Product review: Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment

I try to do this treatment one week after my relaxer to bring strength back to my hair and to coat my hair with protein to prevent and protect from breakage.

 The Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment is a serious deep protein treatment. If you don't know what you're doing then it should only be done by a professional.

It instantly stops shedding and strengthens hair. I notice the difference immediately.This is the ONLY deep protein I use.

It's a two step process. First you apply the protein treatment all over your head and then sit under a warm  dryer to allow the treatment to harden usually about 30 minutes.

During this process DO NOT manipulate hair. This can/will cause breakage because the hair gets hard and brittle.

The second step is the MOST important. Use the deep moisturizing conditioner that comes with it to bring your hair back to life. I sit under the dryer for 30 minutes to allow the moisturizer to set.

Because I like/want my hair silky and extra moisturized after this process I added a third step. I use Silk Elements Mega Moisturizer under the dryer for another 30 minutes. When done style as usual.

I tweeted that every time I do one I can't help but think of the two step song and...well...two step LOL!

If at first you dont succeed...

Keep trying!

I started using the Infusium and Queen Helene cholesterol conditioner in August and saw immediate results. Both products combined did great things for my hair.  I washed my hair, and deep conditioned with the QH for about 30 minutes under a hood dryer.  After that I moisturized with Silk Elements MM for an additional 30 minutes.  After my conditioning treatments I then used the Infusium as a leave in and styled. I highly recommend these products!! Get you some son!

My hair was softer, more manageable and easy to detangle and grew so much from August to September. It was thick, healthy and felt so strong I was VERY pleased with the results.

You would think with all this progress I would continue my weekly regime to continue to reap the benefits of the products but I did not. Sadly I slacked off after my relaxer September 4^th and my hair immediately showed the difference! My hair tangles easily when I don’t constantly care for it. With a relaxer one of the key components is maintaining moisture in the hair. Without moisture the hair gets dry, brittle, sheds more and will break off.  Because of my laziness I did seemingly shed more than usual resulting in thinner hair.

I keep learning the same lesson which is achieving long healthy hair is truly a journey. There are no shorts cut. It is a maintenance system that must be sustained if you want to see results. Any deviation from your plans can result in hair loss.

 I am currently on a castor oil challenge to thicken my hair and try to recover the thickness that my hair was finally starting to show.

Taking it back old school

Lately I've slacked up on everything in my life and I want to get back on track. I've decided to take it back old school style and reintroduce some old stables to my HHJ (healthy hair journey)

I remember before my hair first started growing long I was regularly going to the hairstylist getting fly cuts and color and then I just stopped. Once I stopped with all the flyness my hair started growing. My routine was simple my hair was washed, conditioned and wrapped. I used Infusium 23 as my leave in and I deep conditioned with Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioner. I recently reviewed my master list of products and realized these old staples are on the list! Color me EXCITED!!

Infusium 23 has new formulas at the store but you can still find the original formula at the beauty supply and that's what I did. I took a trip to the beauty supply and purchased both products. I went to the Bea.uty Ware.house and it's huge so I needed assistance locating the stuff.  Once I was led to both products by customer service I was a happy camper!! My instincts were reconfirmed when the salesperson said "that's the right stuff right there." I smiled because I'm already knowin!! lol

Once I get going with it, product reviews forth coming. I truly hope the formulas are the same or better and benefit my hair.

Update week 9

I'm in week 9 of my stretch. My new growth is visible and my hair is officially tangley. I watched a few youtube reviews for the Tangle Teezer after a suggestion from P.S. I Love this and I think this is something I really should get. Especially now when my hair get's a tangled mess! Anything that can prevent hair loss while detangling I'm all for!

This week I prepoo'd with grape seed oil and another tea tree conditioner I picked up at Wh.ole F.oods called Shi kai.  It's really a good conditioner and stopped my itching scalp. Shut it down! LOL!

I co washed with the Giovanni Tea Tree conditioner I reviewed last week. Further cooling comfort for my scalp.  But it didn't get my scalp as clean as I wanted so I washed just my scalp with the Giovanni Tea Tree shampoo. I really like this shampoo! I think I'll just re-purchase that. I like the Shi kai tea tree con better!
I am being extra cautious with my scalp because my relaxer is coming up in 2 1/2 weeks and my last relaxer I really burned because my scalp was in such an irritated itchy state.

After I rinsed the shampoo my hair was stripped so I conditioned with ORS con for 10 minutes then I deep conditioned with SE Mega Moisturizing Con my favorite staple. I didn't sit under the dryer this time. I walked my treadmill for an hour and let it condition an additional hour. I rinsed and did my leave-in with a mix of aloe vera juice and S-curl no drip and air dried. Once dry, I detangled. Then I moisturized and sealed with 6 and 1 Leave In moisturizer and coconut oil.

This week I'm protective styling. I'm bunning until my relaxer March 12, 2011.

Best bun I've ever done!

UPDATE 7 WEEKS

So I've kept up with my co washes and black tea rinses. My protective hair style is a curly ponytail. I been moisturizing nightly with 6 oil mixed with the last of my castor oil.

It's time to re-stock products.  I was recommended to get Aphogee 2 min reconstructor for my shedding so I will try this. I'm getting coconut oil, argan?? oil and jamaica black castor oil this go round. I will still use Chi protein spray.

I need a new good detangler.  My hair tangles so much  at 4 weeks. Any recomendations??????????

Update 4 WEEKS post

Last wash I had a LOT of shedding. More than normal. I didn't like it at all.  I tried the black tea rinse.
I'm currently pre pooing with oil and I'm about to wash so I'll see how much the tea helped today. I will be using the tea again and DC while I go workout.


UPDATE: It looks like the black tea slowed down the shedding some. I rinsed with black tea again and DC with the Loreal and I love how my hair feels after rinsing. I applied my CHI and a leave in 911 and air dryed. I'm currently wearing a protective ponytail. I will wash this Friday. I took my vitamins and my iron. Hope that helps too! All this week I am moisturizing with a castor oil mix.