Can someone please explain to me why....

[spoogeywoogey]

Naturals don't need a lot of protein? I never really understood that. I know our bonds are not broken down but wouldn't protein still help?

I would love to know where people get this as well. Hair in all races experiences wear and tear. The hair is just an outgrowth of normal skin and it is comprised of protein, water, and lipid layer made of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids (which hold the water in by acting like a glue holding the cuticle together). This is why most of the cosmetic companies will have one or several of these ingredients in their deep conditioners.

It is true that these products do not last forever on the hair shaft, and pretty much just make the hair look temporarily better. But the longer your hair, the more exposed it is to the elements, and whatever else you have been doing to your hair. It will eventually need protein because there will be some amount of protein loss.

The issue is the type of protein. Some will do ok with just light or medium strength protein conditioners. Others will need potent protein like Aphogee 2 step because they may blow dry or flatiron their hair. Others may find that they need to do more Aphogee 2 step the longer their hair gets just because they have hair that just easily splits for whatever reason. Others will be ok using it once in a blue moon.


So it's not that it cannot be used, it's just that you need to determine what is best for your hair. Some will find that just upping the "glues" like ceramides (wheat germ oil), cholesterol or the fatty acids (eg. coconut oil) will reduce the need for protein treatments. And that goes for those with relaxed hair as well.

I don't know if that's helpful in any way. I plan to look at the different elements that would affect the growth of african hair type for my thesis. So far data just seems scanty. We'll see if it works out..

 

[MiiSS kECiia]

my hair is coarse "& loves protein =/

everyone is different.. there are no set "rules" for hair at least I don't think so

 

[Firstborn2]

Naturals do need protein but some need more than others.

The more coarse one's hair the less protein one needs, the finer(softer) one's hair is the more protein one needs.

I have to disagree with this statement. I have coarse hair and I use protein every week. The less protein I use the more breakage I have, once I stepped up my protein game the breakage stopped. Everybody need to use it according to her needs. I was doing a hardcore protein once every 8weeks and my hair was laughing at me. Find out what your needs are and stick with it.

 

[aa9746]

Naturals don't need a lot of protein? I never really understood that. I know our bonds are not broken down but wouldn't protein still help?

I use protein because i have some fine strands. I'll take all the help i can get and so far it's helping. I mostly use OCT, AO GPG, AO swimmers conditioner, and aphogee 2min. I always follow up with moisturizing conditioners. My favorite is AO White Camellia.

 

[GaiasDaughter24]

Naturals do need protein but some need more than others.

The more coarse one's hair the less protein one needs, the finer(softer) one's hair is the more protein one needs.

Thank you for that. My hair loves protein I think. When I bc'd I was breaking and shedding like mad. I kept adding protein and thinking "What am I doing?! I'm destryoing my hair!!" Needless, to say after an Aphogee protein treatment, the 2 min reconstructor, AO GPB AND MT my hair FINALLY stopped shedding and breaking (This was over the course of about 2 weeks). I can only assume it loves protein. I do a protein dc once a week now and I've been ok. I too have fine strands.

 

[discobiscuits]

Naturals don't need a lot of protein? I never really understood that. I know our bonds are not broken down but wouldn't protein still help?

Idk who started this "naturals don't need protein" rumor but whoever they are they need donkey kicked down a flight of stairs. I lived by that statement and caused myself some major hair trauma. I was stuck at SL and the front of my hair lost a lot of it's texture because I was bunning/brushing it back everyday, but with no protein in my regimen the front of my hair turned wavy and looked a hot mess. By the time I DID turn to protein it was too late and there was no saving it.

i've never heard any rumors like that. naturals don't need a lot of protein because we are not permanently destroying the protein bonds with chemicals. brushing and ponies don't break the protein bonds. a lot of us do use protein of all sorts from time to time to strengthen any weak areas esp those of us who use direct heat like pressing or flat ironing.

 

[Miss AJ]

i've never heard any rumors like that. naturals don't need a lot of protein because we are not permanently destroying the protein bonds with chemicals. brushing and ponies don't break the protein bonds. a lot of us do use protein of all sorts from time to time to strengthen any weak areas esp those of us who use direct heat like pressing or flat ironing.

Depending on how long you've been surfing hair care boards, there have been several posts all over stating matter of factly that naturals need moisture and not protein/relaxed heads need protein more than moisture...and neither one is true.

 

[Creatividual]

It's not that naturals don't need protein, many of us just don't have to do it as much as when we were relaxed. Also some, once they go natural, become protein sensitive and receive adverse affects. It's all about listening to your hair and doing what works for you.

 

[trevprit]

As a natural who wasn't retaining, I found protein to be the answer. My strands are fine but dense and can't take much manipulation.

I wear my hair in protective styles all the time, and found that even trying to redo cornrows every two weeks was too much manipulation for my strands.

I have to work with my hair in very small sections at a time and be very gentle.

I actually use the Aphogee Keratin spray and the Pro-Vitamin conditioner daily. I use the Aphogee 2-minute and follow up with ORS as a DC and my hair loves it.

I was even doing the Aphogee hardcore every 6 weeks followed up with ORS as a DC, and it was very effective. The only reason I stopped was because of the mess and the stink of the Aphogee.

Like most haircare reggies or tips, it comes down to what YOU need on YOUR hair. The hard part is that finding out what you need usually comes down to just trying it and seeing whether or not it works.

