4 Clues That Your Hair Needs Protein

4 Clues that Your Hair Needs Protein

We all know that the way our hair looks and feels can do wonders for our confidence.  However, when our hair starts to shed we sometimes panic because we don’t know what’s going on. There could be a number of reasons for why your hair is shedding. Have you ever wondered if protein is the issue? In today’s article, I am going to share with you 4 clues that your hair needs protein. 

The Science of Hair: The Role of Protein

To know whether or not your hair needs protein, you must first understand the science of hair. Protein is one of the building blocks for cell production in your body and hair. You need protein to produce the cells that promote healthy hair. The proteins in our body are made up of 20 amino acids and 9 of those must be obtained through a healthy diet.  However, your hair is made up of a special protein, called keratin, which is one of the key structural materials of your hair. Without the right amounts of protein, it can result in hair loss. 

The Benefits of Protein

There are several hair benefits to protein. First, protein is beneficial because it can help your hair become less likely to break or form split ends.  Second, the proper amount of protein can help you have stronger and smoother cuticles. Third, it can help your hair look and feel fuller. While protein alone will probably not reverse thinning hair, it can help you experience more texture, fullness, and volume to your hair. 

Now that you understand the science of hair and the role of protein, I want to share with you some clues that your hair needs protein. 

4 Clues that Your Hair Needs Protein

#1 Your Hair looks limp and stringy

How does your hair look? Honestly, look in the mirror and be honest with yourself. Does your hair look stringy? When your hair is stringy it can be so annoying. Your hair can look stringy when it is fine and becomes tangled and separated. However, when your hair looks dull, limp, and stringy it could be a sign of protein deficiency.  

#2 Your Hair has Low Elasticity

How elastic is your hair? Elasticity is when your hair can be stretched and return to its original shape. If your hair is hard to curl or breaks easily when brushing, combing or styling, you might have poor hair elasticity. Hair with proper elasticity is strong with a healthy cortex, allowing it to stretch without breaking and easily spring back to its original shape. There are several tests you can do to gauge the elasticity of your hair such as wash a loose hair with dish soap, see if there is 4 cm between your thumb and forefinger when grabbing your hair, to name a few. 

#3 Your Hair has Been Colored Recently

Do you color your hair often? Well, permanent dye deposits color into your hair shaft. The solution most likely contains hydrogen peroxide and ammonia to open up the cuticle and drive the color molecules into the hair. Peroxide is very drying on the hair, which contributes to the damage of the hair.

#4 Your Hair Shedding and Breakage has Increased 

It’s normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. When your body sheds significantly more hairs every day, it is considered to have “excessive shedding.”  Hair shedding and breakage can be caused by a number of factors but protein deficiency is one of the most common culprits.

The Key Takeaways

Just in case you did not have time to read the above information, no worries, I get it, life can be busy. That is why I have included the key takeaways for you to read below at a quick glance. Here is what you need to know about 4 clues that your hair needs more protein. 

  1. When you look in the mirror your hair is limp and stringy. 
  2. You have hair low elasticity. 
  3. Your hair been colored recently. 
  4. Your hair shedding and breakage has increased. 
  5. Use products that can help hair that is dry, brittle, and is struggling to grow. 

This article was originally published on July 5, 2018 and was updated on July 27, 2021. 

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Brandelyn Green is the Founder of VoiceOfHair, a platform to help women of color find the best hair care products, regimens and hairstyles! Since starting VoiceOfHair in 2014 she has grown the social media platform to over 1MM+ on Instagram and Facebook. As a natural who is also a salon goer, she wanted to create a platform where people could find the best products, hairstylists, advice and trends.
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