I'm honestly not a fan of protein treatments. One day, I bought a 2oz bottle of aphogee protein treatment on my way to a Dominican salon in New Brunswick. Disclaimer: This is a horror story. Jess, I took it to these ladies thinking that because they had a license to run a shop that they would know how to use this product. Jess...this product made my hair like feel like a potato chip/styrofoam. I didn't know hair could be so crispy!! I literally held my breath while waiting to wash because I thought my hair would fall out. It made my hair hard and crispy!! I don't know what I was expecting, but certainly not that. The aphogee protein treatment is super intense and super foul smelling. That experience was so off putting that I stopped going to the salon indefinitely and didn’t try the whole protein thing again for 8 weeks. I also find it hard to restore the moisture back into my hair once I apply the protein treatment. I’m giving protein one more try. Then I’m done.
So a couple of things came to mind after reading this...
ONE. In order for hair to be healthy, it has to have a good balance of protein and moisture. If your hair is screaming "I'm thirsty!!!" then give it something to quench its thirst! If your hair is complaining about feeling a little weak lately, then give it a boost of strength! That means give your hair moisture when it needs it & protein when it needs it. In another part of this email, the reader clearly expressed that she has problems with her hair being dry. She needs to be focusing on restoring the moisture balance and not protein right now. So don't give up on protein, honey bunches!!! Just know when to apply it.
TWO. Certain products cater to different extremities of hair needs. I know I talk about moisture all of the time, but protein is something that your hair does need. You just have to be careful not to overdo it and become a victim of a PROTEIN OVERLOAD. If she wanted to make sure her hair was getting the needed amount of protein, a light protein-based conditioner could have been sufficient. Many protein treatments are directed at people who need some major protein rebuilding in their hair (people with chemically treated hair so this might be a common mistake for recent transitioners). If your hair suffers from dryness, too strong of a protein-based formula could throw your hair balance in the wrong direction.
THREE. Watch out for hair stylists that just do whatever the customer wants without any sort of consultation or suggestions. They should have known everything I am telling you now and pointed my dear reader in the right direction.
FOUR. Why was the reader applying the protein treatment at that moment in time? Was it because her hair told her it needed more protein? Or was this some routine she had created and was trying to stick to? There are so many blogs and books and other sources of information that insist that you make a hair routine and stick to it. I'm a little more lenient. My "routine" is more of a guide. Yes, there are things that need to happen in a timely fashion. But 9 times out of 10 I have reached up to touch my hair and thought "Hmmm....maybe it's time for a such-and-such." Just because I usually wash my hair on Tuesdays won't stop me from doing an emergency wash on Monday. LISTEN TO YOUR HAIR. That's one of the best things you can do. Do not be a slave to your hair routine!!!!
A great read on balancing the moisture and protein in your hair: HERE!!!!!!
so I'm actually crazy lol and I've attempted to use the Aphogee protein treatment myself b/c I thought I could do it. NEGATIVE. I didn't like it, I do think it increased breakage, maybe it's the product? I also wouldn't go to the Dominicans for anything besides a roller set. Pay the extra money and go to a professional salon, who have people who are trained in applying the product!
ReplyDelete-Julie
Ive never actually used the Aphogee products but... I feel like there might be something with the product itself ( as Julie mentioned) or you could of experienced a protein overload because you might be using products on a daily basis that have protein within them. For instance, some daily moisturizers have light proteins ( ex: anything produced by motions...ANYTHING) and so if you yous a Motions daily moisturizer everyday and then use the Aphogee products... disaster is going to occur. In this sense, I feel it is important to know what type of daily moisturizer you have (protein, moisture or some hybrid mix of the two) and from that, determine what type of deep conditioning needs that you might have. Since my everyday products are protein free, I dont really have a concern of overloading on protein whenever I do my protein treatments.
ReplyDeleteI do also see Jessica's point though. Your hair needs>> some routine to which you feel you must strictly adhere. The hair wants what it wants. Routines are meant to be flexible, not stringent.
I think Aphogee protein treatment is geared toward actual protein deficiencies & is not for daily/weekly usage (unless that is something ur hair really needs). So that protein treatment is disastrous if you really don't need it. But I have a post on protein overload in the works.
ReplyDelete