Deep Conditioning (DC) is something that is essential to having strong, healthy hair. Some ladies may choose to DC once a week, or once a month, but either way you should make deep conditioning a priority. Regardless of when I DC or what conditioner I am using, there are always 3 things that I like to add to my treatments to really give it a little extra UMPH!

1. Raw Honey

Honey has truly been a game changer for my DC treatments. Because it is a humectant (source), it really helps to draw moisture into my strands. This is absolutely necessary for a highly porous girl like myself whose hair can become dry and brittle in just a couple of days. It is also known for its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties and is believed to help strengthen hair follicles and promote health hair growth (source).

2. Oils

I ALWAYS add oils to my conditioners. There are many oils that can be used so I have complete freedom depending on what I feel like I need, and what I have on hand. I love to use olive oil which is touted as being rich in antioxidants, and vitamins A and E (source), or coconut oil which is known for its medium-chain fatty acids and lauric acid that help to strengthen the hair and promote growth (source). If for some reason I don’t have either of those on hand, I have also used grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil, and even jojoba oil, but the fact is I’M GOING TO ADD AT LEAST 1 OIL! It is always best to make sure that the oils you use are in their purest state, so I always opt for cold pressed, unrefined oils to make sure that I am getting all the benefits.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is truly something you can use from head-to-toe, both internally and externally. While I’ve used ACV for cleansing my hair and scalp, and as a final rinse, I mostly add it to my conditioners for on minimal reason” its low pH. As someone with highly porous hair, I try to make sure that my products are a balanced as possible to ensure that my hair has more sheen and looks more lustrous which is a much-welcomed bonus! While most hair care products are balanced these days, I’ve found that that usually means that pH is at a 7 or neutral. While this isn’t a problem, I’ve read that the pH of the hair and scalp are typically between a 4.5 and 5.5 (source) and by adding a splash of ACV to my condish, I find that it drops the pH a bit, resulting in much smoother hair.

Do you add anything to your conditioners?