From Protein Overload to Moisture Overload. Oye! What's a Girl to do?!

[Bluetopia]

Most people on here probably know me from my new Year's Day thread:
http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=431434

or from the baggy challenge.

And due to my frustrating year of battling protein overload I have been a proponent of moisture for quite some time now.

A while back someone on the board said that they'd never have to worry about moisture overload the way they worried about protein overload because their hair could never seem to be soft enough. And I remember reading that and thinking "Right on sistah!"

Well....err uh...

now I'm thinking that both her and I may have been naive in that assumption.

Cause it turns out that:

Constant use of SCurl (thanks to Adora ) +
sealing with WheatGerm/JBCO/EVOO oil combo daily +
Constant baggying (at least 5-8 hrs a day) =

*drumroll please*

MOISTURE OVERLOAD!!

Just 6 weeks ago my stylist complained my hair was too dry (as usual)

So how did my hair not only do a 180 but also go running to the other extreme so darn fast?

I honestly think that me finding out about the yummy ceremides in Wheat Germ oil and overdosing on it like a crazy woman these past two weeks is what turned my moisture heavy routine into a certified hydration binge.:fat:

And out of sheer laziness whenever I dont feel like finding my silk scarf...I'd just slap on a shower cap to baggy and go to bed.

Not to mention I once left deep conditioner in my hair for a whopping 3 days

At this point my hair is so mushy and soft it feels like I have a headfull of APL babyhairs.

Yes - moisture overload is definately a lot more pleasant to deal with than protein overload. But at the end of the day neither is good and leads to breakage.

I washed my hair with some CON shampoo and porosity control conditioner tonight and then slapped on some Cantu strengthening treatment leave-in that I had in the back on my walk in.

Currently I'm under the bonnet dryer trying to get the dampness out of my cornrows so I can head to bed, and am now thinking maybe I can use Phyto again :scratchch since I've learned that Scurl, WheatGerm oil and baggying are the moisture holy grail.

Just wanted to give all you super brittle haired, protein sensitive members a heads up that yes...even WE can get moisture overload too.

Balance is beautiful

 

[SelfStyled]

Okay, why am I jealous that you have moisture overload, lol? Did the cantu help?

 

[sharifeh]

It's not surprising that you had a moisture overload with doing all of that. You should go warn your fellow challengers about moisture overload with the glycerin products too.

Good thing you recognized it and now you're correcting it! Apparently moisture overload is a little easer to bounce back from.

 

[Barbie83]

Okay, why am I jealous that you have moisture overload, lol? Did the cantu help?

Girl, me too

My hair is NEVER moist enough for me

 

[~NanCeBoTwin~]

I'm not a big Protein user and my hair loves loves loves moisture so like you I thought I'd jump in the Jheri juice challenge. My hair loved it the first few days, then my hair made a huge turn around and became EXTRA mushy and stretchy. I stopped the S-curl quickly, and used my V05 strengthing conditioner and 100% AVJ after a tea rinse the other day. My hair bounced right back to normal.

 

[JJamiah]

I had a problem with MEGATEK and protein overload took 5 month to bounce back. I am scared something fierce! I haven't gotten Moisture overload but I was close I quickly combated it with Protein

 

[Bnster]

Never had moisture overload but thanks for the heads up.

 

[Bluetopia]

Okay, why am I jealous that you have moisture overload, lol? Did the cantu help?

Girl, me too

My hair is NEVER moist enough for me

Before this happened to me I would have said the exact same thing but now that its the day after my realization...the thought of having a head full of mushy babyhairs is starting to freak me out a bit. erplexed

I went to bed after slapping on the Cantu and have been rocking a beanie all day so I'm gonna take my first real peek at my hair when I get home tonight.

Because of my previous protein overload situation I'm reintroducing it VERY carefully back into my regimen to get it back on track.

I'm not a big Protein user and my hair loves loves loves moisture so like you I thought I'd jump in the Jheri juice challenge. My hair loved it the first few days, then my hair made a huge turn around and became EXTRA mushy and stretchy. I stopped the S-curl quickly, and used my V05 strengthing conditioner and 100% AVJ after a tea rinse the other day. My hair bounced right back to normal.

I'm so relieved it's not just me! how did you use the AVJ? did you just mix it in with the VO5?

 

[supermodelsonya]

I've been saying that about too much moisture from jump. I, too, suffered the ill effects of moisture overload and it cost me a setback.

I've never had a problem with protein though. But IMHO baggying for that amount of time is too long. My hair broke off like the Charlie brown christmas tree.

 

[beans4reezy]

I never thought moisture overload could happen to me either- but it did happen to me when I was cowashing everyday last summer. Thankfully, moisture overload is little easier to treat than protein overload (IMO). Finding that balance is vital.

 

[MsLizziA]

Its sad that I wanna know how this feels. I cosign with every woman who feels like their hair is never satisfied. So u said it was because of the wheat germ oil?

 

[Bluetopia]

I've been saying that about too much moisture from jump. I, too, suffered the ill effects of moisture overload and it cost me a setback.

