conditioner

The 5 Best Deep Conditioners

Andrea Cannon — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 09:00:20 +0000

Your hair takes a beating all day. It has to withstand chemical processing, heated styling tools, and the harsh weather elements, along with pollution. Fortunately, deep conditioners can restore health and beauty to your hair in minutes.

A good deep conditioner can instantly condition the hair cuticles, combat split ends, restore strength, and replenish moisture, so your hair is better able to withstand daily stressors. With regular use, deep conditioner can leave your hair healthier, shinier, and completely renewed. (See also: The 5 Best Conditioners)

What Is a Deep Conditioner?

A deep conditioner (or hair mask) is a hair care item that can nourish and strengthen hair. It typically contains more fatty acids and lipids than traditional conditioners, which can help restore moisture to the hair and help protect it going forward.

Dry, damaged hair is no match for the best deep conditioners. While deep conditioner can work for all hair types, it is particularly beneficial for dry hair. In most cases, it’s best to use a deep conditioner at least once per week to reset your hair.

Top 5 Deep Conditioners

Neutrogena Clean Replenishing Deep Recovery Hair Mask

You won’t find a more highly recommended deep conditioner than the Neutrogena Clean Replenishing Deep Recovery Hair Mask. The drugstore favorite will fight dryness to leave your hair shiny, moisturized, soft, and smooth. Some reviewers found that this left their hair feeling like silk.

The salon-approved deep conditioner has a whipped texture and won’t weigh hair down. It is enhanced by various oils and butters, including three naturally derived extracts (olive, meadowfoam seed, and sweet almond), which penetrate each layer of the hair strand to help moisturize, condition, detangle, and improve shine. The concentrated weekly restorative treatment puts life back into the hair and can make the ends feel like you just got a fresh haircut. The intensive moisture treatment works quickly to revive even the most dehydrated hair strands, leaving your hair hydrated and stronger after each use.

This has a nice fruity scent and works on all hair types, but is especially beneficial for dry, damaged, frizzy, over-processed, and color-treated hair. Only a little is needed at a time, so the container can provide a great value. It is a Total Beauty “Top-Rated Beauty Product” and is recommended by Allure, The Today Show, and About.com. It also has a dedicated following of devoted customers and outstanding online reviews.

Currently $6.99 on Amazon

It's a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin

The It's a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin will leave your hair shiny and soft after each use. It is made with high-quality ingredients, including keratin protein, which penetrates the hair to deeply nourish and moisturize it. It is designed to do 10 things instantly, including smoothing, detangling, and protecting hair color. It can also restore elasticity and strength, prevent split ends, add shine, and even protect from sun damage.

This works for all hair types, including dry, chemically processed hair. It is recommended by Women’s Health Magazine and All Women Stalk. It has outstanding online reviews, including nearly 500 five-star reviews on Amazon. The It's A 10 Miracle Hair Mask is another highly rated option.

Currently $13.84 on Amazon

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

The Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask is especially ideal for curly, unruly, frizzy, tangled hair, and can even remove big knots with ease. The unique lightweight formula is ultra-moisturizing and hydrating without weighing hair down or leaving it feeling greasy. It is made with argan oil from Southwest Morocco, which naturally renews hair cell structure, adds shine, and restores flexibility and softness.

The cult classic is recommended by The Today Show and has outstanding online reviews, including more than 500 five-star reviews on Amazon. Most reviewers agree that the rich argan butter hair mask has a great scent that is unlike anything else.

Currently $27.99 on Amazon

Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask

The Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask is frequently recommended by YouTube vloggers and beauty bloggers. It promises to provide a revitalizing hair reconstruction. It combines deep nourishment and long-lasting conditioning, so your hair is left soft, smooth, manageable. It is made with outstanding ingredients, like macadamia oil, argan oils, tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe, and algae extract. It can rejuvenate and rebuild the hair for improved elasticity and shine. It works on all hair types and can perform wonders on dry, damaged, frizzy hair.

