Treatment FAQ

when does my hair need a protein treatment

by Yessenia Morissette Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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.Aug 19, 2021

Full Answer

What is the best protein for your hair?

The Best Protein Rich Foods For Your Hair

  1. Eggs. An Eggs are packed full of protein and are relatively low in calories and saturated fat. ...
  2. Fish. Fish, especially salmon, is another healthy, protein-packed option to encourage your hair to grow. ...
  3. Poultry. Chicken and turkey are protein-rich and lean alternatives. ...
  4. Beans. ...
  5. Yogurt. ...
  6. Milk & Dairy. ...
  7. Nuts. ...
  8. Tofu & Soya. ...
  9. Oysters. ...
  10. Fruits & Vegetables. ...

How to know if your hair needs protein?

Ways to fix

  • Cleansing with clarifier. Soaking your hair in regular warm water is a great start to rid your hair of excess oils and buildup, but you’ll probably need a clarifying shampoo ...
  • Getting a trim. If your hair is feeling heavy and hard to maintain, trimming off an inch or two of split ends may help.
  • Essential oils. ...
  • Give your hair a break from styling. ...

How to dye your hair and do a protein treatment?

If at this moment your hair is really damaged, then I recommend the following:

  • Shampoo and conditioner: Every time you wash your hair
  • Protein hair masks: At the beginning of the treatment, you must apply them twice per week and at least for a month.
  • Repairing oils: You can use them every day if you wish. Just make sure that the hair is wet and that you don’t apply it to the roots.

Is protein good for your hair?

"If your hair is feeling a little dry or damaged, coconut oil is a good pre-shampoo treatment to prevent shampoos ... or medium to thick hair," Alvarez notes. "Its protein retention abilities will add body and volume to such hair types, and also minimize ...

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When should I use protein treatment on my 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.

Are protein treatments necessary for hair?

When do I need a protein? Protein treatments should be applied as needed. If you are attaining protein through diet and you have keratin in your moisturizers, conditioners and shampoos and your hair is healthy there will be no need for specific protein treatments.

How do you know if your hair needs protein curls?

The Protein Test: Your hair feels squishy or marshmellow-like, stretches and doesn't return to its original shape or breaks easily. You will be able to tell if your hair needs more protein as it will become brittle and more prone to breakage. Your hair can: Look stringy.

Does my hair need moisture or protein?

According to celebrity colorist Matt Rez, “The protein bonds are what keeps the hair shaft together and strong. Without it, your hair will break or snap. Moisture is hydration and what keeps the hair soft. Put the two together, and we have healthy hair!”

How do I know I need a protein treatment?

5 Signs You Need a Protein TreatmentYour Hair Has High Porosity. When your hair has high porosity, there are gaps and tears in the hair strand that allow too much water to be absorbed. ... Hair Has Lost Its Elasticity. ... Your Hair Is Stringy and Limp. ... Your Hair Feels Gummy or Sticky. ... You Recently Colored Your Hair.

Which is better keratin or protein treatment?

While they both treatments bring life to dull and lifeless hair, a keratin treatment also enhances the health of your hair as it is a protein-based treatment. Hydrolyzed keratin penetrates deep into the cuticle and bonds with it during treatment, strengthening your hair from within.

How do I know if my hair is lacking protein?

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. If your hair stretches easily and does not break often, then your hair is balanced.

What kind of hair needs protein?

Hair that is dry, brittle, or rough needs softening and moisturizing through fatty acid-rich ingredients found in plant, nut, and seed oils and aloe vera gel. Hair that is ultra-fine or chemically damaged to the point of having a mushy, cotton candy-like feel, needs protein.

How can you tell if your hair has too much protein?

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 I know if my hair is over moisturized?

Limp, gummy, or mushy hair — If your hair feels limp, gummy, or mushy when wet, then that is a strong indication that your hair is over-moisturized. If you think you may be experiencing hygral fatigue, it's always best to immediately seek help from a hair care professional.

Is Olaplex No 3 a protein treatment?

While some OLAPLEX products contain some protein, the amounts are minimal and not enough to be considered a protein treatment. Therefore, OLAPLEX is not a protein treatment. OLAPLEX works at a molecular level to rebuild the hair internally. Our hair contains millions of disulfide bonds.

Is coconut oil considered a protein?

First and foremost, take note that coconut oil does not contain proteins.

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 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.

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 ...

How to test if hair is porous?

Here’s a little test: place a strand of your hair in a shallow bowl of water. If the hair sinks, then it’s very porous. If you’re still not sure whether your hair needs a protein boost, asking for advice at your local hair salon is a good idea. Getting a protein treatment for hair in salon is a great starting point for someone who’s entirely new ...

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.

What does it mean when your hair stretches and doesn't return?

If it stretches and doesn’t return or stretches and breaks, then chances are your hair is missing protein .

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.

Does bleach damage hair?

Hair has been colored recently. 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.

What is the purpose of protein in hair?

