Make a Date With Protein – Good Hair Habit #5

Hair is composed of one main substance…protein. It’s not the only substance but it’s the predominant one, accounting for approximately 91 percent of your hair and made up of long chains of amino acids.* For fine haired naturals, doing regular protein treatments is a key for how to keep you hair healthy.

Since I write from the perspective of someone who has fine natural hair, I recommend giving your hair doses of protein (a treatment used with heat) twice a month. However, as a matter of habit, ensuring that you give your hair a protein treatment once a month is a good foundation for keeping your hair healthy with your strands fortified. That is, as long as you aren’t damaging them with heat or harsh chemicals.

There are various types of protein available for use in hair treatments. Products containing lactic acid and light hydrolyzed proteins (ex: wheat protein, milk protein, soy protein, vegetable protein) are less heavy duty than some other forms of protein (collagen, animal protein, keratin). The fragile state of your hair and how well you care for it to keep it healthy, will determine the type of protein you should use.

One product that seems to work well for keeping most people’s hair healthy (including yours truly) is Aubrey Organics Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner (also known as GPB). Aubrey’s GPB can be used before washing your hair as a pre-poo or after washing your hair (before the deep conditioner). I like to use it as a pre-poo on the weeks that I don’t use my DIY goat’s milk treatment.

After giving you hair a protein treatment, it’s wise imperative to follow it with a deep conditioner. This is especially true if you use a strong protein treatment like Aphogee (also sold as a two step treatment to include a moisturizing treatment as the 2nd step). One exception to this rule would be using Aubrey’s GPB. That’s because this particular hair product is designed to provide your hair with a protein/moisture balance.

Check out this video for A Plan to Strengthen Fine Hair

In the following video I talk more in depth about using protein and other means to keep your hair healthy.

Following your protein treatments with a deep conditioner helps to keep your hair balanced. Moisture + Protein is how to keep your hair healthy. It’s part of the foundation for developing Your Best Hair.

Stay tuned for Good Hair Habit #6 – Protective Style 80% of The Time

Source: Texas Collaborative for Teaching Excellence