This is recommended by Birchbox and has a dedicated following. Many reviewers refer to this as their holy grail product. Most reviewers also agree that the scent is great.

Currently $14.75 on Amazon

Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Conditioning Balm for Dry Hair

The Matrix Biolage Hydrasource Conditioning Balm works best for thick, dry, damaged, color-treated hair. The salon-recommended deep conditioner is formulated with aloe leaf juice to help envelop and smooth the hair, so your hair will be detangled, conditioned, and completely revived. The conditioning balm works quickly, so you can expect to see noticeable results from the first use. It instantly renews moisture and can even help prevent split ends. It promises to provide soft, moisturized, smooth, shiny, and healthy-looking hair after each use.

This is a Total Beauty “Top-Rated Beauty Product” and has outstanding online reviews, including more than 700 five-star reviews on Amazon.

Currently $18.77 on Amazon

And those are our recommendations for the best deep conditioners. As always, be sure to check Wise Bread's Buying Calendar to learn when and how to buy just about anything!

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This article is from Andrea Cannon of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Hair Conditioners You Can Make at Home

Ashley Watson — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:26:12 +0000

You might think of beer, bananas, and coconut oil as the main ingredients to an awesome banana bread, but to use in a natural hair conditioner?

According to Cristi Nunziata — The Herbal Education Coordinator at City Market in Burlington, VT — there are many items from your kitchen that you can use to make natural beauty products. And aside from saving money, there are many reasons to make your own, including taking better care of your skin and hair. I have picked out five easy recipes for homemade hair conditioners that treat dry or damaged hair, along with some excellent general advice from Nunziata's natural hair care workshops. (See also: 10 Budget Beauty Products You Can Make at Home)

While these are simple recipes, Nunziata does say it takes practice to get it right and that there are some important things to remember about using conditioners:

Conditioning lubricates the hair shaft, causing softness and preventing breakage and tangles. Most are applied after shampooing, but some are used prior and left on for 20 minutes or even overnight.

From "Herbal Hair Care" by Cristi Nunziata

Avocado Deep Conditioner

1/2 mashed ripe avocado
1/2 tsp olive oil
3 drops lavender or rosemary essential oil

Combine ingredients and apply to hair, focusing on the ends. Leave on for at least 10 minutes, then rinse.

From Beauty By Nature by Brigette Mars

Cost: Around $10 for two to three treatments. The essential oil will be the most expensive item here (around $8.50). You can always buy a small amount of olive oil in bulk if you don't already have it on hand. Unless you plan to eat the other half of the avocado, keep the pit inside the flesh of the avocado and store it in a container in the refrigerator; this will keep it from turning completely brown when you are ready to use it again. Use the other half within 24 hours.

Oil Hair-Conditioning Treatment

Small amount of jojoba, olive, or coconut oil
Herb mixture of choice (optional)
Essential oils of choice (optional)

Warm the oil to 100-105 degrees in a double boiler. If using, add herbs and essential oils.

Dampen hair. For long or thick hair, use 1-2 teaspoons of the oil mixture, and for fine or short hair, use 1/4 teaspoon of the mixture. Massage oil into the scalp and work through the strands, covering all hair completely. Cover hair with a shower cap or plastic bag and if possible sit in the sun or by the woodstove. Heat facilitates the process. Leave the oil in for an hour or two, and then, shampoo and rinse.

From Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal

Cost: Less than $15 if you don't use jojoba or essential oils. This cost should include at least 20 treatments, since a jar of coconut oil lasts a long time if you use a moderate amount for each treatment. Same with the essential oils if you decide to use them, which will increase the cost to between $20 to $25, depending on which essential oils you choose (some are more expensive than others).

Vinegar Rinses

Vinegar rinses relieve itchy scalp, dandruff, and dull hair and restore the scalp’s natural acid mantle. They are best for normal and oily hair, rather than dry. Use white vinegar for blondes, apple cider vinegar for brunettes, and red wine vinegar for red-heads. Leave the rinse on for at least five minutes if you are going to rinse it out. You can, however, leave it on and any smell will disappear once the hair is dry.

