Is a deep conditioner or hair mask really necessary if you’ve already bought the regular hair conditioner in the same product line? I mean, for real? These things cost! It might seem like all conditioners are about the same.

But come take a closer look. We’ll show you how deep conditioners and regular conditioners do very different things. Below, we’ll also dispel a few misconceptions about deep conditioning, talk about the benefits of and ingredients in hair masks, and present a few of our choices before going into detail on how to deep condition your natural hair.

The Difference Between Regular and Deep Conditioning 

For natural curly hair, deep conditioning is a process that allows proteins, moisturizers and nutrients to penetrate the hair shaft. In this sense, deep conditioning differs from regular conditioning, which only deposits a coating on the hair shaft to improve manageability. A deep conditioner targets the inside of the hair shaft. It enhances the quality of the hair over time.

The Benefits of Deep Conditioners for Natural Hair

Deep conditioners continue to improve the integrity of your hair with each use, while a regular conditioner can be a cosmetic fix. Deep conditioners:

• Stop the hair from splitting: The hair splits at the ends. This is where it is most vulnerable. If the hair above the split is very strong, the split has less of a chance to spread upward and destroy the hair strand. A regular conditioner will attempt to stop split ends by coating them, but this is cosmetic and not a long-term fix.
• Beautify the hair: Everyone wants juicy locks. One way to get beautiful hair is by enhancing the inside of the hair strands with deep conditioning. A regular conditioner might contain oils that sit on the surface of the hair strand to give sheen, but the effect doesn’t last.
• Aid hair growth: Deep conditioners help your hair to grow longer by strengthening it from the inside. When natural hair is strong and moisturized from the inside, it won’t snap off at every turn. It has a greater chance to grow. A regular hair conditioner can aid hair growth, too, by coating the hair and protecting it from breakage.