{ November 23rd, 2011 }

Blog: Moisture-Protein Balance

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A delicate balance of protein and moisture is essential for retaining healthy hair growth. Protein adds strength to your strands and is responsible for their structure. Moisture (water), allows your strands to have elasticity and flexibility. Too much protein, however, will cause your hair to become brittle and break off if its moisture balance requirement hasn’t been met.

 

This is why it’s essential to use water-based moisturizers. Products that claim to be moisturizers but without high water content are simply coating your hair to make it feel softer and moisturized on the outside, but they neglect the inside of your strands. Mineral oil and petroleum are ingredients that make your hair feel softer, but coat the hair, preventing moisture from getting into your strands. They, of course, add no water. Water should be listed as the first or second ingredient of any moisturizer, informing you that it has high water content for true moisturization.

 

We can’t say it enough – every head of hair is different. Some can hold a higher level of protein than others. You can perform a strand test* to tell whether your hair is lacking in protein or water, or if it’s balanced. If you determine that your hair has too much protein and not enough water, take a long break from products that include proteins in them.

 

Hair can have a hard time holding moisture due to high porosity as well. High porosity can often be the can of frizzy hair, because it directly relates to the hair’s cuticle. Raised cuticles are what give strands a frizzy look and feel – water is easily absorbing into the strand, but it’s also quickly losing water, because the cuticles aren’t enclosed, trapping the moisture in. High porosity tends to result in processed or heat/sun-damaged hair, and also with hair that’s had harsh products applied to it.  Read this great article for more on hair porosity.

 

*Simple strand moisture-balance test:

 

Take one of your dry strands which has naturally fallen loose today (from your hairbrush, etc.) and gently pull both ends to stretch it.

 

  • If it breaks easily, you have enough, or too much, protein, but not enough water in your hair. We recommend using our Daily Moisturizer to counteract its dryness – and don’t use products that contain protein in them until your next strand test shows that your hair is maintaining a good balance of water in it.

Soak a naturally fallen strand in water, then pull both ends to stretch it.

 

  • If it’s super stretchy (or if you’ve noticed that your hair stretches when you wet comb it), you have enough water in your strands, but not enough protein to support their structure. We recommend using a light protein conditioner. It’s hard to tell the right amount of protein needed for each individual’s hair, so experiment slowly and determine how much your hair needs.

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