I was talking to a friend not too long ago. She relaxes her hair, but also maintains several of her family members’ natural hair. She’s just good with hair! She’s actually one of the few people I trusted to trim my hair back in college.

We were discussing the use of protein conditioners vs. moisturizing conditioners. I told her that I usually alternate weekly, which was advice she had given me in the past that worked like a charm. Prior to that, I was using moisturizing conditioner all the time and I was accustomed to the mushy feeling of my hair while the conditioner was in. I thought my hair was well moisturized and was doing well. When I started alternating with protein conditioner, my hair thrived.

She told me that while she’s washing her hair, she takes a strand of hair from the sink that has already come out and does “The Strand Test.” This test is to see what type of conditioner your hair needs. If you stretch the strand and it stretches a lot before it breaks, your hair is over moisturized and you should use a protein conditioner for that wash. If you stretch the strand and it immediately snaps, your hair has too much protein and you should use a moisturizing conditioner for that wash. Ideally, you should be able to stretch the strand just a little before it snaps.

Interesting. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds reasonable to me.

XOXO,
Rece