How to Deep Condition Your Hair

Keep your hair moisturized and healthy with an easy deep conditioning treatment

Co-authored by Vanessa Garcia

Last Updated: January 20, 2024 Approved

Hair can get dried out and damaged from the use of heat styling tools, dyes, chemical straighteners, and exposure to the sun. You may want to restore your hair's moisture and body with a high-quality deep conditioning treatment. The right deep conditioning treatment can leave your hair moist and shiny!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Store-Bought Conditioner

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1
Choose a product. Find a deep conditioning treatment that's right for your hair type. There are many products on the market, and while they're all made to restore moisture to hair, you should find one that's tailored for your specific needs.
- If you have kinky, textured hair, look for products made specifically for kinky hair.
- If you have fine hair, look for products that are described as "light" or "weightless." Products made with heavier oils will make your hair look weighed down.
- If you have curly hair, look for products designed to keep your frizz at bay.
Use a gentle shampoo that won't strip your hair too much. Avoid shampoos made with sulfates, which are abrasive cleaning agents that cleanse hair of its natural oils and lead to dryness and breakage.

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Squeeze a dollop about the size of a quarter into your hands and rub your hands together. Then apply the product to your hair, beginning about halfway down the shaft and moving towards the tips of your hair. Then spread the any product that remains on your hands from the roots to the tips. Pay special attention to the tips, which tend to get drier than the rest of your hair. If necessary, use a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product.^{[1]
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Deep conditioning treatments require at least 10 minutes to get to the core of each strand of your hair. Check the instructions on the product you are using, as some may suggest being left on longer, but most should work in 30 minutes or less.^{[2]
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Research source} You may want to keep the conditioner in place by covering your head with a plastic shower cap, but this is optional.
5
Apply heat. Some products suggest using hair dryer to heat up the product in your hair, which allows it to get absorbed into your hair more easily. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to direct hot air at your head and thoroughly heat up the product.^{[3]
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- Make sure the hair dryer doesn't get too hot, since you don't want to melt the plastic cap if you are using one.
6
Rinse out the product. Remove the shower cap and rinse your hair with cool water, which will tighten the hair shaft and make it look shiny. After rinsing, towel dry your hair gently, then let it air dry and then style as usual. Your hair should be bouncy, glossy and well-conditioned.
- Wait a few days before shampooing your hair, so that you don't negate the effects of the conditioning treatment by washing it out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making a Conditioning Treatment at Home

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1
Gather your supplies. To make a natural, effective deep conditioning treatment that works for any type of hair, you only need a few items from the produce section. Buy (or check your refrigerator for) the following items:
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 banana
- 1/2 can coconut milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 egg or 1/4 cup mayonnaise
Place the items in a blender or food processor and puree them until smooth. Make sure no chunks remain, or the treatment won't be as effective for your hair.^{[4]
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Use a gentle shampoo that won't strip your hair too much. Avoid shampoos made with sulfates, which are abrasive cleaning agents that cleanse hair of its natural oils and lead to dryness and breakage.
4
Apply the conditioner. Use an old pastry brush or your fingers to spread the conditioner onto damp hair. Massage it in from the roots to the tips, focusing on the areas that tend to get the driest.
- If you have very thick hair, separate it into sections and apply the treatment a section at a time, to make sure all of your hair gets covered.
- If you have leftover deep conditioning treatment, you can store it in the refrigerator (or freezer) for later use.
You may want to cover the conditioner with a plastic shower cap. To speed the soaking in process, you can use a hair dryer on a low setting to heat the conditioner.^{[5]
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6
Rinse out your hair. Remove the plastic cap and run your hair under cool water. Rinse a few times until the water runs clear and the conditioner is completely rinsed out. Gently towel dry your hair, then style it as usual.
- Don't use hot water when you rinse your hair, as it may cause an undesirable reaction with the egg or mayonnaise.
- Wait a few days before shampooing your hair, so that you don't negate the effects of the conditioning treatment by washing it out.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Doing a Quick Deep Conditioning

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Olive oil and honey work together to deep condition your hair quickly, since the honey moisturizes your hair and the olive oil works to trap it in. Mix 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup olive oil in a bowl.
Dampen your hair, then use a pastry brush or your fingers to apply the honey and olive oil mixture. Rub it into your hair from the roots to the tips, focusing on the spots that tend to get the driest. You may want to use a plastic shower cap to cover your treated hair.^{[6]
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3
Apply some heat. Since this is a quick conditioning method, the best way to apply heat is to use a hair dryer. Set your hair dryer to a medium setting and direct the warm air at your head for at least 10 minutes.
- Change the positioning of the hair dryer regularly so your entire head of hair gets treated with heat.
After 10-30 minutes, remove the plastic cap and rinse the honey and olive oil mixture out of your hair using cool water.^{[7]
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Research source} Keep rinsing until the water runs clear. Towel dry your hair and then style as usual.

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Question

How long does it take to deep condition hair?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Deep conditioner is usually left in the hair for 20 minutes and for no longer than 30 minutes. It is not recommended that you leave it in while sleeping or for the whole day, as it stops benefiting your hair after the first half hour and may cause problems like greasiness, making your hair lank and heavy, or even causing hair to fall out if left in too long. Read the instructions on the packaging, as the length of time may vary depending on the product used. The standard 20-minutes is usually just right for achieving hair repair and care.

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Question

Can you use normal conditioner for deep conditioning?

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Normal, regular or daily conditioner does not contain all of the ingredients that make a deep conditioner so effective at restoring moisture and body to lank, dried out or damaged hair. However, you can try some DIY fixes at home to turn an ordinary conditioner into a deep conditioner, by adding some ingredients to it like avocado, olive oil, almond oil, Argan oil, coconut oil, honey, yogurt (plain Greek), Shea butter, mayo, etc. It’s a good idea to find a recipe to get the quantities right, then test a few to see which of your homemade deep conditioners works best for your hair’s needs.

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How many times do you deep condition your hair?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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The amount of times your hair needs deep conditioning will depend on your hair type and condition. If your hair is really dried out (think dyed hair) or damaged (split ends, over-dyed, heated too often, etc.), then hair experts recommend deep conditioning 2 to 3 times a week. For hair in healthy condition, 1 to 2 times a week should be sufficient. However, the answer also depends on the product used and what it specifies as appropriate for that product, so read the instructions for exact advice. And don’t be afraid to trust your own experience of the deep conditioning effects on your hair; you may find it works best using it more or less often than recommended and it’s just something you’ll need to experiment with to find the sweet spot that works for you.

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Tips

Don’t spend a fortune on expensive deep conditioners; compare ingredients and select a less expensive conditioner that has the same 4-5 main ingredients as the higher-end conditioner.^{[8]
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Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your homemade deep conditioning treatment to get the benefits of aromatherapy while you work on your hair.

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Other types of oil, such as almond oil, can be used in place of olive oil.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Deep conditioning too often can create build-up, which isn't good in the long run. Be sure to use deep conditioning treatments with moderation!
Pat dry your hair before applying any conditioner, as the dripping water may also take the product away with it.
A plastic bag can work as a shower cap if you don't have any regular ones on hand.

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