Better results from protein treatments

Protein treatments are temporary treatments which adhere micro particles of protein to your hair. These protein particles make the hair stronger and less likely to break. With less breakage you are able to keep your hair strands longer, thus reaching your length goals easier. Protein also helps to make the hair appear fuller. Protein benefits are temporary, therefore they must be repeated on a weekly or monthly basis, depending upon the type of protein treatment you use. 


PROTEIN SENSITIVE?

Some people experience dry hair after doing a protein treatment, thus leading them to believe they are protein sensitive. The problem comes from not adding enough moisture back to the hair, after the protein treatment. Because the protein is sitting on top of the hair, you will need to double your moisture regimen, post protein treatment. 

For most people simply doing a moisturizing deep conditioner, after a protein treatment will suffice. However for a small number of people they will need to double up the moisture, the entire week after doing a protein treatment. 


It is normal for hair to feel different, after a protein treatment. Do not expect your hair to feel like a moisturizing deep conditioner. Your strands might feel thicker, that is the protein on them. Do not judge the treatment, based off how your hair feels. Judge it based off whether it has reduced your breakage or whether the hair feels stronger or not. It can take several treatments to stop the breakage.

Protein treatments treat mild to moderate breakage. This article is addressing the issue of dry hair after doing a protein treatment. For more information about protein and answers to other protein questions see:  The guide to protein treatments.

SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE WHOSE HAIR BECOMES VERY DRY AFTER A PROTEIN TREATMENT

This after treatment, regimen is for after you use a hard protein treatment. such as aphogee 2 step treatment. A hard  protein treatment gives you the strongest reinforcement. A hard protein treatment will dry hard on the hair during application.

1. Follow up your protein treatment with a deep moisturizing conditioner.  
2. Baggy your hair for 3 nights straight after your protein treatment. (this means, apply moisturizer and cover with a plastic conditioning cap overnight)
3. Use a leave in conditioner that is protein free or that contains a small amount of protein. Your hair already has some good protein on it, no need to keep adding more. Be mindful of protein in the top five ingredients of your leave in conditioner. 
4. Deep condition hair each week using a protein free or low protein conditioner. Since your hair already has protein on it from your hard protein treatment, there is no need to add more protein when you deep condition. So deep condition with protein free or low protein conditioner.  
List of protein free conditioners HERE

Following these steps will enable you to reap the amazing benefits of  protein treatments. You will see your hair retain more length. You will reach your length goals faster and enjoy fuller styling hair. 

5 ways to infuse your hair with moisture

LARGE BAG OF CONDITIONING CAPS GREAT PRICE!

1) Baggying

Baggying is the easiest way to infuse moisture into your hair. Their are several different ways to baggy.  The most common way of baggying is to apply a leave in conditioner, cover with a plastic conditioning cap, then tie down with a scarf. Leave on overnight. This technique helps dry brittle hair receive moisture and stay moisturized longer. Other benefits are increase follicle stimulation and better coil definition. 

TEACH ME HOW TO BAGGY!

2) CQ Sauna Effect

A unique way of steaming your hair when you do not have a hair steamer. The Sauna Effect gives you the benefits of steaming, without the set up or cost of an actual hair steamer. Get full details when you take the "Gain an inch in 30 days hair growth challenge". Sign up here

3) Hair steamer

If you have chronically dry hair, a hair steamer is a great investment for you. Steam opens up the hair cuticle more than a hooded dryer, this enables your deep conditioner to penetrate better. Using a steaming should increase the effectiveness of your deep conditioner. Your hair is 5 times more moisturized than when you use a hooded dryer. Only use a hair steamer once a week for no longer than 15 minutes each session. 

AFFORDABLE HAIR STEAMER HERE

4) Conditioning Heat cap

My number one suggestion for deep conditioning. Why? Because it is inexpensive and works better than using a hooded dryer. A hooded dryer works best for setting hair and it delivers dry heat. The conditioning heat cap fits snug to your head and gives you moist steam like deep conditioning at a cheap price. If you cannot afford a hair steamer, invest in a heat cap. 

