My hair broke off a little after CW w/mane n tail does that mean i dont need protein?

[sparkle25]

Im not really sure if my hair needs protein or not because i am very new to all of this. I did co wash once with Mane & Tail not realizing it had protein and it made my hair hard. It was hard to comb through even with the codish still in. I got more breakage than i do when i comb with other conditioners in my hair. It wasnt a lot because i hardly get any breakage now that i have been combing the right way, but it was still more than normal. I mean it broke of just finger combing through it. Does this mean i dont need protein in my hair? I dont really do the perms thing. I mean i had one about 5 years ago, but it broke off my hair so bad that i never did it again. I had maybe 3 or 4 perms as a child- thats it. I am just giving this information because i read somewhere that relaxed ladies need more protein. Anyhow advice is much needed and appreciated. I dont know what my hair is supposed to feel like or not as i am totally new to this healhy hair thing, and i have hid my hair with braids, wigs & stocking cap quick weaves for most of my adult life this far (im 26). I want to wear my natural hair and have made many changes since discovering this forum though i still need some guidance, and probably will for a long time. Thanks in advance.

 

[RadiantBeauty]

Re: My hair broke off a little after CW w/mane n tail does that mean i dont need prot

Im not really sure if my hair needs protein or not because i am very new to all of this. I did co wash once with Mane & Tail not realizing it had protein and it made my hair hard. It was hard to comb through even with the codish still in. I got more breakage than i do when i comb with other conditioners in my hair. It wasnt a lot because i hardly get any breakage now that i have been combing the right way, but it was still more than normal. I mean it broke of just finger combing through it. Does this mean i dont need protein in my hair? I dont really do the perms thing. I mean i had one about 5 years ago, but it broke off my hair so bad that i never did it again. I had maybe 3 or 4 perms as a child- thats it. I am just giving this information because i read somewhere that relaxed ladies need more protein. Anyhow advice is much needed and appreciated. I dont know what my hair is supposed to feel like or not as i am totally new to this healhy hair thing, and i have hid my hair with braids, wigs & stocking cap quick weaves for most of my adult life this far (im 26). I want to wear my natural hair and have made many changes since discovering this forum though i still need some guidance, and probably will for a long time. Thanks in advance.

You DEFINITELY DO NOT NEED PROTEIN! I bolded the signs of protein overload in your statement. I recommend trying a moisturizing conditioner to cowash with. For example, V05 Moisture Milks, its very popular on this board.

 

[Ronnieaj]

Re: My hair broke off a little after CW w/mane n tail does that mean i dont need prot

I know people will have different beliefs regarding protein and the need for it. I'm also natural, and my hair needs a lot of protein. Most naturals, on this board at least, don't seem to need as much protein as I do. Some will use protein once or twice a year and their hair will thrive with it. Mine won't . I'll have a mutiny on my hands (quite literally, because it won't be on my hair anymore ).

I'd say, at this point, to definitely not use a protein based conditioner as a co-wash. Stick with moisture based ones, Aussie Moist and a lot of the Herbal Essences conditioners are really popular (I love them too), and see how your hair feels. If it feels soft, moisturized, and you're not losing hairs, then stick with it. If your hair starts to feel mushy, like overcooked pasta, and starts breaking, then you may want to incorporate the mane n tail as a deep conditioner and see how your hair responds. There'll be some trial and error involved, but given your experience, you may not need protein so much. Good luck, and I'm sure others will chime in.