Ask ApHogee: Reddit Recap

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Last week we held our very first Reddit AMA to talk all things about HAIR! We had all sorts of questions come our way and we couldn’t be happier with how it went. If you missed it, don’t fret — we’ve compiled a few of the questions (in black) and answers (in purple) below. Got more questions for us? You can comment below or use the hashtag #AskApHogee on Instagram or Facebook and we will do our best to address all your questions!

 

How often should I be shampooing and conditioning my hair? I use a hair dryer 2-3 times a week if that matters. My hair tends to be very dry.

This is a question that we receive a lot. The purpose of shampooing the hair is to remove and styling or residue build up (sweat) from the hair. If you think you have a lot of build up, than I would recommend shampooing and conditioning approximately three times a week. If you don’t have the build up or your hair is damaged, then you can shampoo and conditioner less often like once a week. Given that your hair is on the dry side, I would also recommend a moisturizing leave in spray before hair drying such as the ApHogee Curlific Moisture Rich Leave In Spray.

 

Hi Aphogee! I have super curly and thick hair, but the strands are pretty fine. I’d love to try a curl product but wan’t to make sure that my hair doesn’t get frizzy. Which products do you think would work for me?

Hair Frizzes because the moisture balance is off. Co-incidentally, it’s the same reason that dry, styled, straight hair droops, in humidity. With naturally curly hair, even if chemically straightened, because of the flattened hair shaft, you not only need moisture, but a sealer than helps close the cuticle, repair minor damage and seal. Curlific! Moisture Rich Leave-In is what we recommend. It will work without weighing down your finer strands. The entire Curlific! Line has Quinoa Protein, moisturizers and sealing agents. It was formulated for your hair.

 

My hair is super dry because I dyed it light blonde. What products should I use to make it silky again? I have no clue about hair care besides shampoo and conditioner. My hair is naturally silky smooth, but changed when I dyed it.

When you dyed your hair, you lifted the cuticle to deposit the color. The cuticle now is a little more susceptible to damage. You should use a gentle shampoo, we make several, depending on the other needs of your and characteristics of you hair (i.e curly, fine, coarse, limp). You should also use a good leave-in conditioner prior to blow drying, or using styling implements. Do this even between shampoos, when styling. If your hair is curly, we recommend Curlific! Moisture Rich Leave-in. If it needs body and shows some breakage, Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer.  Finally, if coarse and you want to smooth, Pro-Vitamin Leave-In. All three are mildly acidic and protect from heat.

 

I want to change my hair color, but I’m afraid of bleaching it. What are all the products I should use to ensure that my hair will stay (and look) healthy afterwards? 

Changing your color can be tricky, with any damage, especially going lighter. if you see breakage now, use one of our two step treatments first. If just dry, use the Keratin Reconstructor one-step product. In either case, use a good leave-in before styling afterwards. We make 3, depending on other needs of your hair.

What’s the difference between a hair mask/deep treatment and a daily conditioner?
What are the main ingredients and the differences between the jobs of conditioners designed for smoothing, or moisturizing, or volumizing, or repairing hair?

A hair mask / deep treatment in name should be more moisturizing or strengthening as compared to a daily conditioner. However, a lot of brands name a product a treatment when it is a glorified daily conditioner. This is why at ApHogee, I have started describing our Two-Step Protein Treatment and Hair Strengthening Kit as specialty two step treatments. They work by applying the protein first to repair the hair and then the second step is used to apply the moisture and raise the pH of the hair to optimal levels.

The main ingredients in conditioners can be broken down into three categories: proteins, humectants and emollients. Emollients are used to increase the slip of the hair by smoothing, lubricating and flattening the cuticle. Humectants are ingredients that are used to add and hold moisture to the hair. Proteins are used to add strength to the hair. Every conditioner has some combination of these ingredient categories to smooth (more emollients), to moisturize (more humectants) and to repair (more proteins).

I’m protein-sensitive, how often do you recommend I use your products?

You can use the Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor on a weekly basis. The great thing about the Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor is that it contains protein to strengthen the hair, but it also contains humectants and emollients to moisturize the hair. It is a great one step product to strengthen and moisturize the hair. In regards to the Balancing Moisturizer, this has to be used as the second step of the Two-Step Protein Treatment process. In addition, it can be used as a moisturizing conditioner to add deep moisture to the hair. It can be used as often as you condition your hair. Both of these products will leave the hair in the optimal and healthy pH level.