shellzfoshizzle said:
Hair that is shifted too far on the protein side (too much protein) will probably break easier, both wet and dry, because it lacks elasticity. Any type of stretching or tension will break it. This type needs more moisture to balance it out and stop breakage.
Hair that is shifted too far on the moisture side will be "super-elastic" and stetch more because it lacks a sound protein structure. It will stretch then break. This type needs more protein to balance it out. The strength of protein you need depends on the level of breakage and other factors. 
Just my 2 1/2 cents.
The best explanation I have every come across. Thanks for sprading the knowledge sistaslick!Sistaslick said:Like Dee said, most protein based products will list a specific protein if its there in the ingredients. Silk, Wheat, Animal, hydrolyzed, etc. Some products have "amino acids" which if you remember from biology- are the building blocks of protein.
For me, the best way to tell whether I need more protein (or moisture) is on my wet hair as I am washing it. You can tell by the way the hair breaks (stretch then snap, or hardly a stretch then snap) if you need protein or moisture. Breakage of any kind usually indicates an imbalance in either the protein or moisture levels. Properly balanced hair will not break easily, even when wet-- unless undo stress is placed upon it. Hair that is shifted too far on either side of the balance (too much protein or too much moisture) will break.
So basically, at the end of the day, both unbalanced types end up breaking. Thats why when you have breakage its important to figure out the true cause behind it. If you just slap on protein to solve any and every kind of breakage problem, you are setting yourself up for trouble. HTH.
naturallady said:What the heck does this mean????? &
I have been seeing this and I am totally clueless!!!!!!!
But this is a great post!!!!
UmSumayyah said:
sisterslick, I wish you were posting around here 2 years ago. It took me that long to figure this out. It has been the cause of major set backs for me. I was one of those people that would keep applying protein thinking it will eventually stop breakage without realizing it was the problem. My hair is relaxed, fine and 4b and cannot even tolerate Nexus Humectress on the regular. My hair does need some protein, but I have to be VERY careful to not over do it. Now, I make sure I have plenty of daily styling products and conditioners with no protein on hand. My hair feels so much better.Sistaslick said:This is a great discussion!
I agree that some proteins are stronger than others, but daily or even weekly use of even the milder protein treatments may result in an imbalance between the protein and moisture levels within the hair strands in some people. But honestly, its almost too hard to even go by the "types of proteins". You never know the percent composition of these products so though it may have a specific protein down the ingredient list, it might not be as strong as if it were higher on the ingredient list(greater percent composition). The protein in question could be 30% of the product or 0.3%! Who knows! You have to play around with different products to know how strong it is on your hair. You can't really say "Oh this is wheat protein so its gonna very light!" Or "this is animal protein, so its gonna be very heavy." It would be nice if that were true all the time, but because the product percent composition really plays such an important role, label reading can only do so much. For example, every product with keratin isn't going to feel the same way across the board. Just like every product that contains glycerine or water isn't going to feel the same! You must experiment and find your hair tolerance and it will vary from product to product, not necessarily protein to protein.
For example, some people think Aphogee 2 minute is a mild to tough protein, but my hair tends to laugh at it and feel the exact same after using it. For me, I just experimented using different combinations of products to find out what my hair tolerance is.
I totally agree that relaxed ladies need more protein. If you are relaxed or color treated, those processes have compromised the protein structure of your hair--so you kinda need the supplemental protein. Not everyone needs protein though, some naturals can live without it...
For the relaxed ladies though, It's like we've all sustained different degrees of "damage" from the relaxing processes. Some people's hair is more protein deficient by nature (from the coloring/relaxing) so they require more to keep the balance in tact. Relaxing and coloring breaks protein bonds so depending on the type and degree of relaxer and level on bond breakage you will need more or less protein than someone else. So you can't say weekly, daily, or monthly protein is too much or too little because we do not know the true condition and specific needs of your hair to start with. At the end of the day, you must experiment and get to know your own head of hair.
Plenty706 said:
Sistaslick said:This is a great discussion!
