Protein treatments are an essential part of maintaining the health of Black hair. They strengthen, help prevent breakage, repair damage, and restore elasticity. These treatments are especially helpful on chemically treated tresses, including color-treated or relaxed hair. 1
What is the best natural hair product for African Americans?
Top 50 Natural Hair Products For Black Hair
- Shea Moisture Strengthen, Grow + Restore Conditioner Source:Courtesy of Walmart Shop it here: http://bit.ly/3cCnaqG
- Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl + Style Milk Source:Courtesy of Walmart Shop it here: http://bit.ly/1SyvqWt
- Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo Source:Courtesy of Walmart Shop it here: http://bit.ly/1VurTxi
What is the best treatment for African American hair?
- Dry scalp treatment for relaxed hair
- Itchy scalp after relaxed hair
- Scalp moisturizer for dandruff
- Itchy scalp during black hair growth
- Natural hair flaky scalp problems
- Afro Caribbean and Afro American hair
What are the Best Hair Extensions for African Americans?
Type of hair extensions
- Clip-in. The most popular extension type, suitable for a woman who has a low budget. ...
- Tape-in. This type of extension is sandwiched between two pieces of bioadhesive tape and lasts for six to eight weeks.
- Keratin. Last longer than two types above (3 – 4 months) and is the most expensive. ...
- Weft. ...
What are the best protein treatments for hair?
“Treatments are the best way to load hair with wheat proteins and silk aminos that gets into all the cracks of the hair shaft and allows moisture to hold on while also taming any frizz.” ELEVEN Australia Hydrate My Hair Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner, Adore Beauty, $25.95 each
How do you know if your hair needs black hair or protein?
So how can you tell if you need moisture or protein? The simplest option is to take a wet or dry strand of hair and gently stretch it. If it barely stretches and snaps, you need more moisture and might have too much protein. Also, if you brush your hair and strands fall out, you need protein.
How often should I do a protein treatment on black hair?
Protein Treatments for Serious Damage These treatments are designed for severe breakage. They should not be used more than once every six to eight weeks. Do not be tempted to do it more often because they will likely only damage your hair more. Track your treatments on a calendar and be patient.
When should you use protein in your hair?
If the hair stretches far and does not return and/or breaks, feels mushy, gummy or cotton candy-like, your hair needs protein. If your hair stretches a bit, then returns to its normal state, your protein and moisture are balanced.
What does a protein treatment do for black hair?
A protein treatment is a conditioning treatment that adds protein to the cuticle layer of your hair strands. This strengthens your hair, making it a lot stronger and less likely to get damaged later on. But you might be thinking hey, a good deep conditioning treatment can also do the magic.
Do you wash your hair before or after a protein treatment?
1:1016:11First Protein Treatment Wash Day On 4C Hair | Preventing BreakageYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo to start your protein treatment you will need a clarifying shampoo not a moisturizer shampoo youMoreSo to start your protein treatment you will need a clarifying shampoo not a moisturizer shampoo you want to use a shampoo that is going to remove all of that gunk.
When should I use protein treatment on 4C hair?
Protein treatments are great for 4C natural hair. It maintains the natural balance of essential nutrients, proteins, and oils by restoring hair elasticity. This treatment should not be used regularly. You can use these protein treatments at least once a month to restore and retain the moisture in the hair.
How do I know I need a protein treatment?
You can tell your hair needs a protein treatment if it feels weak, limp, and lifeless. Especially if it seems like products aren't working and no amount of moisture seems to make your hair look or feel good, it's time for a protein treatment. You also need a protein treatment if you have over-moisturized your hair.
Should you do a protein treatment before or after color?
We recommend using the Two-Step Protein Treatment BEFORE coloring your hair. If your hair is porous it will form a protein matrix within the cortex which helps the hair retain color molecules for less color fading and shade shifting.
Should I condition my hair after a protein treatment?
