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Protein Treatment For Hair 2024: Benefits, Risks & How To Use

Luke Sumpter

Updated on - Written by
Medically reviewed by Kathy Shattler, MS, RDN

protein treatment for hair
Protein hair treatments improve the volume and shine. Photo: chokniti/Freepik

Many people want to show off a head of healthy and shiny hair. Many cosmetic products exist to help them achieve this goal, including protein treatment for hair. This approach helps to restore hair structure and moisture and strengthen hair.

Over time, shampooing, straightening, and tight hairstyles can damage hair. Hair protein treatment uses several different proteins to improve hair appearance and strength. Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about this technique.

Benefits Of Protein Treatment For Hair

Protein treatment for hair benefits include:

  • Adding shine to hair.
  • Reducing frizz.
  • Reducing hair breakage.
  • Boosting volume.
  • Helping with hair styling. 
  • Improving scalp health.

Benefits Of Protein Treatments For Hair

Like other hair masks, keratin treatment protects and moisturizes. But the potential advantages don’t stop there. Unlike other products, they contain proteins already found in your locks. 

Protein Treatments Add Shine To Hair

Hair shine refers to the reflective quality of human hair. Many hair care routines aim to boost luster on the hair’s surface. Enhanced shine gives hair a healthy and smooth appearance. You can use protein treatments at home to add some serious shine. The protein treatments work by sealing the hair cuticle.[1] This outer layer consists of overlapping scales.

Protein products help to smoothen this surface. The result? Shiny hair that more readily reflects light. People find that shinier hair gives them a more youthful appearance and heightened self-confidence.

Protein Treatments Mean Less Frizz

Are you thinking of applying protein treatment for 4c hair? This hair type is commonly found in people of African descent. It’s characterized by tight, densely packed curls that form a zigzag pattern. The individual strands of 4c hair are delicate and fragile. Although 4c hair offers natural volume and fullness, it’s more prone to dryness. These features make protein treatment a good match for 4c hair. It can help to tame frizz and strengthen hair shafts.

Or perhaps you are thinking of applying protein treatment to wavy hair? This hair type falls between straight and curly hair on the spectrum. Wavy hair typically has a gentle S shape. It varies in texture from coarse to fine. Wavy hair is versatile and holds curls well. However, it poses challenges such as frizz, especially in humid conditions. DIY protein treatment for hair can help to combat this issue. Research shows that these products can help to smoothen hair.[2]

Protein Treatments Reduce Hair Breakage

Protein Treatments Reduce Hair Breakage
Keratin treatments replenish hair, strengthening strands and preventing breakage effectively. Photo: Lena Ivanova/Shutterstock

Natural hair may appear soft and supple, but it can break. Tight hairstyles and harsh chemicals can all damage hair. Protein treatment for black hair and other hair types reinforces the hair shaft and enhances[2] the mechanical strength of broken hair. Certain coloring techniques can break hair over time, making protein treatment for bleached hair a promising prospect.

Protein Treatments Boost Volume

Hair volume refers to the fullness and overall body of a person’s hair. It’s a measure of how much “lift” the hair has. Volume varies greatly among hair types and individuals. Some people have natural volume, and others have hair that lacks fullness. Keratin treatments for hair help boost volume by improving texture. Damp and porous hair tends to look limp and lackluster, giving it a flat and lifeless appearance. Protein hair masks make the hair appear to have more natural lift and volume.

Protein Treatments Can Help To Style Hair

Protein treatment for relaxed hair can act as a styling agent.[3] Not only do they help to shape hair, but they increase the moisture content both inside and outside of the hair shaft. This can help to protect the hair against the hot temperatures of heated tools, including dryers and straighteners.

Protein Treatments Can Improve Scalp Health

It’s not often people think about their scalp. But this part of the body deserves more attention. It helps to anchor hair and produces natural oils. Protein hair masks can feature other ingredients, including honey. This natural product contains trace levels of protein[4] and high levels of antioxidants.[5] Honey has a long history of use in skincare.[6] The substance helps to keep the skin young[6] and moisturized.[7]

What Is A Hair Protein Treatment?

A protein hair mask typically contains keratin, collagen, and conditioning agents. Proteins such as keratin are the building blocks of hair. Protein treatment for severely damaged hair aims to replenish and fortify hair structure. Providing additional proteins to hair shafts could help to repair the damage by giving the hair shaft an extra protein boost. The technique also serves to improve overall hair quality.

Is Protein Treatment Good For Your Hair?

Protein treatment for hair helps to prevent breakages, improve volume, combat frizz, and add shine. Protein treatment products contain natural proteins such as keratin, collagen, and additives, including honey. They’re easy to apply at home after shampooing and before conditioning. Make sure to consult with your dermatologist before using at-home protein treatments for hair. They’re incompatible with some hair care products and can cause reactions in some people.

