**Disclaimer:  This is NOT a sponsored post.  It is a true story about how a product saved my hair after I made some incredibly dumb decisions.

The Shame: How I took my emotions out on my hair

I’ve debated about whether or not I wanted to post about this because I’m ashamed I even needed this product in the first place.  Let me start by explaining what happened.  As you may know, women often take their emotions out on their hair.  Bad breakup? Bam! New hair color.  New baby? Bam! New hair cut.  Fallout with Kevin Federline? Boom! Shaved head.

I’m not sure why we do it, but we do.  As women, we often take things out on our hair.  For me, my last crazy change came after I had a miscarriage almost a year ago (I’m now pregnant again and the baby is doing well).  I become obsessed with this idea that if I somehow managed to change my hair the right color, it would fix me.  That if my hair looked good, I would somehow feel better.  I spent hours at night looking up different hair colors and ideas.  Then I dyed my hair again, and again.  I could tell I was going crazy, but I couldn’t stop.  That is, until I realized I soon wouldn’t have any hair left if I kept going.

I want to be very clear that I fried my hair by dying it way too much in a short amount of time.  I also want to specify that I didn’t use my highlighting formula during this process.  I still stand by that, if done correctly, that should never fry hair.

The Epiphany: Realizing my hair couldn’t save me

I finally realized that my hair color wasn’t going to save me, and that I needed to resort to something else to deal with my feelings.  At this time, it was pretty much too late for my hair.  It had turned into mush.  It wasn’t as bad when it was dry, but when it was wet it was like a sponge.  It absorbed a ton of water, was stretchy, and literally felt like mush.  There’s no other word to describe it.  When I washed it, it would take hours to dry.  I remember crying because I realized I would need a pixie hair cut.  I have big features and ears that stick out.  With a pixie cut I would essentially look like a dumbo fairy–not something I looked forward to.

Before doing anything else drastic, I decided to research the internet to see if there was anything that could possibly help me.  After a week I finally heard of Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment on a long hair forum page.  My hair had become spongey because I had stripped too many proteins away from the hair shaft.  This treatment was the bandaid I needed.

The Saving Grace: Aphogee–the product that saved my hair

Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment was originally made and marketed for ethnic hair that had become fragile from relaxers or color, but it’s perfect for anyone who has over-bleached or dyed their hair.  It’s kind of a crazy product to use, BUT IT’S WORTH IT.  It literally saved me from having to get the worst hair cut of my life.

I bought it with low expectations, but was so surprised by how well it works.  Nothing can completely heal hair that has been badly damaged, but this can temporarily mask it and make it look good again.

After using it,  my hair felt like hair again!  Not just when it was dry, but when it was wet as well.  It eliminated that mush consistency I had before.  You can use it every 4-6 weeks, but I usually wait until I can tell that most of the proteins have been washed out.  I did end up cutting off some of the damage, but not nearly what I was expecting had I not used this product.

Though I’m embarrassed that I even destroyed my hair in the first place, I feel like other people need to know about this product because it is amazing.

The Application: How to use Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment

You get your hair wet, distribute the first product through your hair and blow dry it until it hardens like a rock.  It’s incredibly sticky and smells awful, but it works.  Once dry and hard (be careful not to move the hardened hair) you rinse it off in the shower and use the second product, a conditioner.  It takes about 30 or so minutes, but is worth every second since it saves you from the scissors.

That’s all you have to do, about every month and half, and your hair will be a thousand times better.

The Healing Process: Growing out healthy hair

As I grow my hair out, I’m super careful with it. I originally was planning on banning heat altogether, but after I discovered Aphogee Keratin and Green Tea Reconstructor I’m okay with heat every now and then.  The reconstructor is another of the Aphogee miracle products.  It makes my hair feel amazing every time I use it and since it’s heat activated, I feel okay with a little blow drying on occasion.  I was stunned the first time I used it at how soft and shiny my hair was.  It made a world of difference.  I immediately texted my mom and best friend and sent them to get it as well.

Where to get it?

 Sally’s Beauty Supply, or Amazon.

For more reviews, check out what people have said about Aphogee on Make Up Alley.

My current hair, saved by Aphogee.