How to Deep Condition Curly Hair

Deep conditioning is an integral part of maintaining strong and moisturized strands.
And if you haven’t gotten yourself into a routine of deep conditioning your curls or have never tried it before, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know and why it’s so important to do it on the reg!

What does Deep Conditioning do for your hair?

We could go on and on about the importance of deep conditioning, but we figured it was easier to sum it all up with

3 D’s: Defense, Damage, and Dehydration!

DEFENSE

We put our curls through a lot! Deep conditioning is the first line of defense our curls have against all of the craziness they go through. Whether it be stress from over-manipulation, heat styling, pulling, or tying down our curls, deep conditioning fortifies your strands so they are strong enough to retain length and withstand constant styling.

DAMAGE

If your hair isn’t curling quite like it used to , that could be a sign of damage. The effects of excessive heat, color and chemicals can have a lasting impact on your curl pattern.
Think of each of your curls as having a memory that allows them to spring back into shape after each wash. Damage disrupts your hair's ability to revert back, which can lead to frizz and/or straight, stringy ends.
This can last long after you discontinue coloring or straightening your hair and start transitioning to healthier hair habits. Good deep conditioners are jam-packed with all of the nutrients your curls need to help repair and fortify while minimizing the appearance of existing damage and enhancing curl clumping.

Do Deep Conditioners Work on Curly Hair?

Deep conditioners are designed to add moisture. As a result, they are typically fortified with humectants—ingredients that attract water and bind moisture to your hair which helps to keep it soft and hydrated
In order to strengthen and repair weakened hair, deep conditioners are also packed with ingredients that’ll help reduce the look of damage, lock-in moisture, and bind split ends.
We use key ingredients like shea butter, moringa oil, aloe vera (a natural humectant) and a combination of many other key ingredients in our Deep Condition & Repair formula to inject your hair with much needed moisture and nutrients. This helps to revive your curls and allow them to regain their structure!

Deep Conditioning Do's & Don'ts

Regardless of which deep conditioning treatment you choose to use, if you flip it over, you’ll see instructions for how to apply it, and for how long. The best way to find out what works best for you is to follow the product instructions first and then tweak your routine once you see how your curls react.
But keep in mind, whether you deep condition with the fanciest product on the shelf or throw together your own favorite DIY deep conditioning elixir, there are some general rules for deep conditioning your curls.

THE DO'S

Section your curls:

We all know how wild our curls can get. Sectioning makes it easier for you to take control of any rambunctious ringlets and make sure your conditioner is distributed evenly.

Make it a routine:

Whether you’re doing damage control, trying to overcome dryness or just maintaining the health of your hair, it’s good to get into a routine of deep conditioning. But how often you do it will depend on the state of your hair.
Which brings us to the don'ts of deep conditioning….

THE DON'TS

Don't Deep Condition Daily:

Now, we know what you’re thinking. If deep conditioning is the holy grail for my kinks and curls, why shouldn’t I deep condition every day? Well, it’s actually not that simple. Just as you can have curls that are TOO dry, you can also OVER condition your hair.
There is definitely a sweet spot for how often you’ll need to deep condition. So how often is too often? Since curls are unique there’s really no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a deep conditioning regimen.
Try starting off with once a week (if you have really dry/damaged hair) and then listen to your curls — they’ll often tell you what they need! If you’re seeing that your hair picks up quick and is revitalized and maintains its "bounce" in between your washes, cut back to once every other week. Again, just look and listen to your curls!

Don't Detangle AFTER Deep conditioning:

Remember, products work best when they coat and penetrate every single strand. If you deep condition with knotted and tangled hair, you run the risk of missing sections of hair. If your curls are tangled , set aside a few minutes to detangle beforehand, and then proceed!

Experiment: find out what works for you!

We've said it once, we'll say it a thousand times: Experimentation is key! ✨
Even when it comes to deep conditioning, what works for one hair type might not work for yours.
Check out this vid of our girl, Storm, to see how she uses our Deep Condition & Repair formula to revive her bleached and color treated curls.

Keep in mind that her routine might look a lil' different than yours and that’s okay. Another girl on our team actually applies hers to dry hair before she shampoos and conditions.
We’re working on bringing you more vids for different hair types but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy this first official tutorial!

Keep it up!

By sticking to a regular routine, you can revitalize damaged curls and maintain a healthy mane. But it’s also important to make sure you cut out any habits that can cause further damage, such as using heat-styling tools or color treating already damaged hair.
Giving your strands some time to mend paired with a solid deep conditioning routine can get your curls poppin’ in a way you’ve never imagined before. 🙌🏽✨