Hair Tip: Don't Skip The Deep Conditioner

If you have relaxed hair, you already know it comes with its own set of challenges. Dryness that seems to come out of nowhere. Breakage when you detangle. Ends that feel rough no matter how much moisturizer you use. Shedding that makes you wonder what your hair is missing.

Related read: 5 Hair Masks To Help Fix Your Dry Hair Issues

This is where deep conditioning can make a huge difference.

 

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When your hair starts feeling dry, breaking, or even shedding, one solution that can make a real difference is deep conditioning. Adding a good deep conditioner to your routine can help bring dry, stressed hair back to life and make it easier to manage. It’s one of those simple steps that can have a big impact when done consistently.


I've found that deep is an important part of a relaxed hair care regimen. It helps put back some of what chemical processing, heat styling, weather changes, and everyday manipulation can take out. It can also help restore or maintain hair's elasticity, allowing it to better withstand and minimize damage during styling and other manipulation.

Related read: A Simple Guide to Deep Conditioning Your Hair the Right Way

Deep conditioning can help restore the moisture and/or protein balance in your hair. Relaxed hair especially needs a good balance of both moisture and protein to stay strong. Moisture helps keep hair soft and flexible, while protein helps reinforce the hair shaft. Deep conditioners can help correct dryness that leads to brittleness or strengthen hair that feels weak and fragile. When your hair has a good balance, you may notice less breakage, better elasticity, and smoother strands.

Deep conditioning can help protect your hair during future chemical applications. If you relax, color, or use heat on your hair, deep conditioning can help prepare your hair to better handle those processes. Hair that is regularly deep-conditioned is typically more resilient because it isn’t starting from a dry or weakened state. Think of it as helping your hair stay in the best possible condition before you put it through anything stressful.

Regular deep conditioning can also help improve the manageability of your hair. One of the most noticeable benefits is how much easier your hair can become to handle. Deep conditioning can help soften new growth, smooth the line of demarcation when you're stretching relaxers, and make detangling easier. This can lead to less mechanical damage simply because you're not fighting your hair during wash day or styling.

How often you need to deep condition varies from person to person. Depending on the state of your hair and what it needs, you may want to deep condition every wash, once a week, or a couple of times a month. Do beware of over-conditioning, which can cause your hair to feel overly soft and mushy.

Since I started regularly deep conditioning my hair, I've noticed a big difference in how my hair looks, feels, and acts. I deep condition once a week. I make sure to cover all of my hair strands with the deep conditioner and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. My favorite deep conditioner right now is the TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask.

Related read: TGIN Miracle RepaiRx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask Review

Sometimes, if I want to amp up the conditioning, I'll add a natural oil like coconut or olive oil and wear a heating cap like the Hot Head Microwavable Deep Conditioning Cap. You can read my review of the deep conditioning cap here.

Deep conditioning is one of the main reasons I can stretch my relaxers for more than six to eight weeks without negative effects. I can only imagine the better shape my hair would be in if I had started and consistently deep-conditioned when I got my first relaxer at age 12.

How often do you deep condition?