Let's Chat: Your Relationship with Protein!

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Let's face it, many of us are scared of protein! We feel that protein in the "enemy", we will get "protein overload", it will cause more breakage, its bad for you etc. etc.

The truth is, protein is great for our hair, especially if you have relaxed hair. Relaxed hair, as opposed to natural hair, needs a proper balance of both moisture and protein in order to maintain good health. Protein gives our hair body and thickness, while moisture gives our hair elasticity and softness.

Remember, when we get relaxers, the protein content in our hair is almost completely stripped away !!! The chemicals in relaxers relaxes the curls simultaneously making the hair more weak and fragile. That's why it's highly recommend that we do a protein treatment before and after a relaxer to replenish and strengthen the protein loss we just encountered during the relaxing process.

Believe it or not, you can use a light protein treatment in your regimen once a week or biweekly without going into protein overload, if you use a moisturizing treatment afterward. Rule of thumb: Always backup your protein with a moisturizing conditioner to return softness and moisture back into the hair.

How do you feel about protein in your regimen? Are you scared of it too? Or do you welcome it with open arms?

Sunshyne

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30 comments

  1. Thanks for this article. I just yesterday decided to incorporate more protein in my regimen.I had been doing a lot of moisture and 5 weeks into my journey my hair is still snapping and breaking at the slightest provocation. I definitely had the 'fear of protein'. I feel more secure about this decision now after reading this blog. I am yet to do a heavy protein treatment so that will likely be my next step. BTW I am 10 weeks post relaxer.

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  2. I will be honest, I was scared of protein (bad experience w Aphogee 2 step) but now I use the Aphogee 2 min reconstructor once a week and it has been a positive experience.

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  3. i just started to use hair mayo by ors.... and i dont know what im doing lmao..... is it okay to use a hot oil treatment after it....???

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  4. I love protein, or rather my hair loves protein. I use protein everyday as apart of my leave-ins. And, I always make sure to balance it with moisture. I've never been scared of protein since starting my hair journey, like you said protein is great for the hair. You just have to make sure you balance it with moisture.

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  5. Love protein and my hair loves it. The Aphogee 2 Step Treatment has saved my hair more than once. Twice I have been the victim of a bad relaxer and the protein treatment stopped the breakage immediately. I'm so glad that I've found it. And after I do the protein treatment my hair holds mosture better. So it's a win/win situation.

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  6. Great post! My hair luvs protein and the ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute has been a God send. I use it EVERY wash day. The 2-step treatment, I'm scared of...LOL!

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  7. I have never done a protein treatment before, which products would you recommend? and is it ok to do 2 weeks post relaxer?

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  8. I have no problems using protein in my hair. I have even heard of people using eggs. Anyone ever tried that?

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  9. i use protein regularly in my hair. i use both mega-tek and motions CPR...i've been wanting to try the aPHogee 2 minute reconstructer but just can't bring myself to spend that much money on that little tiny bottle! LOL

    @ ms. ty: yes, i've heard of the eggs for protein in your hair. i've never tried it, but some peopel swear by it!

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  10. I have no problem with protein in a rinse-out product such as a conditioner, but leave-ins...I must admit I'm a little hesitant. Do you have any recommendations for leave-in protein products and how to use them so as not to end up with dry, brittle, protein-overloaded :) hair?

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  11. Protein is great for relaxed heads. If you are not using protein...why?

    Don't be scared. Especially if you are suffering from dry, breakage prone strands. Protein is what helps keep the moisture in as well!

    Protein is also great for thick and strong hair. If you are relaxed, what are you waiting for! Start incorporating protein in your regimen...like yesterday! LOL

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  12. I agree. I think if you slowly encourage more protein into your regimen it won't cause any damage. I was on a moisture only streak and my breakage continued. Now I use Apoghee 2 Min weekly followed by a moisturizing dc and my hair is doing alot better.

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  13. I welcome it, Once of month only though :) I just have to super duper moisturize afterwards! Protein is for pros! Newbies beware lol.

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  14. I totally agree with this. I have been doing a light protein conditioner every week for over a year. I always make sure that I follow it with a moisturizing conditioner. I also use a moisturizer that do not contain protein to avoid overload. So the only time my hair gets protein is only conditioning stages. This also prevents from my hair breaking and to have thick hair.

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  15. I am so scared of protien! I have such thin fine hair that I'm affraid it will make in brittle. I always heard it was good for your hair but didn't know muchabout it. I would give myself protein treatments and then wonder why my hair felt dry and brittle. Now that I'm learning more I think I'll might try it out remembering to balance it out and see how that goes.

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  16. My relaxed hair loves protein. I've been using the aphogee 2 min weekly for a while, but I'm still too afraid to try any hardcore treatments. My mother used to make me sleep with mayonnaise in my hair the day before a wash when I was natural- the smell was awful but it really helped my hair! I still do that once in a while. I also use leave-ins with protein.