I've never had a problem with protein though. But IMHO baggying for that amount of time is too long. My hair broke off like the Charlie brown christmas tree.

I never thought moisture overload could happen to me either- but it did happen to me when I was cowashing everyday last summer. Thankfully, moisture overload is little easier to treat than protein overload (IMO). Finding that balance is vital.

How did you ladies combat it? I need tips!

Its sad that I wanna know how this feels. I cosign with every woman who feels like their hair is never satisfied. So u said it was because of the wheat germ oil?

I had been overdosing on moisture for a while now...but my hair never felt all that happy...just wet.

But the second I added Wheat Germ oil to my JBCO/EVOO oil mix....

BAM!

then I went and started added S CURL to my baggying and



unfortunately I took it too far and got heavy handed with my use.

So I think it was a combo of all 3 (the wheat germ, baggying and glycerin)

Wheat Germ oil will now be a permanent staple tho....I just need to figure out how to get balanced.

The Cantu leave in is helping to strengthen things up. I just refuse to do a heavy protein treatment because I've learned that lesson enough times last year

 

[supermodelsonya]

Sure!

I stopped the whole baggying thing and started doing protein treatments weekly for about three weeks and my hair was back to normal. I also did a porosity treatment. I have to admit after the second protein treatment, my hair was back to normal again.

I notice "super soft hair" is what a lot of ladies look for on here but it is the first sign that you could be heading towards moisture overload. I read that in one of Sisterslick's articles.

 

[elained313]

Thanks for posting this because when you said (feels like a head full of baby hairs) I like THAT'S ME! And for the life of me I don't know how that's happened?? Seemed like overnight woke up and my hair is soft and thinner! Maybe I have moisture/protein overload because I don't know what else it could be and it's driving me crazy, Crazy enough to want to BC but I going to try some tips from this tread!

 

[Bluetopia]

Thanks for posting this because when you said (feels like a head full of baby hairs) I like THAT'S ME! And for the life of me I don't know how that's happened?? Seemed like overnight woke up and my hair is soft and thinner! Maybe I have moisture/protein overload because I don't know what else it could be and it's driving me crazy, Crazy enough to want to BC but I going to try some tips from this tread!

if it feels like a head full of baby hairs/mushy that sounds like moisture overload

 

[bravenewgirl87]

I don't want to send you out on a wild goose chase searching for a million products but when I was relaxed I suffered from your problem constantly (it cost me a lot of hair, too).

Here are reconstructors that will work to initially combat your problem:
Paul Mitchell Super strong Treatment
Aphrogee 2 min Keratin ( I don't think you should use the super strong treatment if you typically suffer from protein overload. Start with this initially, and if it does not work after two times, then try the strong treatment)
MOP Extreme Protein
Megatek
You can add one egg and molasses to any of these conditioners. Only apply them for the recommended time first. If you need more than the packaging says, +10 to each usage.

After every wash use a bit of Aphrogee Keratin and Green Tea Spray

Avoid leaving the DC in too long. Just stick to 40 mins, once a week for now. TOPS! If your hair starts to get dry again, DC for 25 mid-week.

Good luck.

 

[grow]

I don't want to send you out on a wild goose chase searching for a million products but when I was relaxed I suffered from your problem constantly (it cost me a lot of hair, too).

Here are reconstructors that will work to initially combat your problem:
Paul Mitchell Super strong Treatment
Aphrogee 2 min Keratin ( I don't think you should use the super strong treatment if you typically suffer from protein overload. Start with this initially, and if it does not work after two times, then try the strong treatment)
MOP Extreme Protein
Megatek
You can add one egg and molasses to any of these conditioners. Only apply them for the recommended time first. If you need more than the packaging says, +10 to each usage.

After every wash use a bit of Aphrogee Keratin and Green Tea Spray

Avoid leaving the DC in too long. Just stick to 40 mins, once a week for now. TOPS! If your hair starts to get dry again, DC for 25 mid-week.

Good luck.

great post, Bravenewgirl87!

have you or (or any of the ladies) tried Megatek before or after using a perm to texlax?
i recently tried some Chi Keratin Mist because i, too, have been super moisturizing my hair and i didn't want it too weak right before texlaxing, but that mist turned my hair into a broomstick! yikes!

i HAD to jump right back to some moisturizing dc's, but would still like to try something to give some protein back to my hair.

the only things i have from that list are the MT and Keratin&Tea from Aphogee, but i'm a bit weary of trying keratin protein, again.

oh, and i also have some Dudley's DRC 28 that i was thinking of using 1 week before my perm.

would that suffice?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, LADIES!

 

[MAMATO]

Girl,

Your oils are definitely my favorites, I have the same combo and I love them... specially the Wheat germ oil ...love it, love it, love it

 

[Jazzmommy]

Yes,

That happened to me too last year with the co-washing and Wen. I lost hair and my progress has been derailed. I am still having breakage.. so I am a bit at a loss.. maybe it's stress.. idk

 

[cutenss]

I know with my hair, if I do one, I also do the other. Whether washing or daily maintainance, if I use a moisture product, I am also using a protein product. Balance is always the key. JMHO