SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop
Home • Ingredients

DIY Protein Treatments

Share this Article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
DIY Protein Treatments
By Sabrina Perkins · Updated January 8, 2015

woman with curly natural hair

If you love taking a do-it-yourself approach, you are in good company. Lots of naturalistas create their own hair treatments at home and get great results for their curls, but there is one to stay away from for the sake of your curls. While DIY protein treatments are all the rage, they aren’t an effective means to an end for hair. Let’s take a closer look at why you may want to skip those DIY protein treatments.

What are proteins?

Medical News Today defines proteins as large molecules consisting of amino acids that our bodies and the cells within them need to function properly. They are important to our existence, as our body structures, functions, and regulation of the body’s cells, tissues, and organs could not exist without them! Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Amino acids are necessary in the body’s processes for healthy skin and hair, as they simply encourage the growth of stronger hair when in conjunction with a healthy diet.

What foods are rich in protein?

The obvious choices for ensuring your hair has enough protein through your diet are options such as lean meats, seafood, and eggs. These items are high in the protein your hair needs to stay healthy and strong. If you are a vegetarian, there are still ways to get that all-important protein. Protein can be found in legumes, lentils, tofu, black beans, and certain vegetables like broccoli and spinach. It should be noted that the best way to give your hair protein is through your diet as opposed to topical solutions because the body has an easier time absorbing proteins through natural digestion.

How do you get proteins into your hair?

Article continues after video.

The best way is through a proper diet but you can supplement through hair products, especially if your diet is not up to snuff. Yolanda Anderson, M.Ed. (Chemistry”> explains that proteins like keratin and collagen are extremely large and need to be broken down so they can be absorbed by hair. That process is called hydrolysis and cannot be done at home, but rather in a lab.

What is hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is a type of chemical reaction where one reactant will create at least two (or more”> products and, according to Dr. Anderson, is a decomposition reaction. Water is used because hydrolysis literally means reaction with water. A larger molecule is cleaved into two or more parts by the addition of a molecule of water. Hydrolysis allows the hair to benefit from proteins by breaking them down so they can be absorbed and aid the hair.

6 Proteins that need to be hydrolyzed

Here are some proteins that are able to support the hair because of hydrolysis.

  • Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein will greatly increase the hair’s ability to retain moisture, add volume, and reduce hair’s porosity while improving its smoothness.
  • Hydrolyzed Silk Protein forms a crystalline protective barrier because it is derived from silk, one of the strongest natural fibers in the world. It will improve your hair’s elasticity, resiliency, and increase the shine.
  • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein is a water soluble protein derived from soy that will strengthen and mend hair fibers. It increases hair’s ability to hold moisture while adding shine and smoothness.
  • Hydrolyzed Milk Protein is a hydrolysate of milk protein derived by acid, enzyme, or another method of hydrolysis that moisturizes, nourishes, and improves the manageability of the hair while adding gloss and texture.
  • Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein revitalizes hair’s natural protective layer while rebuilding its strength and returning the elasticity to the strands. The damages from harsh chemicals are greatly reduced.
  • Hydrolyzed Collagen Protein derives from bovine bone and cartilage. This protein will temporarily bond to the hair and increase its resistance to breakage under tension.

Most proteins are too large to be effective, so hydrolysis is necessary for them to be broken down and absorb to your hair shaft, which is why the popular eggs and mayonnaise DIY protein treatments may not do what you think. It sounds complicated but the work is done for you in the lab when added to your hair products. It is a safe practice and widely used and accepted, so when you see it on a label know it is done to help strengthen your hair.

Products with hydrolyzed proteins

  • Jane Carter Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo
  • Oyin Handmade Honey Hemp Conditioner
  • Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment
  • Karen’s Body Beautiful Hold It Hair Gel w/ Argan Oil
[prodmod]

Read More

How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Beauty
How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Beauty
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women ...
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
Curly
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My Curls
Curly
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My...
Why Deep Conditioning is A Must This Winter
Shop
Why Deep Conditioning is A Must This Winter
Home • Curl Products

Mousse 101: Who Should Use It, and Who Shouldn’t

What do you think of when you hear the word "mousse?"
Share this Article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Mousse 101: Who Should Use It, and Who Shouldn’t
By Cristina Cleveland · Updated December 19, 2024

Let’s play a game. What do you think of when you hear the word “mousse?” If you’re anything like me, it may bring up associations with crunchy curls, the 80s, and drying alcohols, but you should know that things have changed. Hairstyles, techniques, brands, and product formulas have all evolved since the days of teased, crispy curls. But because we still get flashbacks when we pick up a bottle of mousse, we spoke with a few curly hair experts about when to use mousse, who should be using mousse today – and who shouldn’t. 

Why use a mousse?

Brooke Michie, curl stylist and owner of Lyric Salon in Austin, Texas, first made me reconsider mousse when she used it in Grace’s wavy hair transformation. She loves using mousse on her curly haired clients because it’s “easy to apply, economical per use, has buildable coverage and hold, and can be layered with so many other types of products.”

What hairstyles is mousse best for?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maya Smith and Brian Smith (@ouidoux)

Image Source: @ouidoux

Maya Smith, International Master of Natural Curls and founder of The Doux®, a haircare line she created specifically for naturally curly hair, says mousse can be used for “any style that requires definition and light hold. It can be used not only to set wash & go’s, but for twist outs and rod sets as well.”

