But here’s the catch: Protein isn’t something you can use freely. Overdo it, and your hair swings in the opposite direction, becoming stiff, rough, and brittle. So it’s imperative to choose the right formula for your curl type and damage level, and use it for the correct amount of time. Because this topic can be intimidating, we asked two hairstylists to break down the dos and don’ts and identify the best hair protein treatments for curly hair. Plus, we tossed in some tried-and-true picks from Allure editors’ hair-care routines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask
Why we love it: When your hair has been pushed to its limit from bleach, color, or constant heat, Cécred’s Best of Beauty-winning Reconstructing Treatment Mask delivers a deep, structural reset. Its patent-pending bioactive keratin ferment, a blend of lactobacillus, hydrolyzed wool keratin, and honey, fills in the micro-cracks left by chemical or thermal damage, reducing breakage and restoring elasticity after just one use. Hydrolyzed rice protein helps defend against split ends, while sea buckthorn oil and squalane cushion the cuticle, so strengthening does not lead to stiffness.
Nashville-based hairstylist Krystal Marie says it “truly helps to repair structural damage and improve the look and feel of hair,” especially for anyone recovering from chemical treatments or regular heat-styling. For best results, she advises “separating freshly shampooed hair into four sections, working the product from ends to midshaft, and processing under a hooded dryer with a cap for 20 minutes before rinsing.”
“When it comes to hair masks, I have to be extra selective because having locs means anything too drying or heavy can cause my locs to snap off. Brittle strands can lead to breakage, and lingering residue can cause buildup, odor, or worse, mold. Cécred’s Reconstructing Treatment Mask passed the test for me. Applied after shampoo and before conditioner, its formula rinses out cleanly, and I experienced way less shedding. My locs felt stronger, looked smoother, and had a subtle oud scent that wasn’t overbearing.” —Jailynn Taylor, contributor
This is not a conditioner. It is a repair step used before conditioning, and the temporary stiff feel you get post-rinse is due to protein deposition. Follow with a conditioner to soften the hair.
- Key ingredients: bioactive keratin ferment, hydrolyzed rice, sea buckthorn oil
- Who it’s for: chemically treated, heat-damaged, or severely weakened hair
Best for Brittle Strands: Amika The Kure Intense Strength Repair Mask
Why we love it: Brittleness occurs when hair loses both moisture and structure, and Amika’s The Kure Intense Strength Repair Mask restores both in one step. A blend of mango, shea, and borage butters works with vegan proteins to help hair retain its shape, resist snapping, and replenish lipids lost to heat and color. Marie calls it a “one-two punch,” explaining, “This product improves strength and imparts moisture at the same time, so it’s ideal for those who don’t want to spend a lot of extra time with multiple products on wash day to give their hair the strength it needs.” She recommends applying it “to wet hair from the ends up to the mid-shaft and allowing it to process without heat for 10 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.” Because of its balanced formula, Marie adds, “this product can be used weekly, making it ideal as a regular maintenance product for highly porous hair.”
“I’m a huge fan of Amika in general and tend to use the brand’s Hydro Rush products for everyday use; but because I so often heat-style my hair (we’re talking blow-dryer brushes, blow-dryers, and curling irons), keeping Amika’s The Kure on standby is nonnegotiable. It’s almost like a healthy hair trim in a pot, and it makes my split ends look renewed and my hair smoother and more hydrated overall. A little goes a long way since the product is super creamy and thick—I can cover my whole head with just a little scoop. It smells delicious, and even when I don’t leave it on for the full ten minutes (I tend to just do five because who has the time??), my hair still feels super soft and bouncy afterwards.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
Animal-derived proteins, for example, keratin sourced from wool, bond more tightly to hair because they closely mimic the protein already in the strand, which can make hair feel rigid or overloaded if used too often. Vegan proteins reinforce more flexibly at the surface, supporting weak areas without creating that stiff, brittle effect.
- Key ingredients: plant butters, vegan proteins
- Who it’s for: damaged, breakage-prone, dry hair
Best Leave-In Treatment: Matrix Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray
Matrix
Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray
Why we love it: Matrix’s Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray targets damage where it shows up first, in the mid-lengths and ends. Liquid protein and provitamin B5 help fill in over-porous areas of the cuticle, making hair smoother, less prone to breakage, and easier to style. Hairstylist Annagjid “Kee” Taylor calls it “a must-have for strengthening over-processed hair while keeping it lightweight and smooth,” especially for dryness, chemical damage, or heat stress. She suggests applying it “on damp hair before styling to detangle, protect, and leave strands feeling strong and healthy.” Because the formula is feather-light and pH-balancing, it can be misted on weekly without buildup, making it ideal for fragile hair that needs reinforcing without weight.
Tester feedback from Taylor
“I limit how often I use traditional hair masks because they drag out my already long wash routine—applying, waiting, rinsing, and then trying to squeeze in a leave-in afterward is just too much, which is why Matrix’s Instacure Anti-Breakage Porosity Spray has become a game-changer for my locs. The spray goes on evenly, and I don’t have to rinse it out, so I get the benefits of a treatment without adding more steps or time to wash day. Since my locs are high-porosity and tend to show damage first at the mid-lengths, the formula allows for snapping, and is easier to retie and maintain.” —Jailynn Taylor, contributor
- Key ingredients: liquid protein, provitamin B5, hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Who it’s for: dry, brittle, over-porous, high-porosity hair
Best for Quick Repair: Dove Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask
Dove
Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask
Why we love it: Dove’s Intensive Repair 10-in-1 Serum Hair Mask, a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Winner, is engineered for people who need repair on a clock. It delivers a noticeable change in softness and strength in the same minute you would normally use conditioner. Instead of sitting on top of the hair, the formula uses bio-protein care and glutamic amino serum to feed the fiber with usable amino acids that help refill structural gaps, while ceramides and conditioning agents smooth the cuticle so strands bend without snapping. The texture is dense and clingy, so it stays in contact long enough to work even in a short window, making it ideal for weekly “triage” when hair is showing clear signs of breakage, dullness, or post-color fatigue.