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  17. I'm scared of protein. My hair started shedding after the Aphogee two step but everyone says the two min reconstructor is good. I was going to buy it yesterday but reconsidered and put it down. LOL. I may try again though.

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  18. I was using products that contained hyrdrolized wheat protein and was wondering why my hair was feeling so hard from day to day and that was the answer PROTEIN. I found that if I use a shampoo or deep condition with proteins, it doesn't affect my hair because I'm rinsing it out, but if I leave a product in my hair will pay for it. I'm glad I found out a solution to incorporate it back into my hair regimen.

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  19. This is an excellent article. My hair isn't as thick and full as it used to be and I figure its because of my fear of "protein overload". I used to use protein once a week and my hair thrived, but as I said, my fear of protein led me to thinner strands. Now I'm planning on using Aphogee 2 min once a week, following up with a moisturizing DC. Relaxed hair needs protein..so from now on Protein is my hair's best friend :)

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  20. Thanks for the awesome responses ladies!

    @ Keys2Happiness - I wouldn't suggest a Hot Oil Treatment, I suggest you use a moisturizing deep conditioner i.e. keracare humecto, elasta qp dpr-11, kenra for 30mins with heat.

    @ Lara - I would recommend Aphogee 2 min, ORS Hair Mayo, Joico KPak, Mane n tail etc. before and after a relaxer to build up the hair's strength.

    @ Ms Ty - I use egg as part of my protein treatment and it works perfectly well. Check out my regimen section for details.

    @ Anonymous - You can use protein leave-ins like Aphogee Green Tea Restructorizer and then follow up with a moisturizing cream or lotion to avoid any dryness.

    @ Pam - Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein is not going to make the hair hard, it helps the hair absorb moisture better.

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  21. My hair has issues with Protein... When I use protein dc my hair becomes so hard and tangled. Im still looking for the right one that will work in my hair.

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  22. @ Anonymous - Do you use a light or hardcore protein? Also, do you follow up with a moisturizing deep conditioner? That will help get rid of the hardness and tangles.

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  23. I am currently using Sebastian Originals Penetrait (not too strong) and Lakme Master Keratin (this is excellent for my hair) recommend :)

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  24. Hi,
    sunshyne do you consider Mane and tail deep moisturizer conditioner as protein?

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  25. Is Herbal essence replenish conditioner with ha wafena stil a deep moisturizing conditioner?

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  26. Hey! You're my hair hero. I always wore weaves and now I have decided that it's about time that I start taking care of my hair, so today is actually my first step. I'm on a limited budget, but I was able to catch an aphogee sale, so I basically used all of their products today along with a moisturizer because of the "protein overload" scare. My hair is basically tip toeing my shoulders and you have made so excited to being this "hair journey." Take care, and I hope that you do achieve your goals. Mine is just to basically have healthy hair that breaks less, and once that's done, I will try nu gro, to see if it can add length. One step at a time though. God bless.

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  27. I found that a good leave in protein is Leisure Curl Scalp Spray

    Yes and it is even good to use on hair that has been set (ironed out) I haven't tried applying while my hair was in a roller set though.

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  28. I have never tried protein on my hair at all but 2wks after my next relaxer with ORS i am gonna try a protein treatment.

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  29. I love protein for my relaxed hair. Here is my weekly regimen: shampoo once with Aphogee damage hair moisturizing shampoo, put Aphogee essential hair oils on hair and scalp put plastic cap on for 5 mins, shampoo again, put Aphogee 2 min keratin in for 3 mins, rinse, deep condition with moisturizing conditioner of ur choice and add heat for 10 mins, put in leave in conditioner air dry hair, and lastly flat iron. I pin curls my hair every night and let me tell you my hair last longer than when a professional does it! My hair is wonderfully healthy. ** a lil background on my hair. I have 4b hair. I did a big chop in May 2009 my hair was 1/2 in long. I wore braid for 6 months. Gave my self a break and put in a relaxer wore my hair out for a month, then I wore sew-ins for 3 months. I just put in another relaxer last week. My hair is thick beautiful and healthy and I'm leaving it that way!

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  30. My hair was coming out for years. Thank goodness it is so thick. No one could tell. My hair stylist did a protein treatment on my hair, and it was great for two weeks. Well she is 45.00 for a treatment, and 75.00 for a relaxer, so I decided to get educated this year, and focus on my hair...........Ir is below shoulder length, but my goal is to get it to where it was before.......to the middle of my back. So I did some research, went to the dermatologist and invested in hair pills(hairfinity). I also started doing my own protein treatments. On this site, I am learning a lot, and on the hairfinity site, I am learning that protein treatments stop breakage. As well as moisturizing the ends with a moisturizer(I like elasta qp mango as well as virgin coconut oil on the ends. Wow what a difference. I just did my hair tonight and I hardly lost any strands of hair. Without a protein treatment, I lost so much hair! Everyone I am saving 45.00 every two weeks for doing my own protein treatments. Stylists don't want you to know everything! They want your money.

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