Protein Treatments, Conditioners, and Deep Conditioners

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I was tired tonight and since the little lady was sleep early, I figured that I would just fall in the bed too.  But here I am still up because while I was in the shower I heard her crying and I figured her dad would check on her.  She kept crying and I peeped out to see him in the chair sleep with his mouth wide open.  I guess he was super tired because they were in the same room and he didn't even hear her crying.  Since her face is stuck in the iPad, I figured I would blog a little to help me stay up.


Protein Treatments
According to an article on Naturally Curly, 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.  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.

Now with all that being said, in December I figured that my hair care regimen was missing something.  Well honestly, it really wasn't.  That 's just what I told myself because I wanted to try a protein treatment.  There are several different protein treatments so I decided to try Aphogee's Two Minute Intensive Keratin Reconstructor.  I chose this one because it was something that wouldn't take long to use (2-5 minutes) and it was simple.  Aphogee has a two-step protein treatment but it's geared more toward severely damaged hair.  I have highlights in my hair but my hair is far from damaged.  The reconstructor claims to restore strength and softness to hair that requires a deep, penetrating treatment.

The first time I used it I left it on for two minutes exactly.  I added some heat to it with my Hot Head Cap (I'll talk more about this in the conditioner section).  In those two minutes it worked some kind of magic.  My hair was super soft and full of moisture.  I will say that it worked well with other strengthening agents because detangling my hair was easy.  My curls actually looked more defined.  All of this was happening before I even used my deep conditioner.  When I use it now I leave it in for about five minutes now.  This is a product that I will definitely use every wash day during the winter and as needed during the summer.

Deep Conditioners

Deep conditioning is something that I started doing around 2014.  I kind of stopped after awhile and then it wasn't until recently that I realized the importance of doing it, especially during the winter months.  Deep conditioning is the process of fortifying the hair with moisture or protein.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  I've been using this word a lot for a reason.  It's so important to keep natural hair moisturized.  Dry, brittle hair leads to breakage, dry scalp, splitting of the hair shaft, and this list goes on.  Some deep conditioners even contain protein, which is a plus.  Below is a list of deep conditioners that I like to use.

• Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner
• The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Anti-Breakage & Repair Antidote Hair Mask
• The Mane Choice Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening & Restorative Mask Treatment
• Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
• Shea Moisture 10-in-1 Renewal System Hair Masque

I use these conditioners depending on what my hair needs at the time.  If I am doing a regular wash, then I rotate between Mielle Organics' conditioner, The Mane Choice's Green Tea & Carrot Treatment, and Briogeo's deep conditioning mask.  The conditioner by Mielle Organics is one of MY FAVORITES!  It leaves my hair super soft and it gives it lots of slip so that's its easy to detangle.  It smells really minty and it makes my scalp tingle, which I really love!  Most people don't like this feeling but it soothes my scalp and the smell relaxes me a little.  When I'm looking to add more strength to my hair, I use The Mane Choice's Ancient Egyptian hair mask (along with the Ancient Egyptian shampoo, conditioner, oil, & split end treatment serum).  I've only used the Shea Moisture hair masque twice.  I leave it at my parents house so that I have something there whenever I need it.  But the times that I did use it, I really did like how it worked with my hair.  It helped to eliminate frizz, moisturized, and detangled my hair.

Hot Head Cap
For years, when applying a deep conditioner or a conditioner at home I never added any heat.  Now when I would go to a salon, the beautician applies a conditioner or a deep conditioner and then sits me under the dryer.  I absolutely hate sitting under the dryer.  I read on several other blogs how adding heat can increase the amount and effectiveness of absorption.  So I was about to give in and buy a hooded dryer, until I stumbled across the Hot Head cap.  This cap is like mobile deep conditioning.  It works by popping it in the microwave for 45 seconds.  Then flip it inside out and repeat.  To give it a little more power, I repeat the previous step.  Then I put a plastic cap on, put the Hot Head cap on, and let it do its thing.  While my protein treatment, deep conditioner, or conditioner is doing its thing, I am able to fold clothes, cook, play with my toddler, hang upside down...hell just do whatever I want.  In about 15 minutes I have to re-heat it but that's not an issue because it's so much better than sitting under a dryer and banging my head against the rim of it because I'm sleepy.  So thank you to the creators of this masterpiece!

Sorry for the lengthy post but I was trying to fit all the info in here.  Please feel free to share any good deep conditioners that you have found.  I'm always down to try something new and it might help someone else out.  Check back later because I'll be talking about more conditioners!