Anytime you apply an intense protein treatment, you must follow up with a deeply moisturizing conditioner. Rutlin explains, "You cannot have one without the other. This is why you see some people have brittle and damaged hair.
What is the difference between protein treatment and deep conditioning?
Protein treatments are a tad more intensive than deep conditioners. As you can probably already guess, these are made up of proteins which help to strengthen the hair against potential breakage and damage.
Which is better keratin or protein treatment?
While they both treatments bring life to dull and lifeless hair, a keratin treatment also enhances the health of your hair as it is a protein-based treatment. Hydrolyzed keratin penetrates deep into the cuticle and bonds with it during treatment, strengthening your hair from within.
What do you do after a protein treatment?
LET TREATMENT HARDEN & BOND. Use a hand dryer with low-medium heat and high air flow. ... RINSE YOUR HAIR. Let warm water run through your hair and gently rinse. ... APPLY BALANCING MOISTURIZER (MUST DO) Leave on for 2 minutes & then rinse.YOU ARE DONE!
Why do we need protein treatments?
Protein treatments help to fill in those gaps, revitalizing areas that have been weakened. The result: your hair shaft looks and feels smooth, instead of beaten up and rough to the touch. When your hair looks brittle and frizzes easily, chances are protein is what it's been lacking.
What is the best way to maintain healthy hair?
And you’re probably on top of it. Co-washing: check. Deep-conditioning hair masks: check. Leave-in conditioners and oils: check.
How to know if you need protein?
Signs That You Need Protein ASAP 1 Loss of elasticity: Hair in good condition can stretch under normal conditions without breaking. Here's how to test elasticity: Stretch your wet hair out a little and see if it easily snaps back into shape without breaking. If it does, you’re good. If it breaks easily, you need to increase how often you apply a protein mask. 2 Serious damage: When hair has been over-processed with chemicals, it can feel and look like seaweed when it's wet. When dry, it may feel extremely rough. This isn't regular dryness that Black hair is prone to. This is damage. Although Black hair is textured, when it's healthy, it's still soft to the touch. 3 Severe breakage: Every single person sheds, on a daily basis. But when your curls are extremely damage due to weakness, you'll find strands of it everywhere—not just on your comb or brush but also on your pillow, on the back of your car seat, on your shirt, on the bathroom floor, and so on. It might even make a snapping or popping sound when you comb it.
Why does my hair look like seaweed?
If it breaks easily, you need to increase how often you apply a protein mask. Serious damage: When hair has been over-processed with chemicals, it can feel and look like seaweed when it's wet. When dry, it may feel extremely rough. This isn't regular dryness that Black hair is prone to. This is damage.
How to test if hair is elastic?
Here's how to test elasticity: Stretch your wet hair out a little and see if it easily snaps back into shape without breaking. If it does, you’re good.
Can protein treatment help curly hair?
Treatments do come in various strengths, so all-natural types can stick to only occasionally using a very mild product, and avoid the more intense ones designed for serious issues. For curly hair that’s been severely damaged, an intense protein treatment may save the day—but only for the interim.
Does protein hurt hair?
Even if you already steer clear of chemicals and heat, properly administered protein treatments probably won't hurt your hair. You do have to balance protein with moisture, though, because too much protein eventually dries out your hair.
What is the best protein for hair?
Vegetable Protein – This absorbs more easily into the hair without leaving any build up on the hair shaft. Wheat Protein – Used in many conditioning products, this is a moisturizing and strengthening protein which also improves the hair’s ability to maintain moisture levels.
Which protein is the most potent in human hair?
Hydrolyzed Human Hair Keratin – This is the most potent of the proteins and matches the keratin in hair exactly. It keeps the hair pliable and strong. Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein – The protein has been broken down so it can penetrate all layers of the hair better and as such is excellent for deep conditioning *.
Why does hair lose elasticity?
When hair undergoes any chemical service or is damaged by misuse of heat tools, protein is lost hence the hair loses some of its elasticity or strength. By using products that contain protein in them, you improve the hair’s elasticity and strength properties.
