Protein Treatment for the Hair

Why Use a Protein Treatment?

The Aphogee Treatment For Damaged Hair has a wonderful restorative and fixative value for damaged, chemically processed hair. It repairs the hair for up to six weeks and then needs to be repeated. 

Protein treatments are important when you want to strengthen the hair cuticle, and stop/prevent breakage, split ends, and shedding. Since hair is made up of about 70% keratin protein, giving it a good, hardcore protein treatment will help to strengthen it from the inside out. An intense protein treatment like this one is ONLY necessary every 6-8 weeks (as needed), and it will keep the hair shaft strong and prevent breakage before it even starts.

Before We Begin:

After you've tried this ONCE and gotten the initial “scare” out of the way.... it really becomes quite fun! Watching your hair harden before your eyes, like the helmet of a Warrior Princess, is very cool!

*Please note that I find it best to do this without a shirt on and without a towel around the neck.*

The reason why it’s best to be shirtless is because, as your hair starts to harden and dry, it sticks to the surface of whatever it is touching. If you have a towel around your neck, or a shirt on, the hair may stick to the fabric.... and you may unable to remove it without tearing the hair.

If you opt to leave your hair down rather than pinned up during the treatment, try not to move your head around too much as it hardens/dries and sticks to your back.  While the sensation of that is very annoying, it’s best to leave it be, lest you inadvertently tear/break the strands.

Now We’re Ready To Get Started:

1) Two weeks after a touch-up I use the Aphogee protein treatment. After shampooing, saturate hair with the Aphogee treatment. Do NOT comb through. Use your fingers to gently and quickly work it into the hair.

2) Apply heat to the hair, using a hooded dryer or a blow dryer with funnel attachment. You should feel your hair harden, like a helmet. Do NOT try to comb or manipulate your hair during this time. If your hair is long (i.e., beyond armpit) make certain to concentrate the heat toward the ends, so that can harden as well.

3) Once your hair is hard all over, rinse the treatment out THOROUGHLY. As soon as the water starts to hit it, you should feel the hair start to soften immediately. At this point, you still don’t need to use your fingers/comb to manipulate the air. The pressure from the water will be sufficient to soften the hair.

4) Follow up with the Aphogee Moisturizing Humuctant. I then apply another moisturizing conditioner, usually a cheap condition (i.e., Suave Milk and Honey or V05) blended with a few heaping spoons of honey and olive oil. I let this to sit in my hair for about fifteen minutes before rinsing.

*NOTE* It is essential to MOISTURIZE after a strong protein treatment, as overuse of a protein conditioner can cause the hair to become dry and brittle.

5) Moisturize with a generous amount of the ORS Olive Oil OR the Cantu Shea Butter: Break Cure & Strengthening Treatment, put into one plait, and bun to air-dry.

*NOTE* An intense protein treatment like this one is ONLY necessary every 6-8 weeks (as needed), and it will keep the hair shaft strong and prevent breakage before it even starts.

Final Note:

As you can probably tell, your hair is VERY fragile throughout this entire process. However, just be very cautious and vigilant during this process, and you will see that it is WELL worth the mess and hassle!!!!

Dr. Yakini is a clinical psychologist and freelance lifestyle writer living in Brooklyn, NY.  She owns and edits Girly Home Webzine®, the online magazine for ladies living siddity in the city. 

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Comments

[Wheezy807]

How do you wear your hair during this process? I never thought about pinning it up, do i use a bobbypin? Sounds like a good idea, but the thought scares me. So i wouldn't remove the bobbypin til i've completely rinsed the hair, right? TIA

[hi]

Do you still henna? If so, when do you do it since you use Aphogee too

[Cutiepie]

Yea,I would also like to know how you wear your hair during this process?...my hair has grown past apl and its harder for the bottom half to dry.

[kelly margo]

i got a spechal treatment the other day called aphogee and we just opened my pool. will the treatment stop working if i go swiming in my pool everyday