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You’ve heard about the keratin treatment, but you aren’t sure if it is right for you.
The truth is that there are a lot of questions surrounding this popular hair product. Is it safe? Will it really straighten my curls? What does “keratin treatment” even mean? How can I find out more information before deciding to try one myself?
We have put together an easy-to-understand guide so that you don't have to waste time searching through countless blogs and forums online. This article will cover all the basics about what a keratin treatment actually does, how much they cost, whether or not they are worth your money, and other important facts to keep in mind when considering getting one done at home or at the salon.
So Let's Get Started!
What is a keratin treatment?
A Keratin Treatment (also known as a Brazilian Blowout) is one applied to the hair in order to reduce frizz, smooth the cuticle, and leave your naturally curly hair feeling soft. This product will also help increase color longevity by decreasing fading due to shampooing, sun, or pool water exposure.
What does Keratin mean?
In its original form, Keratin is a protein that gives your hair its strength and elasticity. In fact, Keratin can be found in all hair types and can be found in your skin, nails, and teeth as well.
This product is applied to the hair and binds to the Keratin already present in the hair. Once the protein has set into your hair, it will not wash out or come loose as many other products do.
How long does Keratin Treatment last?
A keratin treatment will typically last anywhere from three to five months, depending on how often you shampoo and the type of shampoo you use. If you go swimming, it will need to be reapplied sooner!
Keratin Treatment - Things to Consider before you get one
When you go to the salon, the stylist may offer a "Keratin hair Treatment" or a "Brazilian Blowout." Both of these are the same thing. There is another similar treatment that has become very popular, called "smoothing or straightening treatments". The smoothing treatments are not keratin hair treatments, and will not have the same results.
You should consider following a few tips before getting any kind of keratin treatment done.
1. What type of hair do you have?
Keratin treatments are not for everyone. If your hair is bleached or damaged in any way, this type of treatment is not recommended. If you have naturally frizzy hair, curly, very afro-textured hair, or curl pattern hair texture, the stylist might be hesitant to perform this treatment on your hair. A smoothing treatment can be done on those types of hair, but not a keratin treatment. This product de-frizzes the hair it does not straighten the hair.
2. How much do you want to spend?
This hair product is more expensive than many other hair treatments, and the price will vary depending on where you go. If you are considering getting smoothing treatments, they are usually much cheaper than keratin treatments.
3. What type of results do you want?
Before you go in for a treatment, think about what your hair looks like and how much frizz and damage is present. Do you want your hair to be completely frizz-free? The more damaged your hair is, the better the results will be after getting either keratin treatment or smoothing treatments.
4. How long do you want your Keratin Treatment to last?
The type of treatment you get will be determined by how much time and money you are willing to spend. A cheaper smoothing treatment that lasts a few months might be the best option for you, but if you want your hair keratin-treated, it will last a little longer.
5. Side effects
This treatment may not be the best choice if you have extremely sensitive skin or suffer from allergies. The main ingredient that causes frizz is formaldehyde, and it can irritate your skin. Some people have experienced rashes, itching, or burning from the use of this product. keratin treatment depends on hair type, as well as the stylist that provides the service.
Things to do after your Keratin Treatment
When you get your treatment done, it will be shampooed out of the hair and then a moisturizing product is applied. The hair is blown dry and flat ironed to seal the cuticles. A leave-in conditioner will be applied to any frizzy parts of the wet hair. Take care to follow these tips after getting your treatment, to keep your hair looking its best!
Use a sulfate-free shampoo
Do not use a rough towel to dry your hair; gently pat it dry
Do not wash your hair every day
Use deep conditioners or a leave-in conditioner once a week
Avoid using any product that has sulfates, alcohol, or drying chemicals in it
Do not use a hair straightener that is set on a high heat setting
If you follow these tips, your hair will get the best results from any keratin treatment.
Keratin Treatment - Benefits and Side Effects!
Everything has its good and bad right? Similar is the case with a keratin treatment. There are some benefits and side effects of keratin treatment.
Keratin Benefits
The main benefits of this treatment are the following.
It makes your hair smooth and shiny without any frizz at all.
It also protects your hair from the damage caused by the harmful UV rays of the sun.
It also protects your hair from breaking and causing split ends.
It is a good treatment for those with damaged hair, as it helps heal the damaged hair slowly.
It is also a good treatment for those with allergies to some chemicals, as it does not contain any harsh chemicals.
Keratin Side Effects
The side effects of this treatment are also very few, as long as you go to a professional stylist for the treatment. The side effects are as follows.
It does not work on bleached or blonde hair. So, if you want this treatment for your blonde hair, then you are out of luck.
It may cause acne or rashes due to the smell of formaldehyde in it.
It is a bit expensive, and not easily affordable for every person.
It can cause permanent hair shaft changes, which means that it damages the keratin in your hair shaft permanently.
So, in short, this treatment is very beneficial but also does have some negative points in it. This treatment
Keratin Treatment and Formaldehyde Exposure
As discussed earlier Keratin treatment is a Brazilian straightening. A keratin treatment can be defined as a process that makes hair smooth and shiny by infusing keratin into it. The main ingredient of this treatment is formaldehyde. During this treatment, the hair will be washed, blow-dried, and flat ironed. Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling chemical that works by chemically bonding to the structure of the keratin in hair. It may cause cancer, so it is advised to avoid keratin treatments when you are pregnant.
Formaldehyde may be involved in the following risks to your health:
Breathing problems
Skin rash, irritation, and watery eyes
Nausea and vomiting
Headaches
Difficulty breathing or wheezing
Blisters, burning sensation on the skin, redness, swelling
So, it is advised to you avoid this treatment during pregnancy. If you want to have a keratin treatment, then it is advised that you should go to a professional stylist to get it done. If you do not want to go through the formaldehyde process, then there are some other options available for you as well. There are keratin-removing shampoos available for those who want to get rid of the treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can You Do A Keratin Treatment At Home?
Keratin treatment can be done at home, for this you need to get a keratin treatment kit from a beauty shop. After that, you need to follow the instructions on the pack, and then apply it to your hair. You need to keep the pack on your hair for about half an hour, and then wash it out.
Depending upon your hair type, you can have a maximum of 2-3 keratin treatments done.
Can keratin cause hair loss?
You know excess of everything is bad, the same is the case with a keratin treatment. This treatment can cause hair loss only if you have it done repeatedly every month. The excessive use of Keratin can be harmful. Because it contains formaldehyde, which is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing agent). So if you have a keratin treatment done only once or twice a year, then you will not be affected with hair loss.
Keratin Conclusion - The Bottom Line
So, this is all about keratin treatments. Keratin treatment has become very popular in today's time, but you must know the side effects of it. If you are going to have a keratin treatment done, then it is advised that you go to a professional stylist for this purpose.
This treatment can provide you with shiny and smooth hair; but if you want to go through the formaldehyde-free process, then there are keratin-removing shampoos available for you. We hope this guide was helpful to you.