princessdi
Active Member
Ok ladies, I have a dilemma. My hair is in protein overload and I don't know how to fix it. The problem started a couple of weeks ago when I read a post about Nexxus Kerafix that said you could use kerafix on a weekly basis or sometimes even twice a week without encountering any problems. Well, I started to use it twice a week combined with Mill Creek's Keratin Conditioner (because it made my hair feel so moisturized and soft) and didn't think that it was not a moisturizing conditioner and was adding more protein to the Kerafix which is already a mild protein-based product. Needless to say, my hair feels like straw is very dry and beginning to break. I can't believe how stupid this was and I just want to kick myself in the ***. Prior to this, my hair was very moisturized and balanced with the use of say Mill Creek Keratin alone. The only reason I thought about using Kerafix is because of reading the benefits of the product. I thought it could only make my hair better, stronger. I'm so upset with myself because this move has only caused me to have a set back. But this is not the end to this disaster, to add to this story, because my hair is a dry, tangled, mess (especially the ends), I figured I was having a porosity issue (duh, I was but it was caused by the protein overload). What did I do, well, after reading a post about porosity control and how many times it could be used, I started to use it with every wash because the post said it can be used as many times as possible until your hair is back to its normal state. Well, not knowing much about porosity control (does it contain protein?), I started incorporating it with every wash, which is twice per week. However, since this problem occurred, I have not been washing with shampoos only with conditioners. So, at each wash, I would combine porosity control and another conditioner, which I later found out had some type of protein in it. Well, my hair felt great after the first use, so I continued to use it. After the second attempt to use it, my hair was saying no, no, no!!!! My hair just felt stripped and even more dry. While the porosity control was on my hair it felt great and detangled great in the shower; however, once washed out, oh no! It was back to the tangled, dry mess. So, after a week of doing moisturizing conditioner washes and my hair was still a dry, tangled mess, I decided I probably needed to clarify because I had product buildup and the goodness of the moisturizing conditioner were not getting into the hair shaft. I didn't even think that the moisturizing conditioners that I was using had some sort of protein in it and was only adding to my already protein ridden strands. Well, the clarifying felt good at first (baking soda mixed with Mill Creek Keratin, again!) but after the rinse, oh my God, can anyone say dry and tangled? The first thing I did was grab the Queen Helen Cholesterol Conditioner and soaked my strands in it. It may also have protein in it, but it saved a lot of my hair. My hair started to detangle with ease and I started to lose less hair. I have been using only Queen Helen for a week now, and I'm beginning to tell a difference. However, I can still tell that I still have protein overload and my hair is still breaking. I am most concerned about the breaking, and I know it's caused by the protein overload. I have to, have to, get this breakage under control and get my hair back to its moisturized state; however, I'm not sure how to do this. Hence, my plea for a moisturizing conditioner that does not have any protein in it. All I need right now is moisture, no protein. Once I get that moisture balance back, I think I will start to see less breakage. However, because of the breaking, although not severe, I'm afraid that if I don't get this under control, I'm going to have a set back.
So, what I want to say to all the newbies who are reading this. If you have gotten your hair regimen down and you have the perfect protein/moisture balance, please do not change anything. Stick with what's working. When I first began this journey, I jumped on every band wagon on this site and experienced lots of problems; however, after a year, I had it all figured out and then I went and screwed up my regimen just to try products that others said were working for them. I know what my hair likes right now and it's very little protein. I have learned that I don't need lots of protein and that the protein that is already incorporated into the ingredients of my moisturizing conditioners is enough for me. Lesson learned.
With that said, LADIES, PLEASE, PLEASE, I NEED YOUR HELP! My current regimen is as follows:
Co-Wash daily w/moisturizing conditioner only (currently using Herbal Essence Replenishing Conditioner)--Does anyone know if this contains protein? If so, I don't need to be using it; although it is helping tremendously with the detangling process.
Deep condition twice per week w/Queen Helen Cholesterol Conditioner (does this contain protein?) -- this too has saved my hair.
Absolutely no combing, brushing, etc. -- VERY LITTLE MANIPULATION!!!! (I'm currently in a wig and have my hair sectioned in four parts and in plaits)
What I need right now, more than anything is moisture. If you can share a solution to my problem, please chime in. Trust me, I want to hear from you.
Thanks ladies!!
Also, I know I have a porosity issue right now that is caused by the protein overload and this is causing my strands to tangle and break. Because I don't think it's a good idea to use the porosity control right now is there any other way to help with the porosity issue and tangling?
no matter what moisturizing conditioner you use it will feel great going on but after rinsing your hair feels like you didn’t put anything on it. It can be quite frustrating.
