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.
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.
Can Olaplex Cause Protein Overload? Since Olaplex doesn't contain very much protein, your chances of getting protein overload are slim even with repeated use. You're much more likely to get protein overload from protein-based hair products and overly frequent protein treatments.
The only mistake you can make is using too much – and the only “side effect” of using too much is the processing time climbs and climbs. The hair can never be damaged through the use of Olaplex!
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.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo
Clarifying shampoos break apart the excess protein that's bonded to your strands, so it can be rinsed away at the end of your wash. If you do decide to use a clarifying shampoo, make sure you follow up with plenty of conditioning treatments to counteract its drying effects.
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.
Interestingly, consuming too much protein can also lead to hair loss. This is because when the body has an excess of protein, it will start to excrete the excess through the urine. The hair follicles are then deprived of much-needed nutrients, which can lead to shedding and thinning.
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.
Experiencing dry, stiff, and brittle hair after using a product with protein or high amounts of protein is a good indicator that too much in present in your hair, which compromises the protein and moisture balance. Too much moisture creates limp hair that is too elastic.
Tyler agrees: "Too much protein on top of the hair can prevent water and other products from fully hydrating strands, causing hair to become dry and brittle," he says. "If your hair is dry, brittle and strawlike but this isn't helped by hair treatments and moisturising products, it's likely caused by protein buildup."
When this happens, the body will help save protein by shifting growing hairs into the resting phase. Increased hair shedding can occur 2 to 3 months later. This condition can be reversed and prevented by eating the proper amount of protein and, when dieting, maintaining adequate protein intake.
For most women who are experiencing hair loss, a good protein goal is 1-gram protein per 1 pound of body weight. For example, if you're a 150lb woman, that means aiming for 150 grams of protein per day.
George Katsaros, hairstylist, salon owner and creator of the Gkomb: Aveda's Botanical Repair is a great alternative to Olaplex. It's effective for most types of hair, particularly dry, bleached or damaged, as it works inside the cuticle to ensure deep penetration.
Does Olaplex still use the ingredient? The brand has confirmed to GLAMOUR that it doesn't. After we reached out, Olaplex responded: "In September 2020, the EU regulatory authority announced their intent to [have] Butylphenyl methylpropional commonly referred to as "lilial" phased out by March of 2022.
In simple terms, an Olaplex treatment helps repair damaged hair, bringing back life and shine. When your hair makes contact with chemical, thermal and mechanical processes commonly found in many products and services, the disulfide bonds in your hair break. This can leave your hair looking lifeless, or worse, damaged.
Protein overload is often caused by the products you use in your hair. Shampoos, conditioners, hair protein treatments, and other styling products that contain a large amount of hair protein are typically the culprit. They can disrupt your natural hair's moisture balance.
Just like your body, your hair requires protein to stay healthy. However, if these amino acids are compromised – by things like heat styling, colouring or other damage to the hair, the protein can become altered, leading to brittle, dry, fragile and frizzy hair.
Imbalanced Protein and Moisture
Another VERY common cause of wet frizz is excess protein or moisture in the hair.
Hair in protein overload will have some distinctive symptoms: If you pull one strand of hair it will have no elasticity, but instead it will snap and break. The hair will feel dry, brittle and stringy, because it won't have enough moisture to stretch and support elasticity. The hair will lose shine and look dull.
Biotin is essential for the production of a hair protein called keratin, which is why biotin supplements are often marketed for hair growth. Research has also shown that consuming more biotin can help improve hair growth in people with a biotin deficiency (3).