The original ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is one of the most powerful products available for repairing hair breakage. It takes some skill and time to apply and is best used with a hooded dryer.

For hair where breakage is a problem but convenience and ease of use are factors, The Hair Strengthening Kit is a perfect solution. It still features the two step process, but the application and processing are easier and it works without a hooded dryer. The results are impressive.

No, ApHogee “Keratin” products do NOT straighten curly hair.

Products that use “Keratin” in the name do so because keratin is the protein of which hair is made and is generally perceived as “Good for the hair”.

The “Rearranging Process” for hair, whether curly to straight or the reverse, is done by first breaking the cross-bonds in the hair that determine its configuration. This is done with a chemical reducing agent such as:  Thioglycolic acid, formaldehyde, compounds that convert to formaldehyde or others. When the hair is formed into the new configuration, the bonds are the reformed by oxidizers such as: Air, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bromate or others.

Straightening may also be done with highly alkaline “Hydroxide” compounds then neutralized with mild acids.

In any of these products, companies may choose to add various ingredients for marketing claims. Examples: Coconut Oil, Aloe, Argan oil or….Keratin. These however act as conditioning agents and actually have nothing to do with restructuring.

ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment strengthens most hair approximately six weeks. In contrast, most other treatments and conditioners are removed with two or three washings. Because of this, the recommended frequency for ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is once every 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your hair maintenance regimen. If applied more often, it’s unlikely that any further benefit will be obtained, assuming the application was done according to directions.

You MAY use Two-Step Protein Treatment process more often than once every four to six weeks but when properly applied, for most hair regimens, breakage areas in the hair will remain repaired from the previous treatment and during the rinse, un-bonded product just goes down the drain. Our studies indicate that the treatment should bond to the hair for four to six weeks under typical hair washing and styling habits.  If your hair feels damaged or is breaking off prior to the four week mark, it’s safe to perform another application.  It will not damage your hair.  Properly used there’s no such thing as “Protein Overload”. Dryness or stiffness is caused by incomplete rinsing or under moisturization.

ApHogee Two-Step Treatment has always required thorough shaking for even performance. In order to make the formula more forgiving when shaking is neglected, we’ve upgraded one ingredient from cosmetic to pharmaceutical grade. The resultant product stays in solution better and is more “clear, brown”, less “milky”. The results are the same and we still recommend shaking before use, just in case.

Most conditioners do a good job at what they were designed for:

* Rinse type products detangle, add some shine and reduce static. They work on the hair surface
* Moisturizers penetrate and add humectants which regulate hair’s moisture balance.
* So called “intensive” products may contain protein, which can act as filler in damaged areas.While these all help, for the most part, they rinse-out in the next shampoo and must be re-applied. ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is different in that it is much more concentrated, fuses into the hair with heat and has been relied upon by salons for decades. ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment lasts far longer than ordinary conditioners.

ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is best used with a hood type dryer. Special care must be used during the process not to agitate the hair after hardening. For these reasons ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is best applied by those familiar with performing chemical processes on hair. For others, there are many excellent ApHogee brand maintenance products that are recommended for everyday, home use. If you do not have a hooded dryer available, the ApHogee Hair Strengthening Kit is an excellent alternative. It contains three “Two-Step” applications for most heads and may be use with a plastic cap instead of a dryer.

ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is a concentrated blend of modified proteins and magnesium. When heat is applied, ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment begins to harden as the bonding and repair process begins. After rinsing and moisturizing with ApHogee Balancing Moisturizer, the hair becomes supple, but remains much stronger than before.

Well, maybe. If you get a good night’s sleep every night, have little stress, eat balanced, regular meals and don’t have chronic habits, conditions or medications that deplete vitamins and nutrients, probably not. ApHogee Nutrional Supplement was formulated with essential minerals, vitamins and extracts whose deficiency may be reflected in poor hair condition or growth. The caplets are individually sealed for freshness and safety and come in a convenient one a day form. Beauty starts from within.

Absolutely! When using ApHogee in conjunction with any chemical process, we recommend using the Treatment 24-36 hours before the service. Be sure to follow directions. In fact, ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment is used on fine, weak hair and very porous hair to make perms and color last longer!

No, ApHogee brand products are very popular in multi-cultural salons because of the problems caused by strong chemicals and extreme heat, but it works equally well on all hair types including Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, European, etc. hair. In fact, fine, blonde hair, which is easily damaged by chemical processes and styling, responds very well to ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment

You’re right!  As curly hair has stolen the spotlight in many style circles….many companies formerly known for removing curls as well as others, have launched products to tie into the trend. Some of these products are quite good, others represent re-packaging of existing formulas.  At ApHogee, we started formulating and testing in 2010, developing each Curlific! formula from scratch. Naturally curly hair is more delicate than straight hair, because of the ovoid cross-sectional shape of the hair shaft. Generally, the curlier the natural hair, the more flattened the hair shaft and the more prone to cuticle damage.  We pride ourselves on the use of protein in hair care and it’s a natural for ApHogee to specialize in care and maintenance of curly hair. We’re very excited about the results with organic Quinoa protein in our Texture Treatment, Textured Hair Wash and Moisture Rich Leave-in. Our Curl Definer is the first of our styling aids for curly hair and it gives solid control without making the hair “crunchy”. It also washes out cleanly without an aggressive cleanser.

The Two-Step Treatment has been used by many to bring back up to about 80% of the original pattern. If your hair structure is severely damaged, there may be little effect on the curl pattern, but you would see a big improvement in breakage reduction, body and texture. When using the Two-Step Protein Treatment for the specific purpose to restore damaged curls, when applying both steps, “scrunch”  through the hair for complete coverage instead of combing through the hair, with tension, as listed on the bottle directions for breakage.

We recommend using the Two-Step Protein Treatment BEFORE coloring your hair.  If your hair is porous it will form a protein matrix within the cortex which helps the hair retain color molecules for less color fading and shade shifting. Independent testing has confirmed that using the Two-Step Protein Treatment prior to coloring your hair, results in 30% less fade after 10 washes.

If your hair is significantly damaged by bleaching, during the color process,  you may use the Treatment after for repair, but like any rinse-out process on fresh color, it may lift some color.

The Two-Step Protein Treatment is a two step process, in which the protein strengthener is applied to the hair first, for the longest lasting bonding. Humectants and emollients, for elasticity shine and softness are applied in step two. This takes a little longer but last far longer than one step processes, in which all the ingredients are missed for speed and convenience and which contain less protein.

The Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor is perhaps the most powerful single step treatment available. It contains a blend of keratin protein, emollients and humectants for quick results in one easy step.  It may be used like a rinse out conditioner.  If you want a more intensive treatment, it can be used with a warm towel or plastic cap for five to ten minutes and then rinsed.