Recognizing and Exploring Proteins

Here are some ingredients to look for if you want to know if a product has protein/s:

1. Anything that starts with the word Hydrolyzed 
2. Silk Amino Acids
3. Soybean or Soja (Oil or Seed Extract)
4. Milk Protein (Coconut Milk, etc.)  
5. Blue Green Algae
6. Keratin
7. Collagen
8. Rice Protein
9. Wheat Protein
10. Oat Protein
11. Corn Protein
12. Vegetable Protein
13. Elastin

To get more information on what each protein does, click HERE, HERE and HERE (Skip to 4:45 on video).

My Experience w/ Proteins

BG "S" hair has a love/hate relationship with proteins while BG "M" hair loves proteins.  I have learned which proteins BG "S" hair absolutely hates and which ones her hair can tolerate.

Tolerable Proteins to Date
Vegetable Protein (Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque)
Hydrolyzed Keratin (Nothing But Intense Healing Masque)
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch (Curls Coconut Sublime Conditioner)

Not So Tolerable Proteins to Date
Hydrolyzed / Soy Protein
Silk Protein
Silk Amino Acids
Soybean (Soja) Protein/ Oil

There was a time when I attempted to avoid anything with protein in it for BG "S" hair but I have learned that protein isn't a bad thing and is just as important as moisture.  This is where the Protein/Moisture Balance comes into play.  So, I am going to take a step out and try one of my old favorites on BG "S" again (SM Curl & Style Milk)...stay tuned. Update: The SM Curl & Curl Milk is a "NO-GO" for BG "S"!  I won't be re-visiting this product for BG "S" anytime soon.  It made her hair so crunchy and dry!

What is your relationship with protein?