my hair strands are really weak

[CarLiTa]

I noticed that lately, my hair breaks easily. I am getting more breakage than I'm used to.

I actually thought to myself, why is it that when I was using a blowdryer weekly that my hair felt strong? Yes I shed a whole lot while using a blowdryer, but I don't know, something about my hair right now does not feel right

I realize that I was just on protein overload at the time. I mean, I didn't know TOO much about hair, but I remember doing Motions CPR protein treatments nearly weekly and using the other products in the Motions line. I was also using Infusium 23 as my leave-in. I shunned it when I joined this board, haha.

But jeez, I really feel like returning back to these things (minus the blowdrying, of course)... but... I need MORE PROTEIN!!!

Can anyone give me some tips that I can use to rebuild the strength of my hair in the next 3 weeks?
I'd like to restore as much protein as I can to it by January 2008. Thanks!

 

[Isis]

So what made you stop using protein when you joined LHCF? Or did you stop? Are you saying you haven't been using protein all of this time or am I missing something?

 

[CarLiTa]

So what made you stop using protein when you joined LHCF? Or did you stop? Are you saying you haven't been using protein all of this time or am I missing something?

I went to light protein. In the beginning, I still used heavy protein on occasion (Aphogee)

but now that I look back on it, I realize that my hair hasn't been getting much protein at all. Because of the cold, I've been trying to give it moisture, but at this point, it is just TOO weak. I've been using Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner, but I don't think it's doing much for my hair. It is too light.

I did an Emergencee treatment recently and my hair felt a little better. That was the last of the bottle. I am wondering if I should do an extreme protein like the smelly Aphogee, or if I should do mild protein treatments weekly to rebuild at a slower pace.
Advice would be great

I am also thinking of getting some Infusium 23 again, just to use in the next month maybe, for my hair to regain some strength. Do you think that is a good idea?

 

[Lotus]

Try Emergencia and Aphogee mixed. Works everytime for me .

 

[Isis]

I haven't tried it but Lotus may have a very good idea.

Have you used henna or cassia? Henna (body art henna) will strengthen and thicken your hair with every treatment in a very healthy way.

If you liked how Infusium 23 worked for your hair before, then by all means use it again. I had to stop using it when I first came to this board because it was too much protein for my hair. It does work very well for some of the ladies here though.

What about your diet? Are you eating enough protein each day?

 

[CarLiTa]

Thanks for the replies

I will try Emergencee and Aphogee together. Is it the smelly aphogee (I can't remember the name of it).

My protein intake isn't consistent. I am on a meal plan on campus, and while food is abundant, sometimes the meat they serve, I don't want to eat. I think I get a good amount of protein though, in terms of the eggs that I eat, the tofu, meat, beans, etc.
I don't eat seafood on campus, unless it's shrimp.
So overall, I'd say my protein intake is good, just not consistent.

I really think my hair needs the hard protein.

how often should I do the emergencee + aphogee? Every week? or is that too strong... every other week?

 

[caribgirl]

Hey Carlita,

Isis gave great advice!

I am recovering from weak strands as well. I believe I was over-moisturizing. Here's what I did:

- whipped out my Infusium 23 which was gathering dust and applied every morning for 3 days, along with castor oil to seal.

-on the 3rd day, I prepooed with EVOO and I washed with garlic shampoo (unscented) followed by ORS hair mayo, DC-ed with Nexxus Humectress under the dryer for 20 mins. Moisturized with NTM and sealed with castor and evoo oils.

-3 days later I CON, then used Infusium 23, NTM, and castor and EVOO to seal.

-3 days later (this past Sat. nite), I used cassia and then DC-ed

My strands are sooooo much thicker and I have fewer weak strands than before.

Thank God for the knowledge I learned from LHCF b/c my hair would have continued down the wrong path. Keep us posted!

 

[silverlotus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Lotus meant Toque Emergencia - which is a dom conditioner as opposed to Nexxus Emergencee. Emergencee + the hard Aphogee seems like it would be a bit much, IMO.

My vote is to go back to what was working for you in the first place. Maybe use the CPR every other week/every week until your protein balance is back & then cut back.

 

[Brownie518]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Lotus meant Toque Emergencia - which is a dom conditioner as opposed to Nexxus Emergencee. Emergencee + the hard Aphogee seems like it would be a bit much, IMO.

My vote is to go back to what was working for you in the first place. Maybe use the CPR every other week/every week until your protein balance is back & then cut back.

I second that. Since you said you changed your regimen and then your hair changed, it makes sense to go back to the original game plan. Maybe try putting the Infusium back into rotation since that has protein. Just stay up on your moisture.

 

[CarLiTa]

aaah thanks for pointing that out, Silverlotus.

and thanks for the tips Caribgirl

i think i'm going to do a combination.
how does this sound:

-smelly aphogee treatment followed by intense conditioning
-then mild protein treatment every 2 weeks after: aphogee keratin conditioner (the weaker aphogee), and some infusium 23 on the hair for about a couple of weeks or so.

not sure if this makes sense, but i'd like to create a protein-rebuilding plan.

i am going home after being in college in the woods ( seriously) for about 6 months. As soon as I get home, I'm heading to the Indian grocery store and getting some henna as well as the Ayurvedic oils that people are raving about. I can't wait
I really want to take some of the time that i have at home (2 weeks) to focus on my hair. I'm going to Paris for 3 weeks after that and then heading back to the cold northeast for spring semester, so I need to get my hair together ASAP!!!

 

[yodie]

I noticed that my strands have become very week. Texlaxing is beginning to dry and break my hair. Sooooo... it's time to switch back to natural.

Great advice here. I've been focusing so much on moisture that I've let my protein regimen slip. I'll step up the protein and use my infusium thats just been sitting.

Thanks.