Moisture overload occurs when there is too much moisture and too little protein. This is the second kind of imbalance your hair can experience. Moisture overload tends to affect those who have high hair porosity, causing it to look limp, stringy, and even greasy.
Common signs of protein overload
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.
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.
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.
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.
Imbalanced Protein and Moisture
Another VERY common cause of wet frizz is excess protein or moisture in the 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.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
Silica gel, made of sodium silicate, comes in bead or granular form and attracts and removes moisture from the air. Most often sold in small packets or devices, silica gel works well in room temperature conditions but can be quite expensive if being used in larger areas like basements.
Moisture overload tends to affect those who have high hair porosity, causing it to look limp, stringy, and even greasy. It is essential for all hair types, but it is even more crucial for those who have strong and defined curls.
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.
Elasticity is a balance of moisture and protein in the hair, so when you eliminate protein completely from your hair care routine, it can result in hygral fatigue. Limp, gummy or mushy hair. If you hair feels limp, gummy or mushy when wet, that is a strong indication that it is over-moisturized.
Hair that's suffering from moisture overload can become frizzy, limp, and struggle to hold your curls.
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.
There are several ways to deep condition your hair to adjust your protein moisture balance. Methods include oil treatments, hair masks, and moisturizing leave-in products. You will need to find a hair mask that your hair responds well to and that is easy for the strands to absorb.
So how can you know if it's happening to your hair? The tell-tale signs of protein overload seem to be split ends and limp strands. Hair that feels brittle or sheds more than is normal for you can also be signs that your tresses have been exposed to too much keratin.
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.
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.
Less is More With Olaplex
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!
Are there risks with using Olaplex “too often”? Apparently no. Olaplex cannot damage your hair, no matter how often you use it. Some users have reported that when they use it for long periods, the amount of time it requires to “take effect” will climb and climb.
As learned in our previous post, Olaplex rebuilds the broken disulfide bonds in the hair, creating stronger, more resilient hair. However, it does not address moisture and protein, which both contribute to the health of your hair. How do you know if you need to do moisture and/or protein treatments?