Why are protein treatments essential?
A protein treatment adds strength, restores protein, and adds elasticity to the hair. The proteins can be lost through relaxing, using excessive heat styling, color and daily styling. The more you relax, color, style etc, the more frequent you’ll need protein treatments.
How often should I use protein treatments?
If you color, relax, or apply heat to your hair, you should use protein treatments regularly, depending on how damaged your hair is; regularly meaning weekly or every two weeks. If you’re applying relaxers, heat and color to your hair, I would suggest seeing a hair care professional, so they can properly assess the condition of your hair. Since most of us are natural, protein treatments every other month should suffice. You can also tell based on how your hair feels when wet, if you should do a protein treatment; if you hair feels “mushy” to the touch, it would probably be a good time to do a protein treatment. If you hair is breaking or shedding excessively, you should also do a protein treatment.
What type of protein treatment should I use?
Assuming your hair is somewhat healthy, you can use a homemade protein treatments or purchase protein treatments at your local beauty supply. These treatments are usually mild.
• Purchased Protein Treatments: Aphogee 2 minute Keratin Reconstructor
• Homemade Treatments: Raw eggs w/mixed with natural oils
Important Tips
*After you do a protein treatment, make sure you follow with a deep condition. You’ll want to restore the moisture to your hair as these can be drying, especially to those of us that have naturally dry hair.
*Be careful to not over process your hair with protein treatments. If your hair is healthy and feels dry after you’ve done a deep conditioning treatment, lessen the protein treatments on your hair. Increase the moisture in your hair by moisturizing, sealing, and deep conditioning.
Homemade Protein & Deep Conditioning Treatments
Here are two recipes for your hair that will go hand in hand:
Homemade Protein Treatment
• 1 or 2 eggs depending on the length & density of your hair
• Olive Oil or your favorite oil (I would add coconut oil too!)
• Apply mixture evenly throughout your hair starting at the root working your way down to the ends.
• Let the mixture set for 30 minutes.
• Do not add a plastic cap & add heat as this has raw eggs LOL! You’ll end up with scrambled eggs in yo hurr girl!
• Rinse your hair with lukewarm water…as you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in your hair LOL! Gross!
• IMMEDIATELY follow with a deep condition, or with this homemade deep conditioning treatment:
• 1 Large Avocado
• 1 tbsp of honey
• 2 tbsp of olive oil
• Plastic Bag
• Slice an avocado, remove the pit, scoop out the inside of the avocado and put it in microwave safe bowl. Mash the avocado up with a fork (like you’re making some yummy guacamole, but DON’T eat it lol) and remove the lumps.
• Add the honey and olive oil and stir.
• Place the bowl in the microwave and heat up for about 30 sec, or until warmed. Mix it all up again to make sure the mixture is nice and smooth.
• Spread the mixture throughout your damp hair with your hands. Start from the ends and work up to the scalp, making sure you cover every strand.
• Wrap your head in plastic cap and let sit for about 20-30 minutes. To penetrate deeper, cover your hair with a warm wet towel.
• Wash out the avocado mixture with a sulfate free shampoo, and then follow with your favorite conditioner.
Style as usual
I personally use the store bought protein treatments. LOL! I’m too lazy to mix all that stuff up in my hair, BUT I am willing to do a test to see which treatment is better.
Have you ever done a protein treatment on your hair? How often do you do it? Which do you prefer, home made treatments or treatments you can buy at the beauty supply?
am from nigeria i prefere homemade protein treatment and conditioner because the one that is sold in the shop has preservative in it and has lost some of its nutritioner value during processing