MY FAVORITE HEAT CAP HERE

5) Hooded hair dryer 

A true deep conditioner will most likely require some type of heat source for better absorption. The hooded dryer is the most common heat tool used for deep conditioning. A hooded dryer is a good investment, if you do roller sets and treatments a lot. When deep conditioning with a hooded dryer cover your hair with a conditioning cap before sitting under dryer. Stay under dryer for 10 to 20 minutes for deep conditioning. No need to stay under a dryer longer than that for deep conditioning. 

HOW TO DEEP CONDITION WHEN YOU HAVE NO HAIR DRYER OR STEAMER

3 day Moisture Infusion Treatment for the busy woman

What you will need:

Organic Apple cider vinegar

Raw honey

EVOO

Pure aloe vera leaf

4 plastic conditioning caps

Knit hat, scarf or bonnet

Good quality leave in conditioner

A good quality natural oil. Select one: castor oil, avocado oil 

Night before day one:
HONEY & ALOE PRE TREATMENT

 Apply this pre-treatment to your hair the night before your shampoo day. It will melt bad tangles and single strand knots.  Apply the Honey aloe pre-treatment to hair cover with a plastic cap and scarf overnight. 

When you need to save time, apply the pre-treatment, cover with a plastic cap and let it sit on hair for 3 hours. Proceed

 with shampoo routine.
Honey & Aloe pre-treatment recipe

1/3 cup of pure aloe vera leaf

2 tablespoons of raw honey

2 tablespoons of EVOO

Organic apple cider vinegar

Day one:

Shampoo and deep condition your hair.

Rinse deep conditioner out with cool water.

With hair soaking wet,  pour an ACV rinse over your hair.

Let it sit for 3 minutes.

Rinse out with cool water.

Apply leave in conditioner and oils.

Proceed with setting your hair.

Self heating conditioning cap

At bedtime cover hair with plastic conditioning cap, followed by a knit hat or scarf.

Remove first thing in the morning, to allow hair to dry.

This means you may want to get up 20 minutes earlier to allot for drying time.

Hair should be completely dry before styling, if you are wearing twist outs or braids outs. 

I can help you grow your hair! 

Days two and three:

You will baggy your hair each night for the next two nights in a row.

Applying a leave in conditioner and oil before each baggy treatment.

TIP: store your leave in conditioner in the refrigerator and apply it to your hair cold. The cold product will help the cuticle to lay flatter and lock in more moisture.

On day 4 you should notice your hair staying hydrated longer. If you find that your hair is still getting dry and hard before the end of the day, then proceed to  the  9 day moisture therapy treatment. 

Please keep in mind, that your hair has been dehydrated for a long time, so for some people it will take several days or weeks to get the hair to hold moisture. 

Alternative ways to deep condition with heat, when you have no hooded dryer

For better moisture infusion you should always use heat when you deep condition your hair. The heat makes the hair cuticle open wider, and this enables the deep conditioner to absorb better. Your hair reaps more benefits from your deep conditioner, when you use a heat source. The ideal heat source, is to use a hooded dryer or steamer. 

What does one do if you do not have a hooded dryer or steamer?

Different ways to create heat when you deep condition

4 alternatives to hooded dryers:

BLOW DRYER HOODED ATTACHMENT
Purchase hooded attachment here

If you have a handheld blow dryer, you can purchase a very inexpensive bonnet attachment. Once attached it works just as good as a hooded dryer.The bonnets only attach to certain types of blow dryers so be sure it will fit your blow dryer. These travel really well and are easy to set up.

HEATED CONDITIONER METHOD

1. Put deep conditioner in a bowl.
2. Boil some water in a pot.
3. Remove from heat and sit bowl of conditioner inside hot water.
4. Cover with a top for five minutes. 
5. Quickly apply conditioner onto hair while it is still warm. 
6. Cover hair with a plastic cap, then cover cap with a towel. 
7. Proceed with housework, exercise, errands any activity which generates heat.   
8. Allow warm conditioner to marinate on your hair for 20 minutes, then rinse out with cool water. 

YOU WILL HAVE SOFT, LUSCIOUS HAIR!

