Then there’s the protein treatment, a favourite among people with all hair types — especially those with type 4 natural hair, who love its moisturizing benefits. One content creator even called it “life-saving” for her curls. I have fine hair, but a lot of it, and I use the treatment as a conditioner, letting it work its magic for around five minutes. As the name suggests, the star ingredients are proteins, particularly hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed keratin, and silk amino acids. Certified trichologist Angela Onuoha had previously told me that, in haircare, proteins are considered a type of conditioning agent, and that every hair type can benefit from them to help protect and temporarily repair hair from heat damage and environmental stressors like harsh weather and pollution.