How do the rice protein in the dye and the keratin-vitamin balm afterward change the coloring experience?

Rice protein is incorporated into the cream colorant itself. During the 30–40 minute development time, it forms a lightweight film on the hair shaft that serves two purposes: it gives the oxidative pigments a more uniform surface to bind to, which can make the final shade appear more even and reflective, and it cushions the cuticle against the swelling caused by ammonia and peroxide, so the hair feels less straw-like immediately after rinsing. The fixing balm supplied in the kit is applied after the color is washed out. Its keratin — a protein naturally found in hair — fills microscopic gaps in the cuticle created by the alkaline coloring process, while the added vitamins (typically panthenol and vitamin E derivatives) provide a conditioning film. Together they realign the cuticle scales, reduce static, and make the hair easier to comb wet or dry. The effect is cosmetic and temporary — it does not repair broken disulfide bonds — but it noticeably improves the tactile quality of freshly colored hair for the first several washes.