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.
Take a wet or dry strand of hair and stretch it gently. If it doesn't stretch easily, snaps quickly, and feels dry, brittle or rough, it means you need more moisture. If your curl stretches but doesn't bounce back into shape, and the hair feels gummy or musy, it means you need more 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.
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.
General hair care products
The amount of protein in the haircare product will vary based on the formula, but it is most often between 0.25 and 1 percent. On the label, we usually find a protein listed towards the end of the ingredient list.
Take a strand of your hair and try stretching it. If it stretches quite far, feels a tad mushy and then snaps, it is indicative of the hair being over-moisturised. You may need more protein to reinforce your hair cuticle. If it feels dry and brittle and snaps almost immediately, it is indicative of a protein overload.
Because curly hair needs so much moisture, it's normal for those with curly or coily hair to over-moisturize or over-manipulate their hair and need protein treatments often. Most naturals benefit from a protein treatment every 4-8 weeks, depending on hair damage and how much protein is in your everyday hair products.
Your hair strands are made up of around 90% of fibrous proteins like keratin, which form the centre of the hair cortex and give your hair its elasticity. Protein also gives your curls strength, shape and structure, so without it they'll soon be looking weak, limp and lacking definition.
Curly hair needs both protein and moisture to stay healthy and strong. Our hair is made up of 91% protein. Protein is useful for strengthening and also for repair. However, if we damage our hair with too much straightening, colour treatments, and heat styling, the protein can break down (oops).
The hair will feel mushy, limp and excessively soft. Your curls will struggle to hold their shape, they will have little definition and tend to fall flatter than normal. You will have more frizz than normal, a fluffy, soft type of frizzy hair.
The hair will feel mushy, limp and excessively soft. Your curls will struggle to hold their shape, they will have little definition and tend to fall flatter than normal. You will have more frizz than normal, a fluffy, soft type of frizz. Your hair will feel weighed down, as if you applied too much product.
The easiest way to give your hair protein is to use a protein treatment! Two that I've used and loved are Mielle Organic Babassu Oil And Mint Deep Conditioner (this stuff melts into my hair) and Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment. You can also do a DIY rice water rinse.
A common recommendation for gaining muscle is 1 gram of protein per pound (2.2 grams per kg) of body weight. Other scientists have estimated protein needs to be a minimum of 0.7 grams per pound (1.6 grams per kg) of body weight ( 13 ).
Excess protein consumed is usually stored as fat, while the surplus of amino acids is excreted. This can lead to weight gain over time, especially if you consume too many calories while trying to increase your protein intake.
"Protein has calories, so if you eat a little too much, and don't exercise, it can get stored as fat." ...
A good rule of thumb: If your curls feel dry, try washing less frequently. Washing your curls everyday can remove the natural oils of your curls and makes it difficult to retain moisture. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wet your hair. "Rinse and condition more often; shampoo less," Hallman advises.
Buildup is so common, it's one of the top causes of limp curls. Especially with people just starting to embrace their curls, since they often use heavy products, or too much product, and go months without clarifying.
Daily moisturizing is crucial to preventing breakage and retaining length. If either one is a hair goal for you, then if you haven't been moisturizing daily you should start in 2019. Another side effect is that it improves the definition in your curls, prevents tangling and knots.
Known as protein overload, having too much protein in your hair may cause it to appear dull, dry, and brittle. Keratin, the main protein in your hair, can be added to your hair to strengthen your strands.
Add in some more moisturizing stylers, such as a leave-in conditioner or cream. Applying an oil or butter on top of a product that is water-based also helps with this, because the moisture that the product adds to the hair stays in the hair longer.
Some signs to look out for are excessively dry, brittle hair and shedding after using protein. It's important to pay attention to how your hair reacts and keep track of the products you're using if you want to find ways to avoid this.