Does my hair need protein?
How do I know if my hair needs protein? Do protein hair treatments work? Thanks!
Everyone wants to have strong and healthy hair, and one way to ensure that your hair is in a good condition is to regularly use protein treatments on your hair. Protein treatment for hair is a salon or at-home treatment that helps to boost the health of your hair with several nutrients got from proteins. Each nutrient plays a specific role in making your hair healthy.
The protein hair treatments are also very good if you are planning to color, relax or bleach your hair. If you have enough hair protein before any chemical treatment, it helps to strengthen the hair, prevent its breakage, and makes the color last longer.
What Is a Protein Treatment for Hair?
Protein treatments are used to make the hair stronger, more elastic, and tougher by adding hydrolyzed proteins directly to the hair follicle and making the cuticle layer harder. Any gap or hole that is found in the hair cuticle will be filled while protecting the area around the hair shaft to reduce the possibility of future damage.
How to Know If Your Hair Needs Protein
The human hair is made of the protein called keratin (up to 95%) that builds the structure of the hair shaft giving it shape and strength. When the hair is exposed to the natural elements such as the sun, wind, heat, and certain chemicals, these things cause the protein in the hair to break down. Over a long period of time, the hair loses strength, elasticity, and begins to break. The only way to restore your hair is to treat it with proteins.
Several times people with chemically treated hair ask “do I need protein treatment, my hair is not natural?” Honey, as long as you have hair on your head, you need a routine protein treatment, especially for your treated hair. Protein treatment is essential for natural, relaxed, chemically dyed hair etc. It is that bridge that helps you infuse the needed protein bonds that may have been broken from the introduction of chemical dyes, relaxer etc. So yes you need a Protein Treatment. @adanidet_hairgrowthproducts
It is very difficult to know when you need a protein treatment for your hair but there are certain signs that your hair gives you which include:
1. You start to experience hair breakage.
2. Your hair has become brittle and fragile.
3. Your hair is very porous.
4. Your hair always feels dry no matter how many times it is moisturized or conditioned.
5. Your hair is no longer as elastic as it used to be.
6. Your hair feels gummy or sticky when touched.
There is a simple test – if you stretch your hair (no matter dry or wet) and it easily breaks, i.e. ‘snaps’, it lacks protein.
You can tell your hair needs a protein treatment if it feels weak, overly soft, and lifeless. Especially if it seems like products aren’t working and no amount of moisture seems to make your hair look or feel good, it’s time for a protein treatment. @ingecurls
Types of Protein Treatments for Hair
There are light protein hair treatments, that include using homemade and drugstore hair care products with a small amount of protein (protein shampoos and conditioners, protein hair masks, protein hair styling products, etc. ). You may order deeper and more intense deep-conditioning protein treatments as well. Another type of protein treatments is more complex, done in salons only by certified pros, as these treatments contain more strong chemicals (keratin treatment, cysteine treatment, etc.).
Benefits of a Protein Treatment for Hair
So, what each protein treatment does for the hair is help to return the protein that is lost from the hair shaft. More benefits:
– Using proper protein treatments for low porosity hair helps to soften the hair and open the cuticle up so that moisture can penetrate the hair shaft.
– Protein treatment for relaxed hair reduces hair breakage, helps to strengthen the hair, and restore its elasticity.
– Using protein treatment for hair growth ensures that your hair is thicker, longer, and gains more body and volume.
– Protein treatments for damaged hair help to make the hair stronger while conditioning it deeply.
– Protein treatments for high porosity hair help to lock moisture in the hair shaft and keep the hair looking nice.
– Hair becomes more manageable and less frizzy.
Protein Treatment for Natural Hair
There are different types of natural hair and there are several protein treatment products. The best way to find the one that works for you is to schedule a consultation with your hairdresser. Many salons offer online consultations, which is quite convenient. Using the proper protein hair treatment for black hair will return its original texture. For someone who occasionally relaxes and colors hair, usage of protein treatment for black hair will prevent breakage.
The following hair products are most loved by women with natural hair: Aphogee Keratin Reconstructor, Nexxus Keraphix Restorative Strengthening Conditioner, Nexxus Emergencee Repair Reconstructing Treatment
If you want something easy to apply at home, the best protein treatment for curly hair is the leave-in conditioners. These are the conditioners that you don’t need to wash out. Such protein treatments for curly hair help to loosen stubborn knots and give you bouncy curls.
