Pamper your mane with the goodness of a deep conditioning hair mask and enjoy the benefit of long, dreamy and nourished locks. Bringing to you short-term shine and long-term strength and length, there’s nothing better than hydrating your hair the right way.
Post lockdown the pace of life has been accelerated — which means, more targets to achieve, more people to meet and more impressions to etch. Amid this hubbub of the “new normal” - we often overlook our self-care needs or often need more self care. In this hour of being busy, we perpetually ignore our locks. How? Tying them up into a top knot, wearing the best cover up (a baseball hat) or even just indulging in the quick fixes — scalp shampoos sessions. However, these temporary solutions may keep you far from the shame of shabby tresses but in the long run, it leads to more damage than good. After all, your hair doesn’t only need to look pretty, it also needs to feel pretty which is where deep conditioning comes into the picture!
Keep away from the pricey parlour bills and put on a deep conditioning hair mask at home! Yes, you read right — you no longer need to make a trip to the saloons and spend the coin. Why? You can get the goodness of soft and luscious hair from the comfort of your home. Don’t believe us? Well, hold tight as we take you through: how to deep condition your hair at home! To begin with:
What are deep conditioners?
Unlike your usual everyday conditioners, deep conditioners go the extra mile for they have more concentrated emollient and humectant ingredients and are left on the hair longer. The humectants bind to water and pamper your hair with moisture and emollients cling to your strands, creating a layer that prevents moisture loss. To make the most of these properties, you can’t just add a mask to your hair and expect compliment-worthy results — it’s all about the technique. And here’s a step by step insight into the same!
How to deep condition your hair at home
#1 Wash your hair thoroughly
Deep condition your locks with soapy goodness and ensure it all gets frothy and foamy — after all, keeping your strands squeaky clean is what gets the best results. Once done, get to the deep conditioning treatment for it works best on washed locks. Wonder why?
Thoroughly cleaning your scalp can help open up your hair cuticles, making it easier for the conditioner to get absorbed. It is also easier to deliver all that nourishing goodness directly to your scalp when it is not covered with a layer of oil or product build-up. So, the next time you want to give your hair that deep love, ensure your strands are prepared for the creamy embrace.
#2 Choose the right conditioner
For best results, you need to get your hands on the best conditioners! And to help you navigate your way through, we’re here with unmatched solutions for different hair types. Scroll below to unveil them all.
If you are looking to revive dull and lifeless hair, choose a creamy formula like the Dove Regenerative Repair Conditioner. Infused with Algae complex, it strengthens the internal structure of the hair and repairs broken bonds. This can be especially beneficial for heat-treated hair that desperately needs its original texture and health restored.
If you are looking to calm your frizzy hair, choose a nourishing formula like the Tresemme Hair Spa Rejuvenation Conditioner. Enriched with hydrating Marine Minerals complex and essential nutrients, it gives you salon pampered hair experience without breaking a sweat!
For dry, frizzy hair, pick an oil-based formula like the Love Beauty & Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Aroma Smooth and Serene Conditioner. Its formula with natural argan oil, combined with ethically sourced lavender helps smooth out the hair and leave it frizz-protected.
At times a deep conditioning treatment can just be about giving your hair some extra TLC. The Sunsilk Stunning Black Shine Amla Pearl Complex Conditioner energises your hair, leaving it smooth and detangled. What’s more, it gives you shiny hair for up to 24 hours from the very first use.
#3 Apply conditioner thoroughly
To ace the deep conditioning ritual at home, apply the product from root to tip. However, since you are using your regular conditioner, apply it an inch away from the root and use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product evenly through your hair. Focus on your ends as they tend to be drier and need to be properly soaked in conditioner.
#4 Follow up with a warm towel treatment
Once you are done applying the conditioner, follow it up with a warm towel treatment. All you need to do is run your towel under a faucet, wring out the excess water and place it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Then wrap your head in the hot, damp towel and allow the heat to get the product deep into your hair follicles. You can leave the conditioner on for three to four hours, but make sure to refresh your head wrap to keep it warm.
