3 Signs Your Hair Is Telling You What to Feed It
If your hair feels dry, you probably reach for something more moisturising. A richer mask. A heavier leave in. A smoothing serum to make it look shiny.
But in many cases, moisture isn't what your hair is missing.
Hair needs two things to stay healthy: water and protein. Too little of either causes problems. So does too much.
Once you know which one your hair is asking for, your routine gets simpler, and your results finally last.
Here's how to tell what your hair needs.
What's the difference between moisture and protein?
Think of it this way:
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Moisture keeps hair soft, flexible and bouncy.
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Protein gives hair its structure and strength.
A plant needs both water and a strong stem. Hair is no different. Without moisture, it turns brittle. Without protein, it can't hold its shape.
The good news? Your hair shows you which one it needs, if you know what to look for.
Sign #1: Your hair feels rough and snaps easily
Your hair feels coarse even after wash day, and you find short broken pieces in your brush.
Why this happens
Hair that lacks water loses its flexibility. Instead of bending, it breaks. This is especially common in coloured or heat styled hair, which loses moisture more easily.
What it needs: moisture
Sign #2: Your hair feels limp, stretchy or gummy when wet
Your hair feels soft but floppy, and your waves fall flat within hours, no matter what you use.
Why this happens
Protein holds each strand together. Colouring, bleaching and heat can break some of it down over time. Without enough structure, hair stretches too far and struggles to hold any shape.
What it needs: protein, a little at a time
Sign #3: Your hair feels crunchy, stiff or coated
This is the confusing one. Crunchy hair feels dry, so it seems obvious to add moisture. But crunchy often means something else.
Why this happens
It's usually one of two things:
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Too much protein. Overloaded hair turns stiff and brittle.
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Build up. Products like silicone coat the outside of the hair. Over time, they can stop moisture getting in, so hair looks smooth on top but feels dry underneath.
What it needs: a reset first, then balance
The 30 second strand test
Not sure which sign fits you? Try this on your next wash day.
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Take one hair that has shed naturally, from your brush or the shower.
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Wet it.
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Hold both ends and stretch it gently.
Snaps almost straight away: your hair needs moisture.
Stretches a long way and doesn't spring back: your hair needs protein.
Stretches a little and returns: your hair is balanced. Keep going.
Why balance matters for wavy hair
Wavy hair is easy to over feed. It's often treated like curly hair and loaded with heavy moisture, which weighs waves down. Balanced hair will usually give you:
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Waves that clump and hold their shape
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Less frizz and fewer flyaways
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Softer texture without heaviness
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Less breakage
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Easier wash days
How to feed your hair the right way
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If it needs moisture: apply a leave in to damp hair after every wash, and use a deep conditioning mask once a week.
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If it needs protein: look for hydrolysed proteins or amino acids on the ingredient list, and use them now and then, not every wash.
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If it's crunchy: clear build up first so your hair can absorb what you give it.
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From the inside: protein, iron and omega 3 on your plate support healthy hair too. Read more in The Hair Plate.
Remember: change one thing at a time. Hair needs a few washes to show you what's working.
Where the Hair Pudding fits
If your strand snaps, your hair is thirsty. That's what the Hair Pudding was made for. Mango butter and avocado bring moisture back, with no silicones to coat the hair or build up over time. Work a small amount through damp lengths as a leave in, or leave it on dry hair for 20 minutes once a week as a mask.
Frequently asked questions
Can you over moisturise your hair?
Yes. Too much moisture without enough protein can leave hair limp, overly stretchy and unable to hold a style.
What does protein overload feel like?
Stiff, straw-like and crunchy. Hair may also snap more easily.
Does coloured hair need protein or moisture?
Often both, because colouring affects the hair's moisture and its structure. The strand test is the easiest way to tell where to start.
How often should I do the strand test?
Every few weeks, or whenever your hair starts to feel different.
The Bottom Line
If your hair feels rough, snaps easily, or has gone limp or crunchy, it isn't difficult. It's telling you what to feed it.
The good news is that once you know whether it's thirsty or hungry, small changes make a real difference.
Healthy waves aren't about more products. They're about the right ones, in the right balance, wash after wash.