So, when can I use a protein treatment?

whirlyhair

My hair texture is medium-coarse and tends to respond extremely well to moisture. However, I realize that no matter what type you are, it's important to maintain a moisture and protein balance because over moisturizing the hair can be a very bad thing.

That said, when can I use a protein treatment? I'm thinking once every two months or so, would that be okay? Like I said, my texture is slightly coarse.

Thanks!

Ml001

It is best to learn the signs and let your hair tell you when you need it. It doesn't always work well - your hair might throw you a curveball now and then. (See my post in this forum about rubbery hair - ugh!) But, for example, you do a stretch test when you get your hair wet, after you condition, after you dry it and use protein products as needed throughout that process. Alternatively, put your hair on a schedule but let your hair dictate the schedule - it might need a weekly treatment, a bimonthly, etc. That's the approach I took and it seemed i needed a weekly treatment. But I recently had an issue because before I knew it several weeks went by and I ended up with hair screaming for some protein. Maybe I need to heed my own advice and just test it every time I get it wet.

Last, consider carefully what treatment to use - my "PT" consists of a protein rich conditioner that I put on and work through then rinse out - I never leave it on for any length of time and I never do a PT in the true sense of the word (egg, gelatin, or commercially prepared PT) - any of those would destroy my hair.

Good luck!

greencup13

Good question.

Can I ask what the stretch test is?

Ml001

I found this site most helpful: http://www.organiccolorsystems.com/ammonia-free/salon-hair-diagnostics/wet-stretch-test

It is geared toward professionals but it gives good step by step instructions and result information (just ignore their product suggestions, of course).

greencup13

this is probably a really stupid question but I dont understand how to do the stretch test. Do you hold your hair taunt to start with, making your hair straight? Or do you keep it in the curl formation then pull?

Ml001

It is not stupid. It took me a long time to understand it, too. Then a bit longer to figure out exactly how to do it on my own hair and assess the results.

Some sites say to use shed hair but I've never found that useful and I don't know why. I think they say that so you aren't breaking or harming an intact hair but I just didn't 'get' how to do it that way. I don't know why it would make a difference, but in my brain it did. Maybe that's why it took me so long to figure it out, I don't know.

Anyway, I take a strand (or a few if your hair is fine...just enough so it can be seen fairly easily). With one hand, I hold the strand closer to the root...then grasp the end of the strand with my other hand. I make sure I have at least a few inches between where I am grasping it (I suppose shorter hair would have less to work with). I then pull it straight, then stretch it and release the tension to see how it responds.

curlybran

What kind of response are u lookin for? Wet or dry hair?

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whirlyhair

Ml001 wrote: »

I found this site most helpful: Wet Stretch Test | Ammonia-Free Professional Organic Hair Color

It is geared toward professionals but it gives good step by step instructions and result information (just ignore their product suggestions, of course).

I just did the stretch test after I came out of the shower just now... It stretches and then it goes back without any damage or anything of that nature. So I guess I'm okay? :-(

I mean, I'm only asking because it seems that I keep finding random strands of my hair on everywhere and everything these days. And don't even ask me about my shower! I would comb my hair out and THOUSANDS of strands would come out. I'm surprised I still have my thick volume in check, lol!

That's why I asked if I need a PT...