Hello, beautiful! If your hair has been through more than a drama hero (bleaching, straightening, excessive heat, etc.), it's time to give it a little boost. And guess what? Protein is your hair's best friend for regaining strength, elasticity, and shine. Let's decode together when it's time to whip out the protein mask!
When should you REALLY do a protein mask?
Okay, let's be honest: who hasn't been tempted by a protein mask just because an influencer with perfect hair recommended it? 🫠 But before you slather your locks in miracle products, ask yourself the real question:
Does your hair REALLY need it?
Because spoiler alert: protein treatment used incorrectly is like putting extra-hold gel on well-defined curls… carnage.
Post-Balayage Hair Syndrome: The False Confidence of Bleached Hair
When you leave the salon after a color or highlights treatment, your hair looks AMAZING: shiny, bouncy, soft... it's almost never looked so good. But two weeks later, BAM! Straw-like, frizzy, ends that split like a group of friends after a restaurant.
For what?
Chemicals used to color or bleach hair open the hair cuticles and dissolve the keratin. As a result, it becomes fragile, porous, and breaks at the slightest friction. It's clear: your hair needs a boost of protein to rebuild itself.
You're the queen of blow-drying... but your hair is paying the price.
If your hair straighteners are hotter than the Sahara Desert and your hair dryer runs more often than your washing machine, chances are your hair has lost some of its internal structure.
For what ?
Excessive heat denatures the proteins in the hair fiber, making the hair softer, weaker, and more prone to frizz (hello, flyaways living their best life despite your straighteners).
Your menstrual cycle is messing with your hair (and your nerves)
We often talk about skin acting up before your period, but did you know that your hair can also be affected? That's right, your hormones directly influence keratin production.
- At the beginning of the cycle, estrogen boosts growth and makes hair look stronger.
- Before your period, progesterone levels rise, which can weaken the hair fiber and make it more prone to breakage.
The result? Flatter, more fragile hair… and a sudden urge to cut it all off (NO, put down those scissors).
Stress, fatigue and distressed hair: the infernal trio!
You're going through a stressful time, and suddenly you find more hair on your brush than on your head? It's no coincidence.
Chronic stress plays a major role in hair loss, and here's why: When we're under stress, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that disrupts the hair growth cycle. The result? Hair follicles prematurely enter the resting (telagen) phase, leading to excessive hair loss.
Add to that a lack of protein, and it's a disaster: your hair, already weakened, no longer has the resources it needs to regenerate properly. Without a good supply of keratin and amino acids, the hair fiber becomes thinner, weaker, and more prone to falling out.
Put your hair to the ultimate test…
Sometimes we think our hair needs protein, when in reality... it's mostly screaming "I'M THIRSTY!" A classic mistake that can make your hair worse instead of better.
- The foolproof test to find out what your hair really needs:
- Take a clean strand of hair and wet it slightly.
- Pull gently on it and observe the reaction:
- If it stretches slightly before returning to its original shape → Your hair is balanced, everything is fine!
- If it stretches too much and then suddenly breaks → Ouch, it's a sign of a protein deficiency. A protein mask will strengthen the structure of the hair fiber.
- If it breaks immediately without stretching → Bad news… it’s not a protein mask you need, but a good dose of hydration!
So, verdict: protein mask or not?
If your hair has been through chemical treatments, overexposure to heat, hormonal changes, or excessive hair loss, YES, a protein mask can be a valuable ally.
But remember: too much protein = cardboard effect.