#5 Rinse with cold water
Rinse your hair with cold water to close the cuticles and lock in the moisture. It is recommended to deep condition your hair once or twice a week to maintain optimum mane health.
What are the benefits of deep conditioning
Take notes, ladies
#1 Damage Prevention
To keep the damage at bay, regularly condition your locks — we’re talking, at least once a week. By giving your hair that frequent hydration TLC, you can avoid split ends that dampen your hair’s beauty.
And at times you may feel your hair is all good and is on the right track but still incorporating a deep conditioning treatment into your regular hair care routine can help you maintain your healthy hair and allow it to accelerate hair growth. So cut to the chase, and make your way towards Disney-like locks!
#2 Imparts Moisture
Moisture is the key ingredient to a healthy mane. If you rely on a moisturising conditioner that including key ingredients such as protein, essential natural oils and, of course water, you can impart moisture to your hair. And there you go, you’re all set girl.
However, if you skip the deep conditioning routine your hair can become dry, brittle and is more prone to breakage. So much so, a brush or two will snap out some strands. It doesn’t only strengthens the spirals but also adds a charming gloss to them.
#3 Adds Shine
Want to cop that lustrous hair look? Then the deep conditioning at home agenda is where you should be headed. Repairing your strands and feeding every damaged part of it, leads to locks that glow. The next time you’re headed for a party or an evening under the lights, don’t skip the deep conditioning hair care step.
Ever seen someone with extremely shiny hair? Do you want the same look for your own hair? Well the products you use and the daily grind can rob your hair of moisture and shine over time. If you find your hair is dull and dry, a deep conditioning treatment can repair damage and smooth the hair shaft, thus imparting that lustre everybody wants.
How to dry your hair post deep conditioning
Use the age-old and reliable method to dry your locks, the towel tactic. However now, manually drying your strands comes with a unique touch, use your t-shirt!
Wet hair is extremely brittle and much more vulnerable than when it is dry. Hence, properly drying your hair proves to be a huge step towards the good health of your locks. Believe it or not, using a towel to dry your hair is actually not recommended. Wet towels have a way of mistreating the strands of your hair by leaving them unruly on the outside and damp on the inside. The two most common replacements are a microfibre hair towel and cotton t-shirts. The threads used in a body towel can prove to be tough on the hair and also filled with dead skin and bodily oils which takes all the necessary moisture away from your hair. A Micofibre hair cloth has many advantages- the main one being that the treads won’t unravel to get stuck in your hair preventing split ends and hair fall. The thriftier method (a personal favourite) is using a simple dry cotton t-shirt. Not only does it dry your hair gently but also dries it way quicker! The simple technique is to put the shirt over your head just as you normally would, but instead of putting your hands through the arm holes, you take the shirt fabric resting on your shoulders above your head to cover your hair completely. Then you take the part of the shirt that usually rests under your neck on your forehead. When it looks like a nuns veil, twist it like a towel and let it rest on your shoulders. And there you go, with dry, dazzling and glossy hair.
FAQs
Q. Does doing deep conditioning regularly cause baldness?
A. No, a hair spa doesn’t cause baldness. On the contrary it makes your hair healthier and promotes stronger and shinier locks!
Q. Ideally how often should I deep condition my hair?
A. If you’re hair is damaged and you can see noticeable split ends, once in two weeks is the recommended frequency. However, if you’re hair is healthy and want to maitain its quality, you should deep condition your mane monthly.
Q. Will blowdrying my hair post deep conditioning damage it?
Certain deep conditioning products require you to blow dry your locks for the heat enables the product to get absorbed quicky. So, use heat. However, trasnition between cold and hot drying air for best and minimal damage. Also, use a flat blowdry nossel to avoid friziness.
Written by Anushka Shah on Jul 08, 2022