I recently decided to highlight my hair with the Pintura hand painting method. While I love my hair color, I did have some damage to my normally healthy hair.
Waking up to chunks of my hair coming out was not ideal, but luckily it wasn't enough for me to panic. Instead, I did what I do best — gave my hair some extra TLC with H2O and a deep conditioner.
I know that breakage post any service isn't normal and since the stylist who did my hair wasn't of much help. The writer in me researched deep conditioners that are good for restoring damaged, color-treated hair for myself and for anyone that finds themselves in a similar situation. I also reached out to other curly stylists to get their recommendations on what to use and added those brands to this list.
Here are eight deep conditioners to keep in your beauty drawer for hair-mergencies.
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask
Amazon
This mask was a staple when my hair was relaxed because it just worked. For added benefits (for this and any conditioner), add a shower cap and sit under the dryer for 15 to 20 minutes for deeper hydration.
EDEN BodyWorks JojOba Monoi Deep Conditioner
Amazon
After being introduced to EDEN BodyWorks at BeautyCon two years ago, I fell in love with their deep conditioner. Made with Coconut, Jojoba, and Monoi, the triple threat can help restore hair experiencing damage from over-processing, heat damage, and dryness that can plague natural hair.
Ouidad Curl Recovery™ Melt-Down Extreme Repair Mask
Ouidad
Adding new products to my hair care regimen is always a fun experiment. At the recommendation of one of my coily hair icons, I invested in this mask. With ingredients like Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil, Ouidad says this mask helps the hair regain elasticity and manageability. I'm here to tell you it does just that. My hair has never felt better.
TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask
Amazon
My friend and fellow naturalista recommended this brand to me. Once I saw the rave reviews, I added this "miracle" mask to my Amazon shopping cart without a second thought.
Olapex N°5 Bond Maintenance™ Conditioner
Olapex
Olapex is used in salons (this was recommended to me by a curly stylist) and offers four products to consumers that aren't pros. Their Bond Maintenance Conditioner is one of those. The conditioner helps restore broken hair bonds and is safe to be used on color-treated tresses.
Camille Rose Natural Algae Deep Conditioner
Camille Rose
Camille Rose is a fan favorite in the haircare world, and their algae deep conditioner comes highly rated. Made with cocoa and mango butter's along with pure blue-green algae, there isn't a shortage of vitamins and minerals that will help repair and nourish your curls.
Oribe Moisture & Control Deep Treatment Masque
Nordstrom
When I saw that Elaine Welteroth used this conditioner, I had to check it out. Now, the price tag might make you reconsider it, but the mask helps restore hair elasticity, and repairs split ends.
Shea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Rehydration Treatment Masque
SheaMoisture
I am thankful I had this in my shower because it has been a lifesaver. The day I noticed the clumps of hair falling out from my ends, I got in the shower and used this. My dry hair felt like itself after rinsing and adding my leave-in. I know this isn't the solution to the damage, but it helped a lot.
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Originally published on September 10, 2019
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
