If you’re looking for an efficient way to straighten your hair, this one is definitely it. It might be the one to break the bank, but it’s totally worth it when you look at all the benefits of it.
However, do keratin treatments have a dark side as well? Do they leave your hair permanently damaged? We’ll answer all of those questions and more down below.
What Is Keratin Treatment?
Keratin treatment is one of the most popular hair straightening methods in the beauty world. Hearing the word “keratin” alone makes us think about all things beauty. You have probably come across a bunch of products that claim they have keratin in them. We won’t discuss whether or not that’s true in this article. The point is — you’ve heard of keratin.
Keratin is a protein found in all of our hair. Each strand of hair has some, so why do we need treatments that will give us more? Over time, and with exposure to the sun, heat, and other harmful things, our hair begins to lose said protein. What does this mean? It simply means that your hair will now look dull, dead, dry, and it will break easily. If this sounds all too familiar, maybe keratin is the treatment for you.
How Is It Done?
The keratin treatment procedure doesn’t usually last long. Think of it as going to a salon and your hairstylist deep conditioning your hair. It doesn’t look that much different from what you usually encounter. So there are distinct steps in this process that we can talk about:
- Step 1 — Hair washing. This is the first step, no matter what you came to the salon to do. Your stylist will wash your hair, but there will be no conditioner involved. Don’t let this scare you. Remember — keratin will replace it for much better results.
- Step 2 — Drying the hair. It goes on as usual. Your hairstylist may choose to dry your hair naturally or blow-dry it. It all depends on how much time you have to spare. Everything is business as usual so far, but things are about to change. Note: your stylist can skip this step entirely and apply the solution to the wet hair as well.
- Step 3 — Keratin solution. Now comes the application of the solution. This looks much like conditioning, except it needs to stay in your hair for quite some time. That’s usually anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what your hair needs.
- Step 4 — Ironing. This is the last step. The stylist will use different heat settings (usually low to medium heat) to let the product sink into your hair. This might not be necessary for the entirety of your hair, so it won’t take too much time.
Is It Good for Your Hair?
There are many benefits to keratin treatment. First of all, your hair will now be silky, smooth, and so much easier to manage. That means you won’t need ages to wash and care for your hair, at least not anymore. You can say goodbye to your frizzy hair, but that’s not all that is good about this treatment.
As we gradually lose the keratin in our hair, there’s nothing that can really bring it back. Our body won’t naturally produce it. Once it’s gone from a strand of hair — that’s it. However, this treatment replenishes the lost keratin in your hair. That’s why it ends up looking so smooth and healthy.
Still, not all hair types can benefit from more keratin. If your hair is frizzy, curly, dead, or dull — congratulations because you may enjoy and reap the benefits that this treatment gives. On the other side, if you naturally have fine and straight hair, this treatment might not be right for you.
But what if you have straight hair that is dry and needs revival? Sadly, you’ll have to look at other treatments that might help you with that. This one might not work as well and could potentially damage your hair.
Keratin is a protein that our hair needs to look flawless, so this treatment is going to do exactly that. It’s highly effective, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give it a try… or is there?
Can It Damage Your Hair?
So can keratin treatment damage your hair? Apparently, it’s not just the hair you should worry about. The post-treatment hair care is tedious and requires a lot of effort and attention. You have to use specific shampoos, wrap your hair in silk so that it doesn’t bend, and avoid water as much as possible. With proper care, your hair can look luxurious for six whole months. Is that all there is to it? Unfortunately, not really.
One of the ingredients found in keratin treatment solutions is formaldehyde. Yes, this ingredient is potentially dangerous, not to mention carcinogenic. Technically, these solutions are formaldehyde-free… that’s until they come in contact with water. That means both your hair and you are exposing yourself to danger. It’s best to seek treatments that are actually formaldehyde-free, although their effects won’t be so long-lasting and successful.
Since extremely high heats are needed to complete this treatment, we don’t have to tell you how that can be bad for your hair. That’s especially the case if your hair is really fine or already damaged. If you happen to have curly hair, keratin treatments could potentially permanently affect your curl pattern. That means that if you ever want to go back to curly, it might not look as well as it once did.
There are many things to keep in mind when it comes to these treatments, but whether it’s worth the risk is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Conclusion
Keratin treatment is one of the most popular methods for straightening hair. It comes with many benefits but also potential downsides. As with everything, there is a risk, and there are consequences.
With this treatment, your hair will be straight and luscious for months. However, it might permanently damage your curl pattern. Think carefully before you go down the keratin hole.
