Protein Overload: One Reason Why Your Hair Feels Like Straw

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Products I’ve been using:

ShampooShea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

Deep Conditioner #1Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

Deep Conditioner # 2/ Moisturizer (no silicones)Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm (Generic available at Sally’s for $6)

Honey treatment – Honey + either of my deep conditioners + extra virgin olive oil + hooded drier for 30-45 minutes = amazing! Honey is a humectant, so it draws moisture to your hair.

Oils – Sealing with castor, vitamin e, or EVOO.

Other – Neutrogena Triple Moisture Silk Touch Leave-In Cream – I initially purchased this to be a moisturizer, but it’s not as thick as I would like. I would have returned it but decided I could use it as a heat protectant since it contains a boatload of silicones (cones coat your hair shaft and protect from heat).

Bottom Line:

1. ALWAYS read the ingredients on your products because they can contain protein even if they are marketed as moisturizing products. 2. Make sure you are balancing your moisture and protein. Once my hair fully recovers, I may incorporate some of my other products back into my regimen on a smaller scale to avoid overloading my hair with moisture. 3. Restoring moisture back into your hair is not an overnight process and can take up to a month. Patience is key.

Protein ingredients to look out for:

  • Hydrolyzed collagen
  • Wheat protein
  • Quinoa protein
  • Soy protein
  • Rice protein
  • Silk protein
  • Keratin
  • Oat flour
  • Amino acids

Note: Sometimes it may not say protein, but it is (i.e. ingredient listed as “soy” or “soybean”). If you aren’t sure about an ingredient, Google it! I would never have known aspartic acid was an amino if I didn’t look it up.

Have you experienced protein overload? What did you do to your hair back to its lustrous state?

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