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deep conditioning
  • crispychris
    How much of a difference does it make to deep condition under a hooded dryer verses allowing conditioner to sit on hair with plastic cap?
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    It really won't make much difference at all.  Conditioners actually start working right when they are put on your hair.  In fact, I'd be surprised if you could tell a difference between leaving a conditioner on your hair for 1 minute in the shower versus any other method.  For hair conditioning, things like dryers and plastic caps are mostly just gimmicks that make you feel like something different is going on.
    There is no scientific reason the formulas would work any better.
  • PurpleRulesPurpleRules
    I've always wondered how long to leave conditioner on in the shower. Most conditioners say 3-5 minutes, which is a long time to stare at the ceiling while waiting for your conditioner to do its thing.
    So if I'm using coconut oil and olive oil to condition my hair before I wash it, I can just leave it on for a couple of minutes and then wash it out? That would be nice; I can tolerate the dripping for a minute or two. The main reason I put the bag on my head is to minimize the mess.
  • taiwanesegurltaiwanesegurl
    ^I wash my body as my hair is conditioning.  If I want to leave it in longer, I'll shave my legs.  I just clip my hair up so it's out of the way.
  • Left BrainLeft Brain
    A product like coconut oil will take a little longer to penetrate the hair than a standard quarternized conditioner ingredient like Cetrimonium Chloride.  However, leaving coconut oil in for a couple of minutes is plenty.  Taiwanesegurl gives a great suggestion above.
  • PurpleRulesPurpleRules
    I used to do that. My dermatologist suggested I wash after rinsing the conditioner out of my hair since she thought the conditioner might be aggrevating the acne I'd get on my torso.  It made a big difference so now I turn the water off and brush my teeth while the conditioner's in my hair.
  • KarenKaren
    Thanks, Lefty! Now I know I don't have to leave in my coconut oil for 30+ minutes!!!
    Is heat important to get better results when you deep conditiona? I have also been putting a plastic bag over my head and then a warm towel from the dryer. If I could skip more unnecessary steps, I'd be even happier.
  • Anne
    Karen,
    In Lefty's July 1st message, she said heat didn't make a difference. It will sure make my routine easier!
  • KarenKaren
    Oh yes, now I see it!
  • rungrace01
    Hi
    I read the forum a lot but rarely (hmm, if ever) post.  I finally thought to look for (unrefined) coconut oil at the hippie grocery, and found it.  The jar has instructions for cooking (medium heat only!) and as a body/hair product.  It says "place jar in warm water to liquefy.  Massage into skin or apply to hair for one hour, then rinse thoroughly."  OK, my questions are many!
    I see from your discussions that it needn't be on for an hour.  What about washing and regular conditioning? Do you wash (once? twice?) after the oil is rinsed, then condition with a regular conditioner?  How often do you use the coconut oil?  How do you store it (it recommends cool dry place, which would be the pantry, but my house is no cooler than 85 degrees during the day).  When you use it do you warm the whole jar, or just scoop some out and massage in?  Or scoop, melt that and massage? 
    My hair is longish, colored (hi-lo foiled) , straight, tends to dry if I don't condition well. 
    Thanks for any and all advice.
    Grace
  • Anne
    Hello Grace,

    I would use the coconut oil about once a week. I just scoop some out and melt it in my hands. It liquidizes very quickly. Rinsing will not get the oil out of your hair. It may take one or two shampooing s to get it out. I wash it once, then feel it to see if I need to wash a second time. I do use regular conditioner after washing. It rarely gets 85 here, so I keep mine in the cupboard. With you temperatures, you may want to store it in the fridge.

    Anne
  • rungrace01
    Thanks so much Anne.  I'm going to try it tomorrow!  And you are right about the temp, it was a little melty going into the pantry, so I will refrigerate it tomorrow after I open it.
    Grace
  • KarenKaren
    FWIW, I follow the same routine as Anne.
    I do like the way my hair is feeling since I started conditioning with coconut oil.
  • PurpleRulesPurpleRules
    I whisk mine with some olive oil. I don't use much because it just ends up running down my back. I wash and condition after.
  • Dreniva
    I think the heat helps because certain ingredients in the conditioner like cetrimonium chloride can increase the tensile strength of hair by crosslinking due to the application of the heat on the dryer.

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    Source : The Beauty Brains Article - How To Protect Your Hair From Heat Damage

    ... exposing hair to heat in the presence of such a conditioning agent actually caused an increase in tensile strength (the force required to break a hair). This is because the heat reacts with the conditioning agents and cross links some of the protein chains inside the hair.

    URL : http://thebeautybrains.com/2008/04/29/how-to-protect-your-hair-from-heat-damage/
  • KarenKaren
    Interesting, Dreniva.
    Left Brain: Can you clarify? Your earlier post seems to suggest that heat does not matter when deep conditioning.
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