Everything You Should Know About Keratin Treatment

Whatever style you have done to your hair, silky, shiny, and smooth hair is not comparable to anything. You may have sleek, shiny hair by using a hair straightener or some other products, but these are not permanent processes or solutions.

The shine will vanish within a day and you have to apply the hair products and flat iron your hair the next day, and the next day, and the…you get the point. Moreover, there is always the risk of damaging your hair or making it frizzy by using these hair tools and products. So, is there any process that can really make your hair shiny, silky and smooth which will also reduce frizziness?? Or even if you have found one, can you afford it?

Yep, and it’s called keratin!

Here, you will learn everything you need to know about keratin treatment before using it. There are lots of mysteries and questions around this popular straightening method and you are going to get all of your answers today.

Must-Read: The Best hair straightener keratin

What is Keratin Treatment?

If you’re hearing about the keratin treatment for the first time, first, you need to know what it is actually. Keratin treatment is a chemical process to reduce frizziness from your hair and make it smooth and shiny. It contains protein that is very high in an amino acid called “cysteine” which can make your hair tough, elastic, smooth, silky, and straight. You may have heard the different names around the internet (Brazilian Blowout, Goldwell Kerasilk, Cezanne, etc.). These are actually the names of the different versions of this treatment or chemical process.

However, keratin can be also found in our hair, skin, and nails. This is a protein that is a key element for building the block for hair, nails, and skin. When the outer layer of it gets damaged, the new cells of your skin, nails, and hair get affected and remain unprotected. So, when it comes to hair, it gets dry, brittle, broken, frizzy, and damaged very shortly and badly. So, then the keratin treatment is applied to repair the damage and give protection to your hair.

CHECK: DOES KERATIN CAUSE HAIR LOSS?

How Does It Work? (the Benefits as Well)

Keratin treatment actually aims to straighten the hair which is become dull and frizzy. It basically coats the hair cuticles like a shield, while blow-drying or flat ironing your hair. However, this process or solution can also make your hair straighten, give better hair texture and keep your hair safe from frizz for about 3-months.

Keratin treatment also creates a shield against heat and humidity. So, your hair gets less damaged due to the use of hair styling tools that uses heat and remains protected in humid weather. It is a great thing for girls who want to have trendy styles but who don’t want to use a lot of heat tools on their hair.

If you are curly-haired, you also do not need to worry about this treatment. A keratin treatment will not take away the curls completely. You can get back your curls with a curling iron or other curling procedures. But if you stick with straightening hair – this will be great as this treatment will cut the straightening time hair.

The Benefits in Short

• Makes your hair ready for plenty of hairstyling options
• Gives your hair a fabulous sleek, silky and shiny look
• Makes your hair easy to straighten and easy to style
• Your hair is low maintenance after getting this treatment (for about 3 months)
• Improves your hair texture and makes your hair stronger
• Repairs damaged and broken hair
• Prevents and removes frizz
• Shields to your hair from further damage
• Makes your hair more elastic
• Seals the hair cuticles and split ends
• Makes your hair easy to detangle
• Shields your hair from heat damage
• Seals and protects your hair color as well
• Helps to amplify hair volume

Are There Any Differences With Chemical Relaxers?

Keratin treatments are different from any other chemical treatments. Unlike a perm or chemical relaxer, keratin does not change the disulfide bonds of your hair rather it is a semi-permanent treatment that lasts around 3 months (which definitely depends on your hair texture).

The ingredients of the chemical relaxer and keratin treatments are also different. The ingredients in the chemical relaxer break your hair structure and restructure it from the core to make the hair straighter for a longer time. But the ingredients used in this process (sodium peroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and guanidine hydroxide) make the hair weak as well.

Whereas keratin treatments make your hair stronger. By this treatment, the porous parts of your hair get injected with proteins that guard your hair against being damaged and make your hair smoother in the meantime. But after a few months (3-months generally) this protection and treatment wash out gradually and you have to take this treatment again to keep the smoothness and protection of your hair. 

A chemical relaxer is better for those who have curly hair and decide to make their hair straighten. This procedure is not recommended who have very fine or thin hair. So, a “strand test” is highly recommended before having a chemical relaxer on your hair. People, who go for a chemical relaxer, must know that it makes their hair dry. So, proper care and weekly deep conditions are needed. Where keratin treatment gives you ease.

Should You Try This at Home?

You can but you should not expect salon results. Moreover, to do this treatment at home, you need to buy some right products and make the solution on your own with the proper proportion of each element. Besides, keratin treatments take about two hours to finish the whole process. So, you have to be patient also if you decide to do this at home. And if there is no helping hand, it becomes a really tough job to do with your own at home. However, if you still wish to do this at your home, you need to buy all the products required for this process carefully. Make sure you buy strained silicon, conditioning treatments, and all the ingredients from the “ingredients list” given with the keratin treatment packet. Then read the instruction fully. Wash your hair and make it dry according to the instruction. Finally, remember one thing, home version keratin treatment will last about 6-8 weeks, where salon treatment will last about 3-6 months depending on your “after treatment care”. Our suggestion is to try a keratin flat iron at home since it is easy to use, safe to use, requires less time, and is also less expensive.

READ MORE: How Long Does Keratin Treatment Last?

Who Should Avoid It?

First of all, all pregnant women should avoid keratin treatment. After giving birth, you are okay to use this treatment, though. Also, if you are very worried about your hair health, avoid this treatment as this is a process where a chemical solution is used. You’d be better off going with natural hair care and trying to avoid applying hot tools on your hair as much as possible.

Many people think that this treatment should not be applied to colored hair. Actually, it is wrong. You can absolutely use keratin treatment on your colored hair without doing any harm or risk of damage.

What’s The Cost?

The cost of keratin treatment actually depends on the length of your hair. On average it costs $300-$400 to have this treatment from the saloon. If your hair is very thick or long, the saloon can add $100-$150 onto the treatment. If you do it at home it costs around $150-$200 to complete the whole process.

Finally, is It Safe?

Ahh, here’s the kicker. Keratin treatment contains Formaldehyde which is one kind of carcinogen (substance or radiation that promotes the formation of cancer). But the amount of formaldehyde used in keratin treatment is very small, and many experts say it’s not enough to cause any real damage. If you are still concerned, though, you should avoid it and should look for formaldehyde-free treatments. But remember, this will not be as effective and long-lasting as the keratin treatment. However, the choice is yours.

RELATED: Which Keratin Treatment Has No Formaldehyde?

Bottom Line

Lots of women around the world are now taking this keratin treatment and this treatment becomes popular now. We have tried to tell you everything about this treatment and hope you have now fully understood how it works and should you take this treatment or not.