Herbal Hair Protein Pack at Home: Strengthen Weak, Brittle Hair Naturally

Hair is made of keratin, a protein. Heat styling, colouring, sun, hard water and even rough towel drying break down this protein and leave the strands weak, porous and prone to breakage. A hair protein pack fills in those gaps temporarily and strengthens the hair so it stretches instead of snapping. Herbal protein packs do this using natural ingredients that nourish the scalp at the same time.

Signs your hair needs a protein pack

• Hair stretches a lot when wet and then breaks
• Feels limp, mushy or overly soft after washing
• Looks frizzy and dull even after conditioning
• Has a lot of split ends and short broken strands
• Has been coloured, straightened or heat styled regularly

If your hair feels stiff, dry and straw-like instead, it needs moisture rather than protein. Use a curd or aloe vera pack instead.

Herbal ingredients that provide protein and strength

• Methi (fenugreek) powder: rich in protein and nicotinic acid, strengthens roots and reduces hair fall
• Amla powder: vitamin C and tannins that bind to and protect the hair surface
• Hibiscus powder: amino acids that condition and add elasticity
• Bhringraj powder: supports scalp health and growth
• Curd: natural protein plus lactic acid for a healthy scalp
• Egg: the most concentrated natural protein for hair
• Rice water: starch and amino acids that smooth and strengthen

Recipe 1: Methi, amla and curd protein pack

• Two tablespoons of methi powder
• One tablespoon of amla powder
• Four tablespoons of curd
• Mix into a paste and let it rest for 15 minutes. Apply from roots to tips, leave for 30 to 40 minutes and wash with a mild shampoo or a reetha wash. Suitable for all hair types. Use once every two weeks.

Recipe 2: Hibiscus and egg protein pack for damaged hair

• One egg (whole for normal hair, white only for oily hair, yolk only for dry hair)
• Two tablespoons of hibiscus powder
• One tablespoon of honey
• Whisk well, apply on damp hair, cover with a shower cap and wait 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water first to avoid cooking the egg, then shampoo. Use once every two weeks.

Recipe 3: Rice water and bhringraj pack for fine hair

• Half a cup of fermented rice water
• One tablespoon of bhringraj powder
• One tablespoon of amla powder
• Mix into a thin paste, apply to the scalp and lengths, leave for 20 minutes and rinse. This is lighter than the other two and suits fine hair that gets weighed down easily. Use once a week.

How to apply a protein pack for best results

• Start with clean, damp hair so the pack can penetrate.
• Apply section by section, concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends where damage is worst.
• Cover with a shower cap or warm towel to open the cuticle.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and follow with a moisturising conditioner or a rose water rinse.

How often to use a protein pack

Too much protein makes hair stiff and brittle. Use a protein pack once every two weeks for damaged hair and once a month for maintenance. Alternate with a moisturising pack such as curd and honey or aloe vera and rose water.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using protein packs every week on healthy hair
• Rinsing egg packs with hot water
• Skipping conditioner afterwards
• Applying on an unwashed, oily scalp
• Expecting one pack to fix months of damage. Give it six to eight weeks.

Build your pack with pure herbal powders

The strength of a herbal protein pack depends on the quality of the powders. PurePetal Naturals makes chemical-free, paraben-free herbal powders for skin and hair in Ahmedabad. Our multani mitti is available now and we are adding hair powders like amla, hibiscus and methi to the range. Use pure, unmixed powders for the recipes above and your hair will feel the difference.