Egg Conditioner Treatment

Q: My natural hair color is black. I tried an egg conditioner treatment in my hair, and I didn't like the results. The egg conditioner stripped the relaxer that was in my hair and it also stripped my hair color.

My hair is still black, but in the sun or in the light in general, it looks kind of brown or a little faded. I never used a dye or rinse. Will my natural color ever come back or is there some type of hair products or home remedies that I can use? I really don't want to put a dye or rinse in my hair.

A: Based on what you describe, my guess is that you used the whole egg (yolk and all) in the “conditioner treatment” and applied it to hair that was porous because of the relaxer. Furthermore, I would guess that you left the mixture on too long.

Egg (particularly the yolk) is very high in protein and this protein can help to strengthen the hair as it is readily absorbed into the hair shaft. When the hair has been previously chemically treated, the egg will absorb faster still and will react with the hair rapidly. Because of this, it’s always best to mix the egg with something that is going to give a buffer – like baby oil or olive oil - or simply use mayonnaise (which is egg-based).

The results you describe are typical of over-exposure to a protein treatment. The hair is made coarser and harder, and in the case of egg the hair can be discolored by the pigment of the yolk which has bonded to the hair. The golden yellow color of the yolk will leave black hair with a brownish cast to it under direct lighting. The “faded” aspect is probably because of the coating of the egg as well.

If you’ve ever seen the finish of a painted surface that has been “egged” you will note some similarities. The albumin of the egg when it breaks down or is left on too long becomes slightly acidic and bonds to the surface of wherever it is applied.

The solution isn’t simple. The surest cure is time and care not to make the same mistake again. However, these tips might help you speed things along:

Get a clarifying shampoo and use it every third shampoo. This will help remove surface residue from the hair and should help your hair return to normal faster. Just be sure to condition the hair very well after using the clarifying shampoo.

Use a mixture of ½ cup of white vinegar and 3-1/2 cups water as a rinse on the hair after shampooing and conditioning. The acidity of the vinegar solution will help leave the hair shiny and will help combat dullness and the faded look.

©Hairfinder.com

See also:

At home remedies for hair

Is too much protein in your hair bad for it?