Wondering if a protein treatment is right for you?
Protein treatment has become a sort of buzz word. Like coconut oil or apple cider vinegar, it’s one of those things that you just can’t help but hear about. The truth is however, as popular and trendy as it may be, a protein treatment will not benefit everyone. In this article we’ll look at how protein works in our conditioning and hair care products and the benefits and potential damage a protein treatment can cause to your hair.
A Little Bit About Protein and Your Hair
Did you know our hair strands are actually made up of protein fibers? Protein, like keratin, helps the hair strands stay strong and resilient against breakage and hair loss. So if these are some things you’re concerned about, you’ll definitely want to up the protein in your diet. Fish, eggs, lean meats, quinoa, and legumes/beans paired with rice all make complete proteins - we need to eat protein daily, yup, daily.
The issue arises when the protein in our hair is weakened or breaks down, due to age, genetics, diet, chemical treatments, color treatments or excess exposure to high heat. Protein in your shampoo can help repair the damage done, by restoring the weakened protein in your hair - it sort of acts like a filler, replacing what’s missing. That’s why Dr Locs included Hydrolyzed Quinoa in the new Color Protecting Line because that color (as much as we love it!) will damage your hair.
How Your Hair Can Benefit from Protein
If your hair is feeling dry, looking dull and is easily prone to breakage, then you may benefit from a protein treatment. If you color treat your hair, have chemically treated your hair, or have exposed your hair to high heat sources, from the sun to your blow dryer, you will most likely benefit from protein in your hair care products.
Protein has the power to:
- Improve hair elasticity
- Strengthen Hair Strands
- Improve the condition and health of the hair, adding shine and sheen
- Increases the ability to absorb and retain moisture
Who Should Avoid Protein Treatments
Here comes the big BUT.
If your hair is not lacking protein but is just dry or lacking nutrients, you will not benefit from a protein treatment. And a protein treatment may be too severe for your hair. When our hair is very dry, we need to implement a moisturizing routine that is right for our hair type and hair needs. We need to implement a way for our hair to absorb and retain that delicious moisture. If your hair is not lacking in protein, then that protein treatment will have nowhere to go and then just sits on top of your hair strands. This will only weigh down the hair and further block that moisture from getting absorbed into your hair.
You see where the problem lies?
Takeaway
If your hair is simply dry and lacking moisture then moisture is what it needs and not protein. If you’re not sure if your hair is dry from a protein deficiency or a moisture deficiency, then first implement a 2 month moisture routine that includes a healthy leave-in conditioner, your steamer to encourage the strands to absorb that moisture and an oil to seal in that moisture. Dr Locs has set up an entire line based on this need. Not only will your hair shed any buildup, but it will have a hard time not retaining that needed moisture!
If you don’t over-expose your hair to high-heat, and you have a thoughtful and healthy hair care routine setup and still experience dry hair, then we recommend seeking advice from a hair professional who can look at your hair and let you know if you’re in need of a protein treatment.
