Keratin—the protein that helps strengthen hair to prevent breakage, heat damage, and frizz—is vitally important for maintaining strong and healthy hair. But keratin straightening, the salon treatments that promise silky-smooth hair, have long come with major health concerns. To get the breakdown of everything you need to know about keratin treatments
Keratin is a structural protein found in our hair, skin, and nails. It's also commonly found in styling products to help strengthen hair—but the term keratin treatment is actually a misnomer. "Keratin treatments are semi-permanent hair straightening treatments that smooth and add shine to frizzy hair
The treatment lasts for approximately three hours and consist of the following steps. - All done! The end result would be smooth, shiny, manageable hair which will last you at least three months with a proper hair care regime.
Another possible side effect of keratin treatment is hair breakage. High temperatures from flat iron can dry out the hair and lead to hair breakage in the days to come. So opt for formaldehyde-free keratin treatments, like the ones containing glyoxylic acid [5] to be safe. But the latter may be less effective.
Cons of keratin treatments Keratin treatments are semi-permanent, meaning that after a few months, the results start to wash out. Your hair won't return to its natural state, and you might not like the look of how new hair growth looks at the crown of your head.
The treatment’s benefits may make hair seem to grow more quickly, but it’s really all about strengthening the hair. “Keratin helps to add shine, reduce frizz, and reduce the appearance of split ends by temporarily bonding the hair back.
keratin treatments work well on most hair types. For curly hair in particular, it will completely smooth frizz and add more shine. "Curly hair reflects light less easily than straight hair, so you'll notice more shine after your keratin treatment
Another added benefit is that it will keep freshly-colored hair vibrant. Sukhwinder Kaur recommends talking to your stylist and colorist about getting your color refreshed right before your keratin treatment. The treatment seals in the color, making it last longer and appear brighter.
The treatment takes a few hours, though it varies based on hair length and type. “Depending on the texture and density of your hair, you can anticipate your salon visit to be anywhere from two to four hours.