I wrote on this topic in a recent newsletter but I think it is worth posting as a stand alone article to help the newbies among you decide what conditioner or deep conditioner* to use weekly in your HHJ.
What do you use to condition your hair every week?
Do you usually use a protein or moisturizing conditioner* and how do you know what to choose or when to switch anyway? Hair will have different needs depending on the texture of your hair and whether you have used any chemical services (including color) or in fact the weather outside.
For natural ladies with coarse wiry hair that is usually worn in natural styles, you should err on the side of moisture with steaming sessions to reduce brittleness and increase elasticity in your strands. Protein conditioners can take a back seat with once a month being plenty.
For those with fine strands the sensible option would be to err on the side of protein. Your hair is fragile and if you style it often, breakage is even more likely so you need something to help your hair stand up to the constant attention. A light protein conditioner every other week should be plenty.
If you are a natural who straightens regularly, remember that you lose a lot of protein while styling so protein conditioning will need to be bumped up to once every couple of weeks.
If like me you are a natural who both wears your hair straight often and colors (lightens) you hair, then a light protein deep conditioner* even as often as weekly will benefit rather than hinder your progress.
For relaxed heads, I would suggest that you err on the side of protein as a starting point. Include a light protein conditioner every two weeks until you can tell instantly what your hair needs.
It is entirely possible however to be relaxed and still have wiry coarse hair in which case, steaming and moisturizing conditioners will be your best friend to begin with. Again don’t forget the protein, your hair loses a lot of it during chemical relaxing and it needs to be constantly replenished to keep your hair healthy.
What conditioners to use
For your protein needs I recommend Joico K Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor or Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor, both are fabulous at adding strength to your strands without being too heavy.
For moisture you can always use a cheapie moisturizing conditioner* like V05 Tea Therapy conditioner or the ever popular Tresemme Naturals conditioner. You can always bump up your moisture levels by combining your conditioner with a steaming session.
both of these products are very good !!
Which protein treatment is worth buying. Sadly i have never did one before 🙁
I alternate between the two. My hair tells me when I need either.
moisture for my hair
This is very useful information. I think I’m protein sensitive.
MOISTURE! I loveeeeee Tressemme Naturals!
I say both! I know they both work well
Both are needed..
Both!
I choose both…. i cowashed with as i am cleansing cowash, deep conditioned with SM anti breakage masque, and applied tresemme naturals nourishing moisture conditioner as my leave in…. my hair is soft as usual 🙂 my protein conditioners are tresemme curl hydration, and SM anti breakage masque… i rotate between the two weekly and i always follow with a moisturing conditioner.. either tresemme naturals nourishing moisture or Giovanni direct leave in moisturizing conditioner 🙂
I don’t really care for the chemicals in tresseme I thought I was trippin when I was relaxed but I always get heartburn when I use it and occasionally break-out
Tresemme! You can even add a little olive oil or honey to it, for a better hold of moisture. This product is excellent for curly hair.
Both , but I use TRESemme naturals and mayo/honey protein once or twice a months depending upon weather
Neither cuz they both cheap as hell?? What about some Joice Reconstrutor Or Paul Mitchell? Talk some brands then I can listen
Wow, you must be rollin’ in dough.:D.Cool I’ll inbox you my address and you can ship me some expensive brands,:D…
I don’t like anything cheap on my hair nor anybody hair I’m doing. And it’s actually not expensive!!!! It last way longer than the cheap brands and better quality
not because it has a brand name mean it is better… n both products r really good the tresemme n aphogee that is
Well everybody have they own opinions!!
The Real Person!
Joico is mentioned in the post anyway 🙂
Costly does not always mean good. Aphogee is a great product.
@Shametria.. Mention a few brands under these 2 categories that are reallly good.
Just did
I have used Aphogee and it works great. Name brands don’t mean it is better. You paying for the name. Those brands have the same ingredients.
Frustrated. I’m an annual heat user and my ends are super dry and brittle. Just tried the apogee protien syst and I do see some difference. But even after a careful blow out and sealing with black castor oil my ends are still so dry. I’ve done my trims at the salon and am probably overdue. But it seems at some point my end always end up dry, brittle with SIngle strand knots . Am I missing something? I do have dry hair but I try to stay away from drying products altogether.