From "Herbal Hair Care," by Cristi Nunziata

Herb blend: For blondes, calendula and chamomile; For dark hair, nettle and marshmallow; or make up your own
Apple cider vinegar
A few drops of essential oil
Distilled water

1. Fill a quart jar half way with herbs. Cover with vinegar and cap tightly. Place the jar in a warm spot for 2-3 weeks, shaking daily.

2. Strain the vinegar and add essential oils. Store in a plastic bottle.

3. Dilute the rinse with distilled water. For oily hair, dilute one part rinse with four parts water. For dry hair, dilute one part rinse with six parts water. After shampooing and rinsing, pour vinegar rinse slowly over hair, massaging it into the scalp. Rinse with water.

From Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal

Cost: Less than $15 to make the initial quart, which should provide 20 or more treatments. You can find many herbs in bulk at your local co-op or health food store, and possibly even vinegar. Even if you can't find vinegar in bulk, it is usually around $10 for a 32 oz. bottle, and it's a useful health-food staple to keep on hand. You can find really good prices online, such as this gallon of Bragg's at Amazon.

Anti-Dandruff Herbal Hair Rinse

1 quart water
Large handful of rosemary, nettle, thyme, and lavender
2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Use vinegar if your hair is dry or lemon juice if it is oily.

Bring water to a boil and add the herb mixture. Stir, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain and add either vinegar or lemon juice. After shampooing and conditioning, squeeze out excess water, then pour the liquid over your hair and don’t rinse it out.

From Beauty By Nature by Brigette Mars

Cost: Less than $10 per treatment, if you can find the herbs in bulk or grow your own herbs.

Disappear Dandruff Treatment

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 tsp tea tree oil

Combine ingredients, massage into scalp before bed and cover head with a breathable shower cap.

From Beauty By Nature by Brigette Mars

Cost: Between $10 and $15 for 20 or more treatments (see note about coconut oil in second recipe from above).

For more information on general hair care, here are some additional tips from Herbal Ed Coordinator Cristi Nunziata:

Hair is made up of protein (95-97% protein and 3% water), so be sure you are getting enough of it. Other hair essentials include: biotin (eggs, organ meats, dried fruit, molasses), iron, iodine, B12, and Omega 3s.

Teas for hair health include: alfalfa, burdock root, ho shou wu, horsetail, nettle, and oat straw.

Seaweeds are said to keep hair healthy and dark.

Rinsing hair with cold water will flatten hair and make it better able to reflect light.

Scalp massage can prevent hair loss, stimulate sebaceous glands, and increase circulation. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to fingertips.

Brushing hair distributes hair oils. Natural bristles are best because they absorb and distribute the oils and trap dirt and dust.

Minimize blow dryers, hot rollers, curling irons, and chlorinated swimming pools. If you use a blow dryer hold it at least 6 inches away from the hair and use a low setting.

Ditch stress, which can cause hair loss and lackluster hair. Try yoga, meditation, massage, or a cup of calming tea.

Get your hair trimmed every eight weeks to remove frizzy, split, or frayed ends.

Wear a hat to protect your hair from sunlight, which can be drying or color-altering especially for color treated hair).

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This article is from Ashley Watson of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

I'd Rather Be A Brunette: 10 Tips To Save On Hair Care

Thursday Bram — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:55:27 +0000

In high school, I watched a friend drop over $100 on a trip to her favorite salon. I'd always known that her hair looked better than mine, but I couldn't believe that it was simply a matter of money. I didn't want it to be, either. Even in high school, I had other financial priorities than my do. There are frugal options for taking care of your locks, though. It's taken me a while to find them, but I use these tricks regularly.

