Do not let the curls on the precise idiot you—this hair has seen some issues.
My purple hair section was a enjoyable one, however after some time, I grew bored with the upkeep. I requested my stylist to present me a blonde balayage, one that will permit my roots to develop out with out having to get a month-to-month touch-up. Whereas she absolutely delivered and gave me completely attractive colour, I seen my hair didn’t *fairly* really feel the identical because it had earlier than. In spite of everything, our strands can solely take a lot strain from us earlier than it begins to snap.
It had been six years since my silver hair period, and this time, I used to be decided to handle my color-treated hair. Whereas looking for methods to give my hair a few of its integrity again, I found (and tried) the beloved-by-stylists Aphogee Two-Step Protein Remedy.
What’s a protein remedy?
Protein remedies are chemical hair remedies that substitute the important protein that’s lacking from broken hair. With out essential protein, hair is extra vulnerable to breakage and frizz. These remedies assist reconstruct compromised hair strands by changing the protein that was misplaced via trauma.
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In response to Caitlin Townsend, a vivid hair colorist and balayage specialist at Tried and True Salon in Texas, chemical protein remedies aren’t only for color-treated strands like mine. Hair that’s been relaxed, permed, or broken by heating instruments may additionally profit from an occasional protein increase.
“Swimming lots and even simply stress could cause the keratin within the hair to interrupt down and trigger it to be fragile,” says Townsend. “Even in case you have by no means coloured your hair, however you’re within the solar day by day, protein remedies will assist it really feel wholesome once more.”
Whereas protein remedies will help your hair get its mojo again, stylists (together with Townsend) advocate utilizing them not more than as soon as a month. Add an excessive amount of protein into your hair routine, and you’ll wind up with hair that’s even extra brittle and boring than earlier than.
“An excessive amount of protein within the hair can truly trigger the hair to interrupt extra,” warns Townsend. “It overwhelms the hair and makes it angrier as a substitute of serving to it!”
How To Use the Aphogee 2-Step Protein Remedy
In my quest to discover a cheap-yet-effective protein remedy, I finished by my native Sally’s Magnificence Provide to see what their cabinets had in inventory. Amongst their choices, I discovered just a few stray single-use packs of the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Remedy and Balancing Moisturizer. Up to now, I’d tried the model’s in-shower Keratin 2-Minute Reconstructor and actually beloved the best way my hair felt afterwards. Earlier than shopping for, I grabbed my cellphone to see what reviewers have been saying: 2,000 5-star opinions on Amazon have been sufficient to influence me to present it a go.
For what it is value, Townsend agrees that this mini-but-mighty protein remedy is nicely well worth the hype. “It’s the principle protein remedy we use within the salon,” she says, “and it makes hair really feel so a lot better and helps it in the long term.”
The only-use packet is split into two compartments. The primary comprises the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Remedy (which, regardless of the identify, is definitely a single formulation), and the second holds the Aphogee balancing moisturizer. The model recommends making use of the remedy from root to tip on moist, freshly-shampooed hair, then blowdrying it on medium warmth. After the hair is absolutely dried, you are meant to hop again within the bathe and fully rinse it out, then comply with it up with the moisturizer.
What occurred once I tried the Aphogee 2-Step Protein Remedy
Step 1: Two-Step Protein Remedy
After shampooing my hair (I’m at present utilizing the Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo—it’s superb), I hopped out of the bathe and flippantly towel-dried my strands, per the directions. After my hair was damp, not moist, I poured the chemical protein resolution into my arms and commenced working it all through my hair.
Be warned, expensive reader—this step smells a lil’ bit funky. The answer itself is fairly watery, so I discovered it tough to use. With the help of a wide-toothed comb, although, I used to be in a position to distribute it evenly all through my strands.
Subsequent, I grabbed my hair dryer and went to work. The instructions warn that your hair will harden throughout this step, because the protein will start to bind to your strands, in order that they advocate conserving your hair in a single place to keep away from motion (which suggests no dividing into sections or flipping your head over). They weren’t flawed: after drying for a bit, my hair received tremendous crunchy and stiff, and seemed like I had tried the 100 Layers of Hairspray Problem. My arms received tremendous sticky throughout this course of, too, since I saved having to softly regulate my hair to keep away from the same old whip-around movement I take advantage of throughout drying.
As soon as my hair was formally rock-hard and gross, I hopped again within the bathe and rinsed all of it out.
Step 2: Balancing Moisturizer
The Balancing Moisturizer mainly operates like a deep conditioner: apply when hair is moist, therapeutic massage into hair, and rinse after 2 minutes.
The sleek, creamy texture of the formulation was a welcome change from the sticky protein remedy. It felt superb on my hair, and after a couple of minutes within the bathe, I may already inform that my hair was changing into silky-smooth. After rinsing, I made a decision to slather on a few of my normal conditioner (I’m utilizing the Malin + Goetz Cilantro Conditioner) for good measure. This step isn’t essential per the directions, however in my expertise, a little bit further conditioner can’t damage.
The outcomes
After the final little bit of the Balancing Moisturizer was rinsed out, my hair felt slick and supple within the bathe, and I used to be in a position to run my arms via its full lengths with out hitting a snag. That night time, I let it air dry so I may get a greater sense of how my strands felt with out the silkening assist of my blow dryer.
Huzzah—my compromised hair lastly felt like hair once more!
This was an enormous turnaround from the straw-like texture it had earlier than. It was softer, extra manageable, and appeared to have regained some structural integrity.
The Aphogee Two-Step Protein Remedy course of was a little bit messy (and smelly), however for the ultimate consequence, I might undoubtedly do it another time. Subsequent time, although, I’ll be investing within the full-sized bottles that ApHogee gives. Whereas $5 per remedy packet is nothing to sneeze at, conserving a much bigger amount readily available that can final me a number of periods versus one looks as if a sensible transfer.
In case your hair has been a little bit lackluster currently, contemplate giving this remedy a go. I’m glad I did!
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