Protein overload is something your hair can and will experience if you are not careful!! Protein is a necessary component for healthy hair. But how much or how little is the question. It's really a matter of balance and products that contain protein can be very useful in adding strength to damaged or over processed hair. About a month ago I feel asleep in my favorite deep conditioner that has protein as the main ingredient and the next day my hair was a tangled knotty birds nest. My answer for anyone dealing with thinness, breakage, or shedding is a protein treatment. But I sometimes forget to stress the importance of following protein treatments with moisturizing products to create a balance within your hair. Protein + Moisture = Healthy Hair!! Anyone who has dealt with this issue knows how your hair will make you feel like you are not in control. But there is a small window of opportunity to become Commander and Chief of your tresses again and it starts with:
First identify the signs of protein overload:
1. Lack luster hair (no shine)
2. Excessive dryness
3. Stiff, crunchy, brittle hair (hard as a rock)
4. Breaks easily (start to see an excess amount of little pieces of hair)
5. Difficult detangling process
6. Hair feels and looks dry as a bone
7. Wiry
In other words your hair is a flat out unmanageable mess.
Ingredients to avoid during the recovery process:
1. Soy
2. Wheat
3. Panthenol
4. Collagen
5. Silk Amino Acids
6. Keratin
7. Hydrolyzed protein
8. All ayurvedic products
VERY IMPORTANT, After you have concluded you have protein overload, this will be a time if you have not already to start reading every ingredient on the hair products you currently use. This will eliminate adding any more protein to your hair.
Recovery process
Due to the drying nature of protein (nothing is perfect), it is imperative that you immediately restore
Moisture,Moisture, Moisture, Moisture, Moisture, and more Moisture into your hair. My suggestion is to AVOID
shampoos (natural and non-natural),
coconut oil (a form of protein),
gels, and
curling enhancers during this recovery time. And only use protein every other week and heavy protein every 6 to 8 weeks.
Step 1
Condition wash every day with a moisturizing conditioner until your hair feels and looks right IE: lustrous, moisturized, and soft to the touch.
Step 2
If you are like me and have to cleanse your scalp weekly, opt for a shampoo alternative like apple cider vinegar. You can refer to the CLEANSE portion of my
Updated Fall/Winter Hair Regimen where I use a ACV mixture to cleanse my hair.
FYI, the CLEANSE portion of my Updated Fall/Winter Hair Regimen was a result of trying to create a moisture and balance back into my hair after a protein catastrophe. Shampoo, even when diluted was NOT helping my situation. My hair constantly stayed dry and until I completely eliminated shampoo. And because I loved the regimen so much I decided to stick with it.
Step 3
Deep condition weekly with a moisturizing conditioner. You can identify a moisturizing conditioner because it will not contain any of the ingredients listed in the "Ingredients to Avoid". Adding real honey (a natural humectant) and olive oil to your conditioner is another way to restore moisture.
Step 4
Spritz your hair with filtered H20. The reason I suggest filtered water because a lot of areas have hard water and when you are trying to create a moisture balance, hard water is counter productive.
Step 5
Seal in moisture (water) with only butters and oils. Except coconut oil which is form of protein.
Step 6
If possible try protective styling. Protein overloaded hair will benefit from not being exposed to the elements. Hair that is tucked away will stay moisturized through out the day.
Suggested conditioners: Suave Naturals Almond & Shea Butter, Tresemme' Luxurious Moisture, and Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing,
Suggested butters: Qhemet Biologics Alma & Olive heavy cream, Shea butter, and Entwine Exotique Butter Creme Hydrator.
Suggested oils: Olive, castor, almond, jojoba, or avocado oil.
Disclaimer: These are just a few of the products that I have tried and worked for me.
For any Naturals currently experiencing protein overloaded hair have NO FEAR, your hair can and will return to its natural state with consistency and the tips suggested. Like me, you might to revamp your entire hair regimen temporally until your hair is back on track.
Be Epic!!!
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