We Aim To Slay

I’ve been a proud #CurlyGirl since going natural in 2017, but every once in a while I feel the desire to switch things up! For the past two months I’ve been wearing my hair almost exclusively straight, and today, I’m sharing exactly how I’m protecting my natural curls beneath these sleek strands!

Meet the Products

Ever since making the switch to my natural hair I have sworn by one product in particular – The Love Ur Curls All-In-One Styler, the final step in the Love Ur Curls 3 Step System – and ever since partnering with the brand last year, I’ve been blessed receive and test out several of their products!

At the end of last year I received my newest Love Ur Curls P.R. Box showcasing the “Curl Reset Kit” complete with: the 3 Step System; the star of the Black Label Collection, the Irish Sea Moss Gel, and the Deep Condition & Repair deep conditioner ($25 USD)!

What’s the Difference Between Conditioner & Deep Conditioner?

According to a quick Google Search, the main difference between a regular conditioner and a deep conditioner is depth. A regular conditioner smooths the hair’s surface while a deep conditioner penetrates the hair shaft for intensive repair; these products generally require sitting in your hair for a longer amount of time and consistent use to see maximized results. 

For as long as I can remember I’ve used a deep conditioning mask to help rejuvenate my hair. You may remember my long-time love for the Briogeo Don’t Despair…Repair! Mask, ($39 USD), and one of my favorite ways to use it: as a leave-in conditioner and deep conditioner combo.

L.U.C.’s Deep Condition & Repair

Featuring ingredients such as Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E (the holy trinity of healing and repairing!) The Deep Condition & Repair mask was formulated to work quickly; the website explains that “5 to 15 minutes is all it takes to boost moisture and revive curls” by working to “smooth frizz by repairing damage and locking in hydration.” But, for extra dry or damaged hair, you can leave this mask on for 30 minutes.

How I’m Using It

In my experience there are three ways to use a deep conditioner product: you shampoo and condition as usual, then apply the mask before rinsing; you can shampoo, skip conditioner, and go right in with your treatment mask before rinsing; or, you can shampoo, apply your treatment, and leave it in past your shower. Personally, I don’t think you get the best use out of your regular conditioner when you sandwich it between shampoo and the treatment, so I tend to skip it entirely on deep condition days. 

The team at Love Ur Curls recommends using some sort of tool such as a wide-tooth comb (my go-to!) or your fingers to help ensure even distribution of product. But, they caution, “Don’t overdo it: Too much of a good thing can lead to hygral fatigue (when hair absorbs too much water and becomes weak or mushy). Especially if you have high-porosity hair, be mindful not to over-condition.”

After shampooing and allowing the deep conditioner to sit, I typically rinse it out before applying the All-In-One Styler. As I said above, I’ve been wearing my hair straight lately, so once I’ve gotten out of the shower I’ll apply my heat protectant spray (recently reviewed in the “Hot Like Mexico” post) and begin heat styling. 

I’ve shared my entire process for straightening my hair, and over the last twenty years one thing has remained true – it takes hours to tame my hair in any capacity. But, ever since incorporating these deeply restorative products to my routine I have quite literally cut that process in half! 

For the first time in my life, I was able to blow out my curls using only a paddle brush, in about 35 to 40 minutes! And, since I was able to smooth out about 95% of the curl with the paddle brush, I was able to shorten the amount of time it takes to actually flat iron my hair. Short heat styling time means less heat exposure, which leads to minimal damage. 

Now, I’ll be the first person to say that heat damage is one of the worst things you can subject your curly hair to, but the cold and dry New England winters are a close second. Leading up to the decision to wear my hair straight for this winter, I was dealing with limp and dull curls. At first I thought that was due to product build up, which led to increased use of the L.U.C Exfoliating Scalp Scrub before realizing it was general hair fatigue and damage. 

I’ve been wearing my hair straight for the last two months, and only just noticed some split ends over the weekend. In those instances I apply a dime sized amount of the Split End Mender or the Elixir Oil to the ends of my strands. And if I want something more than stick straight hair? I use a generous amount of the Volumizing Foam and my heatless curl device to achieve effortless waves that last all day long!

My Thoughts

Overall I’m a big fan of this deep conditioner, and truthfully, I like it way better than the L.U.C regular conditioner. I’ve seen a noticeable difference in the way my curls have been able to bounce back after each round of flat ironing. 

I mentioned above that when using the Briogeo deep conditioner, I’d often apply it in the shower and leave it in my hair as my base product for styling. I did try that method with the L.U.C Deep Condition & Repair and I found it to be too lightweight to use on its own in that way. The next time I try that, I’ll definitely be pairing with at least the All-In-One, if not the Irish Sea Moss Gel as well. 

What Do You Think?

Are you someone that uses a deep conditioner? Which brand(s) do you like best, and, will you be trying Love Ur Curls’ Deep Condition & Repair? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ll be back next week to celebrate the season four premier of Bridgerton!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!