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Protein can help with bringing back moisture and help the overall health of your hair. However, there are some cases where using hair products with protein can actually make them brittle due to protein overload! That is why I have decided to try out some of the best protein-free deep conditioners on the market and reviewed the 10 best of them! If your hair faces protein overload, these products will help offset those issues!
1. Best Overall – Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Protein-Free
Specification
- Hair Type: Type 2 and above
- Item Form and Package: Cream-like oil; Tub
- Material Type Free: Paraben, sulfates, paraffin, mineral oil, dye, and synthetic fragrance-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz. (240 ml)
- Scent: Mongongo and coconut oil smell
Description
For when you have a protein overload on your hair, it is time to use the Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Protein-Free to help solve all your problems!
Features
For thick hair: repairs and hydrates even the thickest coiled hair
Protein-sensitivity: for those that have too much protein in their hair
Oil goodness: penetrate even the stubbornest of hair cuticles and keep it hydrated
How to use
There are two ways you can use this product. One is where you rinse out the product after leaving it on for 15 to 30 minutes. To do that, first shampoo your hair and cleanse it thoroughly. Then apply a bit of the conditioner on a comb and spread it on your hair starting from the ends and working your way to the roots. After 15 minutes, wash the conditioner away. For the best results, I have found that letting the hair soak in a bit of steam from your shower can really help the conditioner absorb into your hair.
For an overnight mask, you will need to apply it to the hair and cover it with a plastic or silk shower cap. In the morning, wash away the conditioner and pat dry your hair, no heat should be applied.
Expert Verdict
Protein sensitivity and overload are two of the worst things that can happen to your hair. It will be brittle, lose its elasticity, and cause breakage. Luckily, the Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Protein-Free is exactly the product to repair your hair and make it remain balanced! The oil in the cream is wonderful and keeps the hair nicely hydrated, correcting all the flaws of too much protein. If you have curly or coiled hair, you are in luck! It gives the curls a really nice definition and protects them after you have permed it. The heat defense this cream has makes sure that the hair is not frizzing in humidity or high temperature. And the shine that it gives is mighty fine as well! However, with all that said, it is not for someone who has fine hair or low-porosity hair. The conditioner can penetrate deep enough into the hair cuticles and leaves it feeling greasy and heavy.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Moisturizes and hydrates | Not good for fine, low-porosity hair |
| Curl protection and definition | |
| Heat defense | |
| Adds/maintains shine |
2. Best Tea Tree Oil Conditioner – SheaMoisture Protein Free Conditioner
Specification
- Hair Type: All; even for curly and textured hair
- Item Form and Package: Liquid; Bottle with dispenser
- Material Type Free: Silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum-free.
- Liquid Volume: 13 fl oz. (384 ml)
- Scent: Tea tree oil and spearmint scent
Description
Get the best out of tea tree oil in the SheaMoisture Protein Free Conditioner to help restore your scalp and promote better hair growth.
Features
Color safe: keeps your color-treated hair safe
Manageability: keeps your hair light and manageable after washing it off
Vegan hydration: give your hair hydration with vegan ingredients
How to use
As this is a lightweight conditioner, you will need to keep it on your hair for about 10 minutes before having to wash it off. First, wash your hair thoroughly with a gentle cleansing or clarifying shampoo. Then apply the conditioner from the ends to the roots and leave it on (can also use a shower cap to protect it). Wash it off and proceed to pat dry the hair. For deep conditions, leave it on overnight and wash it off in the morning with cold water.
Expert Verdict
Tea tree oil has the benefit of soothing your scalp with nourishment for better health, and that is exactly what the best tea tree oil conditioner provides in SheaMoisture Protein Free Conditioner! The nice lightweight texture of this conditioner makes it usable on all types of hair, even the most coiled and textured hair. It penetrates the hair cuticles and works fast as well, making it softer and more manageable. It even is safe for chemically-treated hair (like keratin treatment) so you can be sure that your hair won’t feel weighed down at all with a soothed scalp. The smell of spearmint can be a little too overpowering, even for me which I didn’t fancy at all. It felt like I had a headache for the time that the scent lingered (about 20 minutes or so).
