You know your curls best. If you’ve noticed a change in their texture or bounce, it’s natural to wonder what’s up. Typically soft, shiny strands that have lost their sheen or feel brittle to the touch may be suffering from a case of protein overload.
While protein offers a variety of benefits to curls of all types & textures, protein overload can have the opposite effect. So how can you restore your vibrant tresses?
Keep reading to discover what protein overload is & explore curly hair care products that can help you maintain your bountiful, resilient locks.
What Is Protein Overload & How Does It Affect Natural Textures?
You may have heard about using protein treatments or protein-rich hair products to achieve stronger, healthier hair. Well, plot twist—too much of a good thing can leave your luscious locks feeling brittle & lacking their signature bounce.
This is called protein overload & it occurs when you've been overzealous with protein-rich hair products.
You see, your hair strands are made up of about 91% protein—specifically a protein called keratin. Keratin molecules link together to form long chains, giving hair its strength. These chains create a protective outer layer (the cuticle) that shields the inner core of your hair. Healthy keratin levels allow your hair to stretch without breaking.
So, while protein treatments can strengthen hair, too much protein can cause your curls to become stiff & lose its elasticity.
Key Signs of Protein Overload in Your Hair Routine
When it comes to protein, you really can have too much of a good thing. Learn the signs of protein overload to ensure your curls are living their best life:
Tangles Galore
If detangling your hair has become your least favorite Olympic sport, protein might be at fault. Overloaded hair tends to tangle more easily, competing against your brush or comb.
Protein buildup on hair cuticles can cause the scales to lift & interlock with neighboring strands. This increased friction between hair fibers leads to more frequent tangling.
Your detangling session shouldn't require a training montage. If you’re having a tough time, you may want to add a few new moisturizing hair products to your curl care routine.
Curl Pattern Changes
For our curly crew, protein overload can lead to a serious identity crisis for your coils. If your normally defined curls look limp or just plain confused, it might be because they have an excess of protein.
Curls form due to asymmetrical disulfide bonds in the hair shaft. Excessive protein can create too many bonds, altering your natural curl pattern.
This can cause your curls to form irregularly or even straighten out in certain sections. If you notice some funky twists & turns in your mane, you may have an overload of protein.
Dull or Dry Strands
Smooth hair cuticles reflect light, giving hair its natural shine. & your hair should be as vibrant as your personality! So if your locks are looking a little dull, protein buildup might be to blame.
Protein buildup can create an uneven surface on the cuticle. This film scatters light instead of reflecting it uniformly, resulting in a dull appearance.
Protein overload can also zap the moisture out of your strands, leaving them parched. While proteins can temporarily fill gaps in the hair shaft, excess protein prevents moisture from penetrating the hair. This is because keratin is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water; too much will potentially block moisture from entering the hair shaft.
Common Causes of Protein Overload in Natural Hair Textures
Now that you know how to spot protein overload, let’s dive into the common causes so you can keep your tresses balanced & moisturized:
Overloading on Hair Products
You may be eager to stock up on all new hair care products that claim to transform your hair into silky, bouncy perfection. But hold up! Many of these formulas are packed with proteins like keratin, collagen & amino acids.
While these work wonders in moderation, using too many protein-rich products can lead to buildup faster than you can say wash day.
Misreading Your Hair’s Signals
Damaged hair often craves protein. But here's where it gets tricky: The symptoms of protein overload can mimic those of protein deficiency, yet both can lead to dry, brittle hair.
The difference lies in the texture of your locks. Protein overload makes your hair feel hard & stiff, while protein deficiency makes it feel mushy when wet. Misreading these signals can lead you to overload your locks with protein.
Forgetting About Your Hair’s Porosity
Hair porosity is all about how well your hair absorbs & retains moisture. Low porosity hair has a tightly bound cuticle layer, making it harder for both moisture & protein to penetrate. If you have low porosity locks & you're slathering on protein treatments, you're basically giving your hair a protein turtleneck.
Identifying what your strands need begins by understanding what makes them unique, including their porosity. While high porosity strands may thrive when covered in protein-rich products, low porosity curls may benefit more from moisturizing formulas packed with oils & humectants.
How Protein Imbalance Impacts Hair Health & Texture
While too little protein can leave your strands fragile & prone to breakage, excessive protein can strip your hair’s elasticity, causing the strands to snap instead of stretch. If you’ve noticed the bounce in your curls deflating, try the stretch test: If your wet hair breaks instead of bouncing back, you might be dealing with protein overload.
