For people who would like to have their hair straightened, keratin treatments are imperative. You would see keratin treatments on hair commercials because they can instantly eliminate frizz and give you a luminous shine. Everyone’s favorite hair ingredient is keratin these days.
It is a protein naturally found in hair that contributes to its strength and health. Hair products containing keratin help in making curly or wavy hair straight and smooth. Also, the products have the following benefits: removing frizz, improving color and shine, and making hair look healthier.
Despite the benefits of Keratin treatments, there are some side effects to be aware of it. Excess of anything can be detrimental, and that is the case with keratin. Hydroxylated keratin is present in a lot of daily-use hair products, which has adversely affected our hair. Learn about keratin hair treatment and make an informed decision!
Keratin Hair Treatment: What Is It?
Fibrous structural proteins such as keratin are responsible for hair, nails, and your outer skin layer. Keratin is essential for healthy and lustrous hair, but the protein is weaker in curly and textured hair, resulting in more dryness and frizzy.
Keratin treatments involve a chemical process that coats hair strands with protein to make them more smooth and shiny. Keratin treatments differ in their types, but on the whole, all of them involve injecting keratin into the pores of the hair follicles to make them healthier.
It is noteworthy that keratin cannot reduce frizz: the job of controlling frizz lies with formaldehyde. The chemical interacts with keratin chains and locks them into straight lines, leaving hair straight. A blow-dry and flat-iron are followed depilatory product to the hair, being careful not to get it on the scalp.
Those who have keratin hair treatments receive results that typically last at least six months, and formula blends may be custom-made to suit various hair types. The treatment takes two to four hours, depending on the hair length, thickness, and texture.
How Effective Are Keratin Hair Treatments?
People who use keratin hair care have reported some pros and cons. The results depend on your hair type, texture, and the health and thickness of the hair.
- PROTECTS CURLY HAIR
You should consider keratin treatment for curly hair if you tend to wear your hair straight a lot and wish to keep your curls natural. In this treatment, you can strengthen your hair to prevent it from breaking easily while styling. Keratin can help loosen your curls so even if you do not want straight hair, you manage it better after the treatment. For the keratin to set in, it takes a lot of heat. Getting the treatment will prevent heat damage. In other words, using keratin on curly hair would likely result in a greater return on investment.
- ERADICATES FRIZZES
Hair enriched with keratin is sleeker and more manageable. Those living in humid and hot climate zones will find this very useful. As part of the procedure, a few safe chemical agents are applied to the hair to make it more polished while preventing frizziness and flyaways. In most cases, keratin treatments last for at least six months. Consult your hairstylist in advance to ensure the products you use will not cause dryness or damage to your hair.
- KERATIN STRENGTHENS YOUR HAIR
The protein in keratin binds the roots to the follicles of your hair again, allowing the roots to grow stronger. In other words, your hair will be firmly connected to your roots and prevent it from falling out or becoming too limp. It will cause your hair to grow at an accelerated pace, and it will also keep your hair healthier longer.
- SAFEGUARD FOR YOUR HAIR
You will find that your hair will be more resistant to environmental pollutants after being treated with keratin. Keratin is a natural protective agent that will keep your hair shiny and healthy even in harsh weather conditions. In areas with a lot of smog, keratin can minimize the effects of these toxins on your hair.
- BLOW-DRYING TIME GET REDUCED WITH KERATIN
Mornings can be chaotic if you’re always on the go. Keratin treatments could help. Your blow-drying time will get reduced when you use these products. Even the hotter months of the year won’t affect the quality of your hair. Your hair will not require as much heat as it once did.
- Formaldehyde Exposure
Using a solution is a vital factor in the treatment, as shared earlier. For this solution, formaldehyde is used, which is a suspected hair-damaging chemical.
It hypothesized that the solution could harm not only your hair but your health also. A study found that the chemical is quite dangerous to use in confined spaces, such as a salon since it can lead to side effects like scratchy eyes or sore throats.
The chemical may cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions as well. Exposure to formaldehyde for an extended period can also lead to cancer. Formaldehyde is a gas, which poses a greater risk to the human body when inhaled. Because of this, some stylists wear masks or advise their clients to do so.
- Treatment on an Interim Basis
You would not be able to enjoy the benefits of your keratin treatment eternally. Using this semi-permanent treatment, you can straighten your hair. They will eventually fall back to their original shape and texture as the straightening and shine wear away.
- Toxic Chemicals Damage Hair Internally
In addition to any other hair treatment, this too contains a lot of chemicals that in the long run can harm your hair. You will likely notice a complete transformation at first, but with time, you will notice its side effects.
It is possible that your hair feels a lot weaker than they are because those chemicals start to damage the roots of your hair.
- Ultimately, Frizzy wins
When it comes to Keratin treatment, chemicals play an integral role, and that’s where your beautiful locks are damaged. Your hair will lose its natural oils and moisture when you have all these chemicals applied to it. You notice your tresses becoming progressively drier and frizzier as the side effects take hold.
- Time- and Money-consuming Treatment
Treatment with keratin is quite expensive. However, the price is dependent on the length of your hair. The therapy is supposed to last for around 4-6 months, but how well you take care of your hair throughout that time will have a significant impact. As well as being expensive, the treatment is also time-consuming. For the process to be complete, approximately 3-6 hours are needed. The use of keratin treatment has been declared unsafe for pregnant women or mothers who are breastfeeding.
In Essence
Curly or wavy hair might seem like a quick fix for keratin treatments, but it could end up costing more over time. Keratin treatments contain unidentified amounts of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer. It may also cause skin reactions and other side effects.
Most beauty products contain formaldehyde and other chemicals. These may also have health consequences. Do not take your child to the beauty salon because there may have exposure to chemicals in the air. If you have asthma, allergies, or are sensitive to smells, you may also have exposure to chemicals.
