Let’s talk about good ole fashioned H2O and PROTEIN. 

Curly and straight hair can’t survive without proper moisture and protein. Now, let’s talk about the difference between the two, why they’re important, how you can tell, and what you can do about it. READ ON!

There is a lot of confusion around this topic and I’m excited to chat about it.

Anyone who knows me knows I GEEK out about everything curly and I could go on and on and on…. clearly.

“Frizz is just a curl waiting to happen.”

— LORRAINE MASSEY, QUEEN OF CURLY HAIR

So, do you need moisture or protein? Here are the clues.

Limp, stringy, sticky hair needs protein.

Example: Have you ever straightened your hair so frequently that the ends of the hair start to completely go limp and straight to the point the curl is nonexistent? Or have you gotten your hair lightened and your hair feels sticky when its damp? That means you’ve literally destroyed all protein including the disulfide bonds in your hair and it needs some major TLC. Tips to fix: Chat with your stylists, do treatment(s), and make sure you’re getting protein in your diet. 

Tough or hard hair probably has too much protein.

When this happens, your hair can become brittle and breakage becomes a huge problem. Hair won’t grow, it’s dull, the cuticle is raised, and it feel stiff. Repairing too much protein in hair is a lengthy process taking up to 5-7 weeks to notice a difference. First step is to cut out ALL products with protein. Focus on MOISTURE. 

Dry, tangled and weak hair? You need moisture!

As the queen of curly hair, Lorraine Massey says, “Frizz is just a curl waiting to happen.” Curly girls should be conditioning everytime you get your hair wet and deep conditioning 1-2x per week. Straight hair is a little different and I’ll do another post to discuss that in the future.
overly soft hair that is breaking and won’t style? You have too much moisture (yes, that’s a thing)! If this is your issue, try a protein treatment. Use a gentle cleanser, condition, and add protein. 

Hair is not a simple fix, nor is it easy. Yes it takes SKILL, PATIENCE, and KNOWLEDGE.

Give respect to your stylist and trust the process.

You won’t get your dream hair in one, two, or even three visits – especially if you aren’t following the rules for at home care.