Skip the repeat: 'Lather. Rinse. Repeat.' is one of the greatest marketing phrases of the 20th century. But it's misleading. To get your hair clean, one lather-and-rinse cycle is plenty.
Eat a healthy diet: You can eat your way to better hair. If you eat a balanced diet — plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as protein — your body will have the nutrients necessary to grow healthy hair. A balanced diet won't solve every hair problem, but it can head quite a few off at the pass.For instance, if you have an iron deficiency, your hair can thin out.
Go natural: Hair dye is expensive, and it can make keeping your hair healthy much harder. Consider going back to your natural hair color for a while and save some serious dough. The same goes for perms. I've also been known to dye my hair myself. It isn't hard, but I recommend having a second pair of hands around.
Shop around for products: The same tips for shopping frugally for groceries work on hair care products. I buy on sale, clip coupons and pick up bulk bottles. I do have a preferred brand that I tend to stock up on, but it's not the most expensive brand on the shelf. According to a few hair styling friends, the expensive hair products aren't really any better than cheaper options. Wholesale distributors will also often provide great deals, as do online vendors.
Barter: If you really do prefer the job a professional will do on your hair, you don't have to give up those regular visits. But it's worth finding a stylist willing to accept a payment other than cash. During high school, I traded babysitting for haircuts on a regular basis. I didn't have to pay for a haircut and I could generally do my homework at the same time. Barbers and stylists need services as well as cash; you can see what you can trade.
Go organic: Sure, organic brands can be more expensive than their chemically-enhanced counterparts. But many organic shampoos and conditioners do not contain sulfates. While sulfates do remove oil and other junk from your hair, they also strip it and create frizz and other problems. If you can switch to sulfate-free products, you can stop using other products — like anti-frizz mouse. There's a period of adjustment and your hair might be slightly oily in comparison, but after a few weeks, your hair should be healthier.

This article is from Thursday Bram of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Pet Peeves Part 2: Good Grooming

Andrea Karim — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:45:14 +0000

Dogs are by far the most expensive pets to groom. Cats need a good brushing and maybe the occasional bath, birds clean themselves (as do rodents), and fish LIVE in a bath. So, dog grooming is where a lot of pet owners drop a wad of cash. It doesn't have to be that way.

I used to take my dogs to PetSmart for a good all-over grooming — bath, trim, nails, ears, tooth brushing. PetSmart grooming fees differ depending on the breed you have, not the type of grooming that is performed. Because I have two small dogs that might be considered high-maintenance breeds (a Shih Tzu and a Pekingese), my fees run about $50 per dog, plus taxes. I always thought that this was a bit unfair. I can see charging $50 each if I wanted the dogs to have long, silky hair that was brushed out and swooped up in bows, but I have my dogs clipped short all over. That doesn't matter to PetSmart.

All in all, I used to spend over $119 every three weeks to have my dogs groomed (nearly $2,070 per year).

Once I calculated that total, I realized that grooming my own dogs was going to be key to saving myself some moo-lah. After a bad experience with $30 Costco dog clippers, I found that although an initial investment in grooming supplies might cost me more than a couple of groom sessions, the purchase would pay for itself within the first four months of ownership.

DIY pet grooming isn't nearly as difficult as it sounds. If you just set aside a little bit of time each month, you can save a bundle and still have happy, clean pets.

The First Cut Is the Priciest

First, clippers. The groomers at PetSmart were happy to tell me which clippers they used in the doggie salon, which were conveniently sold at PetSmart for roughly $220. I wrote down the model number and found them on eBay for $160, less than the cost of two grooming sessions. These clippers do require maintenance and replacement blades, but they are still much cheaper than having someone else trim my dogs. Also, I can give my Shih Tzu a mohawk whenever the whim strikes me.

