Sometimes, our strands let us know when they’re struggling, and protein treatments can be the solution. Your hair naturally contains protein, but some of our everyday habits can deplete its levels. Ahead is a list of clear signs that your hair needs a protein treatment to restore vitality to your locks.

1. Your Hair Feels Overly Stretchy When Wet

Healthy hair should have some elasticity, but an excessive stretch indicates protein loss. Normal hair will extend to about a third of its length before returning to normal. Hair needing a protein treatment will stretch much further and feel almost rubber-like.

This excessive elasticity often develops after chemical treatments like bleaching. The stretchy feeling becomes especially noticeable during washing or detangling sessions. You might find yourself being very gentle because your hair feels fragile.

2. Your Curls Have Lost Their Shape and Definition

Curly hair relies heavily on protein bonds to maintain its natural pattern. When these proteins break down, loose curls make your hair undefined and lackluster. You might notice your usual curl pattern looks different or refuses to hold its shape.

Many people with curly hair experience a lack of shape and definition after swimming in chlorinated pools or spending time in harsh weather conditions. The curl pattern might appear stretched or completely straight in some sections. Your tried-and-true styling routine might stop working too.

3. Your Hair Breaks Easily During Styling

Protein gives hair its structural strength, so depleted levels lead to increased breakage. You might notice more hair in your brush than usual or see short, broken pieces around your hairline. This breakage often occurs during routine activities like brushing, styling, or even just running your fingers through your hair.

The breakage typically occurs at the mid-shaft or ends of your hair. You’ll see these broken pieces as shorter strands that stick out at odd angles from your longer hair. Heat styling becomes particularly damaging when your hair lacks adequate protein protection.

4. Your Hair Color Fades Faster Than Expected

Protein helps lock in hair color by maintaining the integrity of the cuticle. The cuticle becomes more porous when protein levels drop, and color might look dull or washed out just weeks after your salon visit.

This fading happens regardless of whether you use color-safe shampoos or avoid excessive heat styling. The compromised hair structure simply cannot hold onto color molecules effectively. You might have to book touch-ups more frequently than before just to maintain your color.

5. Your Hair Feels Mushy or Gummy When Wet

This texture change signals your hair is severely missing protein. Your hair might feel almost slimy or sticky when wet, completely different from its normal texture. The mushiness indicates your hair’s protein-moisture balance has shifted too far toward moisture.

This gummy feeling often develops gradually, so you might not notice it immediately. Many people mistake this for normal wet hair texture until they compare it to how their hair used to feel.

6. Your Hair Won’t Hold Styles Anymore

Protein provides the structure that helps hair maintain volume, waves, and other styled looks. Without adequate protein, your hair might fall flat within hours of styling. Curls drop out quickly, and strong-hold products can’t provide lasting results.

You might notice that hairstyles you could easily achieve before now seem impossible. Your hair appears to reject styling efforts and returns to a limp, shapeless state. Even professional blowouts might not last as long as they used to.

7. Your Hair Tangles Easily

Healthy hair cuticles must allow strands to glide easily past each other. Protein-depleted hair has raised, damaged cuticles that catch onto neighboring strands and get tangled. They can form quickly and feel more stubborn than normal.

You might spend more time detangling your hair during washing and styling routines. The tangles often occur repeatedly in the same problem areas, especially at the nape of your neck or around your ears.

8. Your Hair Looks Dull Despite Using Shine Products

Protein helps create smooth, shiny hair surfaces that naturally catch and reflect light. When protein levels drop, the hair cuticle turns rough, preventing proper light reflection. Your hair might look matte immediately after washing and styling.

Dullness can also persist regardless of how many glossing treatments or shine serums you apply. Protein treatments help rebuild the internal structure that gives hair its natural shine and appeal. The restored protein bonds allow individual strands to maintain their shape and reflectivity.

9. Your Hair Feels Limp and Lacks Volume

Protein gives individual hair strands the strength to stand away from your scalp and maintain body. Without adequate protein, your hair might feel heavy and flat against your head. Volume-boosting products provide minimal lift because your hair lacks internal structure. This limpness affects all hair types but becomes especially noticeable in fine or thin hair. Your hair might look greasy and lack body, making your hair appear less healthy.

10. Your Hair Has Become More Porous

High porosity in hair means your strands absorb moisture quickly and lose it just as fast. You might notice your hair feels dry and thirsty soon after washing it. Hair products seem to disappear into your strands without providing any sort of benefit.

The increased porosity develops when protein loss creates gaps and holes in the hair cuticle. These openings allow moisture to enter and exit freely, making it difficult to maintain proper hydration levels.

These clear signs that your hair needs a protein treatment tend to appear together, creating a cascade of issues that you want to protect yourself from. Recognizing these warning signs enables you to take action before needing major work to restore your hair to its former luster.

Protein treatments fill gaps in damaged hair cuticles and rebuild broken protein bonds within the hair shaft. IT Hair Products offers professional hair care products designed to address various levels of protein depletion. To find the right treatment schedule for you, allow us to help you evaluate your hair’s current condition and regular styling routine.