Curly and kinky hair requires extra care and attention. Because of its dry state, it can be brittle and quite fragile. Sebaceous glands below the scalp secrete an oily substance which travels down the shaft of straight hair making it shiny and locking the moisture in. With curly hair the sebaceous oil does not make it very far, this is why curly and kinky hair tends to be dry, frizzy and prone to breakage. Deep conditioning is easily one of the most important aspects of the curly and kinky hair care regimen.

Strictly speaking, deep conditioners are those types of conditioners which you are directed to leave on the hair for 15-30 minutes. For the deep conditioner to be truly effective, it is important that heat is used along with it. Heat allows the hair shaft to swell and the cuticles to open and allow the conditioner inside.

All hair types benefit from deep conditioning but for black hair, this is an essential component! As the hair is dry by nature, deep conditioning restores the moisture balance in the hair which stops breakage. The type of deep conditioner used should depend on the condition of the hair.

Moisturizing deep conditioners should be used alternately with protein deep conditioners to maintain a healthy balance. By using products that contain protein in them, you improve the hair’s elasticity and strength properties. The goal is to have hair that has both strength and elasticity.

With relaxed black hair some bonds have been broken during the chemical service so protein is required to strengthen the hair but moisture will also be needed because chemicals tend to aggravate the dry condition of the hair. For natural black hair it’s better to err on the side of moisture. As the hair bonds have not been broken by chemical service, the hair is usually pretty strong. However, it is likely to be quite dry. By promoting elasticity, deep conditioning improves the strength of the hair making it more resilient which helps in length retention in the long term.