As I’ve been starting to experiment with mousse more, I’ve wondered if I can use it on my dry hair as a refresher on second-day hair. According to Maya, “Mousse is best applied to wet hair for Wash & Go styling, but it can also be used to set a dry twist-out and to redefine the curl pattern. I wouldn’t recommend using it to replenish moisture on next-day hair.” 

What causes that crunch?

Mousse 101: Who Should Use It, and Who Shouldn’t

Maya says, “It’s common for mousse to be combined with gel or cream because most mousse on the market contain alcohol to make the hair dry faster. They are also polymer-rich, which creates a sticky coating on the hair, much like a hairspray. This can leave hair feeling dry and stiff. We formulated our Mousse Def as an all-in-one solution for this problem. It creates the shine and definition of a mousse, yet leaves hair soft and touchable with no flaking.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by T H E D O U X (@ilovethedoux)

What are some ingredients to watch out for?

Maya recommends watching out for ingredients such as sodium laurel sulfate (SLS, Isopropyl, and Prolyene, which “have been found to cause breakage and dry out your hair). The best way to achieve healthy hair is to have that balance between protein and moisture.”

Who should use mousse?

Article continues after video.
Image Source: @nehachudaryy

Brooke says it depends on the mousse, “lightweight, airy mousse or foam is great for wavy hair. Denser mousse is great for 2s and 3s and as a thin layer of added hold for more definition over a moisture foundation for well-hydrated 4s even!” For Maya, it depends on the hairstyle: “I recommend mousse for hair up to Type 4B, depending on the desired results.”

Article continues after video.
https://www.tiktok.com/@therachelhodge/video/7415783715244100906?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7319876376193680927
Image Source: @therachelhodge
Article continues after video.

But before you rule mousse out for your Type 4C coils, Gerilyn Hayes, NaturallyCurly Senior Copywriter, loves using mousse on her 4C wash and go (like Camille Rose Spiked Honey Mousse). “I use about 5-6 pumps of mousse in my hair after shampooing and conditioning. I do this because I want to make sure that I’m starting with a clean scalp and curls that are free from any other previous products. And because my curls are very coarse and need lots of hydration, I make sure that my curls are soaked with water (which is why the shower is great for applying mousse to my hair).

Mousse 101: Who Should Use It, and Who Shouldn’t

To avoid product and water getting into my eyes, I flip my head over and scrunch my curls’ ends to my scalp. Although I do not have a lot of length, I still use this ends-to-root scrunching method to get the optimal curl definition. Sometimes I rake the mousse through my curls and then wrap them in a scarf, giving them more shine. Although rake versus scrunching may look similar to any onlooker, the textural differences are apparent to me!” 

Who shouldn’t use mousse? 

“Curls with moisture as the number one priority,” says Brooke, “or those who don’t need a product with general hold, but seek more of a product/product combo to hydrate than seal.” So if your curls are thirsty and your top priority is moisture, then you may want to opt for something like the LOC Method, which layers a leave-in for moisture, an oil to seal in the moisture, and then a cream for hold.

When to use mousse

Mousse 101: Who Should Use It, and Who Shouldn’t

Brooke prefers “the lightest weight mousse (she loves Bread Beauty Supply Hair Foam) in wavy hair for primary, general hold,” and this is how she recommends applying it:

  1. On freshly rinsed detangled hair in the shower, glaze a small amount over the surface area of the hair.
  2. Then flip and glaze another small amount over the underneath surface area.
  3. Then, apply the majority of it via scrunching and distribute it in your palms, making sure not to flatten the airiness of the foam.
  4. Before scrunching the ends of the hair up toward the scalp with a flat palm into a clenched fist motion, rotating your head to reach curls on either side.
APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
Amazon
APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
SHOP NOW
Top Product.
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
Briogeo
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
SHOP NOW
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
Target
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
SHOP NOW
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
Lanolips
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
SHOP NOW
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
Amazon
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
SHOP NOW
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
Amazon
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
SHOP NOW
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
Amazon
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
SHOP NOW
Curlsmith  Shake + Shine
Amazon
Curlsmith Shake + Shine
SHOP NOW

If you’re using a denser foam and need more moisture, Brooke recommends applying it:

Article continues after video.
https://www.tiktok.com/@curlswithkeish/video/7363000653024677152?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7319876376193680927
Image Source: @curlsbykeish
  • Once a leave-in or moisture foundation is either combed through or scrunched in sopping wet hair.
  • Then add a little denser mousse by finger combing detangled sections, or for longer curls, scrunching as above. 

“This will create a cast of hold,” says Brooke, but before you worry about the crunch, remember you need to break that cast by scrunching out the crunch. “Release the cast once hair is fully dry by touching curls gently, or scrunching once more to release the wet-looking hold that was necessary during the drying process to maximize definition.”

Interested in trying a mousse? Check out the Best of The Best Styling Products 2024 options for your curls, waves, and coils.

OUR EDITORS INDEPENDENTLY SELECT ALL PRODUCTS FEATURED ON NATURALLYCURLY. HOWEVER, WE MAY EARN AN AFFILIATE COMMISSION WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING THROUGH OUR RETAIL LINKS.

Read More

How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Beauty
How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Beauty
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women ...
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
Curly
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My Curls
Curly
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My...
A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating Peekaboo Highlights With Clip-Ins
Shop
A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating Peekaboo Highlights With Cl...
Company Information
  • Customer Service
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Subscribe
  • Newsletters
FOLLOW US
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop