I don't know it protects damage or not, but it definitely makes hair greasy applying after shampoo.this product claims that it provides nourishment to hair but it ddidnot show, my mother has dry hair but it didn't conditioned well rather made her hair rough, no smoothness, unmanageable, when i've oily scalp normal hair it made my hair more greasy& oily.we just stopped using it.we use other products of Patanjali too like soaps, shampoo, toothpaste but those are really good, except this conditioner.very much dissatisfied. I think they should modify this product, make it more useful for those who have dry or damage hair, provide atleast smoothness. total thumbs down for this.