Protein Moisture Balance 101

One of the biggest struggles for us curly and coily heads is figuring out the right protein moisture balance. Conquering this mixture balance is important so that your hair isn’t weighed down or overly fragile.

NATURAL HAIR AND PROTEIN MOISTURE BALANCE

Curly hair is naturally dry, considering the way it grows from the scalp. The strand automatically curls rather than falling straight. This makes it harder for the natural oils on our scalp to travel down the hair length and keep the hair moisturized. That’s why moisture is absolutely key to healthy, juicy curls. 

However, protein cannot be neglected. Our hair is made of 90% protein, which gives it strength and structure. Protein in our hair is broken down on a daily basis, so if we don’t restore what was lost, our hair will become weak and fragile.

DOES MY HAIR NEED PROTEIN OR MOISTURE?

In order to keep your hair healthy, you consistently need to maintain a balance of both protein and moisture. Make sure you drink plenty of water and eat enough protein-rich foods to create the right foundation for healthy hair growth. 

Everyone’s hair is different, so a balanced protein moisture routine will depend on your hair porosity. The more porous and damaged your hair is, the more protein-rich products you should use.

IS MY CURRENT ROUTINE BALANCED?

Since we all have different needs in terms of protein and moisture, you might be wondering if your current routine is balanced enough or if you are adding too much of one or the other. Well Guess What?? There is an easy test that helps you figure out your hair elasticity, which is a great indicator of protein or moisture overload.

Take a strand of clean and dry hair end and gently pull at the sides:

• If your hair stretches gently and bounces back, you are well balanced.
• If the hair doesn’t stretch, or even snaps and breaks, you are in protein overload.
• If the hair keeps stretching without bouncing back, and eventually falls apart, you are in a moisture overload.

HOW TO RESTORE A PROTEIN MOISTURE BALANCE

Depending on whether you are suffering from protein overload or moisture overload, you will need to use different products. However, a healthy hair journey begins with removing and product build up and resetting the hair. So make sure to balance between a clarifying shampoo and a moisturizing shampoo every other wash. 

With fixing a protein overload, you’ll want to focus on protein-free products that will help restore your hair’s moisture. So try using a moisturizing deep conditioner to achieve ultimate hair hydration. Moisture overload requires using protein-rich products that focus on strengthening the hair, so look for conditioners, deep conditioners or masks that include protein ingredients.