How To Use Protein Treatments For Hair

How To Use Protein Treatments For Hair
Properly applying protein treatments involves starting with clean, damp hair. Photo: Freepik

Keratin treatments are a great way to achieve healthy hair. They’re a source of silk amino acids that help maintain hair structure and prevent breakages. Below, you’re going to learn how to apply protein products to reap the benefits:

  1. Start with clean hair: Before applying protein products, it’s important to wash your hair with shampoo. Removing any dirt, oil, and buildup will give a treatment a blank canvas to work on without debris getting in the way. 
  2. Towel dry: After shampooing, gently towel dry your hair to remove excess moisture. However, don’t let your hair completely dry out. Applying the mixture to damp hair will help the protein hair mask adhere better to each hair strand.
  3. Apply the protein product: Read through the product instructions before applying a protein hair treatment. Once familiar, take a specified amount and evenly distribute it throughout your hair. Work the treatment from the roots to the ends. Make sure all hair strands are coated.
  4. Massage: Leave the keratin treatment in your hair according to the product instructions. While you’re wasting, gently massage your scalp. Research shows that massage alone can help to increase hair thickness.[8]
  5. Rinse and condition: After the recommended treatment time has passed, rinse your hair thoroughly in lukewarm water. Make an effort to remove all residue. Next, follow up with a high-quality conditioner to protect[9] the surface of hair fibers.
  6. Style: After rinsing the conditioner out of your hair, start your normal styling routine. Applying heat-protectant products before using heated styling tools will help to protect dry and damaged hair further.

Protein Treatment For Hair Side Effects

While the best protein treatments can help to strengthen and protect hair, they can cause side effects in some users. It’s important to know the risks before using any hair product. The side effects of hair protein treatments include:

  • Allergic reaction: Keratin treatments can cause an allergic reaction[10] in some users. Additives such as formaldehyde can cause symptoms including skin redness, eye irritation, rash, coughing, and headache. Consult with your dermatologist before applying hair protein formulas to make sure they’re right for you.
  • Incompatibility with other products: Protein treatments may not work well alongside other products, including those that contain harsh chemicals. Read the product instructions to avoid using them with incompatible products.

The Takeaway

While research is lacking regarding protein treatments for hair growth, promising studies show these products can help to improve hair appearance and achieve healthy hair. Protein products can also help to boost volume and shine while working as a styling aid. Additives such as honey can also contribute to scalp health. Make sure to check with a dermatologist before applying protein products to make sure they’re right for you.


+ 10 sources

Health Canal avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic researches from medical associations and institutions. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Health Canal, you can read more about the editorial process here

  1. Rogers, G.E. (2019). Known and Unknown Features of Hair Cuticle Structure: A Brief Review. [online] 6(2), pp.32–32. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics6020032.
  2. Basit, A., Asghar, F., Saima Sadaf and M. Jaleel Akhtar (2018). Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31. [online] 20, pp.e00288–e00288. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00288.
  3. Tinoco, A., Costa, A., Salomé Luís and Ribeiro, A. (2021). Proteins as Hair Styling Agents. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351418090_Proteins_as_Hair_Styling_Agents.
  4. Bocian, A., Justyna Buczkowicz, Jaromin, M., Konrad Kamil Hus and Jaroslav Legáth (2019). An Effective Method of Isolating Honey Proteins. [online] 24(13), pp.2399–2399. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24132399.
  5. Ahmed, S., Siti Amrah Sulaiman, Atif Amin Baig, Ibrahim, M., Liaqat, S., Fatima, S., Jabeen, S., Shamim, N. and Nor Hayati Othman (2018). Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action. [online] 2018, pp.1–19. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/8367846.
  6. Burlando, B. and Cornara, L. (2013). Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review. [online] 12(4), pp.306–313. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12058.
  7. Hadi, H., Omar, S. and Ammar Awadh (2016). Honey, a Gift from Nature to Health and Beauty: A Review. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310435905_Honey_a_Gift_from_Nature_to_Health_and_Beauty_A_Review.
  8. Koyama, T., Kobayashi, K., Hama, T., Murakami, K. and Ogawa, R. (2016). Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue. Eplasty, [online] 16, p.e8. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/.
  9. Zhang, Y.-C., Alsop, R.J., Soomro, A., Yang, F.-C. and Rheinstädter, M.C. (2015). Effect of shampoo, conditioner and permanent waving on the molecular structure of human hair. [online] 3, pp.e1296–e1296. doi:https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1296.
  10. Fernanda, M., Mayra Carrijo Rochael, Guedes, A., Tanus, A. and Tosti, A. (2015). Eczema-Like Psoriasiform Skin Reaction due to Brazilian Keratin Treatment. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.1159/000442529.
Luke Sumpter

Medically reviewed by:

Kathy Shattler

Luke Sumpter is a writer and health science researcher with 8 years of experience specialising in the areas of health and fitness, nutrition, and musculoskeletal medicine. He holds a First Class Honours Bachelor's Degree in the Clinical Health Sciences and completed a dissertation exploring the emerging role of the endocannabinoid system in musculoskeletal medicine.

Medically reviewed by:

Kathy Shattler

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