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Good for color and chemically-treated hair | Smell was too overpowering; had a headache |
| Nourished scalp | |
| Manageable hair | |
| Fast working and lightweight |
3. Best Natural Oil Conditioner – OBIA Naturals Babassu Oil Deep Conditioner
Specification
- Hair Type: For dry hair
- Item Form and Package: Cream; tub
- Material Type Free: Mineral oil, sulfates, silicones, parabens, petrolatum, artificial colors-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 oz. (226g)
- Scent: avocado oil
Description
Get the best natural oil deep conditioner in the OBIA Naturals Babassu Oil Deep Conditioner and its wonderful blend of natural essential oils!
Features
Strengthen and shine: with the help of Babassu oil
Nourishing and hydrating: with the help of rosemary, avocado, and panthenol
Deep penetration: works on most textured hair types
How to use
After washing your hair with shampoo, add a small amount of the conditioner to the ends of the hair and spread it across with the help of a wide-toothed comb to the roots. Leave it on for 30 minutes. You can wear a shower cap or a heat cap and apply heat to your hair or you can take a warm towel and wrap your head for about 20 minutes. After that wash it off.
Expert Verdict
When you need a product that will give all the benefits of natural oils, look no further than the blend of natural oil in the OBIA Naturals Babassu Oil Deep Conditioner! The main oil, Babassu, helps to strengthen and help maintain a shine on your hair while the rosemary and avocado oil help to nourish the scalp. With the right amount of heat, it can even penetrate the most textured of hair to give it the nourishment it needs to balance the protein. However, one thing I have noticed about my hair is how it felt a little dry after a few hours like the moisture was gone. Probably needs to be paired with a hair moisturizer or it could be just me that had this effect.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strengthen and shine | Hair felt a little dry afterward |
| Nourish scalp | |
| Good for textured hair |
4. Best for Renew Hair – SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioner
Specification
- Hair Type: Curly to coiled hair (Type 3 and above)
- Item Form and Package: Oil; Tub
- Material Type Free: Sulfate, silicone, paraben, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum-free
- Liquid Volume: 11.5 oz. (326g)
- Scent: Shea butter
Description
Help renew your hair with the SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioner! Provide damaged and dry hair with renewed moisture to return it back to normal and shinier!
Features
Over-processed hair fixer: help fix your hair from being chemically treated
Curl enhancer: enhances the hair to give the curls more definition
More moisturizing than ever: get even more moisturization than ever before
How to use
As this will be like a hair mask conditioner, you will first clean your hair with a cleansing or clarifying shampoo. Soak up any excess water from your hair with a dry cotton towel. Then apply the conditioner from the ends down to the roots, where you can use a comb to spread and detangle your hair. Leave the conditioner for 30 minutes, wearing a heat cap to spread some heat to let the shea butter work its wonders on the hair shaft. After that, wash your hair in cold water to lock in the moisture.
Expert Verdict
When you need a hair mask to renew your curly and coiled hair, there is nothing better than the SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioner! The amount of hydration and moisturizing effect you get from this little product was unbelievable to me. It did feel very heavy to have on my hair which means that it is not going to work great for fine hair. But my curls did feel the love of the moisturization. The argan oil especially made my hair really shiny and made my overall hair felt renewed. Overall, really liked the product, but too heavy for fine hair.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great moisturizing | Too heavy for fine hair |
| Shiny hair | |
| Curls looked better |
5. Best Frizzy Control – SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water
Specification
- Hair Type: All; especially frizzy hair
- Item Form and Package: Cream; Tub
- Material Type Free: Paraben and sulfate-free
- Liquid Volume: 12 fl oz. (354 ml)
- Scent: Coconut
Description
Fight all the frizz and static in your hair with the wonderful SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water to calm and smoothen your hair!
