The quest for a healthy head of hair can be a daunting journey; from eating the best foods to selecting the best products, you’re forgiven if you just want to throw the whole endeavor away. It can be difficult to sort through what is real and what is basically a sales ploy masquerading as viable information. It’s always a good idea to start with the basic premise of individuality: that is, what works for everyone else may not work for you, and vice versa.
MYTH #1: INGREDIENTS ARE ALL THAT MATTERS
Every product on the market seems to boast some sort of special ingredient that promises to restore your hair to its optimal health. But the truth is that the ingredients in any given product are only half of the equation. It matters how much of the listed active ingredients is in the product. It also matters how that ingredient is delivered to your hair in the formula. Great ingredients mean nothing if the formula leaves your hair feeling and behaving worse than before you used the product.
MYTH #2: THICKER FORMULAS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE
Most deep conditioning formulas tend to present as thicker than daily conditioning formulas, with the (false) promise that they will somehow be more effective. The reality, many thicker formulas don’t actually condition your hair. Rather, they coat your hair (and potentially weigh it down) to give you the illusion of deep conditioning. An effective deep conditioner should be able to penetrate your hair fairly easily and help fortify it. It should also not require insane wait times in order to be effective. Which leads us to the next myth…
MYTH #3: DEEP CONDITIONERS SHOULD BE LEFT ON FOR HOURS OR OVERNIGHT
If you have to leave a deep conditioner on for hours or overnight for it to work, then it’s probably time to shop for a new deep conditioner. While you can accelerate the penetration of conditioners with the use of heat (like a developer cap and/or a dryer), no conditioner should need to take hours to effectively fortify your hair. In fact, one of the risks of leaving conditioner on your scalp overnight is the potential for fungus to develop. Because fungus thrives in warm, moist conditions, a scalp that has been left wet and unable to breathe presents an ideal environment.
Your ideal deep conditioner should help improve the look and condition of your hair beyond your regular routine. One of the best ways to gauge the efficacy of your deep conditioning routine is to keep a photo or video log. Remember that more expensive formulas are not necessarily more effective. Do your research, and always try samples or smaller sizes of a product before committing to a full size. Good luck!