Type of ingredient: Strengthener. Main benefits: Improves hair elasticity, strengthens the hair follicle and improves the overall appearance of the hair. Who should use it: Protein has proven reparative benefits but may not be necessary for those with strong, shiny, and thick hair.

What is the benefit of protein treatment?

The key benefit of a protein treatment is the ability for the protein ingredients like hydrolyzed wheat protein or silk amino acids to attach directly to the hair follicle and harden the cuticle layer. This places a barrier around the follicle, which protects it from further damage, Ogboru explains.

How to use protein heat treatment?

A simple protein heat treatment is as follows: Apply protein treatment or mask to hair from scalp to ends. Comb through with fingers or a wide-toothed comb to ensure even application. Wrap hair into a bun and apply a covering, such as a shower cap.

What happens when hair gets farther from scalp?

As hair gets farther from the scalp, the feast "diminishes"—entree turns to appetizer size, and by the time we are down the shaft towards the ends, there are bare crumbs left to nourish the hair. As we lose moisture and nourishment, the keratinized protein begins to unravel and break down.

How to get rid of hair burns?

Wrap hair into a bun and apply a covering, such as a shower cap. Using your blowdryer (on low heat), apply heat to the head. Consistently move the dryer around the head to ensure even heat distribution and prevent burning. Remove covering and rinse treatment out.

Is protein treatment safe for hair?

While there is no harm in at-home protein treatments, they may not be necessary for those with healthy, shiny, strong, and thick hair. Shamban cautions that there has been a history of high-intensity chemically fortified keratin treatments in salons, although alternatives may now be available.

Is keratin good for hair?

It is important to note that when both experts discussed the benefits of protein treatments for hair, they typically referred to the benefits of an at-home treatment. In-salon keratin and other protein treatments have been found to have some serious health risks, including exposure to formaldehyde.

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 do we need protein for hair?

Why do we need protein for healthy hair care? In short, a protein called keratin helps to make up the hair strand . Depending on your hair care regimen, diet, and lifestyle, lack of protein can translate to your strands. Healthy hair is ultimately a combination of great protein/moisture balance.

Why does my hair snap?

Too much moisture can result in weak, limp hair that is prone to breakage. Too much protein, also known as protein overload, will cause your hair to snap and break as well.

Why is my hair straight?

Heat damage occurs when the protein bonds in the hair are continually broken down due to extreme heat resulting in the permanent change of the hair follicle. In short, the hair is now permanently straight. In this case, you have no choice but to cut if off and start over.

Is it healthy to keep your hair wet?

Completely saturating your hair with water every day, deep conditioning overnight and keeping your hair in a constant wet state is not ideal or healthy.

Do women use protein conditioners?

Most of the time, women have no idea if they are using a protein conditioner or a moisturizing conditioner. One sign may be if you’ve been using the same product for months and it “just doesn’t work” you should pay closer attention to the ingredients and the titles.

Why does hair need protein?

Does protein help hair growth? Does keratin cause hair loss? Does my hair need protein or keratin? Which protein mask do you even need? Well, your hair is made out of protein. And one such protein is keratin (it makes up about 85% of your hair). Keratin is tough, fibrous and it helps your locks stay strong.

Does your hair need protein or moisture?

Harsh chemicals, the constant manipulation of the hair, using high-temperature styling tools, environmental factors, all contribute to brittle hair, split ends, frizzy hair, and even breakage or hair loss.

How often should you do a protein treatment depending on hair type?

How often should you use a protein hair mask? How long does a protein hair treatment last? Pertinent questions to be asked before starting your new hair care regimen. Protein treatments are effective when done every 4 to 6 weeks. No, applying it more often will not give you more benefits; if anything, it can lead to damage and hair loss.

How can I do a protein treatment at home?

You keep your scalp clean, and follicles unclogged. You use conditioner to prevent tangles and split ends. You make sure to seal in moisture within your strands. Still, why does your hair look lifeless, weak, and why does it lack volume? Why does it break? It could need protein.

How often should you do a protein treatment

It’s important to do your own trial and error, taking into consideration all the factors we mentioned above.

When should you do a protein treatment on natural hair?

The rule of using a protein-based treatment every 4 to 6 weeks applies here. Take into consideration the type of porosity and the level of damage to your hair. And be patient enough to adjust the frequency of the treatments according to your needs.

What are the benefits of choosing a protein treatment on curly hair?

Protein treatments aid curly hair. They strengthen the locks. They repair hair damage. They restore its elasticity, and it shows. If you have curly hair, after using protein treatments, you'll notice more body and volume and soft, luscious, full of life locks.

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.

PROTEIN OR MOISTURE?

So, what does your hair lack and what does it need? Does curly hair need protein? Does it need moisture? Moisture or protein for curly hair? We have listed below a couple of hair characteristics that will hopefully help you in understanding your hair better.

WHY PROTEIN IS IMPORTANT

Like straight-haired girls, curly heads also have their own haircare routine.

TIPS FOR ACHIEVING PROTEIN-MOISTURE BALANCE

Have a dedicated hair pampering day. This means using a moisturizing shampoo, conditioner, and all the way to your leave-in conditioner.

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