Do’s and Don’ts for Deep Conditioning Kinky Hair
By Tiffani Douglas
With so much talk about how fragile and dry 4C hair is, it’s no wonder you can easily get carried away with deep conditioning. After all, to keep your hair nourished and moisturized shouldn’t you deep condition your hair all the time? Well, yes and no. While you should have a regimen that includes deep conditioner for curly hair, you should also know it’s possible to overdo it. Over-conditioning your curls can throw off your hair’s moisture balance and leave you with oversaturated, limp curls.How to Know If I’m Over-Conditioning My Curls
Anytime you apply deep conditioner for curly hair, you’re adding a new layer of product to your curls. Over-conditioning happens when the hair cuticle becomes heavily coated, making it virtually impossible for other products to penetrate and work effectively. Here are six actions that may lead to over-conditioning kinky hair:- Applying too much deep conditioner to your hair.
- Letting deep conditioner sit on your hair way too long (we’re all guilty of that overnight deep conditioning treatment).
- Not completely rinsing all the deep conditioner from your hair.
- Deep conditioning your hair too frequently.
- Using the wrong deep conditioner for your hair type. (Example: low porosity conditioner should be for low porosity hair.)
- Applying treatments or styling products with moisturizing properties in addition to a deep conditioner.