditioner is a deep conditioner. I wish I really understood this at the beginning of my natural journey. Read this to understand the variety of conditioners that are on the market.

A deep condition is need every 7/10 to days regardless of the state of your hair: whether you're rocking an afro, in braids or a weave your hair needs regular hydration and deep conditioning.

The objective of conditioning is to:

Reduce porosity - this helps you retain moisture better. This reduction in the porousness of hair occurs because conditioners have a lower pH than shampoo, i.e. they are more acidic.
Increase softness - this makes hair easier to manage
Increase elasticity - this in turn reduces the likelihood that your hair will break as you handle it (combing, blow drying, braiding etc.)
Normalize the pH of hair following a shampoo

The deep conditioning process:

Detangle thoroughly
Wash your hair with water and then your shampoo if you use one
Apply the deep conditioner generously
Cover your head in a shower cap (I use two shower caps) then blow dry on top of the shower cap or sit under a hooded dryer for 5 minutes. The heat helps your hair to absorb all the good stuff from the product.
I then cover my hair in a hat or a thick scarf so the heat is trapped inside
When it's time to wash out the conditioner, I take the showercap off and let the hair cool down before rinsing the conditioner off first with warm water, then with very cool water to seal the cuticle layer of the hair.

If you intend to blow dry or flat iron your hair afterwards you can follow the deep conditioner with a moisturising condition. This will ensure the heat does not dry the hair out too much.

A deep conditioner followed by a moisturising conditioner, say what? Yeah, according to The Science of Black Hair you can do that.

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Jossy

25/1/2013 04:37:45 am

You write that we need to deep condition our hair every 7-10 days regardless of whether we are wearing weaves or braids. Ho do I deep condition my hair that often if I'm wearing a weave?

Heather @ Neno Natural

25/1/2013 07:58:17 pm

Hi Jossy,

Here's how to deep condition with a weave on: http://www.nenonatural.com/3/post/2013/01/taking-care-of-natural-hair-under-a-weave-or-a-wig.html

I would say it probably works much better with human hair weaves than synthetic ones.

My best,
Heather

kelly

28/1/2013 04:29:30 am

Can you recommend a good deep conditionerthat won't break the bank? I have tried the shea mousture line for deep conditioner and hated it

28/1/2013 05:17:47 pm

Hi Kelly,

Have you tried the LUV Naturals range by kimmaytube? It's $13 a bottle and the bottle lasts 2 months. So far, it is the best conditioner I have used on my hair but I am still experimenting to see if there is anything better out there.

My best,
Heather

Shanita

28/1/2013 03:30:13 pm

Hello Heather, how do I deep conditish with Senegalese twists that I have been rocking since November 16, 2012?

28/1/2013 05:19:38 pm

Hi Shanita,

Read these two blogs for washing guidelines:

http://www.nenonatural.com/3/post/2013/01/4-tips-on-how-to-take-care-of-natural-hair-in-braids-or-cornrows.html

http://www.nenonatural.com/3/post/2013/01/taking-care-of-natural-hair-under-a-weave-or-a-wig.html

My best,
Heather

tsuji campbell link

10/9/2013 07:17:45 am

Great tips. I started doing this and what a difference. I finally am growing my hair pass the point I would see breakage. Thanks.

Josie

20/1/2015 05:59:18 am

Hi Heather, is sitting under a hooded hair drier for 30 mins to much time? What is a sufficent amt. of time when doing a deep conditioner? Also, I saw on your website that hot oil treatment is done before shampoo; since the cuticles of the hair opens up to absorb the good stuff and the hair is dirty then all the bad stuff is being absorbed to. (i.e dust, old products and so on....) It seems to make sense to do it after the hair have been cleaned.

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The best way to deep condition natural black hair

By Heather Katsonga-Woodward

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