Protein Vs. Moisture

[HairEgo]

So as a hair care professional, I often get asked which type of shampoo and conditioner a client should use. My # 1 pet peeve is when someone comes to me and complains that they have 'dry hair'. First you need to understand why the hair is dry before you can properly treat it...

Your hair is made up of protein, ceramides, and moisture. If you chemically treat your hair, your hair loses protein. If you use a lot of heat on your hair or are in harsh weather (ie. sun, wind, cold) your hair will lose moisture. Often times, the hair can be lacking both.

Signs that you need protein:

- you have breakage in the hair

- hair snaps off mid shaft when combing

Signs that you need moisture:

- feels coarse

- Tangles easily

- Lack of shine

- Feels dry to the touch

- If let dry naturally, the hair will take hours to dry

Key Words to look for when buying:

Protein:

- Strengthening

- Fortifying

Moisture:

- Hydrating

- Moisturizing

- Softening -

Its also important to understand that protein does NOT make your hair softer, it will make the hair stronger, Where as moisture will make the hair softer but NOT make the hair stronger....

LOL Did this help anyone at all, or did i totally just confuse everyone more??

 

[reesesilverstar]

Good info!!

I buy conditioners to treat both of those and use the protein first and follow up with the moisturizing conditioner... It started helping, but I haven't been a good girl lately

 

[Ozee]

thanks for posting some good advice

my hair seems to be tangling alot lately time to invest in a good conditioner.

 

[Anjel.]

Good post! Very informative

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by reesesilverstar /img/forum/go_quote.gif Good info!!
I buy conditioners to treat both of those and use the protein first and follow up with the moisturizing conditioner... It started helping, but I haven't been a good girl lately

I do the same, except I do a Moisturizing shampoo with a protein conditioner. Healthy hair has an equal balance of both, so my hairs in pretty good shape from doing this lol especially considering I colour it every 3 weeks!

 

[pinksugar]

interesting. Thanks for posting!

 

[Adrienne]

Originally Posted by HairEgo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do the same, except I do a Moisturizing shampoo with a protein conditioner. Healthy hair has an equal balance of both, so my hairs in pretty good shape from doing this lol especially considering I colour it every 3 weeks! Thanks for the advice. I need something moisturizing then. Can you recommend anything for me? I have really long hair, when it's wet the longest piece reaches the back of my thigh, and I wash it every other day. I do have an oily scalp with slight dandruff.

 

[Leylani]

Thank you so much! Very good info.

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Adrienne /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the advice. I need something moisturizing then. Can you recommend anything for me? I have really long hair, when it's wet the longest piece reaches the back of my thigh, and I wash it every other day. I do have an oily scalp with slight dandruff. I would go with Biologe Normalizing shampoo....it will redistribute the oil from the scalp to the ends. Wow, I thought my hair was long...I was wrong...you definetly beat me on that one! As far as conditioner goes, never apply conditioner towards the scalp, always go 2 inches from the scalp and down. I would go with Biologe Ultra Hydrating balm.

 

[Adrienne]

Yay! Thanks for the advice. I'm too lazy to do anything big with it so that's why it's so long. I'm too lazy to style it lol.

 

[Orangeeyecrayon]

i couldnt of put it better myself. I learned a long time ago the diffrence, but it was not easy, i really only ended up learning it cause my hair needed a lot of protien after i was stupid one night and decided to bleach my hair 2 times in 2 days

 

[katana]

Good information.

I know now it is protein I need for my hair.

I tried Joico K-Pak but I swear my hair has more split ends, and white spotted breaking-points, then before using it.....

 

[HairEgo]

Originally Posted by Orangeeyecrayon /img/forum/go_quote.gif i couldnt of put it better myself. I learned a long time ago the diffrence, but it was not easy, i really only ended up learning it cause my hair needed a lot of protien after i was stupid one night and decided to bleach my hair 2 times in 2 days I used to be SUPER BLONDE....like I'm talking platinum almost white...this was before I joined the industry and became a professional...anyway I guess I was about 16 at the time and after bleaching my hair again with a DIY kit and having pieces of my hair break off (quite possibly the most traumatizing experience of my life!) I quickly began to educate myself on everything to do with hair...which lead me to the career I now have today!

Originally Posted by katana /img/forum/go_quote.gif Good information.
I know now it is protein I need for my hair.

I tried Joico K-Pak but I swear my hair has more split ends, and white spotted breaking-points, then before using it.....

Joico K-pak is okay, not my favourite. Theres 2 different types of k-pak treatments...theres the reconstructor which is protein, then theres the intense hydrator which is moisture...which one were you using?

 

[marcyair]

Thanks so much for your post! So informative and really helpful.

 

[Johnnie]

Thanks for posting. It's very informative

 

[HairEgo]

Thanks guys!

 

[Bec688]

Great info, thanks for posting! I learnt the lesson a long time ago too.. trust me I go through the same thing when clients can't differentiate between "dry" skin and "dehydrated" skin. Education is power!

 

[TwinkletOes26]

my hair may need both it feels kinda dry at the ends and it breaks...i see a few split end. Plz give me some names of protein shampoos and moisturizing conditoners. I have relaxed hair is that makes a diff lol

 

[Dragonfly]

Thanks for the information.

 

[tika]

Great info! Thanks for posting. I do an oil treatment when my hair starts to tangle too much or looks dull, and I just started using a styling spray containing protein on my ends. I read somewhere that protein products are also good for protecting hair when heat styling--is that true? Just wondering.