Q&A for How to Deep Condition Your Hair

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.

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.

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.

The choice is to do this is up to you but it’s not necessary. There is no need to use a daily/regular conditioner after you’ve done a deep condition as your hair will already be in great condition and ready to dry and style. However, if it’s something you want to do after rinsing out the deep conditioner, then it’s fine. A good idea is to experiment both ways, to see which you find works best for your hair type and what feels best.

Yes, because it replenishes the lost nutrients and oil and stimulates hair growth.

Yes. You should first shampoo your hair and rinse, just like when you use normal conditioner.

Try rinsing your hair with cool water after conditioning to help close follicles. Then dry with a cotton t-shirt, as regular towels cause frizz.

Yes, however normal conditioner lacks a few things that deep conditioner does. You can add honey, olive oil (or any type of oil), yogurt, or coconut oil to your regular conditioner to make it like a deep conditioner.

Shampoo cleans your hair but may strip it of natural oils and nutrients. Conditioner nourishes hair, making it soft, smooth and shiny. Conditioner is also an excellent detangler.

Yes. Mix it together with coconut oil to make it easier to rinse it off.

No, you only need to use one conditioner at a time.

Absolutely not. Bar soap will strip your hair's oils and leave it dry.

Deep condition it frequently. Use conditioner after every shampoo and skip shampoo sometimes, only applying conditioner. Shampoo your hair about once every two to three days with a mild baby shampoo.

No. Heat just makes it more effective.

No, deep conditioning provides all of the benefits of regular conditioner and more.

These treatments are meant to moisturize your hair, thereby making it look healthy.

No. It would be suggested not to deep condition your hair overnight as your hair will be difficult to manage the next morning.

A hair mask is a mixture of ingredients to put on your hair. It is mostly used to fix hair problems, like oily or damaged hair.

Deep conditioning is a great way to return moisture to dyed hair, so following a deep conditioning treatment about once a week will definitely help restore hair health. It is best to deep condition hair quite soon after dyeing.

You should condition your hair after each time you wash it. If you're asking about deep conditioning, that depends on how dry or damaged your hair is. Generally, anywhere between twice a week and twice a month is reasonable.

Take care of your health. Exercise frequently and get enough sleep. Trim your hair every few months to get rid of split ends. Also, hair masks help to keep hair healthy and grow longer.

Deep conditioning is about replacing and replenishing the protein in your hair which makes up the keratin. Eggs and mayo have a lot of protein.

It won't have any negative effects, so yes, you can use it.

Yes, that is a good mask combination. You could also add coconut oil and/or honey.

Yes, but not longer than three days.

You can if you like, but applying conditioner to the scalp could make your hair appear thinner and more limp. The best way to apply conditioner is to apply it from the ears down.

It depends on how much your hair has changed and what caused it, but yes, deep conditioning can help to restore your natural hair.

They may help a little bit but not much as the chemicals used in perms and other salon treatments damage your hair in a similar way to hair dye, rather than nourishing your hair like deep conditioning would.

It shouldn't, but certain brands might cause more oiliness in your hair depending on the ingredients used and how well your hair tolerates them. If you have a problem with a deep conditioner making your hair oily, try a new brand.

Yes, but you should only need to shampoo your hair once before applying the mask to remove excess buildup and create a clean canvas for the conditioner. The mask should easily rinse out with just water; shampooing afterwards could defeat the purpose of the conditioning.