Have you used a protein treatment thinking that it would strengthen your hair, reduce your shedding or breakage, reverse your damage... only to have hard, dry brittle, crunchy feeling hair, that is now shedding more than it was prior to your treatment? How many of you ladies feel that it's due to your hair being "sensitive to protein"? I've been stumbling across this phrase on and off of blogsites, forums and youtube videos. If "black hair so and so" has informed you of your new found "sensitivity"... I'm going to have to let you know that you've been ill-informed.
First off, let me start by saying that there is no such thing as "protein sensitive" hair. That's almost as ridiculous as being told that your hair hates water/ moisture. Your hair is composed primarily of proteins (88% to be exact). These proteins are of a hard fibrous type known as keratin. Keratin protein is comprised of what we call "polypeptide chains." Polypeptide is basically digested or broken down protein.
Amino acids placed in their correct order will form a specific protein; i.e. keratin, insulin, collagen and so on. The "alpha helix" is the descriptive term given to the polypeptide chain that forms the keratin protein found in human hair. So if your hair is 88% protein fiber... how could it possibly be sensitive to what it's primarily made up of?
The real culprit to your adverse affect to protein treatments is pretty simple: YOU DON'T NEED IT! just because you're experiencing some shedding (which just may not be due to breakage), does not warrant a protein treatment. Too much of any good thing can be a bad thing. It's almost like fixing whats not broken... literally. If you take too much penicillin... your body becomes immune and it (penicillin) doesn't work. if you take too much of a vitamin (more than your body needs), whatever excess doesn't run straight through you may remain in your body and do the exact opposite of what it does, or triggers a new ailment. The same it goes with your hair.
Protein treatments are for hair that lacks a certain amount of protein; meaning that you'd have to be doing something to your hair that would deplete its level of protein, or alter the chemistry of the hair. When you're thinking of altering the chemistry of hair you think- CHEMICALS. Chemically treated hair is what those protein treatments are specifically geared towards. Now if you're a natural gal... there would be no need for a protein treatment. Natural meaning no permanent color, peroxides, ammonia, metallic, dye, relaxer- thio, lithium, sodium, or calcium hydroxide, no body wave, jheri curl, cold wave etc. process on any part of the hair. If you have never had any of these on your hair; or you have, but have long since cut it all off- you are not a candidate for a protein treatment. Therefore not being a candidate for this treatment, it does too much of what it's supposed to do- to the point where it hardens your hair; giving it a dry, brittle, hard to comb feel, which in turn breaks the hair.
Hair sheds, it's part of it's nature, life cycle, what have you... but hair sheds. Some people experience more and then less shedding during different times of the year. Know your hair cycle and stop panicking at the sight of a few more strands than you're used to. You're not going bald, and it's not breaking off. And if there is any reason to be concerned... see a professional. Just because a person has a youtube account and makes some eye catching videos, does not make up for the fact that she is not licensed in what you're seeking advice for. Only a licensed professional- who has studied cosmetology, chemistry of hair, trichology, can give you real sound advise and administer treatment. Which is why most of these "treatments" your giving yourself read on the bottle "FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY". DIY's are great if you have the correct knowledge in doing so... if not then your just a "penny wise, pound fool". you saved a bunch of money by switching... but only to set yourself back in hair.
Just sayin. :-p
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