The Fine Art of Protein and Moisture Balancing for Black Hair Care

Hair Breakage Solutions

By Audrey Sivasothy, published Jun 18, 2007
Published Content: 28  Total Views: 382,888  Favorited By: 24 CPs
Rating: 4.5 of 5
Do you find random hairs in your comb, on your shirt, on your sinks, and on your bathroom floors? Are you finding hair everywhere but securely upon your head? What is going on? You may have a problem with hair breakage. For black hair in particular, hair breakage is typically a result of an imbalance of important forces within the hair strand: moisture and protein levels.

Moisture
Hair needs water to maintain its elasticity, or ability to stretch. Since water is the ultimate moisturizer, water-based products are best for really getting the greatest moisture benefit.

Moisturizers are simply products that are water-based and nourish your hair deep within the strand. Products with moisturizing properties tend to be your conditioners and other specific moisturizer sprays or creams. Moisturizers may also contain large amounts of protein, but these protein based moisturizers do not have the moisturizing benefit that moisture-based moisturizers have. Check labels to gauge protein content. Good moisturizers will not contain cheap, filler ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or lanolin. Avoid products that claim moisturizing benefits and contain these ingredients. There is nothing moisturizing about them! Petrolatum and mineral oil are sealants that seal out the precious moisture our hair needs.

Sealing in your Moisturizers:
Our hair naturally contains moisture, but because our hair is also naturally porous, keeping the moisture inside is a difficult task. Providing additional sources of outside moisture, or external moisture supplementation, is a must for black hair care. Water molecules and moisture from these supplemental moisturizing products easily pass into the hair shaft, but they pass out just as easily. The moisture you apply needs to held in by something. Oil.
Natural oils like jojoba, olive, carrot, or coconut oil seem to work best.

The Fine Art of Protein and Moisture Balancing for Black Hair Care
The Fine Art of Protein and Moisture Balancing for Black Hair Care

me and my hair!

Credit: Audrey Sivasothy

Copyright: Audrey Sivasothy

Takeaways
  • Discover the Properties of Protein and Moisture for Hair Care
  • Learn how you can determine your hair breakage causes
  • Learn how to effectively balance protein and moisture for gorgeous, healthy hair!
Comments
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forgot to say how awsome your hair looks! lol

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 5:07:19 PM

 
i use 'olive oil professional: Incredibly rich oil moisturizing hair lotion' i've only just started using it though. before i used to use 'TCB: Hair Food', which is really good because it conditions and moisturizes, as well as adding a body and shine. it also protects your hair when you use heat on it like flat-ironing it and such...look at a pic of my hair when i was using it. I still use it, but i also want to try something with olive oil :). http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/Ai_Oishii/Pics%20of%20me/M-86-1.jpg http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b391/Ai_Oishii/Pics%20of%20me/M-85-1.jpg i've cut out my face, so i'm just showing the top of it.

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 5:07:05 PM

 
Your hair is soooooo gorrgeous!! x x x

Posted on 07/06/2008 at 4:07:26 PM

 
Thanks for all the info, not I have determined what has been causing my breakage!

Posted on 11/01/2007 at 8:11:00 AM

 
Extremely important article. Thanks

Posted on 09/16/2007 at 12:09:00 AM

 
its so funny all the information you speak of is common sense. Thank you for your advice, i currently am approach healthy APL because of longhaircareforum.com and women like u.

Posted on 09/04/2007 at 12:09:00 PM

 
This is very helpful in getting started! Thank you so much for your informative article.

Posted on 08/31/2007 at 9:08:00 PM

 
Thank you, i found your information most helpful in getting started on the "right way" to condition, moisturize and protein my hair. What are your thoughts on or suggestions for pills/certain vitamins to grow your hair?

Posted on 08/27/2007 at 11:08:00 AM

 
wow.. thank you for the information you provided. I have been having excessive shedding and could not figure out why. Now I know.

Posted on 07/26/2007 at 6:07:00 AM

 
This was great information! I've been experiencing the "stretchy" feeling you mentioned when my hair was wet - and couldn't figure out what the problem was. I will definately try the tips you mentioned :)

Posted on 07/24/2007 at 10:07:00 AM

 
Thanks so much for this article. I think that I just figured out what was wrong with my hair!

Posted on 07/20/2007 at 3:07:00 PM

 
This info is really helpful. I really appreciate being able to use your articles to help me with my hair.The articles are well written and easily understandable. Thanx

Posted on 07/20/2007 at 11:07:00 AM

 
Thanks for your article. The moisture and protein balance is one of the main reasons many African-American women don't have long hair.

Posted on 07/20/2007 at 11:07:00 AM

 
This is a very informative and I like how it includes suggestions for what product to try. Thanks for writing.

Posted on 06/27/2007 at 7:06:00 PM

 
Great information about moisture & protein for hair

Posted on 06/24/2007 at 4:06:00 PM

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