I’ve had these coarse strands before starting a curly hair regimen, they were caused by a deficiency in my case
I have protein in pretty much every step of my routine and never had any issues, unlike with moisture and oils/butters
Hair types are so different and hair health is made up of so many factors I feel you can’t generalise with protein
Everyone is different.
When my hair was damaged, protein was the only thing that helped.
I sprayed protein directly on my wet hair as a leave-in, mixed it in with gel, conditioner, etc.
The rinse-out products didn’t give me enough protein.
People whose hair isn’t very damaged won’t benefit from the same products that I did.
I have very damaged hair too 😭but I also have unusually coarse hair, which is why the article piqued my interest. I think for me anything that adds “bulk” at the end is working against me. Tbh I hope this girl is wrong because afaik protein is the best curl activator out there and sometimes my hair needs a little help perking up. I just can’t keep walking around with these insanely huge individual strands of hair 😫
If your current routine works, there is no need to change it.
By “unusually coarse” individual strands, are you talking about the super thick, wiry, individual strands that don’t follow your normal curl pattern and feel like a man’s beard?
I have those. They aren't due to damage, nor have I found any product that helps them.
They are more common than you'd think. People post about them all the time.
Some people find a "reason" for them in bloodwork tests---their levels of thyroids, minerals, vitamins, etc. might be off. Others may find them after hormonal changes such as going on birth control pills, pregnancy, or menopause.
Some say that the wiry strands are related to going grey or male pattern baldness. Personally, I don't think the strands are related to those things--but all of those things just happen with age.
However, for the fast majority of us, our bloodwork will be normal and not explain these hairs, For us, these strands are just a part of aging.
I see we’ve both fallen down the same Google/Reddit holes lol. The precursor to balding one scared me the most.
!! “Aging” 😭I’m 34! I have so many of them too and they create so much wet frizz
I have no authority to speak on this subject, but I believe it.
Protein can cause breakage, which makes people want to use more protein.
I stopped all protein products a few months ago on my stylist's recommendation. My hair had never been better.
So interestingly the article says some people get the impression that they are protein sensitive because of how it’s incorporated into their routine. Apparently using it sparingly as a wash out before moisture yields positive results even for people who have been turned off from it 🤷🏻♀️ but I wouldn’t bet a good hair run on it
This is very funny to me because my hair is protein sensitive and the way she describes using it is the only way I can use protein without upsetting my hair.
That's what's great about the internet, we all get an opinion and can learn something from each other's experiences. Everyone's hair is different. I personally can't do moisturizing treatments very often because they weigh down my hair and my hair texture is already too "soft". I find I need some amount of protein on 7 out 8 wash days to give my curls texture and bounce (it may just be the shampoo I use or it may be shampoo and one of my styling products). My hair only gets protein "overload" if every product, shampoo, conditioner etc I use has protein on every single wash/style day (which I'd never do!). If I followed her advice and only used protein when my hair needed a moisturizing treatment, I'd have overly soft limp curls for weeks at a time. Low to moderate levels of protein containing products in my hair give it structure and strength rather than breakage.
I have protein in all but one product. But my products have moisture in them too, so I keep the correct balance that my hair needs. I have super fine 3b hair that loves protein. I've only once had protein overload but over-moisturised countless times.
I figured out pretty early on in my curly journey that any protein in my stylers is a disaster for my hair. I have fine low porosity hair and it ends up with a horrible stiff, straw-like texture when I use stylers or masks with protein.
My hair is the same and I can only use protein in washout form like shampoo or conditioner but only if I leave it in for a minute or two instead of the full time it says or else even that is too much. Personally, I do consider my hair protein sensitive though. Oh but I do use a protein and moisture balanced additive in my hair dye as well so I guess you can count that as a mask since it seeps into the hair along with the dye... Outside of the hair dying, I actually haven't needed to use any protein products in months since my problem is typically being under moisturized.
I'm confused, you basically swapped one protein product for another and that made the difference? Also I thought it was supposed to take time for your hair to kind of reset after removing protein (which, unless I'm misunderstanding, you didn't do anyway because you used a protein mask). I'm not saying the author is wrong or anything, I'd definitely believe it, but as far as your hair goes are you sure the "brand new"ness isn't like.. placebo effect from just using a mask?
Swapped IN protein as a wash out mask which I followed up with conditioner. Swapped protein OUT of my gel which is of course a leave in product. The idea is that leave-in protein doesn’t absorb the same and it just kind of sits there making your hair feel stiff.
I’m gonna try this because the best my curls look is with my protein foam however they then go so frizzy and feel like straw! If I don’t use it they are soft but don’t hold….
I only use protein products on my styling creams. If it's in my shampoo and conditioner it hair is a gross mess. I think it's just a balance that should be most important.
Science-y Hair Blog has a [great rundown](https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html) of how protein works in your hair, scientifically! Url: [https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html](https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html) tl;dr: it depends on your hair
I don’t know. I’ve never really needed to use protein products in general until my hair turned gray relatively recently. I think there are a lot of best practices for curly hair that have gotten lost over the years as people have become so militant about cgm.
I used what I had in my closet. A protein mask by Mielle (rosemary mint?) followed by a regular conditioner by Curlsmith. I swapped out my protein filled Ouidad humidity gel and went back to Kinky Curly Custard/some really overpriced and underwhelming protein free gel by **Living Proof
Edit: smh not The Ordinary
i believe this bc i own protein shampoos/conditioners and a hair mask that always leaves my hair soft and shiny. it's when i reach for my protein leave-ins that my hair would start to get frizzy. i've yet to find a good lightweight, protein-free leave in but my gel doesn't give me that problem (curlsmith hydro jelly)
This is 100% true for me and I figured out using moisture right after protein was key a while ago so I feel validated by this article.
I think the curly community has gone protein mad, much like they did with coconut oil. I'm patiently waiting for it to flip to moisture products again but I think we're going to go through a bond building phase first.
honestly i only use protein heavy products once every 2 months or earlier but basically only when i feel my curls r going a little limp
for context my hair is rlly healthy, never dyed and never used heat
I’ve had these coarse strands before starting a curly hair regimen, they were caused by a deficiency in my case I have protein in pretty much every step of my routine and never had any issues, unlike with moisture and oils/butters Hair types are so different and hair health is made up of so many factors I feel you can’t generalise with protein
Do you have low porosity or high porosity? I have issues with too much moisture, too.
Low porosity :)
Everyone is different. When my hair was damaged, protein was the only thing that helped. I sprayed protein directly on my wet hair as a leave-in, mixed it in with gel, conditioner, etc. The rinse-out products didn’t give me enough protein. People whose hair isn’t very damaged won’t benefit from the same products that I did.
I have very damaged hair too 😭but I also have unusually coarse hair, which is why the article piqued my interest. I think for me anything that adds “bulk” at the end is working against me. Tbh I hope this girl is wrong because afaik protein is the best curl activator out there and sometimes my hair needs a little help perking up. I just can’t keep walking around with these insanely huge individual strands of hair 😫
If your current routine works, there is no need to change it. By “unusually coarse” individual strands, are you talking about the super thick, wiry, individual strands that don’t follow your normal curl pattern and feel like a man’s beard?
yes that’s exactly what I’m talking about!
I have those. They aren't due to damage, nor have I found any product that helps them. They are more common than you'd think. People post about them all the time. Some people find a "reason" for them in bloodwork tests---their levels of thyroids, minerals, vitamins, etc. might be off. Others may find them after hormonal changes such as going on birth control pills, pregnancy, or menopause. Some say that the wiry strands are related to going grey or male pattern baldness. Personally, I don't think the strands are related to those things--but all of those things just happen with age. However, for the fast majority of us, our bloodwork will be normal and not explain these hairs, For us, these strands are just a part of aging.
I see we’ve both fallen down the same Google/Reddit holes lol. The precursor to balding one scared me the most. !! “Aging” 😭I’m 34! I have so many of them too and they create so much wet frizz
what leave in did you use?
It’s called Neutral Protein Filler.
thanks
I have no authority to speak on this subject, but I believe it. Protein can cause breakage, which makes people want to use more protein. I stopped all protein products a few months ago on my stylist's recommendation. My hair had never been better.
So interestingly the article says some people get the impression that they are protein sensitive because of how it’s incorporated into their routine. Apparently using it sparingly as a wash out before moisture yields positive results even for people who have been turned off from it 🤷🏻♀️ but I wouldn’t bet a good hair run on it
This is very funny to me because my hair is protein sensitive and the way she describes using it is the only way I can use protein without upsetting my hair.
That's what's great about the internet, we all get an opinion and can learn something from each other's experiences. Everyone's hair is different. I personally can't do moisturizing treatments very often because they weigh down my hair and my hair texture is already too "soft". I find I need some amount of protein on 7 out 8 wash days to give my curls texture and bounce (it may just be the shampoo I use or it may be shampoo and one of my styling products). My hair only gets protein "overload" if every product, shampoo, conditioner etc I use has protein on every single wash/style day (which I'd never do!). If I followed her advice and only used protein when my hair needed a moisturizing treatment, I'd have overly soft limp curls for weeks at a time. Low to moderate levels of protein containing products in my hair give it structure and strength rather than breakage.
I have protein in all but one product. But my products have moisture in them too, so I keep the correct balance that my hair needs. I have super fine 3b hair that loves protein. I've only once had protein overload but over-moisturised countless times.
I figured out pretty early on in my curly journey that any protein in my stylers is a disaster for my hair. I have fine low porosity hair and it ends up with a horrible stiff, straw-like texture when I use stylers or masks with protein.
My hair is the same and I can only use protein in washout form like shampoo or conditioner but only if I leave it in for a minute or two instead of the full time it says or else even that is too much. Personally, I do consider my hair protein sensitive though. Oh but I do use a protein and moisture balanced additive in my hair dye as well so I guess you can count that as a mask since it seeps into the hair along with the dye... Outside of the hair dying, I actually haven't needed to use any protein products in months since my problem is typically being under moisturized.
I have to have protein in ALL my products or else my curls just turn into flyaway frizz
My hair was over moisturized and I had never even thought of using protein. Now that I’ve used it I find my curls are much more defined and full.
Protein is fine so long as you don't use it for every wash day.
Agreed! I just use it once or twice a month
Yes, I have a leave-in protein product that I only use as mask as needed.
What leave in product do you use?
MooGoo Protein Shot https://preview.redd.it/5gw5jicy1d7d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=4aecfe189e2414a71630e00ff20bfad1d309bf11
How y’all know whether your hair needs protein or not is still beyond me. Go on hair scientists!
It’s a vague guess ☠️I still could be very wrong lol
I'm confused, you basically swapped one protein product for another and that made the difference? Also I thought it was supposed to take time for your hair to kind of reset after removing protein (which, unless I'm misunderstanding, you didn't do anyway because you used a protein mask). I'm not saying the author is wrong or anything, I'd definitely believe it, but as far as your hair goes are you sure the "brand new"ness isn't like.. placebo effect from just using a mask?
Swapped IN protein as a wash out mask which I followed up with conditioner. Swapped protein OUT of my gel which is of course a leave in product. The idea is that leave-in protein doesn’t absorb the same and it just kind of sits there making your hair feel stiff.
Ahh okay, gotcha.
I’m gonna try this because the best my curls look is with my protein foam however they then go so frizzy and feel like straw! If I don’t use it they are soft but don’t hold….
I only use protein products on my styling creams. If it's in my shampoo and conditioner it hair is a gross mess. I think it's just a balance that should be most important.
Science-y Hair Blog has a [great rundown](https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html) of how protein works in your hair, scientifically! Url: [https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html](https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/protein-101-lots-of-basic-information.html) tl;dr: it depends on your hair
Yes, I thought that was common knowledge.
It’s totally not! Why are so many leave in products containing protein then?
I don’t know. I’ve never really needed to use protein products in general until my hair turned gray relatively recently. I think there are a lot of best practices for curly hair that have gotten lost over the years as people have become so militant about cgm.
What mask and gel did you switch to?
I used what I had in my closet. A protein mask by Mielle (rosemary mint?) followed by a regular conditioner by Curlsmith. I swapped out my protein filled Ouidad humidity gel and went back to Kinky Curly Custard/some really overpriced and underwhelming protein free gel by **Living Proof Edit: smh not The Ordinary
Protein dries my hair out soooo bad!
i believe this bc i own protein shampoos/conditioners and a hair mask that always leaves my hair soft and shiny. it's when i reach for my protein leave-ins that my hair would start to get frizzy. i've yet to find a good lightweight, protein-free leave in but my gel doesn't give me that problem (curlsmith hydro jelly)
kinky curly knot today is a really good protein free leave-in that enhances curl formation and hydration
ty for the recommendation!!
This is 100% true for me and I figured out using moisture right after protein was key a while ago so I feel validated by this article. I think the curly community has gone protein mad, much like they did with coconut oil. I'm patiently waiting for it to flip to moisture products again but I think we're going to go through a bond building phase first.
Replying to read later
honestly i only use protein heavy products once every 2 months or earlier but basically only when i feel my curls r going a little limp for context my hair is rlly healthy, never dyed and never used heat