Now, I'm not claiming that I do as good a job trimming my dogs as the people at PetSmart. But my dogs aren't that vain, and they look good enough that so far, no one has laughed openly at them.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Next, bathing. I had tried unsuccessfully to bathe my dogs by setting them in the bathtub and shampooing them while pouring pots of water over their heads. My little guys are small, but absolutely determined to be nowhere near the water flowing out of the faucet. Turning on the shower did no good because the spray was too dispersed and difficult to aim at such a small target. And they were just too big (and gross) to wash in the kitchen sink. Because I had to do so much fighting, I ended up wasting a lot of water, and I'd usually run out of hot water halfway through bathing the second dog, so that one of them was guaranteed to be shivering and miserable when I was finished (as opposed to just miserable).

Thus, I was delighted when my sister gave me a Rinse Ace Indoor Pet Sprayer, which she had started using on her large dog after it got too cold to simply hose him off outside one winter. An ingenious little device, the Rinse Ace is a hose with a showerhead that you can plug into your current showerhead. The hose is long enough to reach into the tub for bathing small dogs, and you hold down a little switch to the turn the water on. When you let go, the water stops, thus saving dozens of gallons every bath. Having to hold the button down does cause some hand fatigue, but it's better than using all the hot water, and struggling to keep the dog in the tub while pouring water over its head.

I also like using this when I occasionally have to bathe the cat. Since we got her when she was a kitten, she's easier to bathe than a cat that has never been in the water. I have to wear rubber gloves and long sleeves for the process, but it significantly cuts down on her shedding and my allergies.

As far as canine beauty products go, I really like the Lavender and Mint Buddy Wash shampoos and conditioners by Cloud Star. They cost between $9–$13 per bottle, but they are concentrated so that they last a long time, and leave my dogs smelling great. And, one of my dogs has terrible allergies that cause him to chew and scratch, but the Buddy Wash Conditioner soothes his dry skin and keeps him from scratching.

Towels. Never fall for the ruse that your dogs need special towels. Just use your old ones.

Grin and Brush It

Tooth care: This aspect of pet care is often overlooked, but you should brush your dog's teeth at least once a week, if not every day. If the process is followed by praise and treats, your pooch with probably endure it. You don't need to get an Oral B Extra Sonic Ultra Laser Boom Brush like the one that you use — a simple doggie toothbrush and some dog-happy toothpaste is enough.

I Am Canine, Hear Me Bark

Cleaning your dog's ears is actually easier than it sounds. Simply take some tweezers and pluck out most of the small hairs that crowd your dogs' inner ears (not inner-inner — you're not plucking out their eardrums or anything). Pulling the hairs out is remarkably painless for most dogs. Then swab the inside of the ear with a soft cloth (or Q-Tip, if you have good aim and your dog has small ears). An ear cleanser should be relatively inexpensive and free from alcohol.

Putting Their Best Feet Forward

Nail trimming is my least favorite part of caring for my dogs, and I will occasionally take them to PetSmart with me when I go to pick up their special, hypoallergenic prescription diet, and pay $5 to have someone trim their nails. Remember, if you do it yourself, that it is uncomfortable for dogs, as they have nerve endings in their claws that we don't in our fingernails. Be gentle and patient, but firm.

Flea Market

When I went to PetSmart grooming, I often paid extra for anti-flea treatments, in addition to using Advantage flea-treatment capsules (I use Advantage rather than the better-known Advantix — it's cheaper and safer around cats). The combination of a flea bath AND flea medication is not necessary. Stick with whatever your vet gives you (Advantage, Advantix, whatever) and forgo anything else. You will need to wait about a week after bathing your dog before using any flea treatments. And all dogs should be protected against fleas, unless you want to deal with worms some day. You don't, trust me. Grossest thing ever.

Smells Like Wasted Money

Perfumes? Bunk. Unless your carry your precious poochie in your handbag, or unless your dog is exceptionally stinky, and your vet has told you that it's not a medical problem and you just have a stinky dog, dog perfumes are simply a waste of money. They can cause skin irritation, and probably cause your dog immense embarrassment around other dogs.

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Former Pop Princess Figures Out Frugal? Go Bald!

