Keratin Treatment For Hair: What Should You Know?
It is undeniable that keratin has many wonderful effects on the strength and smoothness of hair. However, without understanding the side effects of keratin treatment for hair, your health will be adversely affected. Therefore, you should consider and read the instructions carefully before using them.
What is a keratin treatment?
Keratin is a key protein found in our hair that is produced naturally. It protects and maintains the health of your hair by acting as an exterior protective and inside the structural protein. The keratin in your hair is lost as a result of exposure to external elements such as the sun, pollution, or chemicals, as well as changes in your lifestyle, leading to dry, damaged, and lifeless hair.
A keratin treatment smoothes and shines frizzy hair via a chemical technique. Keratin is chemically added to the hair during a keratin treatment to make it seem smooth, lustrous, and frizz-free, making it immensely popular among women and men. These treatments fill up the porosity patches in your hair that has developed as a result of keratin loss. Frizz, knots, and breakage are all caused by too porous hair. A keratin treatment simply rebuilds your hair by replacing the protein that has been lost in your strands.
Types of keratin treatments
Brazilian blowout
This was one of the first keratin treatments to be created and introduced in Brazil in 2005. By coating strands in a protective protein layer, it removes frizz and smoothes the hair cuticle. Its effects might continue for up to three months.
Cezanne
This keratin hair treatment is the most natural and formaldehyde-free option. Cezanne is ideal for fine hair since it not only reduces frizz but also nourishes strands that have been damaged. If you have colored hair, you should avoid this since it might cause your blonde to fade.
Trisolla and Trisolla Plus
These keratin hair treatments are the easiest to apply. They’re ideal for those who have thick hair that’s been damaged or dyed. The amount of times each strand is flat-ironed affects the softness of the curl texture. The procedure doesn’t lessen hair color, but it does make it manageable and keeps it in place in hot and humid conditions.
Keratin express
This is a quick treatment that involves applying keratin serum to the hair and sealing it with a blow dryer and flat iron. It’s perfect for people who have wavy or curly hair and want to make it more manageable. It might take up to six weeks for the effects to wear off.
Japzilian keratin
The Japzilian combines Brazilian keratin treatment with a Japanese hair straightening system to provide results that last five months longer than the Brazilian blowout. Curls are first loosened with the Brazilian treatment, then sealed with the Japanese treatment, which closes the cuticle and keeps frizz at bay. Hair is brushed through with a Japanese straightening perm, and coarse strands are treated twice. After an hour, the hair is washed and blow-dried one more for smooth hair that air-dries absolutely straight.
Pros of keratin treatments
Silky and glossy hair
Keratin works by smoothing out the overlapping cells that make up your hair strands. The hair cuticle, which is made up of layers of cells, absorbs the keratin, giving hair a full and glossy appearance. Keratin is also said to make curly hair less frizzy, simpler to style, and seem straighter.
Easy to manage hair
Keratin treatments help to make hair more manageable, especially if you have frizzy or thick hair. Moreover, if you often heat style your hair, a keratin treatment is a factor that makes your hair dry quickly. Keratin reduces drying time by more than half. Because you can air-dry your hair more regularly and avoid heat damage, it may become healthier and stronger.
Hair growth
Keratin may strengthen and reinforce hair, making it less prone to breakage. Because the ends aren’t breaking off, hair seems to grow faster.
Cons of keratin treatments
Formaldehyde is present in high concentrations in-salon keratin treatments. Handling keratin treatment materials and breathing their fumes repeatedly over time caused nosebleeds and respiratory difficulties in hair salon staff. According to a study by PubMed Central, these levels of formaldehyde were five times higher than the national safety threshold for chemical exposure. As a result, pregnant women should refrain from receiving this therapy. Keratin treatments should be avoided by anyone with formaldehyde sensitivity or respiratory difficulties.
Methods to use
Salon-keratin treatments
This time-consuming keratin treatment, often known as the Brazilian keratin treatment, entails multiple phases. First, a formaldehyde-containing lotion is applied to your hair before it is blown dry and straightened at a salon. After applying the treatment, you are encouraged to leave your hair dry for several days. When you go to the salon to have the chemicals removed, another treatment is used to set the straightening result. This therapy is supposed to last 12 weeks.
Add keratin serums
When a keratin-infused styling serum is applied while the hair is still wet, it not only makes the hair glossy and smooth but also reduces drying time.
Use as a shampoo and conditioner
Keratin shampoos and conditioners can make hair stronger, more resistant to harm and restore hair that has been dried out by heat and hair color.
Repairing hair mask
Use a keratin-infused hair mask to help restore color-treated or heat-damaged hair for ultra-dry and damaged locks. Apply this mask to damp hair once a week and let it in for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and style as usual.
Keratin supplements
Keratin supplements are available as powder or capsules. Supplementing with keratin carries certain hazards. They might cause too much protein to build up in your body if used excessively.
FAQs
Can I do keratin hair treatment at home?
Yes, but you don’t expect to get results as professional treatment. Check the product ingredient list and the instructions to make sure that you buy the right products. Professional-grade ones should not be purchased for home use because they require an expert application.
Can keratin treatment be done when I have colored hair?
Yes. It allows your hair to maintain the vibrancy of newly colored hair. The treatment not only seals in the color but also makes it last longer and appear brighter.
Are keratin treatments safe?
Besides the benefits of keratin treatments, they also pose threat to your hair and your health as well. It is not recommended for those who have super-fine or damaged hair because these treatments take a lot of heat to keep your hair in place. Notably, formaldehyde found in keratin products can do a lot of harm to your health.
Who should avoid keratin treatments?
Keratin treatments are not advised for pregnant women and anyone with formaldehyde sensitivity or respiratory difficulties.
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