The Sin Bin and Angels Wings: Why do products stop working?

The Sin Bin


Going into the sin bin today is not listening to your hair. Picture the scene - You are a new natural and after a few months of switching products you have found your magic combination - you have your products and you have your routine down to a T.



A year on you find that the conditioner doesn't work like it used to or perhaps that magic leave in really doesn't work. You find that your go to style, twists, coils, wash and go....whatever it is don't really work like they use to. So why do products or routines stop working?



Your hair is basically old. It has been washed, pulled, braided, stretched and maybe heat treated for a year. It is nothing like the hair that you started out with because



1. It has fewer cuticle layers and less protein (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, pg 155-75, 1978.)

2. It is likely to be weaker

3. It is more prone to split ends. (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, pg 155-75, 1978.)



Every extra year that you have the same hair, the more damage it accumulates and therefore the more conditioning it needs(perhaps different more depositing agents like behentrimonium or protein or silicone or a different combination too).



Perhaps most important above and beyond all this is treating the old hair gently. The less force you apply on it (less pulling AND less squeezing) the more likely it is to keep wanting to hang around (pun intended). Don't dismiss it if you find that a proven routine or products suddenly doesn't pass muster.




Angel Wings


Wearing the halo today is change! Change the products or style depending on how your hair reacts. Also if you want angel wings 2.0 you should make a mental note of what works at what stage. Therefore if you choose to cut back and maintain a specific length, you can know what products and styles suit that length.



This post was inspired by Alice talking about breaking up with her wash and go and Milan who laid blame (lol) at the feet of natural veterans.