Keratin is a natural structural protein found in your skin, nails, and hair. It is significant to protect against your top-layer damage. It’s also commonly found in skincare and styling products to help strengthen hair. There must be several questions in your mind about the keratin hair treatment: Does keratin treatment work for curly hair? Is keratin hair treatment the right thing for you?
You’ll get all answers in this article! Stay connected!
What is a Keratin Treatment?
The term ‘keratin treatment’ is a misnomer. It is a semi-permanent hair straightening treatment. Keratin helps smoothen your hair and adds shine to your frizzy hair.
Do you know that keratin treatment working on your hair is not through the specific keratin? There includes a solution of a formaldehyde derivative and glyoxylic acid that works through your hair. Both components reseal hair in a straighter position to make your hair perfect straighter. It is then blow-dried and treated with a flat iron. The treatment lasts last anywhere from three to six months.
You might be thinking: what damage do they do?
The main problem is that many of these hair treatments of keratin can contain chemicals that can cause more damage to your hair over time as these chemicals tend to break the bonds in your hair.
But, the keratin treatment works well on almost all hair types. It is recommended for anyone who wants to straighten their hair, reduce frizz, cut out blow-drying, or lower the boost shine.
Can you get a Keratin Treatment with color-treated hair?
The idea of keratin treatment on colored hair may seem risky to you. You automatically think that it is the other way around, like keratin treatment first and then hair color on top. But it is wrong! You should do the coloring first and then go for keratin hair treatment.
The added benefit is that it will keep your freshly-colored hair super vibrant. Talk to your stylist and colorist about coloring your hair refreshed right before your keratin treatment. The treatment will automatically seal in the color, making it last longer and appear fuller and brighter.
Is keratin hair treatment the right thing for you?
When considering the keratin treatment you must be thinking are you a good candidate or not? If you have frizzy and coarse hair, you should go for it. It’ll eliminate the frizz of your hair and soften hair. You will be at more ease with styling your hair. If you’re someone who doesn’t like curling or blow-drying hair, a keratin treatment is perfect to go.
Do not go for keratin treatment if you are a pregnant woman. Even though there is no certain scientific proof about its worse effects during pregnancy, the constituents present can be unsafe during pregnancy.
Do not choose a keratin treatment if you have fine, thin texture, straight hair, or overly processed hair. For the angel fine-haired, keratin is not a good choice. The high heat of the flat iron can damage your hair and make them look extremely dry. The same applies to overly processed hair, like a bleach, tone, and platinum blonde.
Also, avoid keratin treatment if you’re curly-haired and love your natural curl. This is because keratin will soften your curl and can pull out your wave a bit.
What’s the difference between a keratin treatment and Japanese straightening?
There’s a huge difference between both! Keratin treatment may provide you with temporary straightening effects while Japanese hair straightening provides you with permanently pin-straight hair. Japanese hair straightening requires more labor and time-intensive than keratin treatments.
A Japanese straightener is like a relaxer—it can change your hair texture until the hair is fully grown out. Texture after keratin treatment will remain somewhat soft. Still, you will have a lot of your natural hair texture, isn’t that flawless?
How long does the Keratin Treatment session take?
Your visit to the salon for a keratin treatment session may take between 2 to 4 hours. The duration of keratin treatments will depend on the process the stylist uses, your hair texture, and hair volume. It also depends if there are any additional steps like a second washing or adding protective chemicals to your hair. The formula for keratin treatment also varies.
What are after-care tips for Keratin Treatment?
Even after getting keratin hair treatment, it is necessary to follow the after-care steps.
1. Use a Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner
Before washing your hair after treatment, choose a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. It will gently cleanse and condition your hair while giving you extraordinary results! The most important thing after treatment is not to use shampoos that are too strong like clarifying shampoos. They can strip your hair of the treatment resulting in an uneven texture.
2. Keep Your Hair Dry
When you visit the salon to get your keratin hair treatment, ask your stylist how long you should keep your hair dry and avoid water. You may need to wait three days after treatment. However, because of the different keratin treatments, this amount of time can vary.
3. Don’t Wash Your Hair over and over again after the Keratin Treatment
After three days of your treatment, do not wash your hair daily. Following the keratin treatment, the after-care step will help it last as long as possible. If your hair is oily, you feel the need to wash your hair every other day. But if you can go for days with your hair still looking clean, don’t wash it over and over again. Use a good shower cap and protect your hair while you bathe in between the wash days.
4. Keep Your Hair Down after Care
When you get a keratin treatment, your hair may become most vulnerable for the upcoming three days. To get rid of further odd creasing or dents, keep your hair loose and free of any hair ties. Avoid tucking hair behind your ears too!
5. Style your hair
After getting the perfect keratin smoothing treatment, your hair will be so much fun to style amazingly. Use a detangler to safely comb out knots if you still struggle with the knotty hair afterward.
Read: Best Haircuts For Thin Hair & How To Style Them?
Are there any harmful effects of Keratin Treatments?
Most keratin treatments liberate formaldehyde (a known carcinogen compound). Formaldehyde is a colorless strong-smelling gas that is commonly used in several hair treatments.
Hair experts recommend there is no need to be worried about formaldehyde. You may get keratin treatments just twice or thrice a year.
The harmful effects of formaldehyde may include scratchy eyes, bleeding nose, rashes, and sore throat. These effects have been claimed by stylists for many years. Another possible disadvantage of keratin treatment is the hair fall-out. High temperatures from the flat iron can make your hair dry and lead to hair breakage in the days to come.
So, what should you do then?
Go for formaldehyde-free keratin treatments, as recommended by hair stylists. You also choose the treatment containing glyoxylic acid which is quite safe. But it may prove less effective. Choose the best hair treatment based on your priorities.
Good To Know
Hair keratin treatments are effective to help you maintain straight and shiny hair. Get to know the best tips for healthy hair.
The treatment lasts very long so you don’t have to spend much money to go for a keratin treatment now and then. You just need to avoid touching your hair more frequently so the style will hold on for much longer. The keratin treatment will also help your hair grow faster. Humidity is also no longer a problem- your hair will remain perfect and in place. And the treatment works flawlessly on any hair type – whether your hair is highlighted, bleached, relaxed, kinky, damaged, or previously straightened.
Read: 9 Reasons Why Gelatin Is Amazing For Your Skin and Hair
