Straw Hair From Protein Overload: What Is It, How To Treat It, And Keys To Preventing It!

Hair is something majority of humans have, with the biggest chunk more than likely being on their head. We do what we can to maintain it and keep our locks healthy, but sometimes despite our best efforts you can be left with "straw hair".

"Straw hair" is simply a term people use to describe hair that literally feels like straw. Dry, brittle, and hard. It can be a shock when you first notice it, especially if you've been taking all the precautions you can to avoid exactly that. The good news is you don't necessarily need to chop of your hair or curl up in a ball, you simply need to adjust your routine and learn a little something about "protein overload". 

If you're noticing that your hair is starting to act up, shed more than usual, or [shockingly] feel like rough straw when it air drys, you're probably suffering from protein overload. Another sign you can use to test this theory, is when it's wet (more often in the shower after you've shampooed) and it feels as if its slick with an overly silk feeling, you're almost sure to have this problem. Again there's no need to run to the salon begging for help. This happens because you're [most likely] using too many products on your hair that have protein in them, causing a build-up on your locks. First know this, fixing your hair IS NOT something that will take place overnight. You CAN fix it, just don't freak out if you're still experiencing the agitation the next day. It can literally take somewhere between 2 weeks to almost 6 months. 

Yes it's frustrating, but if you aren't keen on rocking a bob this summer, you may want to consider this helpful routine. 

For starters, you need to do a purge on all your hair stuff and get rid of anything containing protein. This can be a little difficult, as protein can be disguised as many different names on hair products. A few - more common - names would be:

- silk protein
- amino acids
- hydrolyzed collagen
- oat flour

Along with anything else that is attached to the word "protein". 

This may leave you with absolutely nothing for your hair or perhaps an item or two left, but trust me it's going to be worth it. 

Now that you aren't putting your hair at risk anymore, you're going to need to cleanse everything off your hair. Start with a cleansing/clarifying shampoo to get rid of any build up. Again this isn't a one day process, as the amount of build up usually consists of a good chunky layer, seeing as how you're noticing the build up so "severely". 

As for conditioning, you may want to stick with natural conditioners as this is going to be the best bet for ridding any chance of counteracting against your cleansing. I recommend a honey avocado mask, but avoid coconut oil (it will only worsen the situation). Another option would to be indeed go to a beauty supply shop and talk to the beauticians there, to get advice on a protein free conditioner. Personally I do the DIY style, but I've heard Garnier's Whole Blends Honey Treasures works wonders and is completely protein free. I'd double check your conditioners if you aren't doing the DIY way. 

As for leave-in conditioners, styling products, and moisturizers, make sure they don't have any proteins in them and avoid too many oils that will only hurt your process. When it comes to moisturizing, I recommend using products that have aloe vera in them, as this will help lock in the moisture without adding to your issues. When it comes to styling, quite frankly I really recommend avoiding any excessive heat or manipulation. It can cause breakage and again, it won't help your cause. 

With diligence and conscientious decisions on what you put on your hair and how you take care of your hair, within due time you'll be greeted with a breath of fresh life reborn into your locks. Going from straw to soft will make the hard work worth it!