I agree that some proteins are stronger than others, but daily or even weekly use of even the milder protein treatments may result in an imbalance between the protein and moisture levels within the hair strands in some people. But honestly, its almost too hard to even go by the "types of proteins". You never know the percent composition of these products so though it may have a specific protein down the ingredient list, it might not be as strong as if it were higher on the ingredient list(greater percent composition). The protein in question could be 30% of the product or 0.3%! Who knows! You have to play around with different products to know how strong it is on your hair. You can't really say "Oh this is wheat protein so its gonna very light!" Or "this is animal protein, so its gonna be very heavy." It would be nice if that were true all the time, but because the product percent composition really plays such an important role, label reading can only do so much. For example, every product with keratin isn't going to feel the same way across the board. Just like every product that contains glycerine or water isn't going to feel the same! You must experiment and find your hair tolerance and it will vary from product to product, not necessarily protein to protein.
For example, some people think Aphogee 2 minute is a mild to tough protein, but my hair tends to laugh at it and feel the exact same after using it. For me, I just experimented using different combinations of products to find out what my hair tolerance is.
I totally agree that relaxed ladies need more protein. If you are relaxed or color treated, those processes have compromised the protein structure of your hair--so you kinda need the supplemental protein. Not everyone needs protein though, some naturals can live without it...
For the relaxed ladies though, It's like we've all sustained different degrees of "damage" from the relaxing processes. Some people's hair is more protein deficient by nature (from the coloring/relaxing) so they require more to keep the balance in tact. Relaxing and coloring breaks protein bonds so depending on the type and degree of relaxer and level on bond breakage you will need more or less protein than someone else. So you can't say weekly, daily, or monthly protein is too much or too little because we do not know the true condition and specific needs of your hair to start with. At the end of the day, you must experiment and get to know your own head of hair.
neonbright said:
Too little protein will cause the hair to feel limp, stretch, stretch, stretch...then snap. Balanced hair will stretch, return, and resist breakage all together. This isn't a relaxer where you have to follow the instructions to the T- its a moisturizer so you have some leeway. The makers willl tell you to use it daily because thats in their own best interests . . .they want to you use it, run out of it, and buy more again For my hair, the Cantu products tend to be a little too protein rich... so I use them only when my hair is really over-conditioned and protein deficient. Daily use for me would result in breakage. I would suggest you alternate the Breakcure with a more moisturizing moisturizer- just to be on the safe side. For all of my products, I have a moisturizing version and a protein based version. This includes conditioners, leave ins, and water based moisturizers. 
msshic said:
If your hair is stretching without returning, even if its not breaking you should use a light protein to correct this. When your hair stretches, the strand "thins" and becomes weaker across the cross section. It may not break right then at that very point in time, but stretched out of and beyond its shape, it is compromised and will eventually break at some other point. Your hair should be springing back to position. If its stretching and stretching without breaking it may be your hair's way of telling you, "Hey, I need a little structure (protein) here! I'm getting waaaay too elastic, but not yet enough to break-- so do something now!" This is where a preventive maintenance protein application would come in. You don't have to wait for breakage to act.
Your hair is telling you now Start light, and work from there. You may not need a heavy treatment just yet. I'll read this tomorrow and be like yeah... I must have been sleepy typing that
msshic said:
Sistaslick said:Like Dee said, most protein based products will list a specific protein if its there in the ingredients. Silk, Wheat, Animal, hydrolyzed, etc. Some products have "amino acids" which if you remember from biology- are the building blocks of protein.
For me, the best way to tell whether I need more protein (or moisture) is on my wet hair as I am washing it. You can tell by the way the hair breaks (stretch then snap, or hardly a stretch then snap) if you need protein or moisture. Breakage of any kind usually indicates an imbalance in either the protein or moisture levels. Properly balanced hair will not break easily, even when wet-- unless undo stress is placed upon it. Hair that is shifted too far on either side of the balance (too much protein or too much moisture) will break.
So basically, at the end of the day, both unbalanced types end up breaking. Thats why when you have breakage its important to figure out the true cause behind it. If you just slap on protein to solve any and every kind of breakage problem, you are setting yourself up for trouble. HTH.
