Why Deep Condition For More Than 1 HR?

[Naturelle]

After going thru the Deep Conditining thread I started to think about the length of time spent.

I usually dc for a min of 30 min, sometimes an hour. But I'm wondering if there is any sense to deep conditioning for longer than that? I'm not sure if there would be any extra added benefits (ie. 3 hours, 6 hours overnight) for dc'ing. I'm wondering if the hair would just reject all the extra because too much is being pumped in? (I'm not usre if that even makes sense) but someone feel free to correct me and educate me if I'm wrong.

If dc'ing (esp using heat) once the hair shaft is open and you've allowed time for moisture/protein to penetrate, wouldn't the next best thing be too close the cuticle up as soon as the the hair shaft is penetrated as supposed to waiting hours on end?

I'm no expert I'm just wondering. I dc weekly and I'd like to up my dc regimen. But I want to know if there is a point to going beyond a certain time frame.

I know people have experiences with overnight dc'ing, but then I frequently read where ppl over'dc which of course leads to mushy hair prone to breakage.

So I guess the question would be if you are going to dc what would be the min and max time (if any) to reap the full benefit?

IMHO, min 30 max 1 hr.

 

[naturalgurl]

I just do it overnight because I'm lazy...

ETA~ I rinse my hair daily anyway so it's not biggie to DC everyday with my concoctions.

ETA~ Well, I've never experienced mushyness, but then again I use coconut milk and it has light protein qualities. I don't really know about it having extra benefit but I do feel that my hair is spending hours in nice moisture instead of dryness, that surely doesn't hurt!

 

[SmilingElephant]

I say either 45 to an hour with my disposable heating cap.....but if my hair is feeling REALLY dry sometimes i let it set for more than an hour to MAKE SURE....i get all the extra conditioning i can get and ten i close the cuticles up by rinsing with cool water.

 

[JustKiya]

My 'usual' weekend DC's are two hours, with steam. I'll overnight occasionally, but that's usually laziness, more so than worried about my hair soaking enough up. For me, less than an hour is pointless to my hair - it's slow on the uptake.

 

[ScorpionQueen]

I always DC for a hour or more but never overnight. Is there a such thing is DC'ing too much?

 

[grnidmonster]

IDK. I just go with whatever seems comfortable or my schedule permits. If it is not enough, I just do it again. I try not to lock myself into a time frame and listen to my hair instead. You pose an interesting question because at the salon they usually put you under the dryer or a warm towel for 15 mins unless they are backed up or you pay them extra for a dc. The lil 15 minutes always seems to be enough at the salon, maybe it is what they do after the dc that actually seals in the moisture. Just my thoughts.

 

[gorgeous86]

I think that 30 minutes with heat is enough. I just like to keep conditioner on longer if I don't have anything to do. I'd rather have conditioner on my hair than dry hair. (if that makes any sense )

 

[SlantedEyezMiss2003]

I don't deep condition cuz I don't have time, but I use too, I would deep condition for 30 mins with heat.....I mean to actually see benefits you would have to do it once a week or however you want. I'm not sure, I haven't deep condition in a year and all honestly, my hair is in great condition, but I might try to deep condition this year....HTH...

 

[JustKiya]

I always DC for a hour or more but never overnight. Is there a such thing is DC'ing too much?

You can 'over-moisturize' your hair - it'll end up soft, weak, 'mushy', over stretchy, etc, etc. It's easy to fix, though - just stop moisturizing for a lil while and give your hair a chance to 'dry' out some, so to speak. I've done it only once.

ETA: And can I be just a wee bit jelly of ya'll who don't have to DC? The hair, she would run away from home if I skipped more than two weeks straight....

 

[Menina Preta]

I always DC for a hour or more but never overnight. Is there a such thing is DC'ing too much?

I think so. I haven't experienced it myself, but I have read on the forum that some women get limp, mushy hair from over-conditioning, so I'm thinking the same could happen if you DC excessively (like every night or something).

 

[ScorpionQueen]

You can 'over-moisturize' your hair - it'll end up soft, weak, 'mushy', over stretchy, etc, etc. It's easy to fix, though - just stop moisturizing for a lil while and give your hair a chance to 'dry' out some, so to speak. I've done it only once.

ETA: And can I be just a wee bit jelly of ya'll who don't have to DC? The hair, she would run away from home if I skipped more than two weeks straight....

@ your hair running away from home..

I think so. I haven't experienced it myself, but I have read on the forum that some women get limp, mushy hair from over-conditioning, so I'm thinking the same could happen if you DC excessively (like every night or something).

I definitely will not do every night..


Thanks ladies, I had no idea that you can DC too much..I'm still kinda new to this. I think 2-3 times a week is the max that I do anyway.

 

[naturalgurl]

With the mushyness issue, would these be people that DC overnight EVERY night? Now that sounds like a mushy mess to me. I only DC once a week overnight. Still, no mushyness. I must have some dry hair!LOL!

 

[Your Cheeziness]

I DC with heat no more than 20 minutes weekly faithfully simply because I hate being under the dryer knowing I have to go back under there with rollers. Without heat, 45 minutes or so. I've done an overnight dry DC (prepoo) because I was too lazy to get up and do my wash.

