On Protein...??

[Syren_Curls]

I have been wondering about protein and hair. Not the protein we consume through eating, but the kind we put in our hair: such as things like protein treatments and protein containing conditioners or leave-ins. I know there is such a thing as protein build up. I also know that some hair loves protein while some hair wants to stay far away from it. I also know there is some thing along the lines of protein temporarily patches up damage in hair.

What I am trying to figure out is this: what do I need to know about protein so I can determine whether or not it is a good thing for my hair and whether or not my hair will be happier without it? I have tried to read up on it here and other online searches, but I am getting bits and pieces of the story.

In short... what do I need to know about protein so I can figure out how to use or not use it with my hair??

Thanks :-)

[battles]

http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-about-protein.html

Hopefully this helps.

[Syren_Curls]

http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-about-protein.html

Hopefully this helps.

Immensely! Thank you so much for sending this, battles. It has already answered my questions and helped me figure out how to approach my routine with the info. Also, the site looks like it is a wealth of information. Thanks so much!

[Firefox7275]

As well as the Sciencey Hairblog there is an excellent series of articles on the Natural Haven blog. In general hair that is damaged/ older/ fragile, fine to medium, porous and/ or in need of volume does well with some hydrolysed protein. Summer tends to be better than winter though it does depend on the dew points/ humidity.

[jacqueline101]

As well as the Sciencey Hairblog there is an excellent series of articles on the Natural Haven blog. In general hair that is damaged/ older/ fragile, fine to medium, porous and/ or in need of volume does well with some hydrolysed protein. Summer tends to be better than winter though it does depend on the dew points/ humidity.

The summer humidity is why my hair felt dry after my cholesterol weekly treatment and I followed it with a deep conditioner.

[Johannah]

Here are two parts from the natural haven bloom to understand protein a bit better: part 1 (http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2009/06/size-matters-protein-conditioning-part.html) & part 2 (http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2009/06/protein-conditioners-for-hair-part-2-of_03.html). Hydrolyzed forms of protein works best for hair because it's not too big, nor too small.

The science-y url you already got gives amazing information as well. There are also different treatments and proteins (http://www.fancyflairlady.com/2011/06/its-all-in-ingredients-protein.html). Hydrolyzed keratin might cause dry hair, but hydrolyzed collagen might make your hair soft.

There's also something as the protein-moisture balance (http://voices.yahoo.com/the-fine-art-protein-moisture-balancing-for-393904.html?cat=69). Most times, this is not a 50-50 balance, but a 80-20 or even a 90-10 balance. Most hair definitely needs more moisture than protein, especially waves and curls. There's a test in the link as well, but just know this is a black-white test.

In general low porous hair and coarse hair don't like protein, fine and high porous hair loves it, medium and medium porous hair might like it once in a while. (You can find information about hair porosity here (http://www.partyoverhair.com/what-is-hair-porosity/).) But don't take this too seriously. My hair is low porous and it loves protein. How come? Because protein is a humectant (http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/ingredients/the-ultimate-guide-to-humectants-and-hair/)as well, and my low porous hair apparently likes humectants.

I hope this gives you a starting point to understand protein better. The only way to find out if your hair likes protein or not, is trial and error. If you want to try protein treatments, I'd start off with a conditioner with protein or a light treatment. If your hair likes that, you can find your way to harder protein treatments.

[Syren_Curls]

Wow, you guys have offered a wealth of information and helped clarify a lot for me. Thank you :-)

I do have a conditioner that has a good bit of silk protein and, considering that I am a finey, I think that would be a good place to get started with it. I now have a way of figuring out if it will enjoy that, too, so that will help the experimenting.