Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[faithVA]

Bond treatments are the most dangerous products for my hair. I just can't use them. I've tried a couple and each time, I have had a serious hair set-back. The first one left a sink full of broken hairs in the sink. All the hairs were the exact same length. I realized that the bond product was so drying to my hair that it popped off the cuticle layers of my hair strands. The second bond treatment was too harsh and it disintegrated my hair over a four month period. I do not think bond products are bad and I do not think they should be avoided. I just think they are bad for my hair and should be avoided by me.

I've learned that there is no such thing as an innocuous hair care product, as it pertains to my hair. I used to think that only relaxer products were to be approached lightly. Not anymore. My hair is so sensitive that even the wrong shampoo choice can set my hair back with extreme dryness after the wash. Or, worse case scenario, usher in another breakage cycle.

Part of the joy of hair care for me was trying different products. But, I have learned that I have to choose from the immediate and short-term gratification of using a new product, or maintaining the health and length of my hair for the long-term, using tried and true products.

I'm tired of setbacks and watching years of care and attention destroyed by a wrong 'new' product choice. I'm grieving the loss of being able to 'experiment' and try new products. But a set-back, from my poor product choice- for my particular hair type, is worse and far more grievous.

Sorry to hear about your issues with bond products. One of the things this particular stylist stresses is understanding when a product is needed. Both bond builders and protein treatments are only for certain situations. And bond builders are primarily for hair that has been stressed by chemicals or heat or other things.

Using those things when not needed can have adverse affects. But when needed, using a quality one can make a big difference.

 

[Chicoro]

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Sorry to hear about your issues with bond products. One of the things this particular stylist stresses is understanding when a product is needed. Both bond builders and protein treatments are only for certain situations. And bond builders are primarily for hair that has been stressed by chemicals or heat or other things.

Using those things when not needed can have adverse affects. But when needed, using a quality one can make a big difference.

Thank you so much for acknowledging my situation.

I agree with your statement about using only what you need when you need it.

I understand when I need protein and when to use it. I’m not willing to experiment on my hair to learn about bonding treatments.

My hair thrived before many of the bonding treatments came on the scene. So, I’m going to avoid them and stay blissfully ignorant to them and navigate my hair journey without them. I’m just going to have to accept this gap in my hair care knowledge.

I’ll watch, listen and learn from you all, from the sidelines.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

@Yvette 2.0 , I believe it was you, I promised a write up about bond-builders versus protein treatments. When I'm speaking of protein treatments, I'm referring to the basic treatments we tend to do a home. This wouldn't be referring to full blown, in-salon keratin treatments. Anyway.

I watched the video again and took notes. Will be interesting to see what your stylist says.
Let me know if you want me to clarify anything. I tried to summarize it because there were a lot of points.

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Bond Builder: Primary Purpose is to help the hair become stronger by addressing internal damage
Protein Treatment: Primary Purpose is to help the hair act stronger

Some hair may need both but used at different times for different reasons. They are not interchangeable

Protein Treatment - external, immediate
--gives support to the structure the hair already has.
--use when hair feels: weak, overly stretch, breaks during styling or hair doesn't hold up well between shampoos for stretched, heated, out styles
--can help the hair feel firmer, less floppy and easier to style
--it is support, not repair; it does not rebuild damage
--may help hair feel better and perform better immediately
--stiff hair after treatment may indicate that the hair did not need protein or that it needs more moisture/protein balance
--is meant to provide immediate results
--performance: looks, feels, behaves, handles stress
--can provide a temporary reinforcement immediately after a heat or chemical treatment to help the hair immediately after it has been stressed, to help the hair behave better right now.


Bond Treatment - internal, over time
--internal damage is not immediately noticeable but shows up over time.
--focus is on repairing internal damage caused by chemical services, heat, long-term wear & tear or other stressors
--reinforces what is happening with the hair strand
--provides internal results which are seen over time and not immediately
--over time should result in less breakage, length retention and handles styles better over time
--integrity: survive stress
--with chemicals and heat, can strengthen the internal structure of the hair and help the hair survive over time
--used for maintenance for hair that is routinely under stress

Very helpful! Many thanks! K18 has worked well for me, so now I know how to think of it, especially compared to regular protein treatments.

 

[faithVA]

Very helpful! Many thanks! K18 has worked well for me, so now I know how to think of it, especially compared to regular protein treatments.

K-18 works well for me as well. I used protein for years in various formats. But when I did the 4 to 6 back to back applications, on that last application, there was a definitive change in my hair. I noticed a difference during the 1st use but they last application changed my hair. I had been coloring my hair for a couple of years by then so it really needed some help.

I'm glad I finally delivered (lol). Can check something off my list

 

[Yvette 2.0]

K-18 works well for me as well. I used protein for years in various formats. But when I did the 4 to 6 back to back applications, on that last application, there was a definitive change in my hair. I noticed a difference during the 1st use but they last application changed my hair. I had been coloring my hair for a couple of years by then so it really needed some help.

I'm glad I finally delivered (lol). Can check something off my list

That's very encouraging to hear. Also, I'm never in a rush about these things. We'll, I guess I should say if I ever am in a rush, I'll ask.

Thanks again!