4 Best Protein Treatments For Natural Hair | Types & Benefits

Give your dull-looking natural locks the nourishment they had always craved for.

Reviewed by Tere Pruett, CT, PBT
July 15, 2022 By Arshiya Syeda

4 Best Protein Treatments For Natural Hair | Types & Benefits

Protein treatment for natural hair is worth trying, at least, that is what the trends suggest. Amino acids, which form the building blocks of protein, have hair-strengthening properties. If you are not convinced yet, read this article to know more about this novel therapy and the best protein products to choose from. Read on!

In This Article

What Is Protein Treatment?

Do you have split ends? Is your hair weak, dry, and brittle? A protein treatment is a temporary yet effective solution for such problems. Keratin, the natural protein in our hair, is highly prone to damage caused by exposure to the sun, wind, pollutants, and chemical treatments (1). Protein treatments nourish and strengthen your hair externally, just like conditioning treatments. They come in various types that are listed in the next section.

Types Of Protein Treatments

Protein Packs

These are used to treat mild hair damage and are good for regular hair maintenance every 1-2 months.

Light Treatments

These treatments are beneficial for slightly damaged hair and are also known as conditioning masks. They are ideal for regular hair maintenance.

Deep Penetrating Treatments

Deep penetrating treatments are perfect for treating moderately damaged hair. They are known for their intense moisturization properties and are recommended to be used once every two weeks.

Reconstructors

Reconstructors are used to treat severely damaged hair and are meant to be used once every two weeks.

Protein treatments can give your damaged hair a new lease of life. To know more about how they benefit your hair, check out the next section.

Benefits Of Protein Treatment For Natural Hair

Softens Hair – Protein treatment nourishes and softens your hair by removing the dead cells from your scalp and adding protein externally (2).
Strengthens Strands – Protein treatment directly infuses hydrolyzed proteins into your hair follicles and hardens the cuticles, thereby strengthening your strands (3).
Moisturize Your Hair – By getting rid of the dead cells on your scalp and injecting proteins, protein treatment moisturizes your hair more effectively (2).
Extra Body And Volume – Ultimately, protein treatment makes your hair thicker, longer, and healthier (3).

If you don’t want to spend a bomb on getting a protein treatment at a salon, here are some natural protein treatments that you can try at home.

Natural Protein Hair Treatments

Avocado

Protein treatment for natural hair with avocado

Shutterstock

Avocado contains fatty acids and proteins that repair, strengthen, and nourish damaged hair. You can prepare a protein treatment by simply mashing a couple of avocados or mixing mashed avocados with mayonnaise. You can apply this mask all over your hair and scalp to condition and nourish them (4), (5).

Greek Yogurt

Protein treatment for natural hair with Greek yogurt

Shutterstock

Dairy products, such as yogurt and sour cream, contain proteins and lactic acid that cleanse your hair. You can prepare a protein conditioner by mixing an egg and some yogurt. Leave the mixture on your hair for about 20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water (5).

How To Make A Natural Protein Treatment For Natural Hair

You can prepare your own protein treatment at home by using a combination of ingredients. You can make a protein-rich hair pack using eggs, avocado, or greek yogurt and combining them with conditioning ingredients like coconut oil, honey, coconut milk, banana, cream, or mayonnaise. Warm up the mixture, apply it all over damp hair, and cover your head with a shower cap. Leave the mixture on for about 30-40 minutes and then wash your hair thoroughly.

Protein treatments are essential to repair, nourish, strengthen, and volumize damaged hair. They intensely moisturize your hair to restore its health. You can prepare your own protein treatment at home, buy it from a store, or go to a salon to get it done. However, one thing you need to remember is that your hair can harden or experience breakage if you use these treatments too often or for too long. So you need to assess your hair’s needs and plan your protein treatments accordingly.

If you are using any chemicals on your hair regularly – like hair color, perms, or relaxers – then you should consider using a protein product regularly on your hair. It will add the protein back to your hair that these chemicals can remove or destroy. It will also make your hair color more fade-resistant.

A protein treatment for natural hair repairs split ends and weak, dry, and brittle hair. They replenish and fortify the hair externally. There are different types of protein treatments, like protein packs, light treatments, deep penetrating treatments, and reconstructors. There are many benefits to using a protein treatment on natural hair. They soften, moisturize, and strengthen your hair, leaving you with thicker, longer, and healthier strands. You can also try natural protein treatments made with natural ingredients like avocado and greek yogurt. Apply a protein treatment on your hair once or twice a month to reap its benefits. Don’t overuse the treatment as it may lead to your hair hardening or breaking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rice water a protein treatment?

Yes. Rice water is an effective DIY protein treatment as it contains amino acids that make your hair stronger and softer.

Should I wash my hair before a protein treatment?

Yes. For the protein to bond to your hair, it is essential that your hair is clean.

Is shea butter a protein treatment?

No. Shea butter is a moisturizing treatment but not a protein treatment as it doesn’t contain any protein.

Which is better – protein or keratin treatment?

It depends on your preference and hair needs. Keratin treatment involves coating the hair strands with keratin to straighten them and maintain their softness and endurance, while protein treatment uses different types of proteins, including keratin, to maintain hair length and restore its vitality.

Do you use conditioner after a protein treatment?

Experts advise following up a protein treatment with a deep conditioner to provide enough hydration to your hair shafts.

Are deep conditioning and protein treatment the same?

No. Protein treatment repairs damaged hair with protein, and deep conditioning balances water levels in hair fibers to maintain strong hair.

Key Takeaways

Protein treatments play an important role in repairing, nourishing, strengthening, and volumizing damaged hair.
You can choose a light protein hair treatment or a deep penetrating treatment based on your hair needs.
Choose from a natural DIY protein treatment at home, a store-bought treatment, or book an appointment at the salon.

Sources

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