All protein treatments are not created equal. There's no need to overdose on the protein if your hair is in good shape. Even if you're experiencing a small amount of breakage or some loss of elasticity, you don't need the same type of protein treatment that benefits someone whose hair is breaking off in big clumps. See which protein you should use to develop and maintain a healthy head of hair.

Light Protein Treatments

Look for protein-containing reconstructing treatments for routine care.

These may be helpful if you have relaxed hair and/or color treat your hair. You can apply these two to three times per month, but they must be balanced with moisturizing conditioners to prevent dryness and breakage. Too much protein will leave your hair feeling brittle and crunchy. A good at-home regimen for controlling breakage, particularly if you color, relax, texturize or heat style your hair on a regular basis, is to try:

Alternate either one of these protein treatments with a deep conditioner. If your hair is really breaking off, use a treatment after every shampoo until your hair has more elasticity and you're experiencing less breakage.

Protein Treatments For Serious Damage

If your hair is breaking off due to severe chemical damage, you'll need an intensive protein treatment to save what you can. This will probably require a salon visit, where a stylist may need to use a product like ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment. For at-home protein treatments, try a product like Nexxus Emergencee (buy on Amazon).

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These treatments are designed for severe breakage and should not be used more than once every six to eight weeks. They will halt most breakage, but your hair may still be too damaged to save. It can be very hard to face the fact that you need a major cut, but it's important to get rid of as much damage as possible as soon as you can.
Not only will your hair look better, but it also gives you a fresh start and a chance to improve your mane's health with proactive care.

Protein Cautions

If protein treatments help to maintain strong tresses, why do you need to use them sparingly? The ingredients that strengthen your hair and fill in cuticle gaps can be drying, and overdoing it on the protein -- especially while not applying enough moisture in the form of regular, deep conditioning -- can lead to brittle hair. You should always follow up protein treatments with moisturizing conditioners, preferably a deep conditioning treatment.

It's also very important to make sure you're using the right treatment for your needs and to follow the instructions carefully. You don't want to use an intense product if you're only trying to maintain your color-treated tresses. As long as you stick to a treatment that's perfect for your particular needs, you should be fine in keeping your mane healthy and strong.