“My bleached, gray, perimenopausal, very thirsty hair loves nothing more than a tall drink of the Dove 10-in-1 Serum Mask. Whenever I use it in place of my regular conditioner, my hair dries smooth and feels silky.” —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
- Key ingredients: glutamic amino serum, ceramides, coconut oil
- Who it’s for: damaged, chemically processed hair
Best for Chemical Damage: Redken Extreme Cat Treatment
Redken
Extreme Cat Treatment
Why we love it: Bleach, relaxers, perms, and repeated color all strip away the internal support that keeps a strand from snapping, and Redken’s Extreme Cat Anti-Damage Protein Reconstructing Rinse-Off Treatment is formulated for that specific kind of damage. It uses strengthening ingredients, such as hydrolyzed wheat protein, that cling to weakened zones to provide temporary structure. Arginine and taurine work deeper to support the hair’s internal strength, so chemically stressed areas are less likely to give way under tension. Because the treatment is weightless and rinses clean, it can slot into a weekly routine without interfering with conditioner or causing buildup, making it realistic for already fragile, chemically compromised hair that cannot tolerate thick coatings.
Hydrolyzed wheat protein is wheat protein that has been broken down into smaller fragments so it can actually attach to damaged areas of the hair shaft. Instead of just coating the surface, these smaller pieces act as temporary fillers, improving strength, smoothness, and elasticity without adding weight.
- Key ingredients: hydrolyzed wheat protein, arginine, taurine
- Who it’s for: chemically damaged, repeatedly processed hair
Best for Frizzy Hair: Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner
Hask
Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner
Why we love it: Frizz is usually a sign that the cuticle is raised and unprotected, and Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner is a cheap but genuinely effective way to bring that surface back under control. The formula relies on keratin to smooth and reinforce the outer layer so strands lie flatter, while jojoba seed oil adds slip and seals in moisture to prevent frizz once hair dries. Hask “helps repair and smooth damaged hair while restoring shine and strength,” Taylor says, adding that it’s especially great “for anyone who uses heat often or has chemically treated hair that needs a weekly moisture boost.” The single-use packet makes it easy to use before a big event or after a rough wash day, and for best results, Taylor recommends, “apply after shampooing, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse for softer, more manageable hair.”
- Key ingredients: keratin, jojoba seed oil, coconut oil
- Who it’s for: frizzy, over-processed hair
Best for Tighter Curls: SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment
SheaMoisture
Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment
Why we love it: Because 3B to 4C curls are structurally fragile at every bend, the formulas that work best are those that pad the strand and fortify it before manipulation. That’s where SheaMoisture’s Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment comes in. A blend of shea butter, mafura oil, and baobab oil delivers dense, rich emollience that glides through coils, easing tangles and reducing friction-related breakage. Meanwhile, manuka honey and yogurt proteins help replenish strength where curls are most prone to bending stress, supporting elasticity and bounce. “It’s great for anyone who is dealing with breakage, dryness, or heat damage,” Taylor notes, recommending you use it “on damp hair, either under a steamer or in a cap, to let it really penetrate,” noting that “the results are always silky, shiny, and healthy-looking.”
For kinkier textures, apply it in sections and rake with your fingers instead of a brush or comb so the butters and proteins absorb without added tension stress.
- Key ingredients: manuka honey, yogurt protein, shea butter
- Who it’s for: dry, tightly coiled hair (3B to 4C)
Frequently asked questions
How do you know when you need to use a protein mask?
Marie explains that “hair strands that lack protein will often feel mushy or gummy when wet and pop/break easily when stretched or manipulated,” and she describes “boneless” hair that behaves like overcooked pasta as another clear indicator. Taylor adds that “you can tell it’s time for a protein mask when hair starts feeling weak, stretchy, or breaks easily when brushing or styling,” and notes that hair that looks dull and refuses to hold a style even when moisturized is another sign.
How often should you use a protein mask?
There isn’t one universal schedule. The cadence should change with the state of your hair. Marie explains that frequency is tied to what the hair is showing you, noting that “those with healthy, color-treated or chemically processed hair may only need to use a protein mask every other month,” while “those whose hair strands resemble the description above may need to opt for monthly treatments to strengthen and restore hair health.” Taylor aligns with that sliding scale, saying “for most people, once or twice a month is enough to keep hair strong without overloading it,” and adds that “if your hair is chemically treated or heat-styled often, you might use it weekly until it feels healthier.”
What are the earliest red flags of protein overload you tell clients to watch for?
Protein overload shows up in the feel and behavior of the hair before anything else. Marie warns that “hair that has started to feel rough or straw-like or is perpetually frizzy to the point that curls lack definition has likely experienced protein overload,” adding that “excessively dry, brittle hair that breaks easily and behaves like that of an uncooked pasta noodle” is another clear cue. Taylor points to the same shift in texture, noting that “the earliest signs of protein overload are when hair feels stiff, rough, or dry instead of soft and manageable,” and explains that if “hair feels brittle or lacks movement,” it is time to pull back on protein and reintroduce hydration.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best protein treatments for curly hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists who have curly hair and/or experience working with curly-haired clients. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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