The Mechanics of Deep Conditioning

How to Deep Condition Your Hair:

1. Either shampoo or rinse your hair first and gently squeeze out the excess water.
2. Generously apply your deep conditioner to damp hair, and focus on the ends. Work through with your fingers, or use a wide toothed comb to work through your hair.
3. Place the shower cap over hair, and then put the heating device of choice on your head for a full 20 minutes. You need 20 minutes to allow the hair cuticle to open fully, and let the conditioner completely infuse and feed your hair. After 20+ minutes or longer, take off your cap and let your hair cool for at least 5 minutes. This allows your hair shaft to close again.
4. Rinse hair with warm water until about 80% of the conditioner is rinsed out.
5. Do a final rinse with the coldest water you can stand. This is important to seal your hair shaft and get all the benefits of your deep conditioning treatment.
6. Apply a leave-on conditioner and allow your hair to air dry.
7. Do not wash your hair the next day. Give your hair a break after a deep conditioning for at least 24 hours. Let the treatment do its job without interruption!

I suggest deep conditioning weekly. By doing this, your hair will become healthier and shinier. It will regain its softness. Moisture-robbed hair is more subject to breakage and unmanageability.


What you will need:
Time — About an hour.
A Deep Conditioner — I really believe that you should invest in a high-quality deep conditioner. There are several to choose from. Look for natural oils, humectants like honey or glycerin, softening proteins like collagen, silk, or wheat.
Wide Tooth Comb
Plastic Cap — or an old Wal-mart bag if you’re in a pinch
Heating Unit — Dome dryer, Hot, moist towel, Blow Dryer Cap, or a Micro Heat Cap.

Everything You Need To Know About Hair Elasticity

Elasticity is, in my opinion, one of the most important properties of hair. This is the hair's ability to be able to spring back to its original shape and length without damage. Hair's elasticity depends mostly on the keratin levels and sulphide bonds in the cortex of the hair. Chemical services such as relaxers, perms, or bleaching will then create poor elasticity in your hair. This will limit the amount the hair will be able to stretch. The hair may also not curl, be weak, fragile and will break easily. Elasticity is rated as being low, normal, or high. To test the elasticity of your hair, you need to select strands of hair from different areas on the head. Be sure the hair is wet. Hold the strand securely and stretch the hair. If the hair stretches and returns to its original length when released, then it has good elasticity. If the hair breaks or doesn't return to its former shape, you have low elasticity. Poor elasticity can be corrected by the use of good treatment conditioners that contain vegetable proteins such as wheat, rice and corn proteins. Some of the products that have been particularly effective for me are: Roux Porosity Control, Vitale Super Intensive Reconstructor, Apple Cider Vinegar Rinses, Miss Key Wheat Germ Conditioner, Salerm Wheat Germ Oil Conditioner, At One Botanical Reconstructor. So if your hair suffering from low elasticity, implementing small changes into your regimen will really help to increase your hair’s overall health.

The “New Way” to Wash Your Hair

You may not know this, but learning how to properly wash your hair is going to have a tremendous impact on the health and brilliance of your tresses. Start by lightly detangling your hair from hair ends to root with a large tooth comb, then placing your dry hair into large braids to shampoo. In the shower, pour streams of diluted shampoo and warm water from a large cup over your braids. Squeeze the braids to shampoo and rinse. While the braids are still in, add your favorite detangling conditioner to your hair. I like Queen Helene with Ginseng and LeKair Cholesterol Plus. This will make your hair easier to untangle and comb through. Take one braid down at a time and gently comb through with a wide toothed comb, beginning at hair ends and working your way up, and then rinse by squeezing your hair as you pour the water over it. Squeezing will help with the rinse. Braid the section back up. Repeat with all of your braid sections. After you have done all sections, your hair should still remain in the big loose braids. Take each section down to add hair strengthener and oil. Oil will give it more moisture after it air dries. Air dry your hair to keep in moisture. You can also roller set or roller wrap the hair. Look for styles that do not require direct heat; this will help keep your hair at its healthiest.