Protein is the “Academy Award winner” of structure, but too much of a good thing can turn your curls into a blank and spooky mess of stiffness.
As dumb luck would have it, frequent use of protein-rich “gold dust” can leave your hair feeling rough and prone to snapping. This is the technical shift of protein overload: your hair has too much insurance and not enough flexibility. It becomes like orthochromatic film that has been over-developed—it loses its nuanced movement and becomes a ruddy mess. You need a technical shift toward moisture to assuage the insecurities of brittle strands and restore the “Flexible Greasepaint” bounce to your profile.
The prep is about rebalancing. If your curls feel like a studio-endorsed wig that has gone stiff, stop all protein treatments immediately. Mind the resistance when you stretch a strand; if it snaps without any “give,” you are in overload. Use a “slick lip coat” of moisture-heavy conditioner to bring back the glow. By adjusting your workday habits and focusing on hydration, you can ensure your curls capture the light from lash line to socket without the fear of breakage. Something I think we’re all still kind of into.
—Lauren Maas