Protein Overload Hair Test
Answer 10 quick questions to discover if your hair has too much protein, needs more protein, or has a healthy balance.
What is Protein Overload?
Protein overload occurs when your hair has too much protein and not enough moisture. While protein is essential for hair strength, an imbalance can make hair feel stiff, dry, and prone to breakage.
Protein Overload
Too much protein makes hair stiff, brittle, and straw-like. Hair snaps easily and lacks flexibility.
Balanced Hair
Healthy hair has the right protein-moisture balance. It's soft, shiny, elastic, and resilient.
Needs Protein
Protein-deficient hair is mushy, overly stretchy, limp, and breaks after stretching.
What causes protein overload?
Protein overload typically happens when you use too many protein-rich products without balancing them with moisture. Common causes include: using multiple products with protein (keratin, silk amino acids, hydrolyzed wheat/soy protein, collagen), doing protein treatments too frequently, not following protein treatments with deep conditioning, or having naturally low-porosity hair that doesn't need much protein.
How to fix protein overload in hair?
To fix protein overload, you need to restore moisture balance. Stop using all protein products immediately. Switch to protein-free, moisture-rich products – look for ingredients like glycerin, aloe vera, honey, coconut milk, and natural oils. Do deep conditioning treatments 1-2 times per week with a protein-free mask. Be patient – it can take 2-4 weeks of consistent moisture-focused care to restore balance.
Want to check if your products contain protein? Use our Routine Analyzer to scan your products and find protein-free alternatives!
What are signs of protein overload vs. moisture overload?
Protein overload signs: Hair feels stiff, dry, straw-like, or crunchy. Hair snaps immediately when stretched. Hair looks dull and lifeless.
Moisture overload signs: Hair feels mushy, gummy, or limp when wet. Hair stretches excessively without bouncing back. Hair lacks volume and definition.
Which protein ingredients should I look for or avoid?
Common protein ingredients: Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Silk, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Rice Protein, Oat Protein, and any ingredient with "amino acids" in the name. If you have protein overload, avoid these. If you need protein, look for these ingredients.
How often should I use protein treatments?
For damaged or high-porosity hair: every 1-2 weeks. For normal hair: every 4-6 weeks. For low-porosity or protein-sensitive hair: once a month or less. Always follow a protein treatment with a moisturizing deep conditioner.
💡 Pro tip: Do the strand stretch test regularly (monthly) to check your protein-moisture balance. Your hair's needs can change with seasons, styling habits, and product changes!