Keratin or Permanent Straightening – Which One Is Better?

There is always a lot of confusion regarding keratin treatment and permanent straightening.

Because of all the online content about the subject, you may get confused about which route to take.

Hence, we will dismiss any myths and confusion about both treatments. This article will allow you to make a solid choice based on facts.

Keratin Treatment

More importantly, protein is precisely an essential element for healthy hair.

However, since this treatment contains many chemicals, it is not a completely harmless treatment for hair.

That being said, keratin treatment’s primary mechanism is to fill up the hair’s porosity. When the hair gets damaged, it also gets overly porous, which causes frizziness, tangles, and unhealthy-looking hair.

In this treatment, the protein pack fills the hair, and afterward, it is sealed by heat using a keratin straightener.

Moreover, it does not de-frizz the hair. Our hair is made of keratin, so keratin treatment adds more of what your hair already has.

Thus, allowing the hair to get healthier. However, this is not a permanent hair straightening treatment. There are different kinds of keratin treatments, depending on your needs.

You can customize it by discussing it with your hairstylist. Additionally, you do not have to fully straighten your hair during this treatment process if you do not want to.

Is It Permanent?

Keratin treatment is not a permanent treatment. It will last three to five months. Afterward, your hair will return to its standard form. [1]

If your hair is always silky and shiny, you may want to do a keratin treatment every six months.

READ MORE: How Often Can You Do Keratin Treatment?

Some Factors to Know About Keratin Treatment

If you want shiny, sleek, frizz-free hair, plenty of hair treatments are available. Is keratin treatment any better than those other treatments?

Why should you choose keratin treatment over others? Let’s find out what you are getting from keratin treatment.

1. Keratin for Strengthening

Our hair is made of keratin. Traditional hair styling using a heat tool can damage the link with that keratin. Breakage and split ends are common problems when you lack keratin. Hence, this treatment provides your hair with the lost keratin in your follicle, making it stronger and healthier.

2. Prevents Frizz

Frizz occurs when hair lacks moisture. When dry hair gets in touch with humidity, it attacks the hair making it frizzy. The hair dries out when it gets damaged, and the hair cells open up due to breakage. Keratin helps fill up those gaps and tame the frizz. It also makes the hair smooth and silky.

3. Damage Repair

As we discussed before, keratin fills up the pores. As a result, hair becomes smooth. Keratin also adds an extra layer of protein to the hair, one of the critical elements of silky and shiny hair. Keratin shampoo, conditioner, and oil help to prevent breakage and split ends. All in all, this treatment repairs damaged hair.

4. Switching Products

You must change your hair products after using a keratin treatment. Giving up your old hair products and switching to new ones is necessary when you’ve done keratin treatment.

5. Formaldehyde Free

Normally, hair treatments contain formaldehyde, which is toxic. If your stylist uses something that is formaldehyde-free, it will probably turn into formaldehyde when mixed with water or put into heat. But now there are also some alternatives. It’s not long-lasting enough like formaldehyde. But, it is toxin-free.

Pros & Cons

Pros	Cons
1. Suitable for all kinds of hair.	1. Expensive treatment.
2. Safer than other treatments.	2. Not Permanent
3. Does not need much maintenance.	3. Can irritate the skin.
4. Does not damage hair.	4. Need an experienced stylist.
5. Makes hair shiny, silky, and frizz-free.	5. Not for pregnant women.

Related: Is Keratin Bad for Your Hair?

Permanent Straightening

Permanent straightening, also called Japanese hair straightening, use thermal reconditioning ingredients to straighten any hair type permanently. [2]

This straightening procedure uses high-heat products, chemicals, and flat iron. Namely, this procedure breaks your hair bonds, reforms the fiber, and makes your hair straighten permanently. Nevertheless, you may need a touch-up every year.

This process generally takes about 4 -5 hours to complete depending on the length of your hair. During the procedure, the molecular bonds of your strands become softened and reformed into a straight pattern.

Thus, after successfully finishing the straightening, you will get smooth, silky, and incredibly straight hair.

However, permanent straightening can make your hair vulnerable to future damage and make it brittle.

Therefore, you always need to take care of your hair. Furthermore, it will make your hair super dry, so most hair experts do not recommend applying this straightening method on bleached, colored, or highlighted hair.

Is It Really Permanent?

The method is called permanent straightening, which is valid at some points. But it will not last forever. Your hair will remain straight until new hair grows.

Namely, the newly grown hair will be frizzy or curly. But the straighter hair (the hairs which were permanently straightened) will remain straight. You do not need to worry if your hair growth rate is meager.

Some Factors to Know About Permanent Straightening

1. Types of Japanese Treatment

There are many types of permanent straightening, and the most popular type is Japanese straightening. With this straightening method, your curls can vanish forever, and you will get longer-lasting smooth, silky, and straight hair than any other straightening treatment. However, this treatment is more expensive than others.

2. Types of Hair

You must consider your hair type before applying Permanent or Japanese Straightening Treatments on your hair. This hair straightening procedure does not work if you have thin or weak strands.

3. This is Not a Home Treatment

Going to a salon is necessary if you want this treatment. A non-professional hand can burn your hair.

4. Last Longer Than Any Treatment

This treatment lasts longer than any other available treatment. So, this is the obvious treatment choice if you need to straighten your hair almost permanently.

5. The Damages

After this treatment, your hair becomes vulnerable. So, there will be more risk of getting frizzy, dry, and broken hair. Thus, you should avoid this treatment if you cannot afford to constantly take care of your hair and spend some money on more expensive products.

Pros & Cons of Permanent Straightening

Pros	Cons
1. Last longer than any other treatment.	1. Costly.
2. Your hair will become silky, glossy, and straight.	2. Need a saloon or experienced hairstylist.
3. You rarely need blow-drying after taking this treatment.	3. Makes your hair dry, frizzy, and vulnerable to future damage
4. Men can also use this treatment	4. Can affect the texture of newly grown strands.

Final Words

So, which one will you choose? Permanent straightening makes your hair straighten better than any other treatment.

It does not work like flat irons, which make your hair dry and do not give it a naturally straight look.

This type of treatment is best for very thick and curly hair. Once your hair grows again, the hair’s roots will become curly, but the ends will be straightened.

If you do not like the prospect of regrowing hair and are aware of the possibility of making your hair dry, frizzy, or damaged, then you can go for keratin treatments.

This treatment also requires less time and maintenance. Additionally, you can do this keratin straightening process at home. And it costs less than the permanent straightening treatment. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Resources

• 1. Everything You Need To Know About Keratin Hair Treatments [Internet]. Harper’s BAZAAR. 2022. Available from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/a1266/how-keratin-damages-hair/
• 2. Want to Straighten Your Strands? The Japanese Method Might Be for You [Internet]. Healthline. 2021 [cited 2022 Sep 22]. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/japanese-hair-straightening