I Tried the Aphogee Protein Remedy on My Broken Hair

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 offer me a blonde balayage, one that might enable my roots to develop out with out having to get a month-to-month touch-up. Whereas she totally delivered and gave me completely attractive coloration, I observed my hair didn’t *fairly* really feel the identical because it had earlier than. In any case, 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 deal with 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 therapy?

Protein therapies are chemical hair therapies that change the important protein that’s lacking from broken hair. With out mandatory protein, hair is extra susceptible to breakage and frizz. These therapies assist reconstruct compromised hair strands by changing the protein that was misplaced by trauma.

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Based on Caitlin Townsend, a vivid hair colorist and balayage specialist at Tried and True Salon in Texas,  chemical protein therapies 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 enhance.

“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 you probably have by no means coloured your hair, however you’re within the solar every single day, protein therapies will assist it really feel wholesome once more.”

Whereas protein therapies can assist 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 uninteresting 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 an alternative of serving to it!”

How To Use the Aphogee 2-Step Protein Remedy

In my quest to discover a cheap-yet-effective protein therapy, 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. Previously, I’d tried the model’s in-shower Keratin 2-Minute Reconstructor and actually liked the best way my hair felt afterwards. Earlier than shopping for, I grabbed my cellphone to see what reviewers had been saying: 2,000 5-star evaluations on Amazon had been sufficient to influence me to offer it a go.

For what it is price, Townsend agrees that this mini-but-mighty protein therapy is effectively definitely worth the hype. “It’s the principle protein therapy 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 accommodates the Aphogee Two-Step Protein Remedy (which, regardless of the title, is definitely a single formulation), and the second holds the Aphogee balancing moisturizer. The model recommends making use of the therapy from root to tip on moist, freshly-shampooed hair, then blowdrying it on medium warmth. After the hair is totally 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 the moment utilizing the Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo—it’s wonderful), 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 started 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 difficult to use. With the help of a wide-toothed comb, although, I used to be capable of 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, so that they advocate holding 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 unsuitable: after drying for a bit, my hair received tremendous crunchy and stiff, and regarded like I had tried the 100 Layers of Hairspray Problem. My arms received tremendous sticky throughout this course of, too, since I stored having to softly alter my hair to keep away from the standard 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 principally 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 therapy. It felt wonderful 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 regular conditioner (I’m utilizing the Malin + Goetz Cilantro Conditioner) for good measure. This step isn’t mandatory per the directions, however in my expertise, just a little further conditioner can’t harm.

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 capable of run my arms by 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 help 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 just a little 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 affords. Whereas $5 per therapy packet is nothing to sneeze at, holding a much bigger amount readily available that may final me a number of classes versus one looks like a wise transfer.

In case your hair has been just a little lackluster recently, think about giving this therapy a go. I’m glad I did!