Treatment FAQ

how to tell if hair needs protein treatment

by Janet Kohler Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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5 Signs Your Hair Needs A Protein Treatment

  1. Your Hair Has High Porosity.
  2. Your Hair Has Lost Its Elasticity.
  3. Your Hair Is Stringy Or Limp.
  4. Your Hair Feels Gummy Or Sticky.
  5. You’ve Recently Colored Your Hair.

Hair that is stringy, flat, or limp is a definite sign that your hair needs a protein treatment. Normally, hair should be pretty durable and full, so when it starts to droop, take notice. By adding protein back into the hair, you can revitalize your strands and get them to a healthier state.Mar 1, 2017

Full Answer

How to determine when your hair needs protein or moisture?

So how can you tell if you need moisture or protein? The simplest option is to take a wet or dry strand of hair and gently stretch it. If it barely stretches and snaps, you need more moisture and might have too much protein. Also, if you brush your hair and strands fall out, you need protein.

Does my natural hair need protein?

 · Here are a 5 tips to let you know that your hair needs protein: 1. If your hair is highly porous. 2. If you have lost elasticity, your hair may be breaking mid shaft or simply hard to curl. A great way to check this is to wet a strand. Stretch it, and if it bounces back to original length without breaking then it is balanced.

How much protein for healthy hair?

 · If your hair is fine and low porosity, it needs a lot of protein. If your hair is coarse and low porosity, it needs only a little protein. The remainder of hair types are somewhere in the middle. I made a graphic to help illustrate the relationship between porosity and thickness for all hair types. Why I Wish I Tried Protein Earlier

How much protein do we need to prevent hair loss?

 · If you are still having a hard time deciphering between whether your hair is in need of protein or moisture, you can take a strand test at home. How to perform a strand test If your hair easily snaps when stretched while wet or dry, then your hair is lacking protein. If your hair feels dense dry, won’t curl and breaks often, then it lacks moisture.

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How do I know if my hair needs a protein treatment?

The simplest option is to take a wet or dry strand of hair and gently stretch it. If it barely stretches and snaps, you need more moisture and might have too much protein. Also, if you brush your hair and strands fall out, you need protein. Equally, if your strands feel dry, you are likely lacking moisture.

How do you know if your hair needs protein water?

Take an inch of your hair and stretch it, if it doesn't stretch or breaks, feels dry and rough, it is brittle/damaged and needs moisture treatment. If the hair stretches far and does not return and/or breaks, feels mushy, gummy or cotton candy-like, your hair needs protein.

How do I know if my hair is protein damage?

The tell-tale signs of protein overload seem to be split ends and limp strands. Hair that feels brittle or sheds more than is normal for you can also be signs that your tresses have been exposed to too much keratin.

How do I know if my curly hair needs protein or moisture?

If your hair breaks or snaps when brushing or styling, it is not strong and needs protein. If your hair looks limp, matte and dry, it needs moisture. Keep reading to discover to understand what is really needed, why and how to bring your curls back into balance.

Do I need a protein treatment?

What does your hair look and feel like when you have enough protein? Protein strengthens hair and makes it more structurally resilient to breakage and split ends. If there is no breakage, shedding or split ends, and your hair has sheen and feels strong there will be no need for a protein treatment.

How do I know if my hair is low or high porosity?

Another way to check your hair porosity is to drop hair that's been shed as a result of combing into a glass of water. If it floats, your hair is low porosity. If your hair sinks slowly, it has normal porosity, and if it sinks immediately, your hair is high porosity.

What does over protein hair look like?

Your hair may look and feel dry, brittle, dull, and stiff. If you take a closer look at your hair, protein overload may also cause split ends and breakage. It may also shed more. If you're noticing more strands on your comb or brush than usual, that could be a telltale sign of high protein hair.

How do you tell if your hair has build up?

How to Tell if You Have Product Buildup in Your Hair – Signs and Symptoms to Watch Out ForYour Hair Feels Dry But Your Scalp Feels Greasy.Your Hair Looks Dull All The Time.Your Hair Feels Rough and Stiff Every Day.You Find Yourself Using Way More Shampoo Than Usual.Your Hair Struggles To Hold A Style.Lack of Volume.More items...•

How do you tell if your hair is over moisturized?

Signs that you may be suffering from moisture overload are if your hair feels excessively soft and mushy, if you're noticing that your curl pattern is looser, or if your hair strands stretch but don't revert or bounce back. It can also lead to excessive split ends, limp or dull hair, a lack of volume, and more.

Does low porosity hair need protein or moisture?

