I’m going to start off with overmoisturized hair, because I have more experience with that it’s easier to understand and treat.
So let’s start from the beginning. Are you currently in transition? If this is you, I’d reccomend waiting until after transition before adding protein or buying new products. Transition hair, as frustrating as it is won’t last forever. But I think it makes more sence to wait until after transition to start activity adding protein because at that time your hair is so unpredictable, and not looking too great because your hair is still adapting to this new way of caring for your hair.
Also, transition hair usually needs all the extra moisture it can get after being deprived of it for so long.
Click Here to read what transition hair is.
Click Here to read my transition hair tips…. they’re good…I promise.
If you’re past transition, these are what I’d recommend you look at:
1) What products have you been using? Are they all protein free? Or do they have protein, but they are low on the ingredient list? Click Here for an easy to read list of proteins you can use to check your products. The top 5 ingredients are what your product mostly consists of. And after that, the further down the list you go, the concentration of the ingredients will be less and less. If there’s protein in the top 5, it’s considered to have a good amount of protein. If it’s middle of the list, there’s some. And if it’s towards the end of the list, there’s barely any. Also, there can be more than one type of protein, so the more kinds of protein there are, the more protein the product has, and also depending on where it/ they are located on the list.
2) Have you been deep conditioning more often? Have you been balancing by adding a little protein during or after?
3) What does your hair FEEL like? Is it soft, mushy, gummy, sticky, feels like cotton candy?
4) Are you sure it’s not a protein mimicker reaction? This can be confusing because mimickers can make your hair look and feel like you have too much protein, when it doesn’t, that’s why they are called protein mimickers. But they can also make it look like you have too much moisture. This can be very confusing, especially if you’re new to CG. Click Here for more information about the mimickers.
If you answered to these questions, or your answers were mostly yes, and you’re not new to CG, you probably do need more protein and less moisture.
So how do you balance it out? How do you add more protein?
You don’t need to clarify because there’s nothing you need to remove. I know you’ve probably seen some people recommend this. But I don’t think it’s necessary at all, I think it will actually make it worse, especially if you’re using a sulfate shampoo.
I don’t recommend jumping into a full on protein treatment (like gelatin or aphogee). I actually don’t recommend this to anyone under 4 months CG.
I also do not suggest using Neutral Protein Filler, again, until you’re at least 4 months CG. It is a tricky product. If you have hair that doesn’t need as much protein, and you overdo the Neutral Protein Filler or do one of the above protein treatments when you didn’t need to, you could easily put yourself into high protein or protein overload, which can take months to get out of. And protein overload can lead to hair breakage.
Try one of these suggestions:
1) Try a deep conditioner that has protein in it. 💜Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner is a popular one in the curly community
2) Try adding in a product every wash that has protein in it. (I prefer conditioners and gels. These just seem to work better for my hair). If you think you still need more protein, try using two products with protein every wash.
3) Try a combination of 1 & 2.
If you think it’s still not enough protein, and you’re past transition, consider a beer rinse. It’s considered a protein treatment, but milder than the aphogee and gelatin. Adriana has information and a tutorial about beer rinses on her Instagram page.
A step up from that would be to try the gelatin or aphogee. But make sure you follow with a deep condition after either of these two. Marisa has some great information on her Instagram page on gelatin treatments.
I don’t believe a rice water rinse is a protein treatment. I think it’s actually more of a treatment to add moisture. This is because the molecules are nowhere near small enough to be able to penetrate the hair shaft.
Once your hair starts looking like it’s balancing out, start easing up on the protein a little. Keeping your hair balanced will take time, patience and trial and error. Keep in mind that even those who have been CG for years can still get confused with this balance, but it gets easier over time as you learn what works for your hair.
If you would like a one on one Curly Consultation with me, Click Here for more details.