What must be done to regain lost moisture after a chemical treatment?

The correct response is to use a deep conditioning treatment to regain lost moisture after a chemical treatment. Chemical processes, such as coloring, perming, or relaxing, often strip hair of its natural moisture content, leading to dryness and potential damage. Deep conditioning treatments are specifically designed to penetrate the hair shaft and restore hydration, provide essential nutrients, and improve the overall health and appearance of the hair. These treatments typically contain ingredients such as oils, proteins, and humectants that help to replenish moisture and improve elasticity.

In contrast, while a protein treatment can benefit the hair by reinforcing its structure and preventing breakage, it does not primarily focus on restoring moisture, which is crucial after the drying effects of chemical treatments. Applying hair gel may provide some hold and styling benefits, but it does not offer any significant moisturizing properties needed to recover from chemical damage. Keeping the hair dry for a week is counterproductive, as it would prevent any moisture replenishment and could exacerbate dryness and damage instead of addressing the moisture loss.