Let’s talk leave-in conditioners Vs deep conditioners. As a natural hair beginner, the different types of conditioners really got me confused. I didn’t know there was that many conditioner types, for me, conditioner was conditioner and some people would call it hair treatment. Thank God for research, now I know better.
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Leave-in conditioners are different from deep conditioners; the consistency, formulation, use , ingredients and benefits. For instance, leave-in conditioners are to be left in your hair until the next wash day while deep conditioners should be rinsed off after a few minutes. On this post we cover all things leave-in conditioners Vs deep conditioners.
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Table of Contents
Leave-in Conditioners Vs Deep Conditioners; What You Should Know
Leave-in Conditioners.
These are purely moisturizing conditioners which sometimes may have one or more protein ingredients. Leave-in conditioners are supposed to be used on wash days after rinsing off the deep conditioner and in between wash days to keep your hair moisturized.
Leave-in conditioners are either lightweight (perfect for low porosity hair and fine hair to avoid product build-up) or thick and creamy (perfect for high porosity, coarse and thick hair). When looking for moisturizing leave-in conditioners purchase products with ingredients like aloe, honey, aqua, oils, butter, glycerin and hydrolyzed proteins if you are looking to repair and strengthen your hair.
Benefits of using Leave-in conditioners
- Provides instant hydration and moisture to dry, thirsty hair.
- Helps to detangle and soften the hair, making it easier to manage and style.
- Protects the hair from environmental damage, heat styling, and UV rays.
- Can be used daily to refresh and revive curls without weighing them down.
How to Use Leave-in Conditioners.
After washing and conditioning your hair, apply a leave-in conditioner on damp or wet hair, focusing on the ends. Always section your hair into small parts when applying moisturizing products to coat all the strands.
When moisturizing in between wash days whether daily, every other day or after a few days, you can choose to spray water on your hair until damp then apply your go to leave-in conditioner or apply directly on dry. For some leave-ins like African pride moisture miracle coconut oil and baobab oil leave-in cream, I apply on dry hair because on wet hair it flakes. I love it though, it keeps my hair moisturized for days.
Related post; African pride moisture miracle coconut oil and baobab oil leave-in cream review.
Some of the best leave-in conditioners for natural hair
- Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream with Argan Oil
- African Pride Moisture Miracle Coconut Oil & Baobab Oil Leave-In Hair Cream
- Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coils Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Hair Conditioner
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Leave In Conditioner For Damaged Hair
- tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave-in Conditioner For Natural Hair
- Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Leave In Conditioner Cream
- Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask & Leave-In Conditioner
Related post; Best moisturizing leave-in conditioners for 4C natural hair.
Deep Conditioners.
Unlike leave-in conditioners that should be left in your hair until the next wash day, these conditioners should be rinsed off after a few minutes. Most deep conditioners have a thick consistency and come in three types; Moisturizing deep conditioners, protein treatments or protein based deep Conditioners and balanced deep conditioners (have a balance of moisture and protein.)
Benefits of Deep Conditioners
- Provides deep hydration and nourishment to dry, damaged hair, restoring softness, shine, and elasticity.
- Helps to repair and strengthen the hair, reducing breakage and split ends.
- Improves the overall health and condition of the hair, making it more resilient to damage and environmental stressors.
- Can be customized with additional ingredients such as oils, extracts, and vitamins to address specific hair concerns such as dryness, frizz, or lack of shine.
How to Use Deep Conditioners
Deep conditioners should be used after washing your hair. After rinsing the shampoo off your hair, apply a generous amount of deep conditioner to damp hair, from the ends to the roots focusing more on the ends. You can gently detangle your hair if you notice any tangles or knots too, most deep conditioners have a good slip. Use heat to infuse the nutrients by using a thermal cap, deep conditioning cap or a hooded dryer. Leave the conditioner in for 15-30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Side note; always follow up with a moisturizing deep conditioner after using a protein treatment. Follow the procedure above when applying protein treatment, after rinsing it off, apply a moisturizing deep conditioner. When using a balanced deep conditioner (a deep conditioner that has both moisture and protein) you don’t need to follow up with a moisturizing deep conditioner.
Best deep conditioners for 4C natural hair.
- SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil For Dry, Damaged Hair Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment
- tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask for Natural Hair
- Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner with Protein
- Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask and Deep Conditioner
- Vitamins Keratin Hair Mask Deep Conditioner
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