Low and medium porosity hair needs more moisturizing conditioning than protein treatments. Actually, low porosity hair is also known as protein-sensitive hair. A protein treatment every 6 weeks and 1-3 deep moisturizing conditionings per month should work fine for these hair types.

Why does my curly hair feel like straw?

Straw-like hair is often the result of common hair care oversights, such as these: using drying and styling tools (dryers, curling irons, electric rollers, flat irons) at too high a heat setting. using heat-based drying and styling tools too frequently. shampooing too often.

Is protein bad for curly hair?

If your curls are overloaded on protein – Your hair will feel brittle and extra dry and that causes more complications such as breakage and loss of curl pattern. To enthuse more moisture and quench your dry curls, add more moisturizing products and don't forget to deep condition regularly.

Why is protein treatment good for hair?

Protein treatments are a great way to ensure this and reinforce strength into the hair .

How to tell if you need protein or moisture?

So how can you tell if you need moisture or protein? The simplest option is to take a wet or dry strand of hair and gently stretch it. If it barely stretches and snaps, you need more moisture and might have too much protein. Also, if you brush your hair and strands fall out, you need protein. Equally, if your strands feel dry, you are likely lacking moisture.

Why is my hair sticky?

If you notice your hair has become stringy, limp, or sticky, you could be lacking protein. Luckily, there are tons of great hair protein treatments, like the Almond Milk Leave-In Conditioner, that will work to restore extremely damaged and over-processed hair; or Monoi Repairing Leave-In Conditioner, which is formulated with proteins to add shine, softness, and manageability to your hair.

Why is my hair limp?

If you notice hair is limp and stringy, without bounce, you could have a protein deficiency. By increasing your protein intake, you will boost elasticity—creating bouncier, fuller hair that is easier to style for your hair care routine.

How to strengthen curly hair?

Incorporating protein for hair in your curly hair care will help reinforce hair fibers by making them strong against breakage. Depending on the state of your hair, you can do weekly protein treatments for preventative maintenance.

Why is my natural hair dry?

When natural hair is dry, it’s common to believe it is lacking moisture. To help with the dryness, moisturizing treatments or hydrating conditioners might be used.

What are amino acids?

In case you need a quick refresher, amino acids are organic compounds that form together to make protein. These are the building blocks of your hair, responsible for the strength and structure of your curls and coils. If these amino acids are compromised, the protein in hair can become altered—leading to brittle and fragile natural hair.

How to tell if your hair is missing protein?

Make sure to hold them tight then gently pull the hair. If the hair stretches and bounces back to its normal length without breaking, it means the hair is healthy. If it stretches and doesn’t return or stretches and breaks, then chances are your hair is missing protein.

What is the protein in hair?

Protein and How It Affects the Hair. Our hair is primarily made up of chains of amino acids and proteins called keratin. Think of the hair as a building with keratin as the bricks. Because of overstyling, chemical treatments, and environmental stressors, keratins become worn out, creating gaps in the hair which eventually leads to damage ...

Why does my hair lose hair?

Note: increased hair loss could be caused by many things: a hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, stress, auto-immune disorders, medications, chemotherapy and more . It’s important to thoroughly consult and analyze the scalp and hair before deciding a lack of protein is the culprit.

Why is my hair not full?

Is the hair not as full and bouncy as they used to? Dull and limp hair is a sign of protein deficiency. Most clients will think it just needs a bit of hair styling product to bring it back to life, but this practice actually compromises the health of the hair significantly. Layering more products on already weak hair will weigh it down, causing it to look stringy.

Why does my hair get frizzy?

Highly porous strands have tears and gaps in the hair, exposing the cortex to stressors. This causes the hair to absorb and release moisture faster than normal, leading to frizzy, tangled hair.

Why does my hair feel sticky?

Or worse, the hair has suffered from far too much lightening , causing it to feel like bubblegum.

Does bleach cause hair to rise?

Hair color, bleach, and treatments contain chemicals that alter the bonds of the hair, leading to damage. These chemicals elevate the pH of the hair and causes the cuticles to rise. The longer the cuticles are raised up, the longer the cortex of the hair is exposed and, therefore, makes the hair more susceptible to protein loss and breakage.

How to tell if your hair needs protein?

Here are 5 signs that your hair is crying out for a protein treatment: Your hair has lost its elasticity. One of the clear signs that your hair may need a little protein help is the loss of elasticity. Try this little trick: take a small strand of your hair, and gently stretch it. If the strand doesn’t return to its natural state ...

What is protein treatment for hair?

