How to Balance Protein and Moisture in Your Hair

Beauty

Sep 23

Black person with afro posing with chin resting on left hand wearing Black longslaeve top — *Photo by* *Juan Manuel Merino* on *Unsplash*

About seven months ago, I used the Olaplaex No. 3 and Aphogee Protein Treatment for hair restoration. I have been using this combo off and on since then. The Olaplaex No. 3 retails for $28* at Sephora. The Apogee Protein Treatment retails for $27.09* for the 16oz. Olaplaex is a bonding treatment and does not contain any protein, so that I can use it in conjunction with Aphogee. First, I used the olaplaex no. 3 treatment on my hair. It has a similar texture to conditioner. After shampooing, I then went in with the protein treatment. Since Aphogee is meant to be used professionally, I recommend following the instructions to a T if you will use it at home.

I did record my process of using these products together on my YouTube channel. And I got a lot of questions about it. One of the questions was: how to balance moisture and protein after a protein treatment?

First, it’s essential to understand what balancing moisture and protein in your hair is. Essentially it’s when your hair has all the proper nutrients and moisture to prevent breakage. Use too much protein, and you get breakage. Don’t use enough? Guess what? Yes, that’s right! Breakage. You can test whether or not your hair even needs protein by stretching a curl as far as it will go. If it bounces back to its original position, you are balanced. If it hangs lifeless and limp, then you have too much moisture. If it stretches and snaps, then you have too much protein.

What do you use to keep the protein and moisture balance in your hair after a protein treatment?

I use the tgin Miracle RepaiRx Curl Reconstructor ($14.99) and the Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute reconstructor ($7.29) interchangeably. Both products are useful in keeping the protein up in your hair, but the tgin one is especially good with additional moisturizing ingredients in the formula. Aside from adding decent protein products into your routine, there are some other things you can do to keep up with your moisture.

Disclaimer: This article is written based on my own research and knowledge. I am not licensed. I have years of experience caring for my hair. Please know that using the same products I do or what I suggest does not guarantee you the same results. Please be cautious about any treatments you use on your hair. For severe cases, I highly recommend seeing a professional.

Keep Your Hair Clean

Do your hair more often. Washing your hair adds moisture because hello water! I know you all are tired of hearing me say how much I detest co-washes, but here I am repeating it just in case someone thinks I should be suggesting them. I cannot suggest things I don’t believe in. I can recommend using moisturizing shampoos.

I have found there is a difference between clarifying and moisturizing shampoos. You should be using clarifying shampoos to get all the gunk and oils off your hair and scalp. Clarifying your scalp will help with growth. Don’t clog your hair follicles trying to be cute. If you find that your hair is often itchy after shampooing, you should consider these three reasons of why that it is.

Keep Your Hair Protected

Keep your hair tucked away. Keeping your hair in twists or braids can help it retain moisture. And this method also lowers how often you are manipulating your hair. Heat can suck the moisture right out of your hair. Keeping your hands out of it and only taking it down to rewash it will help you retain moisture.

Black person with curly hair holding up one of their twists. — If you wear your hair out a lot like me, be mindful about keeping your hair moisturized. After a protein treatment, I like to wear updos that tuck the ends of my hair away. You can pick a style to wear for 3-5 days and just ride that wave until it’s time to refresh or wash again. If you are curious about what hairstyles I enjoy, check out my Instagram!

Keep Up With Your Routine

Have you read my post about How to Create A Haircare Routine? Having a good routine helps keep your hair balanced with moisture and protein. My routine has simplified a bit because I know how I am. Doing too much all the time leads me to procrastinate, and my hair deserves care regardless of whether I’m feeling lazy.

Washing my hair twice a week has been working for me. With the heat we have had this summer shampooing more often has helped me retain moisture and keep my hair clean from sweat and grime. The wash day during the weekend usually consists of clarifying or treatments. The wash day in the middle of the week is just to clear my scalp and refresh my curls. You don’t have to wash your hair twice a week, but you may find your hair is easier to do when you are doing it consistently.

How has your hair been doing since using the Olaplaex No. 3 and protein treatment combo?

I was very consistent with it for a while, but my hair didn’t need much protein maintenance these last two months, so I have been skipping it. Also Olaplaex is expensive, so I need to use that sparingly. My curls are bouncy and shiny again.

What are the signs of too much protein in the hair?

Your hair will most likely be brittle, dry, and break off easily. The structure of your curls may be compromised as well. If this happens, I advise you to put the protein down slowly. And start focusing on moisture and retention only. This doesn’t mean forget about protein, though. Pay attention to your hair. Once it becomes happy and bouncy again, it should be safe to add protein back.

What are the signs of too much moisture?

Your hair will feel mushy and too soft. You may notice that your curls are limp and don’t bounce back to their position when you stretch them out. If you find that this is the case for you, you need to focus on balancing moisture and protein into your routine moving forward. Never just remove moisturizing from your routine unless you want your hair to break off. You just need to add more protein to your selection of products. Please remember NEVER to overuse a protein treatment. Always follow the instructions to a T.

Keeping up with your hair regardless of texture can be exhausting. Several factors go into how much work you have to put into your hair, like length, density, porosity, and so on. No, I’m not licensed, so I can’t say what you should do. I can recommend what’s worked for me, though. Just keep in mind that what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Just be kind and patient with your hair. That’s all it asks for.

*price may vary based on location

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