Deep conditioner is the foundation for moisturized, effortless styles. It is a thick version of a daily conditioner with ingredients that adsorb on and absorb into the hair shaft. These moisture masques and treatments contain humectants, oils, and conditioning ingredients that allow for detangling and long lasting moisture. Some also include strengthening ingredients like ceramides and hydrolyzed proteins. Deep conditioners are also essential to the washing process, because they close the hair shaft after it has been lifted by shampoo and other cleansers.
If you are experiencing dryness and breakage, evaluate how often you deep condition. Most stylists recommend once a month but many naturals—including myself—have opted for weekly treatments. For me, weekly deep conditioning treatments eliminate the need to refresh between wash days. Whether my hair has been heat styled, twisted, covered in a head wrap, or worn in a wash and go, here are four deep conditioners that never fail to replenish my parched strands every week.
Read more: Daily Conditioner vs. Deep Conditioner
SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Masque
The SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Masque is extremely hydrating. It is formulated with penetrating oils like avocado oil and coconut oil and reparative ingredients like hydrolyzed rice protein. The cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, centrimonium chloride, and behentrimonim methosulfate provide conditioning benefits that aid in easy application by decreasing friction and breakage. I shingle this on four freshly cleansed and detangled sections.
SheaMoisture Mongongo & Hemp Seed Oil High Porosity Moisture-Seal Masque
This deep treatment is the ultimate all-in-one masque for me. I see this treatment as a hybrid of three SheaMoisture products. It has the strengthening benefits of the SheaMoisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque, the moisture of the SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque, and the slip of the SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10-in-1 Renewal System Masque. It is pure magic. This creamy masque helps my curls to maintain its protein-moisture balance between stronger protein treatments without leaving my strands feeling dry and stiff. It is also a thicker consistency than their other masques and it leaves my curls feeling like the moisture is sealed in. After apply this product, I cover my hair with a processing cap and a thermal conditioning cap.
Brown Butter Beauty Babassu Deep Conditioner
Brown Butter Beauty Babassu Deep Conditioner is full of oils high in fatty acids like acai pulp oil, babassu oil, pracaxi oil, sunflower oil, and lime oil and extracts like yarrow leaf extract, horsetail extract, nettle leaf extract, sage extract, and rosemary extract. I usually allow my deep conditioner to sit for 15-20 minutes while I pamper myself, listen to a podcast, or explore social media. This products is the thinnest out of the four and does not leave my fine, 4a hair weighed down after rinsing.
Read more: Oleic & Linoleic Acid: The Reason You Love Oils so Much and Why Do Brands Put “Extracts” in Your Products?
Camille Rose Naturals Hair Bath
This is a seasonal product that I am loving every ounce of. Whenever I have neglected my hair from not protecting it at night to wearing a stretched afro, this treatment is dependable enough to nourish my dry hair and melt the tangles. I have had this product for over a year, so a little goes a long way. It is overwhelmingly fragrant with the smell of gingerbread cookies, but completely worth it. Hopefully Camille Rose will bring this back next year or make it available year-round.
What’s the common denominator? Gentle surfactants like behentrimonium methosulfate, fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol, and oils. I always look for those ingredient for softer, moisturized strands. Know your ingredients and watch how it affects your success rates with purchasing products!
What are your favorite deep conditioners?
[prodmod]
