QuoteReplyTopic: protein questions Posted: January 05 2007 at 2:33pm
Do any of you with long hair use protein treatments?
What is the benefit of applying protein directly to the hair?
How does it make your hair feel?
What is the best protein treatment?
Are there any homemade protein treatments I can do? (such as foods/oils/herbs/etc that I can put on my hair)
How often do you use protein treatments?
How do you know when it's too much?
If your diet is rich in protein, do you really need a direct application? (I'm a big meat-eater, and often eat peanutbutter, raw nuts, and whole grain foods)
I know I have alot of questions, but it's something new to me. Any advice would be appreciated!
I occasionally use protein-enriched conditioners (from Redken and Aubrey Organics). They are supposed to help fill-in (and thus, strengthen) any empty spaces in the hair shaft. Used occasionally, it makes my hair very soft. Used too often, and it makes my hair dry and crunchy. Using them about once every month or two is optimum for me.
Diets rich in protein are excellent, because your body builds hair from the inside. I also supplement generously with biotin to help metabolize the protein.
I was in our local beauty supply store today, so I looked to see what they had in the way of protein treatments. I asked the lady about them, and she looked at me like she wasn't sure what I was talking about. They only had one brand, I think it was Ion. I know the salons around here sell Redken. I may check with them.
I just wanted to share my protein experience... or lack thereof.
The old old version of Finesse shampoo (in the early 1990s) had silk protein. I used that for a long time, when it did leave my hair very soft, but that was also before I experimented with using oils. Certain proteins and certain oils do weird things to hair, so I stopped using the Finesse. It was also discontinued anyway.
I do miss that shampoo - they don't make it the same way anymore for price considerations (they switched from Sodium Laureth Sulfate to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate... cheaper, apparently).
I bought Ion Reconstuctor and really liked it. The ladies in the African-American section said they use protein treatments every week, so thought I'd try that to begin with just to see. It's obviously too much for my hair, so once a month it will be. (I wrote about it more in depth on my site)
I also started taking biotin. And have been trying to increase my protein intake as well. I'm also exercising more regularly. I'm hoping to see some good results, not just in my hair.........
Have a great day, everybody! And thanks so much for all your help!
I use a protein treatment about once a week and a protein shampoo every day lately -- NO problems for me. I really LOVE that Ion Reconstructor stuff (though that's not what I'm using now)!
P.S. Hairbraider, your hair is GORGEOUS. I just got done looking at the pictures on your site. I love it!
I used to use Ion products, both the reconstructor and the little Ion
protein packs you can get cheap. I haven't used them since I
stopped dying my hair though. I thought they were heavy cone
products but since I dyed it then I didn't worry about cones, so I
never checked. I did like them though, they did the same
moisturizing for my hair that a good coning did, so if they don't have
them, that is great. They were great for after a harsh dye job in
turning the hair from straw to smooth and detangled.
I haven't used them in a long time though, or any protein, as I too
like to worry more about the protein I get in my diet. I am
mostly vegetarian so I have to work harder at getting enough, but it
seems to go fine, and my hair doesn't seem to suffer.
Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com
I did check for -cones since my hair doesn't respond well to them. Most similar products that I saw have them in abundance. There is one ingredient that might have the same long-term effects even though it isn't silicone-based.
"polyquaterniums - group of ingredients used primarily in hair-care products due to their antistatic and film-forming properties. They can have water-binding properties for skin due to the sheer "plastic" film layer they create on skin."
(as opposed to silicone which creates "a great deal of slip and in its various forms it can feel like silk on the skin, impart emolliency, and be a water-binding agent that holds up well, even when skin becomes wet.")
Thanks for posting that, I wondered what quaterniums did, I have Mode
de Vie shea butter conditioner, and its only chemical sounding
ingredient is quaterniums. I didn't know it was anti-static, next
time its sweater weather I'll have to see if it keeps my hair from
flying out horizontally like it was doing last time!
Making metal barettes/concord clips hair safe, long hair style how to: http://alonghair.wordpress.com
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Thank you Alayney. You're very sweet.