Rice water is more than just a protein treatment. Rice water is an effective DIY protein treatment since it has amino acids – the building blocks of protein. To make this rice water, I take 4 spoons of rice and wash it. Once the rice is clean I add 1 big glass of water and keep it for 4 to 5 hours. After that, I put this on flame and also add the orange peel. I boil them for 20 to 25 minutes till the rice gets cooked. I strain the water and add 5 drops of lavender oil. This is an optional step. I keep this rice water overnight or 10 to 12 hours to ferment. We can apply in hair immediately or if I plan to apply later on then I store it in the fridge.@wavyhaircurlydreams
The Best Protein Hair Products
Some of the top protein hair treatment products picked by professional stylists include:
– It’s A 10 Miracle Hair Mask
10 Miracle Hair Mask is one of the best protein hair masks available on the market. It is made up of very strong wheat protein that penetrates the scalp to provide immediate conditioning results. It is safe for processed, heat-styled, and color-treated hair, the mask helps to soften and detangle the hair.
– Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner
For those who search for a protein conditioner that can be added to weekly hair care routine, Giovanni Smooth as Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner can be recommended. It has low protein content so it can be used quite frequently on damaged hair without fear of getting too much protein in the hair.
– Davines Living Enzymes Infusion
Davines Living Enzymes Infusion is a protein hair spray that is combined with Davines shampoo and conditioner. The product is perfect for those who need a lot of hair protein as it nourishes the hair from the inside out so that it becomes very soft.
– Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment
Those who have severe hair breakage caused by chemical damage need a deep protein hair treatment. One of the products that serve this purpose is Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment. Because of how powerful the product is, you may need a salon visit for your stylist to apply it to your hair.
DIY Protein Treatments for At-Home Use
You can make your own protein treatment for hair at home to substitute professional hair products.
One of the easiest and cheapest conditioners for your hair is yogurt. While regular yogurt is good for moisture, Greek yogurt is great for protein treatment because it has double the amount of protein of regular yogurt. It is simple to use, just apply the yogurt to your hair after washing, leave it for 20 minutes and rinse out with warm water.
DIY PROTEIN/KERATIN TREATMENT AT HOME. All you need is: – 3tbsp mayonnaise, – 3tbsp Aloe vera gel, – 3tbsp coconut oil, – 2 vit E capsule, – 1 egg. Mix well!! There u go mask is ready to apply. Apply for at least 1-2 hours and wash. Use at least twice or thrice a month. Results are incredible! @mewevees
The egg hair protein treatment is also as simple as the yogurt conditioner and should be done at least once or twice a month.
To use the egg blend:
– Mix 2 to 3 whole eggs and add 2 to 3 drops of lemon juice to neutralize the smell of the eggs.
– Beat the mixture properly.
– Apply the mixture to the hair with your hands.
– Cover the hair with a shower cap and leave in for about 20 minutes.
– Rinse with cold or cool water, then shampoo and condition as usual.
For natural hair, you can mix ¾ cup of mayonnaise, 2 eggs, and 1 tablespoon of warm coconut oil. Apply this at-home hair protein treatment to freshly washed hair.
How Often Should a Protein Treatment Be Used
As a general rule, light hair protein treatments should be used every week for the first month so that the hair can regain its strength and elasticity. After the first month, it should be used only once or twice a month. More intense hair protein treatments should be done once per 4-6 weeks. It is always important to follow all the recommendations that come with the product as well as seek the advice of your hair stylist. The complicated deep in-salon protein treatments need to be repeated every 4-6 months, as they have a temporary coating effect.
Side Effects of Hair Protein Treatments
If you think that you may use protein treatments on your hair without any control, you are mistaken… If you use protein on locks that don’t need it, the effect can be unexpectedly bad. Your hair can become tangled, sticky, dry, or stiff. As the opposite, it can become too soft and flat-looking. How to avoid these negative effects of protein treatments on your hair? Try every treatment carefully! And watch the signs your body gives you. Moreover, never use strong professional treatments on your own. They can burn your scalp, cause hair loss, and strong allergic reactions.
Protein treatments for hair are used as a quick fix for exhausted damaged hair. The best part is that they really work! Yes, to find the one that makes miracles for YOUR locks is not easy, but it is worth the effort.
Featured Image: lookstudio – freepik.com
