©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Concentration
If you use a whole packet of Knox gelatine (2 1/2 teaspoons, 0.25 ounces or 7.2 grams) in 1/4 cup (60 ml) water that is 12% protein. Which is a lot. And this is only if your finished product is 1/4 cup, including anything else you add.
2 1/2 teaspoons gelatine in 1/3 cup water is 9% protein.
1 1/4 teaspoons gelatine (half a packet of Knox) in 1/4 cup water is 6% protein
2 1/2 teaspoons gelatine in 1/2 cup water is also 6% protein.
Protein additives for hair products are usually recommended at a use rate of 2-5%. If the protein in your conditioner is listed before the preservatives, it is probably around 1-2%. If it is listed after the preservatives, it is probably at a concentration of 1% or less. Bear in mind that not all proteins behave the same in all hair types. Different proteins work better with different hair.
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
How long do I leave it on? Leave it on your hair for about 3 minutes. Some people leave it on longer - but don't do that on your first try. There is a point at which your hair has "soaked up" or bonded with all the protein it can and beyond that, no more time will be of benefit.
Should I use heat? That's up to you. I get enough heat from wrapping my hair in plastic and letting the shower run over it a little while (not long). Heat is not absolutely necessary. But some people have better results using heat, whether by wrapping a warm, wet towel around the head, using a blow-dryer, or whatever else you can imagine. Heat speeds up reactions and helps the gelatine spread around to cover every hair (assuming you've covered your hair). I've done this treatment with no wrapping and no heat and got good results. It depends on how much bother you want!
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Gelatin made my hair too stiff (or too soft).
- Did you rinse very thoroughly? One must rinse out a gelatine protein treatment very well.
- Did you use too much gelatine? Some people only need 1 teaspoon, or even 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per 1/4 cup liquid (or however much you use).
- If your hair is stiff only sometimes - leave out any vinegar or citric acid. Leave the treatment on for less time.
- Is it too soon to do a protein treatment? Some people can use strong protein treatments regularly, but not everybody. If too-frequent treatments make your hair stiff or too soft, your hair is telling you it's too much!
- Does your hair always respond badly to protein? Then don't use it!
- If your hair gets stiff and tangly, try mixing oil and conditioner into the treatment, or using a rich (deep) conditioner afterwards, or just a little extra conditioner.
Should I wash my hair first?©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
This is up to you. I use it on freshly-shampooed hair or "second-day" hair which has been rinsed with water. Some people use this treatment on hair which has been washed with conditioner. There are no rules.
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Will this treatment work for me?
Only one way to find out! As a rule of thumb, fine hair, porous hair, bleached hair, damaged hair (from heat, sunlight, brushing, chlorine) can benefit from protein. Kinky hair can too - and that includes gray hair with a kinking habit. If your hair needs more support or structure ("stiffness"), protein may work for you. If your hair snaps at the slightest tug, protein may help.©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
On the other hand, if your hair strands are coarse (wide, strong, easily visible) and it has plenty of internal suport and stiffness on its own, adding more stiffness with protein may be a hair disaster; though a very low concentration of protein may be beneficial if your hair is also porous and damaged.
If you're not sure: Try a very dilute protein treatment (use 1/4 teaspoon gelatine in 1/2 cup liquid). Or try whatever strength gelatine treatment you wish on a small section of hair first.
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