The Real Person!
Are you conditioning with heat? This is more important than you think….
Yes I always DC with a plastic cap and A hooded dryer for 15-20 min. I did the aphogee with the dryer too as directed.
The Real Person!
You say that you are an annual heat user? How do you usually wear your hair and do you notice the dry ends when in the other styles? Also are you relaxed or natural? Oh and you just blow drying your hair, not flat ironing afterwards? Are you using a heat protectant and which one?
natural and my hair is usually in a fro. I see them no matter what style. And when I used heat last October it was a blow out and flat iron. Don’t think they used a heat protectant before blowing or flat ironing. When I blew it out with the aphogee this past Thursday I used the protein leave in and the green tea restructurizer because it said they’re heat protectant and activated with heat. Worked fine just not on the ends. I am due for a trim but I feel like they always come back even without heat use 🙁
The Real Person!
Ok I’ve got a couple of posts for you to read, I have a strong feeling that it’s the afro that may be causing the dry ends so you may want to rethink your styling choices. Plus you must ALWAYS use a stand alone heat protectant when applying any heat on your hair. I always using a spray one that contains glycerine when blowing out then I follow up with a silky serum before flat ironing. The result is always smooth hair even when it starts to revert a little bit:
https://blackhairinformation.com/by-type/natural-hair/shrunken-afro-a-protective-style/
https://blackhairinformation.com/hair-care-2/styling/prevent-heat-damage-by-knowing-what-really-works-as-a-heat-protectant/
Thank you so very much! I read them both I and I will certainly take the advice for hear protecting. As far as my fro, I would love to switch it up but I have very this 4c tangly, not so well defined coils. Tried so many tutorials for banding and flexi rods and Bantu knots without heat. None of it turns out right. I know no go to style for someone with my hair type without spending too much time. If there’s any advice i would appreciate it. I’ve tried many tutorials. Nothing I do myself seems to maintain.
The Real Person!
If you don’t want to spend lots of time on your styles then I would stick with twists or braids. Protective styling is the only way to prevent raggedy ends on high shrinkage hair.
Mix
Just because a conditioner is cheap, it does not mean it is not good !!
This is so true because they have this one I used in Jamaica for a few years and it cost less than $2 US and it works better than $20 conditioner.
Both, protein treatment once a month and moisture weekly.
BOTH!!
I’ve been a stylist for 29years and aphogee is a great reconstructor. It may be cheap in price but it get the job done…trust
I use cheap products. Natural hair been around since forever people act like it’s so new. They didn’t use all that expensive stuff back in the day and hair grew just fine. I use sauve shampoo n conditioner (gasp ) and its one dollar. I use grease on my ends (gasp) an olive oil for moisture .
moisture never use protien
Thanks for this article! I’m just starting my natural regimen. I knew Tresemme’ was great for moisture, but I was having a dilemma with protein choices. I was considering ordering the Jamaican Black Castor oil protein conditioner.
The Real Person!
That’s a really good one too.
Treatments are decided by hair texture & condition for weak , fine hair I would do a protein treatment & add hot oil , for dry thick or course hair moisturizing deep conditioning and in some cases a moisture sandwich which includes both moisture & protein ….
Do them both our hair needs it specialy if u having breakage
She said talk some brands, then I can listen. Lmao. Rude!
What’s the best moisturizer? I need ur help ladies lol
Our hair needs both!
Aphogee !! Does that cheap stuff work good on Afro hair ???
Thank you for this, very helpful 🙂
I use its a 10 miracle leave in conditioner and Jamaican black caster oil… I have researched so many…everyone hair may have a different texture…find one that’s best for u…
Both but my hair loves eggs
I need serious protein
What’s a good leave in for thick black hair?
Both…Cheap or not they are both great products.
Yes Both!
I have fine hair and did my grandmother… I don’t have thick hair what producks would be helpful!! I use tresemme other added volume it does great with my hair
I love aphogee!
I finally realized my perfect moisture/protein balance by alternating when needed and my hair is flourishing. Loving this natural hair journey!
Tresemme may be cheap but it works just fine for my hair the curly hydration conditioner is good:)
APHOGEE!
Protein and olive oil moisturizer, but niether of these….
Has anyone used TIL JBCO Protein Conditioner? If so, what are your thoughts? I purchased some and then I chicken – ed out…lol
Our hair needs moisture & protein but I wouldn’t use either of these brands because of the sulfates. I use Carols daughter & As I Am to cowash & condition my hair. I use henna to occasionally as a deep conditioner & dye. I mix an egg, honey, olive oil, & tea with it. Natural 5 yrs.
Don’t focus on brands or prices-focus on the ingredients in them.
What is a steaming session?
The Real Person!
Steaming your hair!
She done got pissed off cause she said she use “expensive” items on her head….lmao….where they do that at???? I’m from south Texas and me and my daughter have to use both….more moisture than protein. ….people these days are something else….I’m with you alx edg……mail us some “expensive products”!!!! Lol
I use exactly this. It works !
I love Aphogee
Wow I use the whole line of aphogee products. I’ve done my research and now that I’ve found this page…..I love it!!!
aphogee stop the breakage of my hair but you have to use a good moisturizer shampoo behind it
why can’t we have both???? it would be perfect!
I aphogee protein treatment. ……bomb
Is there a tool you suggest for this?
I agree it’s not always the price but the hair care one provides to their hair. Products don’t grow hair, but a healthy regimen does. Some products work vary from person to person because of the texture. I’ve gained a nice amount of growth to my hair because of my routine and diet. I drink a gallon of water a day..this helps a lot also.
Use a shampoo with high protein or add protein to the shampoo. Follow up with a moisturizing deep treatment. Do tht weekly
I have thick course natural dry hair!! I recently started doing the leave in protein redkin anti snap along with my moisturizing routine, is this ok!?
I dont use any of these but it great am on here. QUESTION: I had washed my hair yesterday I had try the tea rinse but my hair start shedding more. I conditioned with cholesterol conditioner ( first try). is tea rinse is also protein? And how offten should i protein? if the tea rinse is not protein can i do a protein today if i washed my hair yesterday. My ends are just falling bad. Thankyou.
How much is a bottle of Aphogee??? am so alert abou this seems good!!!
Is there a tool for the steaming session process?
The Real Person!
You mean a hair steamer? If you look on page 2 of the article you will see pictures and links to where you can purchase them from.
APHOGEE IS A GOOD TREATMENT
would you recommend any sulfate free shampoos and conditioners
Deep condition after a tea rinse.
Does anyone use Infusium 23 leave in conditioner and what do you think? I use to use it years ago when I wore ‘jeri curls’ but I’m transitioning(2months) and I loved it then.
I love this article about what to do. I just realized today and after much “shedding’breaking” that my hair needs protein! I purchased the It’s a10 protein leave in conditioner and tried it once on my dry hair and immediately my hair became hard so I didn’t use it anymore. I think I will give it another try, this time on wet or damp hair then rinse it out to see how that works. I usually do a hard protein treatment once a month but due to my not feeling well at all last month that slipped my mind. On my next wash day – Sunday/Monday I will. Thank you for this article and the reminder!!!
The Real Person!
You are welcome Ruth!
OMG! I am so glad I came across this article! I was just pondering on the exact same thing! I am almost six weeks post BC and I was wondering if I was in need of a protein treatment. My hair is very thick, full of coils and corkscrew looking curls. I have been using hydrating and moisturizing conditioners thus far (Herbal Essence Hello Hydration and last week I added Tresseme Naturals. I add castor oil to the conditioner and put on a plastic cap for 30min or more). I think my hair type maybe mostly 4a with a little 3c, but I am more interested in maintaining a healthy head of hair and enjoying my hair while it is short.
I think my next purchase is going to be a steamer, such as the Secura since it can do double duty.
Thanks so much for the info.
Hello! There seems to be something wrong with the link.
I recently started rotating weekly between protein and a moisturizing deep condition ! My hair loves it
So has anyone used the 2 min alfogee treatment After Immediately getting a relaxer