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What is protein and how do I find it?

What is protein and how do I find it?

Human hair

Our hair is made of protein, a protein primarily known as keratin. Scales, nails, feathers, horns, claws, and hooves, for example, are also made of keratin. Proteins are large complex molecules. Depending on how curly or healthy your hair is, the cuticle may be lifted, causing gaps. These gaps in the cuticle layer allow moisture and nutrients to escape, which ultimately weakens the protein chains inside the hair. Hair may also lose its proteins as a result of chemical treatments (bleaching, perms, straightening, etc.) or by prolonged exposure to solar radiation (i.e. photo-damage). Continued exposure to these damaging agents causes hair to become porous, fragile, and can eventually lead to breakage.

Here are some helpful Questions and Answers:

Do all wavies, curlies, and coilies need protein? 

YES. But not to the same extent. If your hair has adequate protein, then adding even more protein to your styling products (i.e. gel and mousse) will cause it to become hard and rigid. Ultimately, protein overuse will lead to protein-induced (or moisture deficient) hair breakage. However, using a shampoo, conditioner, and deep conditioner with at least some protein is ok and unlikely to lead to protein overload. 

Can you overload your hair with protein? 

Yes, you absolutely can. When it comes to protein treatments, it is all about balance. If you overload your hair with protein and not enough moisture, strands can become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Balanced curls will feel healthier, have more bounce, and look less frizzy. 

What are the best hair protein-based products for curly hair?  

Shampoos, conditioners, and stylers often contain protein, but in much smaller concentrations than you would find in a protein treatment. Depending on the amount of protein, it may be fine to use them daily or weekly. Small concentrations are typically from 0.25 – 1.0 % compared to protein treatments, such as protein-rich deep conditioners or protein-reconstructor treatments, that can contain 5-25% protein. That is why protein-based treatments should be used occasionally (only once or twice a month, if at all) and followed by a moisturizing conditioner. For most curlies, a little bit of protein and plenty of moisture on a biweekly or weekly basis is ideal. This combination keeps the hair strong and healthy. 

When should you be careful of protein overload?

If your hair is fine, or if you have low porosity hair, you should avoid protein treatments altogether. Fine hair is more delicate by nature, so too much protein can make it brittle and lead to breakage. Low porosity hair has difficulty absorbing moisture. Too much protein can overload this hair type leaving it once again, dry and brittle. If you have curly or coily hair that has not been chemically treated or colored, it is likely that you fall into the low porosity category. Rotating protein-containing products with ones without proteins can be beneficial. Alternatively, a moisturizing conditioner or deep conditioner paired with a protein product often works well as the protein helps seal in the extra moisture.

Chemically treated, colored, or heat-damaged hair is often high-porosity hair and requires protein along with regular protein treatments to help your curls look, bounce, and feel healthier. The more damaged the hair, the greater the extent hydrolyzed proteins will be absorbed and retained. 

So remember this:

  • Low porosity, healthy hair
    • Use products with small hydrolyzed protein
    • Avoid protein treatments, or products with larger (non-hydrolyzed) protein in your styling (gel or mousse) products 
  • Medium to high porosity, healthy hair
    • Use products with both small and large hydrolyzed proteins
    •  Avoid protein treatments, and avoid a lot of protein in your styling (gel or mousse) products
  • High porosity, damaged hair
    • Use products with both large hydrolyzed and whole proteins 
    • Incorporate a monthly protein treatment into your routine 

What are hydrolyzed proteins? 

Most proteins are large, high molecular weight molecules, unable to penetrate the hair fiber and instead binding to the surface of the hair. Hydrolyzed proteins have been broken down to a smaller size so that they can penetrate the cuticle layer and be absorbed more easily into the hair fiber. Absorption into the hair fiber increases the strength and elasticity of the hair. These smaller proteins also bind quickly and aggressively to the outside of hair fibers to provide moisture-retention, humectant properties, smoothing and detangling, as well as shine. They can form a film on the hair and interact strongly with the protein residues of the cuticles to build a strong bond. Scientists have also developed hydrophobic (oil or silicone) modified proteins that impart shine, reduce resistance, and make hair healthier looking.  

What should you look for in an ingredients list?

Generally, hair products list the ingredients that are used in the highest concentration first. That means if an ingredient is not listed in the first five, it is likely not much of that ingredient is in the product. 

Common proteins used in hair products include: 

Small hydrolyzed proteins 

Amino acids (silk, milk, and wheat amino acids)

Peptides

Hydrolyzed Silk

Hydrolyzed Hazelnut

Hydrolyzed Collagen

Hydrolyzed Avocado

Hydrolyzed keratin

Oat milk

Large hydrolyzed proteins 

Hydrolyzed wheat protein

Hydrolyzed oat protein 

Hydrolyzed soy protein 

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein

Hydrolyzed keratin

Hydrolyzed collagen

Hydrolyzed corn protein 

Hydrolyzed quinoa protein 

Hydrolyzed lupine protein

Hydrolyzed rice protein

Hydrolyzed milk protein

Hydrolyzed sweet almond protein

Hydrolyzed amaranth protein

Hydrolyzed jojoba

Whole proteins  

Jojoba protein

Blue-green algae

Quinoa seed extract

Animal protein

Casein

Collagen

Keratin

Milk protein

Oat flour

Panthenol

Rice protein

Soy protein

Wheat protein

Modified proteins

Potassium cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen

TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen

TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein

Cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen

Cocoyl hydrolyzed keratin

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed casein

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed collagen

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed keratin

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed rice protein

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed silk

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed soy protein

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed wheat protein

Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl silk amino acids

Cystine Bis-PG-Propyl Silanetriol (derivative of keratin protein)

Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol (silicone modified wheat protein)

Here are four popular protein-rich hair products (the protein is italicized) you can easily purchase on curlplanet.com:

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