Protein Treatment for hair

Protein is regarded as a conditioning treatment because it can reduce static. Protein is what gives our hair strength and structure. Our hair is made up of 70% keratin protein. One of the main function is to build, Strengthen and repair hair. Keratin is the key component of our hair. Consuming the right amount of protein can also give your body what it needs to stimulate hair growth.

Over use of protein can make your hair stiff. Make sure you are balancing the use of protein treatment with moisture treatment. When your hair feels stiff, try deep conditioning with a moisture based deep conditioner on your next wash day.

It can be beneficial to incorporate protein treatment to your regimen every week for relaxed ladies. The reason is that, relaxers breaks the protein bond in the hair shaft and also ladies with color treated hair, the colour treatment compromises the protein structure, weaken the hair bond and this can lead to breakage. The stronger the relaxer and the longer the relaxer is left on the hair, the more protein bonds is been broken and the weaker the hair shaft. For this reason, I lengthen the time between relaxer application, relaxing every 12 to 14 weeks and also, applying relaxer on just the new growth, I am always time cautious, trying not to exceed 15 minutes on application.

Protein ingredients

Collagen is one of the few proteins to provide a lot of Proline, one of the more abundant amino acids in the cuticle - good for improving elasticity in hair that snaps and breaks easily and feels mushy when wet - like wet fabric instead of wet fiber. It is a hydrating protein, small to medium size and substantive. Collagen amino acids are smaller still. Gelatin is partly hydrolyzed collagen and therefore contains medium to large protein constituents and is both hydrating and film-forming.

Wheat provides abundant Cystine - but it is not necessarily the same Cystine as in hair. If it can function similarly to the cystine in hair, wheat protein is superb. Hydrolyzed wheat protein is fairly large and therefore more of a film-forming, porosity-filling protein.

Oat protein is both hydrating and conditioning and also film forming and porosity-filling. Some versions of hydrolyzed oats are engineered to be medium-sized, but you cannot always know if that is what is in your product.

Soy protein. Even though soy protein is a medium-size protein, it may not have the hydrating power of the other proteins. It's amino acid complement is more abundant in amino acids which are not as abundant in human hair. Soy protein is a small-medium size for conditioning. 

Corn protein is often combined with other proteins. Corn protein has small-medium size for conditioning and hydrating.

Keratin Human hair-source keratin is even more similar to the protein in your own hair. Keratin is a small-to-medium protein so it has hydrating and conditioning potential and 6 amino acids naturally abundant in the cuticle of your hair.

Silk protein is a smaller protein and mostly hydrating and conditioning.

©Science-y Hair Blog 2013

Your hair condition will determine the type of protein needed for your hair. For natural hair, protein treatments are not needed occasionally but if heat is used frequently, you may want to consider using protein at least once in a month. The hair's current condition will decide the type of protein conditioner. Below is a sample of each type of protein conditioner.

Reconstructors: for severely damaged hair

1. ApHogee keratin two minute reconstructor

2. ApHogee 2 step protein treatment

3. Crème of nature conditioning reconstructor.

Deep penetrating treatment: moderately damaged hair

1. ORS hair mayonnaise

2. African's best olive oil hair mayonnaise

Light protein treatment: for light damage and routine treatment

1. ORS replenishing conditioner

2. Vitale olive oil hair mayonnaise.