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Preventing Breakage

The key to preventing natural hair breakage and damage is:
*Less heat styling
*Protective styles
*Low maintenance styles
*Less manipulation of the hair
*Periodic trimming of dead and split ends
*Deep conditioning – 2x a month
*Protein Treatments – 1x a month
*Pre-poo Treatments
*Detangling
*Do not over moisturize

Deep Conditioning

Ideally natural hair should be deep conditioned 2x a month and more often if you are newly natural. When I DC, I use a shower comb, my fingers and/or a tangle teezer to distribute the product along my hair shaft and ends.

A deep conditioner should have:

• slip for easy detangling
• provide moisture
• add body
• hydrate the hair
• improve elasticity
• contain conditioning agents
• and seal in moisture
• may contain proteins

Great DC’s that I have used:
*Curl Junkie Curl Rehab
*MyHoneyChild Honey Hair Mask
*MyHoneyChild Olive You
*Darcy’s Botanicals Pumpkin Seed Curl Moisturizing
*Original Moxie Intense Quench
*Hairveda Sitrinillah
*Pura Body Naturals Chocolate Smoothie

Do not over condition as this can cause breakage.

Protein Treatments

I do protein treatments 1x a month to strengthen my hair as I do a lot of protective styling and twistouts or braidouts which require more manipulation.  Proteins such as hydrolyzed wheat, keratin, silk, oat, an yeast  bond to the hair and fill in gaps in the cuticle making hair stronger and less prone to breakage.

Some protein treatments you can try:
*Curl Junkie Repair Me
*Original Moxie Protein Treatment
*Shescentit Okra Reconstructor
*Chi Deep Brilliance ProteinTreatment

Sources and links to more info:
*http://www.strawberricurls.com/2013/08/01/5-protein-treatment-for-natural-hair/
*http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/11/the-right-protein-treatment-for-your.html?m=1
*http://blackgirllonghair.com/2013/03/3-amazing-protein-conditioners-for-natural-hair/
*http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/04/find-your-perfect-deep-conditioner.html?m=1
*http://www.curlynikki.com/2011/05/hair-conditioner-ingredients.html?m=1