How to Know If Your Hair Needs Protein
Learn the signs that your hair needs more protein such as dryness, breakage, lack of elasticity, and difficulty holding a curl. Discover tips for incorporating protein into your hair care routine.
Many of us focus on moisturizing our hair, but protein is just as important for healthy, strong strands.
Protein bonds to the hair cuticle to fortify it and fill in gaps or weak spots. Signs your hair may be lacking protein include dryness, breakage, elasticity issues, and difficulty holding curls or styles.
What Does Hair Protein Do ?
Protein is an essential building block that makes up the structure of our hair. About 90% of each strand is composed of a protein called keratin. This protein gives hair its inherent strength, elasticity and ability to withstand damage.
Protein binds to the hair cuticle, helping fill gaps or weaknesses. Over time, these protein bonds can break down due to heat styling, chemical processing, UV rays, and normal wear. As bonds break, hair becomes weaker and more prone to snapping and breaking off.
Using products with protein can help reinforce and rebuild those depleted bonds.
Top Signs Your Hair Needs More Protein
If your hair seems to always be dry, brittle or breaking no matter how deeply you condition, lack of protein may be the culprit. Here are some of the top indicators your strands are desperately calling out for protein:
Increased Breakage
If you notice more hairs than normal coming out when you brush or wash, breakage is happening. Protein helps reinforce hair to prevent those weak spots from snapping off.
Lackluster Locks
Protein gives hair a healthy shine. So if your strands seem dull and flat no matter what you do, turning to protein treatments can help bring back radiance.
Loss of Elasticity
Healthy hair stretches slightly then bounces back without breaking. If your hair stretches but doesn’t recoil, or feels stiff and straw-like, low elasticity from protein loss could be to blame.
Won’t Hold a Curl
Having issues getting your hair to hold a wave or curl pattern? Lack of protein can prevent hair from maintaining that coveted shape. Protein fills in gaps in the cuticle so strands bend rather than break.
Increased Frizz
Protein strengthens and smooths the outer cuticle layer of hair. Without adequate protein, cuticles may stand upright rather than lying flat. This causes unwanted frizz even with conditioning products.
Difficulty Styling
Weak, protein-lacking hair has a difficult time holding and maintaining styles like braids, twists or slicked looks. The strands simply don’t have enough internal strength and structure.
Tips for Adding Protein Back Into Hair
If your hair is exhibiting multiple signs of protein deficiency, it’s time to add strengthening protein back into your regimen. There are a few ways to go about this:
Protein Conditioner Treatments
Try a weekly reconstructor or deep conditioner made specifically for adding protein back into strands. Apply liberally roots to ends, allow to penetrate for 10-15 minutes with heat, then rinse well.
Protein-Rich Styling Products
When shopping for new styling creams, gels, mousses or sprays, check the label for proteins like keratin, collagen, silk amino acids for continual protein care.
Bond-Building Treatments
In-salon bond builders made by brands like Olaplex contain active ingredients that repair broken bonds within the hair shaft itself. Damaged, overprocessed or very porous strands benefit greatly.
DIY Options
For hair that needs a major protein boost quickly, try making your own intensive treatment at home.
Whisk an egg yolk with olive oil and smooth over damp hair. Cover with a shower cap, allow the mixture to penetrate for 20 minutes, then rinse clean. For added moisture, follow with a hydrating deep conditioner.
The Right Balance of Protein & Moisture
While protein is crucial for fortifying fragile strands, it’s important not to overdo it. Using too many heavy protein treatments can lead to protein overload, causing hair to become rigid, brittle and dry.
Make sure to balance protein-rich products with equal amounts of moisture. Opt for deep conditioners and masks weekly while relying on protein treatments or styling products about once a week or every other wash day.
Pay attention to how your hair looks and feels to find the right ratio of protein to moisture your strands need to get stronger without becoming hard or crispy over time.
In Summary
Keep an eye out for telltale signs like increased breakage, lackluster shine, loss of elasticity and difficulty holding styles. If your hair is constantly dry, dull or brittle no matter what you do, lack of protein within the hair shaft itself may be the culprit.
Reinforcing weak spots and filling in gaps with protein treatments, conditioners and styling products can restore strength.
Just be careful not to overdo it on proteins- maintaining the ideal balance of protein and moisture is key for the healthiest hair possible.