Why Eggs & Mayo DON’T Work as a Natural Protein Treatment
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- June 10, 2014
There are so many ingredients in our food, body, and hair products that we cannot readily comprehend or even pronounce. They sound complicated and seem scientific for day-to-day usage, and some women have chosen to avoid these long scientific words entirely by sticking to natural products and ingredients. That is certainly a viable route, but it is important to be knowledgeable about even these natural ingredients so that you can make informed decisions about what you’re placing on your hair and body.
Take for example, the popular eggs and mayonnaise treatments you have probably heard of, maybe even tried.
“The protein in eggs are too large to fit into the hair shaft.”
Although the word “hydrolysis” may sound complex and unnatural, it is a process that can help prolong the health of your ends and overall health of your hair.
Hydrolysis is the decomposition that changes a compound into other smaller compounds by taking up the elements of water. In other words, the compound has undergone a chemical breakdown due to a reaction with water, which is conducted by cosmetic chemist in a lab. By hydrolyzing the protein it becomes small enough to fill into the cracks of your hair’s shaft.
90% of your hair is keratin protein. The protein we consume aids in creating keratin protein for your skin and hair, and once the hair emerges from its follicle what you consume no longer affects its appearance. Here’s where we see the damage as a result of our manipulation from styling, maintenance, heat usage, sun exposure, weather elements, and dyes. We can temporarily replace that chipped away keratin using hair products containing the smaller, hydrolyzed proteins that absorb into the hair’s cortex and fills in those chipped spaces.
Keratin is the strongest protein found in hair products and it will strengthen all layers of the hair in the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. Hydrolyzed protein is important because it penetrates the hair shaft and reduces the breakage. Due to the moisture binding capabilities of hydrolyzed keratin protein, your hair’s moisture content increases and restores your hair’s body, luster, and manageability.
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein (most popular in hair products)
- Hydrolyzed oat protein
- Hydrolyzed silk protein
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Hydrolyzed quinoa
- Hydrolyzed collagen
WHAT HYDROLYZED PROTEIN WILL NOT DO
This isn’t the magic ingredient that will eliminate the need for trims. Also, hydrolyzed keratin protein is not a permanent fix for damaged hair or split ends. The protein is merely temporarily attached to the hair, and will eventually rinse away. These products will only decrease the frequency at which you may need a trim, given the damage does not compromise it’s effectiveness.