Hair elasticity is governed by the cortex, the inner layer of the hair shaft. Protein overload can alter the structure of the cortex, disrupting the natural alignment of keratin proteins & reducing the hair's ability to stretch & return to its original shape.
This means that too much protein can make your once-silky strands feel dry & less smooth to the touch. Keep an eye on the texture & softness of your strands for some insights on whether they’re overloaded with protein.
Steps to Restore Moisture & Protein Balance in Your Hair
Ready to get your hair's groove back? Here’s how to fix protein overload in hair & restore moisture-protein harmony to your luscious curls:
- Identify the imbalance – Let’s start by understanding what your hair needs. Is it feeling dry & brittle (a sign of protein overload) or soft & limp (possibly from moisture overload)? Identifying the right balance is key to restoring healthy, vibrant hair.
- Find the product balance that’s right for your locks – If protein overload is the culprit, switch up your routine & add some moisture back to those strands. Consider formulas with nourishing ingredients like Shea Butter & Avocado Oil to help your tresses shine & bounce.
- Clarify like you mean it – Think of clarifying as hitting the reset button on your hair. Give your scalp a spa day by using a gentle clarifying shampoo like the PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo. This treatment will remove buildup & give your strands a fresh start.
- Give your curls a moisture makeover – For protein overload, reach for a moisturizing deep conditioner or leave-in, such as the PATTERN Heavy Conditioner or Leave-In Conditioner. Let it work its magic for 15 to 30 minutes. Your hair will drink up that hydration & bounce back in no time.
Remember, your hair's needs can change with the seasons, your lifestyle or even just because. So, continuously check in on your curls & adjust your routine accordingly.
Top Products to Help Manage Protein Overload
If you’ve applied one too many protein treatments to your curls, there’s no need to worry. With help from the right products, you’ll get back to those moisturized & beautifully balanced strands.
Here’s a look at the formulas you’ll want to have in your hair care arsenal:
Hydrating Treatment Mask
The PATTERN Treatment Mask is like a tall glass of water for your curls. Protein overload can shrink your curls; this mask helps to gently elongate & define your curl pattern, bringing back that bounce & flow.
Here's the kicker: The Treatment Mask strengthens your hair without adding more protein. It uses ingredients like Moringa Seed Extract to fortify & strengthen your strands from within.
Intensive Conditioner
Packed with nourishing ingredients like Avocado Oil, Shea Butter & Safflower Oil, the PATTERN Intensive Conditioner packs a punch of heavenly hydration.
This intensive formula helps strengthen your hair without adding more protein, reducing breakage & keeping your curls intact. This thick formula is even designed to penetrate low porosity curls, ensuring all textures & curl types receive the hydration they need.
Pro tip: You can also use this conditioner as a deep conditioning treatment. Leave it on for 10 minutes & watch it transform your strands into soft, defined curls.
Leave-In Conditioner
The PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner bolsters your defense against protein overload. Packed with hydrating ingredients like Aloe & Honey, this leave-in conditioner delivers a much-needed moisture boost to protein-saturated strands.
The formula also features Jojoba Oil, which seals in hydration, prevents moisture loss & keeps your curls protected from breakage & damage.
Nourish Your Natural Texture with PATTERN
Fortunately, protein overload won’t permanently damage your locks. With careful monitoring & hydration-packed formulas, you can kiss protein overload hair days goodbye & regain the mane of vivacious curls you know & love.
The next time your hair needs some extra protein balance, you’ll know exactly what to do. Embrace your natural texture, listen to what your hair tells you & don't be afraid to switch up your routine.
Whether it’s time to search for new scalp care products or give your strands some TLC with the proper curly hair treatments, we’ve got you covered at PATTERN.
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. Keratin. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23204-keratin
Healthline. Can You Have Too Much Protein in Your Hair? https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/too-much-protein-in-hair#protein-and-hair
Healthline. What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have? https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-porosity
National Library of Medicine. The structure of people’s hair. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4201279/
Renaissance of Fibers and Fibrous Materials. Closing the Loop with Keratin-Rich Fibrous Materials. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/11/1896
ScienceDirect. Healthy Hair: What Is It? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X15526559
The Chic Chemist. Science Sunday - Chemistry of Curly Hair. https://thechicchemist.com/science-sunday-chemistry-of-curly-hair/