Features
Smooth and shine: get smooth and shiny hair that defines your curls
Hydrating: restore any lost hydration in your hair with coconut water
All types: works well on all types of hair
How to use
This is more like a watery cream so you will have to use it as a rinse-out conditioner. After using a clarifying shampoo, add the conditioner to your hair from the ends to the roots. You can use a fine comb to evenly spread the conditioner and detangle any hair you might have. Leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it out in cold water.
Expert Verdict
When you have frizzy hair, it might take ages to get the frizz under control. But with the SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Coconut Water, you can be sure that the frizz won’t matter for the whole day! It will leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and most importantly smooth. The lightweight structure will also not weigh the hair down while restoring any lost moisture in dry hair. The best thing I have found about this conditioner was that it works well on even fine hair! However, if you are someone who is sensitive to coconut, then this is not the product for you because of the concentration of coconut in the cream.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Returns moisturize to dry hair | Not great for people who are sensitive to coconut |
| Controls frizz all day long | |
| Soft and shiny hair |
6. Best for Natural Hair – tgin Rose Water Hydrating Hair Mask
Specification
- Hair Type: Best for curly hair
- Item Form and Package: Cream; Tub
- Material Type Free: Sulfates, parabens, petrolatum, lanolin, artificial colors-free
- Liquid Volume: 12 oz. (340g)
- Scent: Rose
Description
Get the best out of the rose water hair mask in the tgin Rose Water Hydrating Hair Mask and return your hair back to its rejuvenated self!
Features
Rose water: hydrating rose water for dry hair damages
Vitamin complex: helps to protect the hair and strengthens the hair shaft
No buildup: be worry-free about any build-up occurring in your hair
How to use
After washing your hair with shampoo, soak up any excess water in your hair. Then apply the conditioner on your hair like a mask from the ends to the root. There are two ways you can keep the hair mask. If you don’t want to use heat, then you should keep the hair wrapped in either a towel or shower cap so nothing interferes with the conditioner. This will take 30 to 60 minutes to get the best result. If you want to use heat, you can either use a hot towel and wrap it around your hair or use a heat cap and apply a dryer heat. This will take 15 to 30 minutes, keeping the hair protected while the heat activates the conditioner absorption.
Expert Verdict
It is tough to find a deep conditioner hair mask for natural hair because of the build-up it might bring to the hair. The gentleness of rose water might be the answer you are looking for and the answer comes in this little tub from tgin Rose Water Hydrating Hair Mask! The rose water is gentle and doesn’t cause any build-up in your hair while hydrating your hair back to its usual self. The cool thing about this hair mask is that tgin added a wide variety of vitamins to the product which will return your hair shaft’s strength and shine! The lightweight product also will make you feel like you don’t have a hair mask on, and is super easy to wash out! However, what I found was that it didn’t really provide the amount of hydration I was expecting from a hair mask. My hair did feel stronger and softer, but it still felt like it lacked moisture.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| No product build-up; very light and easy to wash | Not that hydrating for me |
| Vitamin goodness | |
| Restores hair shine and strength |
7. Best for Curly Hair – Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment
Specification
- Hair Type: Best for curly and dry hair
- Item Form and Package: Cream; Squeeze tube
- Material Type Free: Sulfate, fragrance, silicone, gluten-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz. (237 ml)
- Scent: Unscented
Description
Define your curls and give the balance from protein overload with the Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment for all types of curly hair!
Features
Curl definition: gives your curl a nice and soft definition with added shine
Dry hair balancer: return your hair to its normal and hydrated self from any type of protein dryness
Color treatment dryness cure: works to fix dryness on color-treated hair as well
How to use
Wash your hair with a cleansing shampoo and soak up any excess water. Then apply the deep conditioner to your hair from the ends to the roots with a wide-tooth comb following your curl pattern. Then leave it on your hair for 15 minutes before washing it off.