A protein treatment for hair is a product loaded with a protein that hair can easily absorb, and it works to strengthen and repair the keratin. It can either be a treatment you purchase from a beauty store, or a homemade protein treatment.

How does protein hair treatment work?

A protein hair treatment will work to repair hair strands by attaching hydrolysed proteins to the hair cuticle and hardening the cuticle layer. Advertisement. If there are holes in the hair cuticle, protein treatment will patch up these gaps and place a barrier around the hair shaft to lessen future damage.

Why is my hair limp?

Dealing with hair that’s flat, limp or stringy is another sign that it may need some protein love. Protein will help revitalise the strands and make your hair visibly less droopy.

Why is protein treatment important for porous hair?

Because this type of hair often absorbs too much water, tangles and frizz may be a familiar experience. A protein treatment will help porous hair get the nourishment it needs and seal those gaps.

What is a reconstructor for hair?

A concentrated blend of amino acids and keratin, this reconstructor will give your hair a deep conditioning protein treatment. If your hair is a victim of chlorine and hard water, this product will be the relief it has been waiting for. Apply it as often as you like – even after each wash, until your hair is restored.

What is the protein in hair?

To put it simply, our hair is protein. A protein called keratin makes up the majority of a hair strand, keeping it healthy, strong and full of elasticity. But with damage caused by styling and maintenance, pollution, coloring and other things that don’t do your hair much good, the keratin starts to break down.

What is the protein in hair?

Hair is largely made up of a protein called keratin, and there are factors that contribute to protein loss that you may not be aware of. While it’s not hard to tell when your hair is thirsty, you may not be quite sure when your hair is in need of protein.

Why is it important to treat color treated hair?

Color Treatments. We know how important regularly moisturizing and deep conditioning color-treated hair is to prevent hair breakage, but protein is especially important for hair in this state as well. Color-treated hair is highly porous and more susceptible to damage.

Why does my hair lose elasticity?

A loss of elasticity can also be a consequence of over-moisturizing the hair. Again, while moisture is important, there needs to be a balance of moisture and protein, especially with curly hair. Healthy hair strands will return to their natural state after being stretched. If you find that your hair doesn't spring back to its normal state, ...

How many strands of hair can you lose in a day?

As you may know, shedding is a natural part of the life of hair. We can lose up to 100 strands per day naturally. But if you find that you're losing hair that isn't coming from the root (has a white bulb at the end), then this is breakage, and it needs attention if you want to preventhair loss.

Is moisture good for hair?

Within the natural hair world, we tend to talk a lot about moisture. And yes, moisture is very important for textured hair, especially tighter curls and kinks. But we don’t want to rule out another factor in the health of your natural hair: protein.#N#Hair is largely made up of a protein called keratin, and there are factors that contribute to protein loss that you may not be aware of. While it’s not hard to tell when your hair is thirsty, you may not be quite sure when your hair is in need of protein. If you have asked yourself, “Does my hair need protein or moisture?” you have come to the right place. To help you out, we've listed five signs that you need to include a protein treatment in your hair regimen.#N#To help you out, we've listed five signs that you need to include a protein treatment in your hair regimen.

Does almond oil help with hair porosity?

A protein treatment can help to temporarily fill in those gaps to strengthen the strands and allow them to hold moisture longer. The almond component of our Mint Almond Oil is a protein that binds to the hair strand and seals in moisture, making it perfect for hair with high porosity.

Why is protein deficiency bad for hair?

“Aside from poor diets, people with color-treated hair are at the highest risk of protein deficiency because of the exposure to chemicals in hair color products that can alter and damage hair bonds, especially if your hair is being bleached .”

What are the signs of protein overload in hair?

Fitzsimons agrees and says that the “biggest signs of protein overload in the hair are split ends and shedding. This can happen when our hair is exposed to an excessive amount of keratin which causes a lot of buildup.” He says that protein overload (aka too much of a good thing) can “actually have the opposite effects on our hair such as feeling straw-like, lacking shine, and becoming overly dry.”

What is the purpose of Fitzsimons hair mask?

Fitzsimons says that this hair mask has “keratin, bamboo stem cells, and argan oil to help restore, replenish, and ultimately give your hair more life.”

Does wheat protein make hair softer?

Rogers mentions that products containing wheat protein or keratin can temporarily make your hair feel softer and bouncier. This mask is like a mini salon-style keratin treatment you can do at home.

Can you use protein in your hair?

If you’re currently using protein treatments for your hair, that’s great — to an extent. In some cases, there can be too much protein in your hair routine (more on that later) and you should be reaching for a moisture-boosting product instead.