 

[naturalgurl]

I think that 30 minutes with heat is enough. I just like to keep conditioner on longer if I don't have anything to do. I'd rather have conditioner on my hair than dry hair. (if that makes any sense )

Mucho sense. People are posting as I post making me look like I didn't read...

 

[JustKiya]

With the mushyness issue, would these be people that DC overnight EVERY night? Now that sounds like a mushy mess to me. I only DC once a week overnight. Still, no mushyness. I must have some dry hair!LOL!

When I had my overmoist hair, I had been baggying with DC on my hair overnight every night for like - 3 weeks straight?

 

[leona2025]

Ok so I don't use a dryer at all because I can't stand sitting up under that thing. Usually I put the conditioner on and go about me day. So without heat what's the least amount time I can leave a dc on and have it work?

 

[CurliDiva]

I started deep conditioning for 2 hours by accident (I was reading LHCF) while wearing my heat bonnet and my hair turned out so GREAT that I've decided to keep it up for the winter months.

I've noticed that my hair does not dry out in between DC's this way and I can use less leave-ins - so it works for me.

 

[texasqt]

I would say try to limit it to an hour (not a poll option). For some reason, each time I think about going longer I think about how my fingers/skin wrinkle up after sitting in the tub for too long. I don't want that happening to my scalp cuz I'm sure its not a good think
But that's just me...

(I've gone over an hour and never seen any negative effects from it.)

 

[moonglowdiva]

I usually dc 2 times per week for 30 minutes under my hooded dryer. My nerves won't let me do any longer than that. I personally feel that a true dc is always with heat but that's just how I feel. Now everybody have their own way of doing it.

 

[Golden75]

I have to DC for at least 45 w/heat. When I do less my hair feels like nothing has happened. I have heard of over moisturized hair, so I am sure to incorporate a mild protein dc at least 2x a month, especially since I've begun co-washing. But my hair just gets so dry, my hair has not caught up from the years of neglect/mistreating. Poor Baby, I am sooooooo sorry (talking to hair & scalp).

 

[naturalgurl]

When I had my overmoist hair, I had been baggying with DC on my hair overnight every night for like - 3 weeks straight?

Oh my!

WHAT? Tsk Tsk

But look at you now!!! The queen of napdom!

 

[lady_godiva]

For some reason doing this makes my hair grow faster. I know why. It just does.

 

[JustKiya]

Oh my!

WHAT? Tsk Tsk

But look at you now!!! The queen of napdom!

:blush3: Thank you!!

Oh, girl, this was back in the early days, and my hair was DRY. DRY. DRY. It needed a good two weeks of that, on the real. And I was wearing my hair in a puff every day, too?

I can go a lil overboard sometimes, though.

 

[~*~ShopAholic~*~]

15-20 min for me with heat for me 30 only if I am on the computer while DCing only to prolong my stay on here.

 

[Lei*Lei]

I usually dc overnight because of pure laziness and convenience. I haven't had any problems with the mushies, i use a cholesterol dc. Not sure of any extra added benefits.

 

[gissellr78]

After going thru the Deep Conditining thread I started to think about the length of time spent.

I usually dc for a min of 30 min, sometimes an hour. But I'm wondering if there is any sense to deep conditioning for longer than that? I'm not sure if there would be any extra added benefits (ie. 3 hours, 6 hours overnight) for dc'ing. I'm wondering if the hair would just reject all the extra because too much is being pumped in? (I'm not usre if that even makes sense) but someone feel free to correct me and educate me if I'm wrong.

If dc'ing (esp using heat) once the hair shaft is open and you've allowed time for moisture/protein to penetrate, wouldn't the next best thing be too close the cuticle up as soon as the the hair shaft is penetrated as supposed to waiting hours on end?

I'm no expert I'm just wondering. I dc weekly and I'd like to up my dc regimen. But I want to know if there is a point to going beyond a certain time frame.

I know people have experiences with overnight dc'ing, but then I frequently read where ppl over'dc which of course leads to mushy hair prone to breakage.

So I guess the question would be if you are going to dc what would be the min and max time (if any) to reap the full benefit?

IMHO, min 30 max 1 hr.

I DC for 30 mins with a cap or 10-15 under the dryer....this weekend my aunt was going out and i couldn't DC because she does my rollers and my hair came out FANTASTIC!

 

[ShaniKeys]

Depends on what the hair needs. I always DC for 45min. I would say min. 20 minutes and maximum overnight (if hair is extremely dry).

 

[chebaby]

i deep condition over night on dry hair in the summer just because. if i use heat iits never more than 45 minutes.

 

[Angelicus]

In the past, I have deep conditioned for 30 minutes to an hour. Sometimes I would put on a shower cap and do housework for a few hours before rinsing the conditioner out. Because of time constraints (work, family, life changes) I now deep condition for 10 minutes with heat.

Some of the conditioners that I used to deep condition with for over an hour would backfire: My hair would feel rough and not detangled after rinsing. Then I had some conditioners that only "worked" when I sat under the dryer with it for 30 minutes. It's a hit or miss deal depending on what I use.

 

[TaraDyan]

I typically DC with heat for 30 minutes. But, if I start doing my hair too late into the evening and I'm too tired to rinse out the conditioner, I just won't use any heat and will sleep with the conditioner in my hair instead.