Conditioner for Black Hair

Every woman longs for long, lustrous healthy hair. Conditioner for black hair is extremely important because it adds moisture to the hair. Conditioners also prevent hair damage from external factors like the sun, excessive use of hair dryers and heat stylers.

The first step for having healthy, shiny hair is to know the type of hair you possess. For this you can do the tissue paper test. Take a tissue paper and press it on your scalp gently with back and forth motion. Observe the tissue carefully, if there is oil on the tissue paper, it means that you have oily hair, otherwise your hair is dry. Once you have determined your hair type, it is very simple to follow a hair care regimen that is ideal for your hair type. If you have not been taking proper care of your hair, or have damaged it with excessive use of chemicals, deep conditioning your hair is a must. Conditioners for black hair can restore the lost bounce and luster of your hair. Conditioners have three major constituents; moisturizers, proteins and emollients. Moisturizers help in retaining the water content of hair, emollients soften the hair cuticles and proteins strengthen the hair.

Types of Hair Conditioners
There are different types of black hair conditioners available in the market targeted for specific kind of hair. Moisturizing conditioner for black hair are available in different varieties. Conditioners are essential for tangle-free and glossy hair. They are of the following types.

Deep Conditioners
Deep conditioners are applied on hair for more than half an hour, and they contain emulsifiers and oil that are effective for dry and damaged hair. Deep conditioning is especially effective for hair that has been damaged by chemical treatments, as it repairs the shaft of the hair, although it is not permanent. They are also helpful for conditioning colored hair thereby retaining the color for longer period of time.

Thermal Protectors
Hair that is constantly being styled by heat rollers, hair straighteners, curling iron or by blow drying tends to become dry and brittle over a period of time. To combat these hair woes, you can use a conditioner with thermal protector. They distribute the heat uniformly, as they contain heat absorbing polymers, thereby protecting hair from heat damage.

Leave-in-conditioners
Leave-in-conditioners contain substances like emulsifiers, hydrolyzed protein, oils, waxes, balsams, etc. These are applied to dry or freshly shampooed hair. Leave-in-conditioners are very versatile and can be used even on unwashed dry hair and it provides protection from harmful effects of the sun rays.

Volume Building Conditioners
Volumizing conditioners are for people with fine, limp hair. It improves the texture of hair, leaving hair fuller and giving it extra volume. Unlike other conditioners, it does not weigh down your hair.

Homemade Hair Conditioner for Black Hair
Here are some homemade hair conditioners for black hair that will restore moisture of hair.

• Beat together one egg yolk with 2 tablespoon of baby oil and ½ cup of water. Apply this mixture to your hair and rinse well with cold water after 20 minutes. This is a very good protein conditioner for black hair.
• In a medium bowl mix a ripe avocado with 100 ml of buttermilk. Apply this concoction to your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Soak a towel in hot water and wrap it on your head for deep conditioning. More on avocado oil for hair.
• Take one tablespoon of castor oil with 1/2 cup of jojoba oil. Apply this on your hair for shine and bounce.
• Honey is a very good conditioner for black hair. Mix 1/2 cup of honey with 1/3 cup of good quality extra virgin olive oil. Apply this mixture to your hair and wash after half an hour.
• Mash a ripe banana with 1/2 cup honey. Apply this evenly on your hair and wash it after an hour.
• Apply a mixture of 2 tablespoon of aloe-vera gel with one egg yolk for 15 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

Read more on:

• Hair Care Products
• Hair Conditioners Made at Home
• Hair Conditioning Treatments at Home

Always ensure that you read the label of any store brought conditioner for black hair before buying it. Many times you will be surprised to find that less expensive conditioners contain the same ingredients as expensive conditioners. Conditioners which contain ingredients like isopropyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulphate or ethyl paraben might cause allergic reaction, and should be present in very low doses. Apply conditioner at least an inch away from the roots of hair as the scalp produces natural oil. Additional conditioner on the scalp will just weigh down your hair, leaving a very flat and greasy look.