Hey lovelies, today’s blog post is about protein overload. You might not know this term, but it happens when hair takes in too much protein treatment for hair. This can make dry dull hair brittle. I personally have experienced protein overload without even realizing it. The short story is that one day I went to hair school, and the instructor commented that my hair looked dry. I thought I was doing all the right things. By this, I mean I was mainly using hair products catered to keratin-treated hair (I do keratin treatments, by the way).
My instructor asked me if she could do a deep-moisture treatment on my hair, and I agreed. The results were like night and day. After flat ironing after this moisture treatment, my hair was smooth as butter, shiny and soft… no dry hair to be found.
It was then that I realized that I needed to tweak my hair regimen. I realized that, although my hair is keratin-treated, it still needs moisture. Many of the products I used were designed for keratin-treated hair. This means that most of the products contained keratin, another form of hair protein. Turns out it was too much products with proteins for me! In this blog post, I will explain protein overload. I will discuss what it is, what causes it, and the best hair breakage remedy. Let’s begin.
What is Protein Overload?
As I said before, a high protein overload happens when hair takes in too much protein or amino acids. This can make hair dry and brittle, which may cause hair breakage. When using protein, it is very important to keep a good balance of moisture and protein. It’s not going to be an exact measurement. The best way to measure your protein moisture balance is first to assess how strong your strands are. Take a strand of hair and try to stretch it. If it snaps off, it means the hair is too dry or lacks strength from protein deep conditioners. It can also indicate a protein overload.
Protein is essential in hair care routine for curly hair because, without it, your hair would fall out due to a lack of strength. A protein treatment in hair also repairs damaged hair and helps strengthen it. The most susceptible individuals are those with low-porosity hair. Without the proper care, brittle hair care can become a real struggle. You may ask what low porosity hair is. It is hair that resists product absorption. People with protein treatment curly hair routines and those who get keratin treatments are also at risk of protein overload. Also if you rely on protein treatment for hair growth, remember that too much protein weakens elasticity.
What Causes Protein Overload?
By now, you might already know what causes protein overload, thanks to my storytelling in this article. Several factors, including overuse of protein treatment products for hair, can cause it. If you find yourself constantly reaching for that reconstructor or strengthening conditioner marked as damaged hair treatment products, it may be a sign to take a break from them. Using protein treatment damaged hair solutions without moisture-balancing products can lead to dry, brittle hair.
You may also not realize that some of the products you use daily can contain protein ingredients. This is another reason for protein overload. One day, try to take some time to look at some of the ingredients of your daily hair care products. Make sure that the top ingredients are not protein-based.
Signs of Protein Overload
If you are unsure whether you have protein overload, you need a guide to help you determine it. Here are some telltale signs of protein overload.
- Your have hair that feels dry as straw, and the strands are stiff.
Look at your hair in the mirror. Does your hair look stiff and dry? It may need more moisture than protein treatment benefits can provide. Try combing it with a comb. Is there breakage, and does your hair snap when you run the comb through it? Also, does your hair appear dry and lifeless? Overloaded strands with protein don’t reflect light very well. When hair breakage reasons aren’t clear, protein overload might be the culprit.
Here’s how to test your hair for protein-overloaded strands:
Use a comb or brush to run through your hair and gather a few shed strands. Take the strands and wet them with water. Then, take on a wet strand and stretch it. If it snaps quickly with no stretch, you’re more than likely to have protein overload.
How To Test for Protein Overload
If you’re unsure whether you have protein overload, there are several ways to test.
- Elasticity Test
A hair elasticity test is when you test the elasticity of a hair strand on your head. All you have to do is take a shed hair from a hairbrush, wet it, and test its elasticity. If it stretches and doesn’t spring back, your hair is damaged. But if you stretch it and it snaps quickly, this means that you have protein overload or protein moisture imbalance.
Try a slip test: wash your hair, then follow with conditioner. If it is hard to comb through and is rough, you have protein overload.
Look in your bathroom cabinet and check the ingredients of your favorite shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. If a protein ingredient is at the top of the list, you might want to take a break from these products.
How to Fix Protein Overload
Here are some creative ways to fix protein overload fast:
To tackle protein buildup, you can try removing some of it with a clarifying shampoo. Look for a deep cleansing, clarifying shampoo, and use it bi-weekly for the best results.
- 2. Rebalance With Moisture
This would be the best time to whip out the moisturizing hair masks when you might have oversaturated the hair with a protein mask. Look for ingredients such as aloe, glycerin, honey, and fatty alcohols. You might also want to avoid products labeled with claims that repair or strengthen your hair. Moisturizing masks with aloe or honey are better than a protein mask for natural 4c hair when overloaded.
- 3. Avoid Protein Until Hair Recovers
Do a temporary protein detox and take a break from your favorite protein treatment at home for at least one month. Also, avoid products containing ingredients such as hydrolyzed wheat protein, keratin, collagen, and silk protein. You can also try a dry hair deep conditioner for hydration.
FAQ’s About Protein Overload
How long does it take to fix protein overload?
It can take up to 1 month, depending on how often you treat your hair with moisture to eliminate protein overload.
Is protein overload permanent?
No, it’s not permanent. Once you balance out the protein with moisture, the hair will recover quickly.
Can low porosity hair tolerate protein? And is protein treatment good for hair?
Yes, if you balance out the protein with moderate moisture, it will tolerate it slowly.
Conclusion
I hope that you enjoyed our brief discussion on hair health tips about protein overload. In this post, I covered all you need to know about this topic. What is protein overload? What causes protein overload? How to treat it and even test for protein overload.
Understanding protein overload is important for hair care. It helps you create the best hair care routine for your hair type. It’s not a complex concept to grasp, and once you understand, you’ll be able to achieve healthy and longer hair quickly. If you want to create your own hair care routine for healthy, long hair, click this link. You can get my free e-book on hair care. Thanks for reading this post!
Hi, I’m Danian, the creator of Natalie Mochin’s Beauty Blog — a space dedicated to real, experience-based hair care tips, healthy hair advice, and hair growth inspiration. As a hairdresser in training, I share practical routines, product recommendations, and lessons from my hands-on salon experience — all fueled by my love for coffee, cats, and dogs.
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