How to Deep Condition African American Hair

African American hair needs deep conditioning just like any other hair, but the methods you can use to deep condition African American hair are unique to its dry and delicate structural makeup. Follow these steps to deep condition African American hair to bring out its natural beauty.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Limit how often you wash your hair. African American hair, unlike European hair, doesn't produce or hold much oil. Shampoos and conditioners developed for European hair often contain sulfates and are intended to remove oils from hair, which is not what you want do to. Wash and condition your hair once a week with a non-sulfate shampoo and a regular conditioner to maintain a healthy level of natural oils.

2. Use essential oils, such as lavender and rosemary to deep condition. They're a little more expensive than your typical deep conditioning products at the grocery store, but they give your hair a soft shine and smell pretty. Apply a small amount to your hair, leave in and style as usual. You can also use the oils as a hot oil treatment or thermal pressing oil.

3. Heat a palm-size amount of extra virgin olive oil for 20 seconds and apply it to freshly washed, wet hair. Leave on for 30 minutes. Use a blow dryer on your hair until it becomes hot and then rinse thoroughly. You may also apply extra virgin olive oil to unwashed hair before bed and wash it out in the morning.

4. Give your hair an extra deep condition every other month. In a bowl, mix coconut milk, honey, and your favorite conditioner. Refrigerate for 2 days until it gets thick and easy to apply. Work it into your hair with your hands. Leave on for 45 minutes with a plastic shower cap and then wash.

Tips & Warnings

• Heat is the enemy of African American hair. Use blow dryers, flat irons and curling irons sparingly.

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[kal30314]

on 10/17/2009 i am adding this article to my favorite, thanks for sharing your tips with us on eHow.

[vicsmom]

on 2/11/2009 can deep conditioner be bought in a bottle in stores instead of you having to mix it yourself? and can you deep condition without using heat?

[LovelySistah]

on 10/25/2008 Rosemary and Lavender are essential oils that should be used in combination with a carrier oil as they are too strong to be applied directly to the hair and scalp. They are not meant to deeply condition the hair...they are meant to stimulate the scalp or kill of any fungal issues on the scalp...as well as promote hair growth. They should be used IN a hot oil treatment, but not AS a hot oil treatment. Like I said earlier, Mineral Indulgence has a hot oil treatment with these essential oils in it as well as herbs, that work well as a deep conditioner. They also have a sulfate free shampoo "Napturally Sulfate Free Shampoo" with essential oils in it.

There are actually a lot of Black hair care shampoos with sulfates as it is a common cleaning agent.