 

[Lady S]

Hmm, me and my hair are going to have to talk because it seems to think it needs protein to not snap off.

Now moisture? I'm good. Don't need as much as I did with relaxed hair. *disclaimer, can only speak on just the strands growing out of my head*, but protein? It doesn't matter if it's relaxed, dyed, pressed, natural, playing tennis, robbing a bank, whateva. Protein keeps my hair from breaking. And to think, it only took 28 years to figure that out. *sad sigh*

 

[tkj25]

i'm natural & my hair doesn't really need protein. i have coarse, thick, tightly-tiny-coiled, 4-type hair that craves moisture. as with most things hair related, it comes down to what your hair needs & what retention methods work for you.

i think several things play into why my hair doesn't really need protein, but i feel i need to clarify what i mean by "need protein" first. what i'm specifically speaking to is a regime that adds protein treatments/reconstructing products to it (like aphogee 2-step protein treatment) or specific protein enhancing shampoos or conditioners to stop breakage.

these kinds of products i don't go out of my way to buy, or incorporate into my regime -- because my hair tells me it doesn't need them. not that these aren't good products, because they are, but that my hair responds better to different ones. it also means that when i'm buying products i'm not looking for protein as one of the ingredients. if it's somewhere on the list that's fine, if it's not on the list that's fine too, as long as it's moisturizing & slippy, my hair's happy.

one of the reasons i went natural is because i saw the damage relaxers did to my hair. and I did experience wet, mushy, rubbery hair from over-moisturization (and damage from color), so believe me i know what that looks like (back then I didn’t know about a protein moisture balance … but some of the very same products that caused my [damaged] relaxed hair to be mushy [aussie moist], my natural hair can’t get enough of)

hair is made of protein, & relaxers break down protein strands to work -- which for me meant weaker, breaking, thinning hair over time. thanks to my own research, & hairsites like this, i've learned of numerous ways to minimize those effects ... adding conditioner/oil, silk, amino acids, ceramides, spiked neutralization, texlaxing, texturizing, stretching, (and i know numerous examples of healthy, long, relaxed hair) -- but the other thing i've learned, is that if you don't break down the protein strands to begin with, your hair can start from that foundation, & therefore may not need protein/reconstructing products & techniques from step one. but it depends on your hair/regime/styling techniques.

another reason i don't think my hair needs as much protein, is because i minimize mechanical damage by:

keeping my hair in braids, keep combing to a minimum -- usually finger style, (except for when i have to take down/detangle/redo my braids, & always slathered in conditioner or in some way moisturized), & keep heat to a minimum [... i'm at the point with heat (flat ironing) where i'm thisclose to giving it up all together as my hair's gotten longer it just takes way too long, and i notice more mechanical damage/knots/splits after flat ironing but that’s another story].

also i have a pretty high protein diet, which for me translates into healthier, stronger hair, & i take supplements, like silica, which add to the overall strength of hair internally.

also my regime, basic layered hydration & creamy leave-ins, plus protective styles, help me to have minimal effects from age/weathering.

another factor I think -- because i’m a guy -- i don’t do a lot with my hair on a day to day basis.lachen: I will flat iron periodically to check my length & to switch up the style, but i usually wear protective styles. i keep the same style for months at a time. I do occasionally wear out styles, but that’s usually from the in-between times of my braids or twists (which I’m committed to using until my hair reaches it wl goal, & probably even beyond then). so i basically keep my hair braided or twisted & go -- which doesn't work for a lot of folks, but that's fine. you gotta do you.

so to sum it up for me:

going natural + protective styles + minimal combing/brushing + minimal heat + protein diet/supplements = minimal structural/mechanical damage to hair strands & minimal need for protein enhancing products. I focus on getting what i need internally, moisturizing & protecting what’s growing out of my head, & the rest takes care of itself.

and I don’t think this can be emphasized enough -- you have to do what works for your hair. any info gleaned from this site, or anywhere, has to be filtered through your own personal experience. you can get insight, inspiration & ideas from others, but only you can determine what works for you.

 

[yods]

Totally co sign with tkj25, am his opposite in that I wear out styles most days and I retwist/rebraid my hair every night. I need protein in my case henna for strength to enable me to do this. Henna I believe helps me retain most of what I grow.

If I could be disciplined enough to do low mani long term I really don't think I would need to henna as much.

 

[Chameleonchick]

Thanks tkj25 for your detailed response.

 

[peachykeen]

OK I have fine hair and I now hearing I might need to use more protein than moisurizing. I need a good book to read cause this is getting confusing.

 

[DozenRoses99]

I don't know why, but my natural hair experiences breakage and is stiff when I use products with protein. When I was relaxed, my hair did not like protein on a regular basis only once in a blue moon.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

when i was natural, i proteined alot!!!! i think thats why my hair got long, also the care free curl moisture. i kept a good balance.

protein is good for hair period, relaxed or natural

 

[Fine 4s]

I got a tip to use protein before and after any blowdrying or other frying styling techniques which has worked for me. Hair strands get weakened by many factors including chemicals. Protein also allows the hair to better 'accept' moisturizing properties found in your DC....or so I heard.

 

[LaFaraona]

I am natural and I used to have thinned-strand and fragile hair but with consistent use of light protein my strands are very strong now. Every 2 weeks I have a dc of yogurt/honey/olive oil, my hair luvs it.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

My natural hair LOVES protein. I use Giovanni Smooth As Silk conditioner.