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Benefits of protein for high porosity fine natural hair
When you have highly porous hair, retaining moisture and length can leave you frustrated. You follow the LCO and LOC method but you sometimes feel that your hair is dry, brittle and lacks shine.
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In focusing on moisturized hair, we forget about the importance of protein.
Our natural contains keratin, the strong fibrous protein that gives our hair with its tight strands and intertwined structures its strength. Constant exposure to the sun, wind, pollutants, and chemical treatments as well as the wear and tear of everyday styling with heat tools as well as with curling creams, gels, mousse and sprays etc, contribute to weaken our hair strands.
How does protein benefit fine and highly porous hair?
High porosity hair is when your hair loses moisture quickly, get constantly frizzy and dry even though you have just moisturized it, tangles and knots easily. When you have fine strands, your hair is easily prone to breakage , even when you treat it gently and keep it well moisturized.
The use of products containing protein is therefore beneficial for those with high porosity and fine strands as it penetrates hair and adds strength and shine. Including hair products that have light protein content in your hair care routine will help strengthen the roots of your natural hair.
A protein treatment is necessary for those of us with highly porous and fine hair because it will help fill the gaps in our hair . Protein treatments are packed with a variety of nutrients and proteins to strengthen hair strands, moisturize and add extra volume and bounce to the hair.
If you hair is not damaged, doing a protein treatment once a month is enough. However, if you use heat styling tools och color your hair with chemicals, a protein treatment every three weeks is needed. Remember that having a diet rich in proteins is vital because proteins contributes to nail, skin and hair growth.
Different types of protein in hair care products
There are many types of protein found in hair care products for natural hair. When purchasing shampoos, rinse out conditioners and deep conditioners, you need to pay attention to the ingredients and look for the following proteins:
Hydrolyzed collagen helps improve hair elasticity.
Hydrolyzed keratin/Keratin has hydrating and conditioning properties.
Read more about hydrolyzed keratin here
Hydrolyzed oat protein/Quinoa protein helps reduce breakage, softens, smoothes, repairs and protects hair and scalp.
Hydrolyzed rice protein increases hair volume with regular use in your hair. It adds incredible softness while it strengthens the hair for continued damage repair and prevention.
Hydrolyzed silk: hydrates, conditions and softens hair.
Hydrolyzed soy protein: Soy protein is a plan- based protein and is derived from the soybean plant and contributes to moisture retention, strengthens hair fibers and makes hair easily manageable. You can read more about it here
Hydrolyzed wheat protein contributes to add strength and helps hair retain moisture.
Amino acids such as silk amino acids protect against moisture loss. They are able to penetrate hair strands and strengthen damaged hair.
You will also find variations of Hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed collagen on hair products labels.
Since I am trying to use herbs and plant based products to grow my natural hair, I use hydrolyzed soy protein in my homemade recipes.
How do you know your hair needs protein treatment
Protein treatments are necessary for naturalistas with high porosity hair because it creates a bond to the hair shaft. When you notice that
- Your curls are limp or lack shape
2. You have heat damage
3. Your hair is constantly dry and brittle
4. Your hair is breaking and shedding constantly
However, excessive protein use can contribute to protein overload where hair becomes dry and brittle and snap easily. It is important to achieve the right protein/moisture balance to enable you retain more length.
When I am too lazy to whip up a deep conditioner in my kitchen, I grab my favorite store-bought deep conditioner which has light protein (protein is in lower concentration).
Sheamoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura oil Intensive Hydration Masque
I have been eyeing this hair mask for some time now and since I have vowed to wean myself from the product junkyism, it took me a long time to try it. This hair masque is the best for dry and dull hair. It contains Baobab Oils that are blended with the antioxidant-rich African Rock Fig to restore and lock in moisture.
This deep conditioner has got many good reviews and contains hydrolyzed rice protein.
I deep condition my hair weekly in my wash day routine so I only do protein treatment every 4-6 weeks with the ORS Hair Mayonnaise.
Here are my best protein treatments for you if you have high porosity fine hair.
Best protein treatments for high porosity fine hair
SheaMoisture, Manuka Honey & Yogurt, Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment
According to SheaMoisture, this masque treatment is powered by reparative proteins and butters, in a nutrient-rich strengthening cream to naturally reinforce and revitalize over-processed, abused hair fibers, while reducing breakage up to 76%*.
Ingredients
Water, Behentrimonium Chloride, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin (Vegetable), Honey, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Yogurt Powder*, Yogurt Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Butter, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil, Trichilia Emetica (Mafura) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Tocopherol, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, lnulin, Benzoic Acid, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend). *Certified Organic Ingredient ª´Fair Trade Ingredient” under the list.
*Yoghurt powder is packed with proteins, calcium and vitamins that strengthen, moisturize and soothe your scalp.
SheaMoisture, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque
This hair mask helps to strengthen and restore damaged or chemically processed hair.
Ingredients
Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycerin (Vegetable), Butyrospermum Parkii Shea) Butter*ª´, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend), Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Mangifera lndica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Yeast Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Niacin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vinegar, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Caramel *Certified Organic Ingredient ª´Fair Trade Ingredient
ORS HAIRestore Hair Mayonnaise with Nettle Leaf and Horsetail Extract
This has been my favorite protein treatment since I big chopped and it works very well for me. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
My hair feels soft and bouncy after using this product. I blow dry my hair often and since I have high porosity natural hair, this protein treatment restores the moisture back into my strands and add strength.
Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Dimethicone, PEG-7 Cocoate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Lanolin Oil, Tridecyl Stearate, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panthenol Cholesterol, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Capsicum Annuum (Paprika) Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Ovum (Egg Powder), Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Benzoate, d-Limonene, Linalool, DMDM Hydantoin, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 15985 (Yellow 6), CI 19140 (Yellow 5)
Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask
If you want to splurge a little bit, this protein-rich, restorative hair treatment will work wonders for your hair. It helps reconstruct strands damaged by chemical processing or heat styling. It is Infused with argan oil and shea butter. I purchase it often when I want to give my hair a treat.
Ingredients:
Water Deionised (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol & Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cerearyl Alcohol (CS90), Canola Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetearetg-20, Shea Butter, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, PG-Propyl Silanetriol (proposed), Argania Spinoza Kernel Oil (Argan oil), Butylene Glicol, Acetamide Mea, Steareth-2, Caryocar Brasillense Fruit Oil, Fragrance (Supplement), Peg 60 Almond Glicerides , DMDMH, Citric Acid, D&C Red No 17, D&C Yellow No.11
If you are for an all-natural hair product recipe, here is a DIY simple protein treatment to moisturize, strengthens your hair.
Does your hair like protein? Which type of protein does your hair like? Do you use any of the products mentioned above. Let me know in the comment section.