What is the muscle behind lustrous hair?
If I could offer one piece of sage advice to keep your tresses on point, protein treatments and reconstructors would be it. Protein is the muscle behind strong lustrous hair. Of course, moisture is a must, but sometimes we forget just how important moisture is to maintaining healthy hair.
Is curly hair dry?
Very curly and kinky * hair tends to be dry and extremely fragile even in its natural state. With the addition of relaxers or color services, the hair tends to become weaker. Using a protein based conditioner improves the health of the hair immensely and should be applied to any regimen.
Why did Nadege shied away from protein treatments?
Nadege admits she initially shied away from protein treatments because she was scared of protein overload. Protein overload is when the moisture to protein ratio in the hair has become unbalanced. With too much protein in the hair, you may notice a feeling of the strands being coated, much like the feeling of product buildup, ...
How to fix breakage in hair?
1. Determine whether your hair needs protein or moisture. Don’t just take swing in the dark; pay attention to your hair! Nadege, founder of the popular blog Relaxed Hair Health, says it’s important to ask yourself what kind of breakage you are experiencing. “I call it ‘chipping.’.
What is hair made of?
Hair is made of a strong protein known as keratin, but acts of manipulation such as shampooing, combing, and heat styling erode that protein on a daily basis. Unless you’re protective styling, you need protein replenishment. Essentially, a chemical relaxer breaks the hair’s bonds so that hair can lay straight.
Does hair grow from the scalp?
And never forget, your hair grows from your scalp, meaning it absolutely can be nourished from the inside out. “A healthy diet is important,” Garcia says. “Exercise, taking your vitamins, massaging your scalp, and calming your mind is recommended!”.
Do you need to moisturize after a touch up?
Instead, moisturizing treatments are recommended after all chemical processes, including perms and coloring, says Garcia, owner of Gillian Garcia Artistry. Nadege says she does a heavier treatment post touch-up to restore strength to her strands — not along with the touch-up.
How to give hair a good percentage of proteins?
To give the hair a good percentage of proteins so that they can stay healthy, not only has to apply it through some natural treatment , but also it must be provided through good nutrition, which has to give priority to food with many proteins such as eggs, milk, fish, vegetables, among others.
Why does African hair look dry?
One of the main causes why the African hair starts to lose hydration, shine and looks dry is mainly due to the lack of proteins, but this is a problem that you can solve easily with the use of any of these natural treatments with proteins for hair.
Why is protein important for split ends?
Its main function is to coat the capillary structure and contribute to the formation of the hair follicle. Therefore, a low protein diet will be reflected in weak hair with split ends. Proteins work by penetrating both the exterior and interior of the hair shaft which aids with strengthening the hair.
How do herbs help hair?
As they penetrate deep into the strand, they give strength to the hair and reducing any weakness caused by environmental stressors, chemical treatments etc. You can even add herbs to your protein treatments – this way they will penetrate faster into the hair. For more information on using herbs, visit the article: Ayurvedic Herbs ...
What is the strongest protein in hair?
Keratin Protein. These are the most popular proteins and they keep the hair strong by mending hair strands which have been broken down by heat and chemical damage. This is the strongest of proteins that come in a form of Hydrolysed Keratin.
What is the best oil for hair growth?
For help on which essential oils can grow your hair faster and healthier, whilst preventing breakage, I have written some articles on: Coconut oil for natural hair growth. Olive oil for natural hair growth on black hair. Homemade hot oil treatment for natural hair growth.
Can you use yogurt for hair?
Yogurt is another option, since it contains lactic acid that cleans and nourishes the hair in depth. We can use it alone or combined, as in the case of the egg, and even for very damaged hair you can mix both ingredients for intense nutrition.
What is protein treatment for hair?
A protein treatment for hair is a product loaded with a protein that hair can easily absorb, and it works to strengthen and repair the keratin. It can either be a treatment you purchase from a beauty store, or a homemade protein treatment.
