Proteins are made from the polymerization of amino acids that are linked to each other by α-peptide bonds. There are a total of 20 amino acids associated with the structure and function of the human body. The body uses dietary proteins and amino acids to resynthesize proteins in the body. In our body, 9 amino acids are essential while the other 11 are not. [1]
Hair is described as a filamentous structure composed of proteins, particularly keratin. Keratin has a helical shape and has two types of fibers in the hair. Type I keratin fibers have acidic amino acid residues while type II keratin fibers have basic amino acids. Keratin fibers are present in the cortical cells of the hair. In people with straight hair, these cells are arranged symmetrically, while in In people with curly hair , these fibers are arranged in a non-symmetrical manner. [2]
Do DIYs with nutritious proteins serve as protein hair care?

Many people use homemade protein hair masks made from healthy foods such as eggs, avocados, and other protein-rich foods. While protein supplementation is helpful for growth and health Hair, these homemade protein hair treatments are not effective. Proteins are large and unable to adapt to the hair shaft.
The inability of these proteins to penetrate the hair shaft contributes to the ineffectiveness of this type of homemade protein hair mask. However, hydrolysis of the proteins can make them smaller and more penetrating into the hair. One study showed that hydrolyzed egg white proteins can penetrate deep into the hair . [3]
Therefore, homemade protein hair masks do not serve as effective hair protein treatments. Substances such as mayonnaise make hair shinier and softer due to their fat content. [4]
Are chemical protein treatments real protein treatments?

Chemical protein treatments are NOT true protein treatments. Instead of nourishing the hair's protein content, chemical protein treatments break the chemical bonds in the keratin protein. These treatments alter the disulfide bonds between cysteine amino acids.
Protein treatments for curly hair cause permanent straightening of the hair by disrupting the normal structure of the hair. Protein hair straightening treatments use alkaline creams that include potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide. While these protein treatments permanently straighten the hair, these chemical relaxers cause immense damage to the hair shaft. [5]
What is real protein hair care?
Given that the protein hair care Since homemade and chemical protein hair treatments are not ideally effective, the question arises: what is real protein hair treatment? Lower molecular weight or smaller proteins are better able to penetrate the hair shaft than larger proteins, such as those used in DIY treatments.
Hydrolyzed proteins are smaller in size and can therefore nourish and benefit the hair. Hydrolyzed keratin fills the gap in damaged hair and improves the mechanical strength and elasticity of the hair. [6, 7] These protein treatments are useful in meeting the hair's protein needs, achieving softness, increasing mechanical strength and increasing the diameter of the hair shaft. [7]
Unlike people with straight hair, people with curly hair are more likely to straighten their hair using temporary straightening tools or permanent chemical hair treatments. This leads to increased hair damage and protein loss for curly hair, making it more in need of a real curly hair protein treatment.[8] Some common questions related to hair protein care are listed below.[9, 10]
FAQs
Why use protein for hair?
Proteins are the main building blocks of human hair. Proteins are important for hair strength, hydration, and repair. Proteins also slow water loss, keeping hair hydrated and healthy.
What hair types need protein?
People with porous hair, dry hair, brittle hair, damaged hair, fine and medium hair, hair that looks “smaller” when wet can benefit from protein hair care.
How to use protein for hair?
For protein hair care, you can use shampoos or solid shampoo , protein styling gel real, natural masks with hydrolyzed proteins. Leave-in products containing protein can also be very useful for conditioning and nourishing hair. Proteins or protein-containing products for hair care include gelatin, collagen, keratin, amino acids, peptides, and hydrolyzed proteins such as: hydrolyzed wheat, oats, quinoa, corn, soy, and silk.
What is protein-hydration balance?
Protein-moisture balance can be thought of as the balance between stiffness and softness. Proteins provide stiffness/moisture while oils and conditioners promote softness. There must be a balance between emollients and proteins during treatment to ensure optimal hair health.
What are the signs that hair needs protein?
Signs that hair needs a protein treatment include loss of sheath, hair breakage, damaged hair, and a soft, cakey texture when hair is wet.
How often should you use protein?
The frequency of hair protein treatments depends on the porosity and thickness of your hair. The more porous and thinner your hair, the more protein treatments it needs. You can use a mask containing proteins every week. the low porosity hair and thick hair may only require protein treatment every 1 to 2 months.
Conclusion
Individuals must make wise decisions when choosing a true protein treatment for overall hair health. This treatment option includes hydrolyzed proteins, which are smaller and more penetrable. True protein treatment for curly hair does not require the use of chemical agents and does not alter the chemical bonding of amino acids in the treatment.
We offer a real protein hair care using hydrolyzed proteins and amino acids in our wide range of protein skincare products. This treatment is safer and more effective than the other two techniques, so one can opt for this protein treatment to maintain hair health.
References
- Watford, M., & Wu, G. (2018). Protein. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) , 9 (5), 651–653. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy027
- Yang, F.C., Zhang, Y., & Rheinstädter, M.C. (2014). The structure of people's hair. PeerJ, 2 , e619. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.619
- Lourenço, CB, Fava, ALM, Dos Santos, É. M., de Macedo, LM, Tundisi, LL, Ataide, JA, & Mazzola, PG (2021). Brief descriptions of the principles of prominent methods used to study the penetration of materials into human hair and a review of examples of their use. International Journal of Cosmetic Science , 43 (2), 113-122
- Depree, J.A., & Savage, G.P. (2001). Physical and flavor stability of mayonnaise. Trends in Food Science & Technology , 12 (5-6), 157-163
- Miranda‐Vilela, AL, Botelho, ADJ, & Muehlmann, LA (2014). An overview of chemical straightening of human hair: technical aspects, potential risks to hair fiber and health and legal issues. International journal of cosmetic science , 36 (1), 2-11
- Malinauskyte, E., Shrestha, R., Cornwell, P.A., Gourion-Arsiquaud, S., & Hindley, M. (2021). Penetration of different molecular weight hydrolyzed keratins into hair fibers and their effects on the physical properties of textured hair. International journal of cosmetic science , 43 (1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12663
- Basit, A., Asghar, F., Sadaf, S., & Akhtar, MW (2018). Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31. Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 20 , e00288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00288
- Dias, TCDS, Baby, AR, Kaneko, TM, & Velasco, MVR (2008). Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro‐ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycollate‐based straightening emulsion. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology , 7 (2), 120-126
- Ws. (2015, October 27). Protein 101 – lots of basic information about using proteins in hair products . Protein 101 – Lots of Basic Information About Using Protein in Hair Products. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html
- Ws. (2013, September 8). More about protein . More About Protein. Retrieved August 28, 2022, from http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-about-protein.html