Andrea Karim — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:33:04 +0000

I think every woman should shave her head once in her life. I can say this, because I've already done it, so I'm off the hook now. It's a very liberating experience, feels really neat when you shower, and gives you a fresh start with brand-new, stress-free strands. Also, it saves you a bundle on styling products, because you really don't need anything, save a few tuques or baseball caps to stay warm. It's something that a lot of women do to support friends who are going through chemotherapy, and it can be quite the bonding experience for the shavees.

And of course, there's always the memory of the soulful, wailing Irish balladeer who made the look acceptable to begin with. Could Sinead rock that look or what? So, I lend my wholehearted support of chopping off one's locks and sporting a fuzzy noggin. It's a sort of rebirth for a lot of people. In fact, in many Asian cultures, you are encouraged not to cut your hair following the New Year Celebration — something about not cutting off the luck of the New Year.

Britney Goes Bald

Now, there are plenty of theories out there as to why Britney Spears shaved her head. K-Fed was threatening to test her locks for traces of illegal substances. She was going bald already because of all the terrible chemicals, weaves, braids, glue and whatnot she had been piling on her scalp for the last few months. That stuff can really destroy hair follicles. Maybe she's having a nervous breakdown — who knows?

Or maybe, just maybe, she wanted to save some dough.

A bald head has so many implications that it's tough to know what to make of Brit's Baldness. The military shears off recruit's locks during basic training, mostly for the purpose of creating an atmosphere in which none of the new arrivals is visibly superior to the others (hopefully enhancing a sense of community and subordinance). Head shaving has often historically been a method of punishment (The Inquisition and The Holocaust are two good examples of forced head shaving), or a way to prevent headlice, or both. In an ironic move, Neo-Nazis throughout Europe adopted the look in the 1970s, and bald heads still send mixed messages today.

Spending at the Salon

According to the British Daily Mail, the average British woman spends, over the course of her lifetime, £36,903.75 and 650 days on hair care. I've estimated that I spent over $5,000 on my hair over the past 6 six . A blog poll puts the number of women who spend between $100-$200 on a cut and color at 35% (as of February 21, 2007). I went on a date a few years ago with a man who was a bit older than me, made more money than me, and spent more on his colorist every month than I did on my rent. One date was all her got.

Blogger Fabulous Single Ma thinks that she can save $100 a month by doing the following:

1. Reduce salon visits from weekly to bi-weekly.
2. Consider new hairstyle or cut that requires less maintenance.
3. Extend touch up from six weeks to eight weeks.
4. Let hi-lites grow out.

Weekly to bi-weekly? A salon visit every week? I like FSM and all, but weekly visits to the salon are bloody insane! I'm not a great saver, and I'm not yet even close to frugal, but I never went to a salon on a weekly basis.

Women's Health magazine offered a breakdown on American hair spending that makes ME want to breakdown:

Percentage of women who don't own a blow-dryer: 5%
Amount spent on hairstyling appliances in 2005: $941 million
Price the American woman pays for a haircut: $42
How often she gets a trim: every five to nine weeks
Percentage of women who've never dyed their hair: 16
Most popular dye job: brunette

Aha, but there's more:

Number of women who've considered shaving their head: 1 in 5

So, it's not that unusual after all. One in five! That's 20% of the population. I'll bet it's higher than that, too.

According to a hilarious Time Magazine article from 1950(!):

American women is damaged by too much pampering, tinting and shampooing (all the things the beauty shops do to it). "The hair of European women is like a well-manured garden," explained one of the Fleischers solemnly. "The quality is good, but sometimes it doesn't smell too well."

There are even videos out there to help you figure out how it's done.

Doesn't that just make you want to take it all off? Even if you're not checking into rehab after months of stupid public behavior, you too can going fabulously follicle free! Let's all follow Britney's example (minus the drugs, divorce, and child neglect) and lop off our locks.

Well, the rest of you. I did that in college, and let me tell you, I have a really strangely shaped skull.

This article is from Andrea Karim of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: