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4 Effective Protein Treatments for Curly Hair

Most curly hair has been through it all, from chemical damage thanks to straighteners and relaxers to everyday wear and tear like sun damage and tight up-dos. To return essential strength and shine where breakage occurs, protein treatment should become a part of your curly hair routine.

The protein treatment deep conditions your natural hair and straightens each thread. Black hair tends to become coarse for several reasons: bleaching, color treatments, irons that straighten or curl the locks, or too much styling.

Many of us want to change our hair color every now and then, but this is quite damaging for the hair if we don’t use quality hair dye or apply products that protect the thread during the process.

Why Use A Protein Treatment for Curly Hair?

Protein treatments are a given if you’re transitioning your hair from chemical processing to its natural, curly texture. If the hair feels particularly dry and prone to breakage, it’s time for a protein treatment. When wet, hair has a natural stretchy elasticity. If missing, this can serve as another indicator.

However, you should use these treatments sparingly because the same strengthening ingredients can dry hair out. You’ll know you’ve overdone it if hair suddenly feels brittle and straw-like. In this way, it’s critical to always follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.

Different Protein Treatments for Naturally Curly Hair

protein treatment for curly hair with shea butter
Protein treatment for curly hair with shea butter

Many get confused but note that protein treatment differs from cholesterol hair treatment. Below are our top four protein treatments, from medium to light and DIY, to save you a buck or two.

1. Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

The Cantu Shea Butter Masque is a must-have for your bathroom. Made with organic shea butter, this protein treatment for curly hair locks in moisture bonds on your hair shaft to restore that iconic bounce to your curls. To apply, massage from scalp to ends and wait 15 minutes.

2. ApHogee 2 Minute Keratin Reconstructor

Not all hair is in serious need of repair. Light protein treatments for curly hair help with overall upkeep, and our favorite is by ApHogee. Also, look out for ‘keratin,’ which is a structural protein perfect for giving hair a boost.

Use after every shampoo until you start to experience less breakage, then incorporate once every few weeks as needed. ApHogee also makes a two-step protein treatment if you need stronger restoration.

3. Egg + Yogurt DIY Pack

An egg and yogurt pack is the perfect natural protein treatment for curly hair. Rich in protein, eggs make hair smooth and shiny. Plus, they are cheap! Yogurt also contains protein and lactic acids that cleanse the scalp. Look for additive-free, plain greek yogurt for the best results.

To make, beat one egg and two tablespoons of yogurt in a small bowl to form a paste (dry hair should use the yolk, oily, the egg white, and combination hair the whole egg). Apply the mixture to hair and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water and shampoo and condition as normal.

4. DIY Protein Treatment Using Avocado, Eggs, Olive oil, and Honey

DIY protein mask for curly hair

This protein treatment is excellent for damaged natural hair and also helps hair growth, and it contains products any girl has in her house: avocado, eggs, olive oil, and honey.

  • Avocado is filled with nutrients that moisturize your hair and scalp; it’s full of vitamins and amino acids and helps promote strong, healthy hair growth.
  • After removing the skin of the avocado, use a fork or a blender to create a paste and add an egg yolk. Mix that up and add three tablespoons of olive oil. The hair will look shinier and will gain strength because it’s rich in vitamin E and Omega 3. It quickly penetrates the hair and makes your hair hold moisture. The last ingredient, honey!
  • Mix all the ingredients and let the mask sit for an hour, giving your hair a marvelous glow.

Benefits of Protein Treatment

  • These treatments bind proteins to the cuticle layer of your hair shaft to restore damage and elasticity by making them stronger and less subject to future damage.
  • Products or natural ingredients rich in botanicals, oils, and vitamins will restore essential strength, moisture and promote hair growth.

Incorporating them into your hair routine will change your curls forever as long as you don’t overuse protein treatments for curly hair. Whether you use a light, medium, or natural product, this repair will bind proteins to the hair shaft and return strength and shine to your bouncy curls.

Mistakes Women Do While Using Protein Treatment for Natural Hair

mistakes to avoid while doing protein treatment

There are a few protein treatments available for naturally curly hair that you can use to add strength to your hair, and some are even DIY masks that can provide all the nutrients and penetrate the hair follicle, pomping all the good stuff into your mane. The effects will appear sooner than you think if you avoid making some common natural hair mistakes.

Mistake 1: Using natural hair protein treatment when you don’t need one! Find out what your hair needs! A protein treatment will not solve all your hair problems. Research first!

Mistake 2: Stop using Henna as a protein treatment! Even if it is ideal when dyeing your hair and makes miracles for your locks, it doesn’t offer the necessary protein. However, it will not damage your hair when you want to change its color.

Mistake 3: Don’t make these treatments too often! They can help your hair so much, but they can also destroy it if used too frequently. Make one every 4-6 weeks!

Mistake 4: Products or DIY masks that don’t contain the hydrolyzed protein are not protein treatments! They will make the hair glow, feel better, silkier, but they will not provide the protein.

Mistake 5:  Not washing your hair with shampoo BEFORE protein treatments! Girl, you have to let that excellent mix work on your hair, not wash it off after applying it!

Make sure you avoid doing the steps mentioned above when doing a natural hair protein treatment, and always search for products that contain the hydrolyzed protein if you want the treatment to work!

Also, because we want to make this so much easier for you, here’s a hair mask that will do its job beautifully!

Protein treatments can be the best friends for your natural locks, but if you use them wrong, they can become the worst enemies for your hair. If your hair is damaged, looks coarse, and lost its luster, you need this ASAP! Remember, never apply it too often because it will cause breakage and more problems for your hair!

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