Expert Verdict
Curls are amazing but a very difficult type of hair to maintain. This is especially the case when you have it chemically treated or colored which causes profound dryness of the hair making it lackluster. That is where the Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment comes in to solve all those problems. It balances any type of dry curls on your hair and gives it a definition and shine that you were lacking previously! Not only that, but this product is also safe to use on chemically treated hair and is actually beneficial for it too! However, the product is quite hard to wash from your hair so make sure to put just enough to cover your hair and wash it off thoroughly in lukewarm to cold water.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Restores dry hair with much-needed hydration | Can be hard to wash the product |
| Curl defining | |
| Safe for chemically treated hair like protein or color |
8. Best for Repairs Hair – Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
Specification
- Hair Type: Best for damaged hair
- Item Form and Package: Liquid; Bottle with
- Material Type Free: Sulfate, DEA, aldehydes, and formaldehyde-free.
- Liquid Volume: 8.5 fl oz. (250 ml)
- Scent: Jasmine and citrus smell
Description
A highly-moisturizing, reparative conditioner, the Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner protects and repairs damaged hair!
Features
Relinking broken bonds: helps to relink frizzy hair with split ends
Quick acting: works in a matter of 3 minutes
Damage protection: leaves your hair strengthened to protect damaged hair
How to use
After using clarifying shampoo to wash your hair, apply the conditioner to the ends and spread it evenly across the strands. Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes before washing it off.
Expert Verdict
When your hair needs that bit of damage repair, you will be glad that the Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner will repair the damages from protein overload! It does this by fixing all the split ends and frizzy hair, rebonding the strands of hair back together. It also acts really quickly, so you will be in and out of the shower quickly with your hair starting to repair as soon as the conditioner is absorbed. Afterward, you can be sure that your hair will remain strengthened and protected from further damage. Sadly, the liquid feels very heavy and very greasy so if you have an oily scalp you should stay away from this product.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Relinks broken hair bonds | Very greasy and needs to be washed off well |
| Strengthens hair | |
| Protects from further damage with repeated use |
9. Best for Coily Hair – CURLSMITH – Double Cream Deep Quencher
Specification
- Hair Type: Coily hair
- Item Form and Package: Cream; Tub
- Material Type Free: Sulfate, mineral oils, phthalates, and silicone-free
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz. (237 ml)
- Scent: Flowery scent
Description
Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher is a deep conditioner created specifically to restore ultra-dry and dull hair with a nourishing mask!
Features
Coil penetration: leaves your hair feeling nourished, even very coily hair
For high-porosity hair: leaves hair conditioned and moisturized even with high-porosity hair
Moisture-rich: enriches the hair with deep moisture
How to use
Since this is for coily hair, what you will want to do first is get the hair out of any twisted knots and tangles with a straight brush. After doing that, wash and clean your hair with a gentle cleanser shampoo. Then apply the conditioner on your hair starting from the ends to the roots. If you have short hair, rub the product in your hand and then lightly guide it on the top of your hair until it feels smooth. Leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it out for a deep condition. Otherwise, wash it off after 5 minutes of leaving it on.
Expert Verdict
Coily hair will take a long deep conditioner treatment to get it looking its best. They are known to be more dehydrated than other types of hair which is why the Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher is exactly the deep conditioner you are looking for that is protein-free! The conditioner works to revitalize the hair by entering into the hair shafts. But even with high porosity hair, you can be sure that this product will be effective in not only hydrating but also locking in moisture! However, the small tub that you get can only be used 5 times before running out for coily hair. That is my only complaint thus far for this one.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Good for high porosity hair | Small container; not enough product for many use |
| Quenches dehydrated hair |
10. Best for Low Porosity Hair – SheaMoisture Weightless Hydrating Detangler
Specification
- Hair Type: Best for low-porosity hair
- Item Form and Package: Liquid; Bottle with cap
- Material Type Free: Silicones, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum-free.
- Liquid Volume: 8 fl oz. (237 ml)
- Scent: Grapeseed and sunflower oil mixture
Description
The perfect detangler, the SheaMoisture Weightless Hydrating Detangler is one of those conditioners that can penetrate the hair shafts of even the most low-porosity hairs!
