15 DIY Protein Hair Masks & Treatments For Damaged Hair

DIY products, such as diy protein hair masks, may appear difficult to make or you may not feel like they work.

Yet, using simple diy hair masks can be a particularly effective way to cure your specific needs like hair breakage and heat damage.

While the shelves of the beauty supply store are stocked with a wide selection of ready-made masks to choose from, you can also make your own diy protein treatment at home using items you probably already have on hand, such as olive oil, ripe avocado, or greek yogurt.

Also, these homemade protein treatments can help with various issues, including dry hair and restoring brittle hair strands.

What Is A Protein Treatment?

A protein treatment is a specialized conditioning routine that infuses protein into the hair shaft, strengthening it from within.

Unlike a regular deep conditioner, which primarily adds moisture to the hair to restore elasticity, a protein treatment targets the cuticle layer, binding proteins to the hair strands. This is important because our hair is made up of chains of proteins.

This process strengthens the hair, reducing susceptibility to damage and breakage.

For natural hair, it’s important to alternate between deep conditioning treatments and protein treatments.

This balance helps maintain optimal protein-moisture levels, crucial for healthy hair.

While protein treatments are beneficial, avoiding overdoing them is vital, as excessive protein can cause protein overload.

I recommend incorporating a protein treatment into your routine once a month to avoid protein overload, which can lead to brittle hair and breakage.

By incorporating natural ingredients like olive oil, coconut milk, or almond oil, you can create homemade protein treatments tailored to your specific needs.

These DIY protein hair masks provide an excellent way to nourish and strengthen your hair, promoting overall health and vitality.

Benefits Of A Protein Treatment For Natural Hair

Protein treatments are effective in nourishing and softening natural hair by exfoliating dead cells from the scalp and replenishing essential proteins in the hair strands.

This process not only revitalizes the hair but also promotes thicker, longer, and healthier growth by adding extra body and volume to your natural locks.

Additionally, these treatments play a crucial role in reducing breakage, preventing split ends, and strengthening limp, brittle strands.

By restoring the natural balance of proteins, oils, and nutrients, protein treatments help maintain the overall health and vitality of your hair.

They work to ensure that your natural hair remains strong, resilient, and vibrant, promoting optimal growth and minimizing damage.

Do DIY Protein Hair Masks Actually Work?

Homemade hair masks can be effective, but they are sometimes not as beautifully made as salon-grade protein hair treatments.

While homemade hair masks may not be as effective as salon-grade hair masks, which are created specifically to target issues like color-treated hair, heat damage, or keratin bond strengthening, most experts believe that they may frequently be useful in between salon visits.

Without having to spend a fortune on salon-grade hair products, there are several natural ingredients you can use in an at-home mask to help improve the texture and health of your hair.

Homemade hair masks can work incredibly well if the ingredients are right and your hair is in good condition.

To prevent product buildup in your hair, you must, however, combine and strain very carefully.

Best Homemade Hair Masks For Protein Boost

Every main ingredient targets different needs, so there is a different ‘best protein treatment’ for different purposes:

To get the most out of these protein hair treatments, you have to first wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to unclog the cuticle I do not recommend using a co-wash before using any of these masks.

Coconut Milk and Olive Oil Mask

Ingredients: Coconut milk, olive oil

Directions: Mix equal parts coconut milk and olive oil to create a smooth paste.

Apply to damp hair, focusing on the ends. Leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

This mask deeply conditions the hair shaft, providing much-needed protein for healthier, stronger hair strands.

Avocado and Coconut Oil Mask

Ingredients: Ripe avocado, coconut oil

Directions: Mash one ripe avocado and mix with two tablespoons of coconut oil to form a thick paste. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Packed with essential fatty acids, this mask restores moisture and strengthens brittle hair.

Gelatin and Lavender Essential Oil Treatment

Ingredients: Gelatin, lavender essential oil

Directions: Mix one tablespoon of gelatin with a few drops of lavender essential oil and warm water to create a gel-like mixture. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Gelatin is a great way to strengthen the hair shaft, while lavender oil soothes the scalp and promotes overall hair health.

