Beyond the Deep Conditioner: Ways to Ensure That Your Protein/Moisture Balance Is In Check

Happy Sunday lovelies!

Earlier this year, I came to an epiphany of sorts regarding my hair and protein. All through 2012, I was on an 'all moisture everything' kick. Every DC, every leave in, every moisturizer were all moisture based. I had abandoned everything I knew regarding protein because I was going through a phase.

And my hair wasn't too happy about it. My hair had a rough,wiry texture to it, did the whole stretch before it breaks thing, didn't hold on to moisture the way it should....ugh. It was awful.

As a result, I have been more vigilant about maintaining my protein/moisture balance. The easiest way to do this is to simply alternate your moisturizing DC with a protein DC. For example, if one week you do a moisturizing DC, the next week you'll do a protein one. This method worked exceptionally well for me when I had first cut my hair and was using heat frequently (I would wash my hair 2x weekly; One wash would be moisturizing while the next would be protein). As you guys can tell, my hair thrived from this method.

However, I got to thinking about other ways that would ensure that my protein/moisture balance stays in check. Sometimes, you may not have a protein DC on hand or you may be on a moisture kick because of the weather or maybe you just felt like your hair needed a moisture based DC for a month or maybe you forgot to alternate---whatever the reason, you don't want to neglect the fact that your hair needs protein, too.

So how do you get protein without a protein DC?

Well, there are easy 2 ways that I used to use (way before I became incredibly lazy regarding my regimen) and have started to use again. Take note that with each method your hair does get a dose of protein as well as a dose of moisture--resulting in a balance:

1) Use a protein based leave in. Easy as it sounds. Following a moisturizing DC, follow up with a protein leave in (my favorite is Giovanni Direct Leave In but other options include Infusium 23, Aphogee, etc.). If you use a leave in during your wash day anyway, just take the time to ensure that it is protein.

2) Use protein based conditioner for pre-poo. Pre-pooing is an excellent way of prepping your hair for the rigors of wash day but it is also a great way to maintain your protein/moisture balance. Most people typically pre-poo with a moisturizing condish BUT if you plan on DCing with a moisturizing conditioner, pre-pooing with a protein based conditioner is a great idea. A great (and inexpensive!) option for a protein conditioner suitable for pre-pooing are the VO5 Moisture Milks. Apply that to your (dry) hair and sit under a heat cap or dryer for 15-30min prior to your wash and BAM! Your hair has gotten its hit of protein and feels strong without negatively affecting your hair's moisture content or elasticity. You can then follow up with your moisturizing DC of choice.

As you guys can see, keeping up with protein doesn't have to be a huge ordeal. If your hair is in good condition, it doesn't really require frequent hardcore protein treatments--just a mild protein based product here and there in your regimen does the trick in my opinion. Your hair remains strong and it can hold onto the moisture that you give to it.

What are some ways you keep up with your protein/moisture balance?

Help! My Hair is Dry!: When Was the Last Time You Had a Protein Deep Conditioner?

As of late, I have been extremely focused on figuring out what kept me at full BSL all last year. The general conclusion is that I got really lax with my hair regimen. I mean, really, really lax. My regimen consisted of shampoo, a moisturizing DC, and a style whenever I felt like doing it. While this doesn't seem like it would be detrimental to my hair, it actually was. One thing I noticed while I was being all footloose and fancy free with my regimen was that my hair seemed drier. Despite the fact that my hair was constantly being bombarded with moisture, I began to notice that my hair would dry faster following a shampoo and DC session. Then, when my hair was dry, it would have a wiry feel too it. I thought that my hair wasn't holding onto moisture as it should and I quickly found out that this wasn't something that could be remedied with Porosity Control.

So what could the problem be?

A week or so ago, the answer hit me. It had been AGES since I last had a washing session were I used a protein DC. I really couldn't tell you the last time that happened. This past wash day, I followed my instincts, purchased a protein DC (Aubrey Organics GPB), and went to work. And that seemed to do the trick! My hair took awhile to dry completely (it was still damp on Monday...I washed my hair on Saturday) and my hair was able to hold onto the moisture I gave it. My hair hasn't felt this soft and cool to the touch in a very long time. I can't believe that my hair was acting a fool because it needed a meeting with a protein DC.

What does a protein DC do for your hair though?

In our hair journey, especially as a relaxed head, we are constantly told that we need to give our hair moisture, moisture, moisture. And for good reason. Moisture is simply required for a healthy head of hair. We all know that. But what about protein? Protein has an equal role in healthy hair. It is protein that gives our hair strength and structure. However, it is protein that allows our hair to hold on to the moisture that we give it (wild, right?). Yep, protein binds water molecules in our hair shaft, thereby allowing our hair to remain nice and supple. We lose a little protein with each hair wash, so it is important that we provide it back via protein DCs, protein leave in, or whatever protein related product that makes your hair sing. In my case, you can see that my sans protein approach wasn't doing my hair any favors. I was washing my hair, not replenishing the protein I was losing, and my hair couldn't retain moisture as effectively. It was a hard lesson to learn but boy, I am glad I learned it. It has spurred me to incorporate protein into my regimen as I once had. So now, I will protein DC every other week (alternating with moisture DCs) and on the weeks where I don't protein DC, I will use a protein leave in conditioner. That way my hair will get what it needs.

If you are experiencing dry hair that a round of clarifying or use of Porosity Control can't fix. Or if you are using every moisturizer underneath the sun and your hair still feels dry, check your regimen to determine the last time you used a protein anything. Your hair could be crying out for a good dose of protein.