Applying a conditioner (or a deep conditioning treatment) is a non-negotiable step in any effective hair care routine. This crucial stage is when your relaxed hair can truly soak up the vital nutrients and active ingredients it needs to maintain its healthy balance and strength.
As its name suggests, conditioner should be applied after washing the hair.
For the treatment to be effective, it is important to apply it to clean, previously washed hair, to expose the hair strands without any barrier hindering the treatment's effectiveness.
To meet this same need for effectiveness, application to damp, not completely wet, hair is essential. Applying at this level of humidity allows the conditioner to better penetrate the hair.
Conditioner, although its purpose is to condition the hair, can be of different types: moisturizing, protein-based, or even nourishing.
Moisturizing conditioners are water-based and contain hydrating active ingredients like provitamin B5 or glycerin. They provide elasticity and suppleness to the hair, allowing it to resist various pulling forces. This type of conditioner should be used as regularly as possible due to the characteristic of relaxed hair, which requires intense hydration.
In the category of restorative treatments, or protein-based treatments, we find those made with proteins (silk, rice, keratin, etc.). These help repair hair by filling in gaps to strengthen it. Their use is especially recommended for hair that will undergo or has undergone chemical or damaging treatments (e.g., heat styling). The goal is to repair and strengthen.
As for nourishing treatments, they are particularly beneficial during stretching periods. Primarily water-based with vegetable oils or butters, they nourish the hair to prevent it from becoming too dry. They can be used regularly, but they alone do not address issues of elasticity and repair.
The application of deep conditioning treatments is also characterized by its duration, which can vary depending on the product. For greater effectiveness, the minimum average processing time should be between 15 to 20 minutes (time for the treatment to penetrate the hair). This processing time can be longer, approaching an hour. Beyond this period, effectiveness is no longer guaranteed and can lead to undesirable effects, such as irritation.
Another action that multiplies effectiveness is the use of a plastic cap. The creation of heat (steam) activates the treatment's action by allowing the hair cuticles to remain open, thus facilitating easier penetration of the treatment.
an article written by Lady Beauty Swagg - http://ladybeautyswagg.blogspot.fr