Features
No build-up: no build-up on the hair
Moisturizing and locking: penetrates the hair shaft and cuticle and locks in the moisture
Detangle: helps to detangle tough and dry hair
How to use
For this liquid deep conditioner, you will take a bit on your hand, rub it together, and then apply it to your hair starting from the ends to the roots. Leave it on your hair for 10 minutes before washing it off from your hair.
Expert Verdict
Low porosity hair is a nightmare to find a good conditioner for. The small holes in the hair are just not big enough for the conditioner to seep in and work its magic. That is why the SheaMoisture Weightless Hydrating Detangler is the product you need that is both protein-free and for low-porosity hair! It works through the tiny gaps in your hair cuticles and readily absorbs into your hair while also locking behind it to keep your hair from losing moisture. The added benefit of this is the detangle feature. Even the worst of the kinky hair will be softened and easily detangled as a result! However, it might be too much for fine hair, as it might leave it brittle instead.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Detangle even the toughest of kinks in hair | Might leave fine hair brittle |
| Moisturizing and locking it in | |
| Best for low-porosity hair |
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How Do You Get Rid of High Protein from Hair?
High protein hair can leave the hair feeling very brittle and dry, causing breakage among various other problems. Those are just the first signs of your hair having too much protein. It can come from your diet but mostly it’s because of used products with peptides and other proteins in them. One of the main causes of protein overloads is keratin treatments, which introduce keratin (a protein) to your hair to revitalize it. Don’t get me wrong, they are good, but too much will leave your hair damaged!
That is why it is important to strip your hair of any proteins remaining there to help counteract the problem. The first and most obvious step would be to use shampoo. But should it be a specific shampoo? Absolutely! A clarifying shampoo is what you will need to look for to get rid of high protein concentration in your hair. It will strip the hair of all the oils and protein so that you can start conditioning it.
That’s just the first step. Second, you will need a protein-free conditioner to help your hair regain some of the lost oils. So take a bit of the conditioner on your hand or a wide-toothed comb and work it through the length of your hair, starting from the ends all the way to the roots. Leave it in for 15 minutes (or however long the product mentions to keep it on) and then wash your hair in cold water to return the oils that were lost! With that, your hair will have less protein in them which might cause it to break.
How Do I Use Protein-Free Products?
For protein-free products, you will need to first make sure that your hair is nice and clean before applying anything else. That way, all the ingredients in the product can be worse at their most optimal stage. After washing, it will really depend on what type of product you are using.
If you are using an overnight hair mask, you will need to wear a bonnet or a silk cap to protect it while you are sleeping. If you are doing a rinse-off conditioner, then you need to keep it for at least 6 to 10 minutes for it to effectively penetrate the hair cuticles. Then you should wash it off. Some people like to use heat so apply the conditioner and wear a heat cap and apply the heat over it. This helps give the conditioner more penetrating power to give your hair deeper conditioning. With heat, you will need to do it for 15 to 30 minutes while without heat will require about 60 minutes to work properly.
FAQs
They can from a lot of things, but mainly from using too many hair products that have proteins like keratin or peptides in them.
After a protein treatment like keratin, you should avoid warm water as it can strip the protein from your hair. Instead, wash it in lukewarm to cold water for the best-case scenario.
Rice is on the lower end of the protein scale as a cereal, where it only makes up 7% of the total weight.
Low protein will make your hair brittle and more likely to break. You will know if your hair is low on protein if you pull it and it breaks without stretching.
Biotin is often the protein that can indirectly control hair fall. It produces keratin in your hair which keeps control of how easy it is for your hair to break. Too much or too little biotin or keratin will cause more hair to fall.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the best protein-free conditioners! I had a lot of fun but was so divided between the Mielle Organics Mongongo Oil Protein-Free and the SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Conditioner. Both could have been easily my best overall product but I think my experience with the Mielle just edged it to the best overall protein-free conditioner. Too much protein in your hair can ruin it and with the help of these conditioners, you can solve your protein overload issues. I hope that you have found the protein-free deep conditioner you are looking for from this list!
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