How does protein hair treatment work?
A protein hair treatment will work to repair hair strands by attaching hydrolysed proteins to the hair cuticle and hardening the cuticle layer. Advertisement. If there are holes in the hair cuticle, protein treatment will patch up these gaps and place a barrier around the hair shaft to lessen future damage.
Why is protein treatment important for porous hair?
Because this type of hair often absorbs too much water, tangles and frizz may be a familiar experience. A protein treatment will help porous hair get the nourishment it needs and seal those gaps.
What is a reconstructor for hair?
A concentrated blend of amino acids and keratin, this reconstructor will give your hair a deep conditioning protein treatment. If your hair is a victim of chlorine and hard water, this product will be the relief it has been waiting for. Apply it as often as you like – even after each wash, until your hair is restored.
What is the protein in hair?
To put it simply, our hair is protein. A protein called keratin makes up the majority of a hair strand, keeping it healthy, strong and full of elasticity. But with damage caused by styling and maintenance, pollution, coloring and other things that don’t do your hair much good, the keratin starts to break down.
How to tell if your hair needs protein?
Here are 5 signs that your hair is crying out for a protein treatment: Your hair has lost its elasticity. One of the clear signs that your hair may need a little protein help is the loss of elasticity. Try this little trick: take a small strand of your hair, and gently stretch it. If the strand doesn’t return to its natural state ...
How to test if hair is porous?
Here’s a little test: place a strand of your hair in a shallow bowl of water. If the hair sinks, then it’s very porous. If you’re still not sure whether your hair needs a protein boost, asking for advice at your local hair salon is a good idea. Getting a protein treatment for hair in salon is a great starting point for someone who’s entirely new ...
What is the best time to do protein treatment?
The Best Time to Do a Protein Treatment When You Color Your Hair. Hair coloring is fun and with the limitless colors to choose from, a curly girl can rock any color. From cotton candy pink to 80’s neon green, the world is your palette and you should have fun picking out your favorite shade.
Is hair dye damaging?
Hair dye is damaging, so it is essential to incorporate a protein treatment to maintain the integrity of your hair. Shaleskia.Li from Curly Q&A wants to know more about the best way to include protein treatments in her regimen.
How long does demi permanent hair color last?
For more opaque coverage, demi-permanent color (ammonia-free and mixed with a low-volume developer) is your best bet because it goes into the cuticle and lasts through about 20 to 25 shampoos. If your hair isn't chemically or structurally damaged, you can use permanent color or even experiment with highlights.
How often should I use relaxers on my hair?
As hair ages, harsh chemicals like relaxers should be used with caution. Relaxers are usually touched up every six to eight weeks, or four weeks for shorter hair. This strict maintenance, and the fact that relaxers break the bonds in the hair that create its texture, often results in damage.
Why is protein important for mane?
Additionally, the glands in your scalp produce less oil with age. This is why the right protein and moisture balance is necessary to retain your mane's strength and elasticity. Good to know: Too much moisture can cause limp, mushy hair, whereas too much protein makes the hair brittle, resulting in breakage.
Why does hair shrink as we get older?
As we get older, our hair follicles begin to shrink. “ [This is] due to collagen loss and a slowed growth cycle causing hair thinning and loss,” explains Monica Stevens, an Atlanta-based licensed cosmetologist, content creator and founder of MoKnowsHair Curl Collection. Additionally, the glands in your scalp produce less oil with age. This is why the right protein and moisture balance is necessary to retain your mane's strength and elasticity. Good to know: Too much moisture can cause limp, mushy hair, whereas too much protein makes the hair brittle, resulting in breakage.
Can you pull your hair without tension?
Give your hair a break from years of pulling and tugging. Yes, your hair can still look great without the unnecessary tension. According to Stevens, high manipulation involves daily restyling and high-tension hairstyles such as tight extensions or braids, which can run you the risk of developing a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. Brought on by constant tension on the hair follicles, traction alopecia mostly affects Black women.
Can you use heat protectant on gray hair?
A good rule of thumb? Use as less heat as possible. Green suggests using a lower heat setting on gray hair; however, sometimes gray hair can be more coarse, and lowering the temperature may not give you your desired results. Using heat that's too high can discolor gray hair, so always use a heat protectant as a buffer.
How do proteins help hair?
Protein treatments are used to add strength and resiliency to damaged hair by attaching hydrolyzed proteins directly to the hair follicle and hardening the cuticle layer. If there are holes in the hair cuticle, it will fill those holes or gaps while also placing a barrier around the hair shaft to lessen further damage.
What are the proteins in hair?
All protein treatments are not created equal. Curly, coily, and wavy hair relies on a perfect balance of oils, nutrients, moisture, and proteins. Proteins are large molecules consisting of amino acids that our bodies and cells need to function properly, according to Owner of Medical News Today Christian Nordqvist . Proteins play a role in virtually every biological process including hair. Keratin, which hair is made of, is a strong protein that can break down with sun exposure, wind, pollutants, daily maintenance, manipulation, heat tools, and chemical treatments like permanent color. This is where using protein treatments come in to help temporarily repair the hair strands.
What is aphgee protein?
It is a concentrated blend of keratin amino acids, oils, and vitamins made specifically for bleached, tinted, or chemically-straightened strands.
Does a deep conditioning mask contain parabens?
This mask does not contain parabens, phthalates, sulfates, artificial fragrances, dyes, or gluten.
Does black castor oil conditioner work?
Another favorite, and for good reason, this Black Castor Oil Protein Conditioner will feed your hair with a nutrient-rich formula that will rehydrate and strengthen your damaged strands. This quality treatment that restores your hair’s softness, manageability, and shine.
How to use Aphogee protein conditioner?
In two easy steps, a protein application and balancing conditioner, this Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment and Balancing Moisturizer revives broken, over-processed, and over-colored hair. Start with the Two-Step Protein Treatment, which has hydrolyzed collagen and wheat protein to strengthen hair. Follow it with the brand's glycerin, squalane, and silk amino acids infused Balancing Moisturizer to hydrate and make hair even stronger. For best results, the brand recommends doing both steps one week prior to your color or hair straightening appointment. Add heat so that the protein seeps into the hair cuticle. Once dry, the treatment act as a protectant to ward off potential damage from the dye.
What is keratin treatment?
Often also referred to as a keratin treatment, the most well-known form of protein that already exists in healthy hair, the treatment strengthens the outermost layer of the hair cuticle by incorporating hydrolyzed proteins, which are proteins comprised of amino acids and peptides.
What is Wella FusionPlex?
"This is a wonderful treatment for natural hair specifically," she says. The treatment uses what Wella calls its silksteel fusion program, which infuses hair with amino acids to emulates the strength of spider silk. "To restore curls, apply this treatment and sit under a steamer," Wright advises. After rinsing, hair will feel restored.
How long does it take for keratin to wear off?
Depending on how you treat your hair this can be anywhere from three to six months. "Since it is a coating, it's not really improving your hair structure, it is a temporary fix.".
What are the parts of hair made of?
Let's look deeper at the composition of hair to better understand how protein treatments work. "Hair is made up of water, keratin, lipids, minerals, and pigments and divided into three parts, the cuticle, the cortex, and the medulla," says Annie Chiu, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Derm Institute.
Where is keratin found in the body?
Keratin is found in the cortex and is composed of 18 amino acids. Keratin can become deformed with water vapor, it can also be affected by dietary deficiencies which can lead to structural defects in the hair shaft," Chiu explains. Keratin treatments work by smoothing down the cuticle.
How long before hair straightening do you heat your hair?
For best results, the brand recommends doing both steps one week prior to your color or hair straightening appointment. Add heat so that the protein seeps into the hair cuticle. Once dry, the treatment act as a protectant to ward off potential damage from the dye.