Does argan oil leave in conditioner?

This leave-in conditioner also contains argan oil, plus tons of additional oils to give your hair lots of softness and shine.

Can silicone be used to protect hair shaft?

“Products containing silicone (dimethicone, cyclomethicone) can be helpful to coat and protect the hair shaft, but only temporarily,” she explains. Otherwise, you’ll just need to “grow it out and treat it gently.” As for getting into a regular routine that can help your hair at least feel more moisturized, Kingsley recommends a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once to twice a week, depending on how damaged your hair is.

How to tell if hair has protein buildup?

Know the signs of Protein Buildup: You’ll need to be able to tell the difference between hair that’s dry and hasn’t been moisturised properly and hair that has too much protein. A tell-tale sign is that all the efforts you make to moisturise seem or have no effect, (or even make it worse, depending on if the moisturiser you’re using contains ...

How to get rid of protein in hair?

Cleanse: Cleansing does help get rid of excess protein on the surface of hair, but you don’t want to overdo it by washing excessively. By using a cleansing/ clarifying shampoo, you can gradually reduce the protein buildup on your hair until it becomes softer and more manageable.

Why is my hair stiff?

Though protein is essential for hair to remain strong and resilient, too much of it can have the opposite effect on your hair, making it fragile and stiff. Protein overload is often the culprit when your hair is acting up but you can’t quite figure out why.

How long does it take for hair to recover from protein overload?

However, depending on the severity of your protein buildup, it can take a few months to see results. You’ll need to focus on how you’re moisturising your hair.

What are the ingredients in protein?

Here is a list of protein ingredients: Hydrolyzed collagen. Wheat, quinoa, or soy protein. Silk protein. Keratin. Oat flour.

Is protein good for hair?

While all hair needs protein to stay strong and resilient, it can definitely become “too much of a good thing” for your hair. With time, cleansing, and protein-free moisturization, your hair should regain it’s former texture.

Can you use jojoba oil on protein sensitive hair?

Jojoba conditioners are good for protein-sensitive hair, or you can use other oils such as pumpkin or argan oil.

How I know That My Wavy Hair Needs Protein

Part of my hair goes straight. I have a section of my hair that is always straigher than the rest. However, when it gets really needing protein, it’ll be almost entirely straight.

How I Learned The Signs That My Hair Needs Protein

While I now understand the signs that my hair needs protein, I didn’t always know. I tried to grasp the basics while watching protein overload vs moisture overload videos. I’ll link some of those resources at the bottom of this post.

Does Low Porosity Hair Need Protein?

It’s a common rule of thumb that higher porosity hair needs more protein. Some take this idea and stretch it to mean that low porosity hair doesn’t need any protein.

Is It Possible For Hair To Hate All Protein?

Occasionally in wavy/curly hair groups I hear people say “I can’t use any protein – my hair HATES protein.”

Does Hair Strand Thickness Impact Moisture and Protein Balance?

Once I realized that my hair likes a lot of protein despite being low porosity, I was confused about why until I found this hair protein 101 article from the Science-y Hair blog that said fine or even ‘normal’ thickness hair needs more protein than thick or coarse thickness hair. This is repeated in her blog post titled More About (hair) Protein.

How much protein your hair needs based on porosity and thickness

Fine hair needs protein, and so does high protein hair. If your hair is fine and low porosity, it needs a lot of protein. If your hair is coarse and low porosity, it needs only a little protein. The remainder of hair types are somewhere in the middle.

Why I Wish I Tried Protein Earlier

When I first did a protein treatment, I was shocked at the results. I wish I had before and after pictures. I remember feeling like it looked like I had cut my hair, because it was visibly shorter as a result of curling up more! I was also shocked that my ‘straight section’ finally had more waves.

How to balance hair protein?

The truth is the only way to really balance your hair's protein: your diet!

When our hair is out of balance and low on moisture, what is the key?

When our hair is out of balance and low on moisture, water is the key!

How to drench curls after washing?

Once you have thoroughly washed your hair , treating your luscious curls to a deep conditioning treatment will help drench your curls with intense moisture!

Why is my hair not getting enough moisture?

And this lack of moisture can be attributed to the use of chemical treatments like bleaching, relaxers, hair coloring, or using direct heat-styling tools (such as flat irons or curling), which cause damage.

Why does my hair feel brittle?

It is possible for your hair to lack protein. When this happens, your hair will feel brittle and more susceptible to breakage.

Why does my hair not curl?

If your hair feels dense dry, won’t curl and breaks often, then it lacks moisture.

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