SIX STEP BAGGY TREATMENT
1. Apply lots of conditioner to clean hair
2. Cover with a plastic cap.
3. Then cover cap with a hat or scarf.
4. Allow conditioner to sit on hair overnight.
5. Rinse out in morning with cool water.
6. Proceed with other treatments and styling.

HOT TOWEL STEAM METHOD
supplies needed: 
2 small towels 
deep conditioner 
2 plastic conditioning caps
1. Soak two bath cloths in hot water.
2. Shampoo hair.
3. Apply deep conditioner and quickly cover hair with one hot  towel, followed by a plastic conditioning cap.
4. Then apply second hot cloth on top of cap followed by a second conditioning cap. Wrap head in a topsie turby or a bath towel, for 20 minutes. 
5. Rinse out with cool water

OLD FASHION STEAM METHOD
1. Boil water, pour into a big bowl. 
2. Apply deep conditioner but DO NOT cover with a plastic cap. 
3. Using a large bath towel, cover head and make a tent over the bowl. Make an effort to keep all steam inside towel and going on your hair. Sit up as much as you need. Hold hair over steam for 15 minutes. 

Be very careful not to burn yourself with hot water. 

This method is not for the clumsy. 

Each of the above methods help you condition your hair better.

But remember a conditioning cap, hooded dryer or steamer is a good investment for coily hair care.

Defining your natural curl pattern

Understand once and for all that no matter your texture if you have Afro hair your hair is curly. The reason your hair can form an Afro is because of the coils of your individual hair strands. So stop believing that your hair has no curl pattern, just because it does not curl the way you classify as curly.

Change your mindset change your journey!

 Hair is either, straight, wavy or curly. If your hair is tightly coily it is still curly. A coil is a curl. Your hair shrinks doesn't it? Right! Your hair shrinks because it curls up, it is not shrinking because it is straight. If you look at Afro hair really closely your will see the coils of the strands. You may not like your curl pattern but do not say it does not exist. 

Hydration is the key to finding your true curl pattern!

Do not judge your curl pattern until you have been on a good hair care regimen for 3 months or more. Why? Because many times your hair is not acting right, because it is dehydrated. Spend time on a hair care regimen which hydrates and nourishes your hair strands and you will see your true curl pattern come alive.

How to enhance your curl pattern

 

A.   Hair Coiling Technique. Train your hair to form coils. Afro hair can form just about any shape you can think of, look at the wide variety of styles we can do with our hair. The more you style Afro hair a certain way, the better your hair holds that form. This technique works best on those with hair 6 inches or shorter. This technique is great for those with short Afros. 

 At bedtime, apply leave in conditioner and a little gel if you need the extra hold. Section hair into 3 inch boxes, with your fingers twirl your hair into a coil. Your coils should look like a neat tube. Coil your hair in the direction you want your style to flow. If you want a part go ahead and create a part before you start coiling.

2.  Cover with a plastic conditioning cap, then tie down with a scarf.

3.   First thing in the morning remove plastic cap and scarf so hair can dry if it is damp. 

4.  When you are ready to style, apply a nourishing oil to your hair and using your fingers gently pull your coils apart.

5.  You should notice more curl definition. This technique works better each time you do it, so you want to do your coils back to back. By the third day of using this technique you should start to see awesome curl definition on your TWA. Your hair will remember the pattern in which you are coiling it each night. Afro hair is amazing!!!!!!!


B. Mineral clays for cleansing and conditioning.
Replace your shampoo with mineral clay when it is time to cleanse your hair. The best ones are Bentonite clay and Moroccan red clay. These are powdered mineral clays you mix with apple cider vinegar or aloe vera gel, and cleanse your hair and scalp. Mineral clays detox your hair and scalp and leave your coils soft, moisturized and more defined than conditioner or shampoo ever can. Find out more about cleansing with clays here.

Moroccan red clay mixed and ready to apply!

4C hair which has been cleansed using a clay wash, with no additional product added yet. Hair is damp but not soaking wet.

C. Using thick gels
 Set your hair with a little gel or curling jelly. These types of products help to freeze your coils in place so your styles last longer.

Top gels for tightly coily hair
Eco styler brown gel 
eXtreme wet gel
Kinky curly curling custard 

Important tip: in order to keep products from reacting badly with each other use products from the same line