Greek Yogurt and Honey Hair Mask

Ingredients: Greek yogurt, honey

Directions: Mix equal parts Greek yogurt and honey. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

This protein-rich mask replenishes the hair’s natural protein, leaving it feeling soft and healthy.

Shea Butter and Castor Oil Treatment

Ingredients: Shea butter, castor oil

Directions: Melt equal parts shea butter and castor oil together. Apply to damp hair, focusing on the roots and ends.

Cover with a shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. For better effects, sit under a hooded dryer or use your blow dryer to apply heat.

This treatment strengthens the hair cuticle and prevents protein overload, leaving hair feeling smooth and hydrated, find out the benefits of castor oil for hair growth here.

Coconut Oil and Vitamin E Mask

Ingredients: Coconut oil, vitamin E oil

Directions: Mix two tablespoons of coconut oil with a few drops of vitamin E oil. I suggest warming this up to not only melt the coconut oil but to use it as a hot oil hair treatment.

Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Vitamin E promotes healthy hair growth, while coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to repair damage and improve overall hair health.

Egg Yolk and Almond Oil Treatment

Ingredients: Egg yolk, almond oil

Directions: Beat one egg yolk with a tablespoon of almond oil. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

Rich in amino acids, this treatment nourishes the hair follicles and promotes healthy hair growth.

Aloe Vera and Argan Oil Treatment

Ingredients: Aloe vera gel, argan oil

Directions: Mix equal parts aloe vera gel and argan oil. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

Aloe vera contains amino acids that strengthen the hair strands, while argan oil adds shine and prevents frizz.

Honey and Yogurt Protein Mask

Ingredients: Honey, yogurt

Directions: Mix equal parts honey and yogurt. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

This mask provides a protein boost to nourish and repair damaged hair, leaving it feeling soft and manageable.

Honey is also a humectant so it will draw moisture into your hair from your surroundings. So feel free to steam your hair while you let this mask sit to encourage moisture into your hair strands.

Avocado and Honey Protein Treatment

Ingredients: Avocado, honey

Directions: Mash one ripe avocado and mix with two tablespoons of honey. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

This protein-packed mask strengthens the hair strands and improves elasticity, leaving hair feeling soft and hydrated.

Olive Oil and Egg Protein Treatment

Ingredients: Olive oil, egg

Directions: Beat one egg and mix with two tablespoons of olive oil. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

This protein-rich treatment strengthens the hair shaft and promotes healthy hair growth, reducing the risk of hair loss.

Coconut Milk and Banana Mask

Ingredients: Coconut milk, ripe banana

Directions: Blend equal parts coconut milk and ripe banana to form a smooth paste. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals that nourish the hair follicles, while coconut milk provides much-needed protein to repair damage and improve hair health.

Yogurt and Lemon Juice Hair Pack

Ingredients: Yogurt, lemon juice

Directions: Mix equal parts yogurt and lemon juice. Apply to damp hair and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Lemon juice helps to remove product buildup and excess oil from the scalp, while yogurt provides essential nutrients to nourish and strengthen the hair.

Rice Water Rinse

Ingredients: Rice water

Directions: Leave uncooked rice in water overnight to collect the rice water. After shampooing, pour rice water onto damp hair and massage into the scalp. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

Rice water is rich in amino acids and vitamin B, nourishing the hair follicles and improving the hair’s elasticity.

If you want to read more on how to grow out your hair with rice water, I have a great blog post on it here.

Gelatin and Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment

Ingredients: Gelatin, apple cider vinegar

Directions: Mix one tablespoon of gelatin with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and warm water to create a gel-like mixture.

Apply to damp hair and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Apple cider vinegar helps to balance the scalp’s pH levels, while gelatin strengthens the hair strands and reduces the risk of protein overload.

These DIY protein hair treatments cater to various hair types and concerns, providing nourishment and strength to promote healthier, more vibrant hair.

Color-treated hair is vulnerable to damage, and this mask will help target even the worst color-related breakage. It’s made with eggs which contain protein, the building blocks of healthy hair.

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