How to deep condition hair: Easy tips for a healthy mane
Quench dry ends in under 5 minutes.
With summer just around the corner, we need to take extra care of our hair to ensure the sun doesn’t dry it out, leaving it prone to breakage. The simple solution to injecting some much-needed moisture? Deep conditioning! And let us guess, your next question is something along the lines of “how to deep condition hair“, right? Don’t worry, we’ll get there in just a minute. But first, let’s look at the benefits.
Deep conditioning with more intense, richer textured conditioners, like hair masks will not only help keep your strands hydrated, but they can also help promote smoothness, reduce frizz and make your locks more manageable. While they work a charm for all hair types, regularly treating coloured hair to a deep conditioning session is essential for maintaining a vibrant and glossy colour, too.
Although there are lots of deep conditioning products on the market, you may still be left wondering exactly how to use them and how often. So, if in doubt, simply follow our tips to learn how to deep condition your hair the easy way.
Editor’s top tips on how to deep condition hair
Tip 1: Always use the treatment on damp hair
Like all conditioning products, deep conditioning masks and treatments work best on damp hair, because when wet, the cuticles open up, allowing products to better penetrate the hair shaft. After you’ve washed your mane, gently squeeze out any excess of water from your tresses before applying your deep conditioner.
Tip 2: Focus on the ends
Because the ends of your hair are older, they’re weaker and more prone to breakage than the parts nearer to your scalp. So, when deep conditioning, take a 10p-sized blob of TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Masque (£5.50*) and apply to your hair from around mid-length through to the ends of your strands by gently massaging it in. This way, you target the most fragile part of the hair shaft, which needs a lot of TLC – not to mention you’ll avoid an unnecessary build-up of product on your scalp, too. Trust us, your ends will thank you!
Tip 3: Read product labels carefully – and follow the instructions!
We know it sounds obvious, but you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t even bother to read the labels and recommended uses on the products they buy. Remember that every hair mask is different, and each will require varying lengths of time to penetrate your locks. The instructions are there as a guideline, so follow them to achieve optimum results.
Tip 4: Wash thoroughly
Unlike leave-in conditioners and creams, deep conditioners need to be thoroughly washed out after a certain amount of time. Leaving a product on for longer doesn’t necessarily mean better results, because once your hair has absorbed as much of the product as it can, there’s no room on the surface for more of it to penetrate in.
Tip 5: Keep it regular
When it comes to deep conditioning, regular use does mean revitalised, shinier and healthier-looking hair in the long run. Try and make a habit of indulging in a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week – although very dry or severely damaged hair may need two sessions a week – and we’re willing to bet you’ll soon notice a difference in the look and feel of your tresses.
If you have super dry, brittle hair that’s craving extra moisture, a deep conditioning treatment will work wonders for your tresses. Opt for one like the TRESemmé Platinum Strength Deep Conditioning Treatment (£5.50*), which can help to reverse the look of up to two years of damage**. An intensive, targeted treatment like this will help to quench dry ends and protect your hair.
Tip 6: Don’t over-condition
While deep conditioning treatments will be your hair’s new best friends, do remember that balance is key. As you’ll find in the instructions on most packs, deep conditioning for hours on end isn’t something we’d recommend you do. Leaving any product on for longer than 5 or so minutes can actually be counter-intuitive (see tip 4), as once every surface of the hair has been covered, there will be no room for any more product to sink in – so why waste precious time?
So now you know how to deep condition hair, there are no more excuses not to make it a part of your weekly routine.
*RRPs are Unilever suggested retail prices only, it is at the discretion of the individual retailers to set the actual price.
**82% of 150 women agree: hair looks healthier with Platinum Strength shampoo and treatment use.
