Keratin treatments have become a popular way to smooth, straighten, and restore shine to hair. But with so many types of keratin treatments for hair available, it can get confusing understanding the differences between them. This article will overview the main types of keratin treatments for hair and what makes each one unique.
Page Contents
- What Is a Keratin Treatment?
- Main Types of Keratin Treatments
- Benefits of Keratin Treatments
- Side Effects and Risks
- Keratin Treatment Aftercare
- Keratin Treatment at Home
- Is Keratin Treatment Good for Hair?
- Does Keratin Treatment Damage Hair?
- Is Keratin Treatment Good for Hair Loss?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Wrapping It Up
What Is a Keratin Treatment?
A keratin treatment is a semi-permanent hair straightening method that aims to smooth and straighten frizzy or curly hair. These treatments work by applying a formula containing keratin—the key structural protein that makes up most of our hair and nails—that penetrates the hair cuticle to temporarily strengthen, repair damage, and coat the existing keratin in hair strands.
Keratin treatments are especially beneficial for people with frizzy hair. They reduce frizz, add shine, and improve manageability for a smooth, long-lasting effect. They also help strengthen weak strands and drastically cut styling time.
Main Types of Keratin Treatments
Brazilian Keratin Treatment
The most popular type is the Brazilian keratin treatment, sometimes called an escova progressiva. This intense conditioning treatment aims to soften curls, repair damage, and leave lasting smoothness and shine for 2 to 5 months. These treatments use a high concentration of keratin along with other nourishing ingredients like oils, silicones, and cellulose derivatives. Results last as long as the treatment stays on the hair strands until it wears off during washes.
The Brazilian Blowout is renowned for its ability to eliminate frizz while maintaining volume. This treatment is highly customizable, allowing you to achieve anything from sleek hair to bouncy curls.
Express Keratin Treatment
For those wanting sleek and straight hair fast, express keratin treatments deliver quicker results in about 1 to 2 hours but only last 1 to 4 weeks. Express treatments offer similar smoothing benefits but with shorter application times and lasting effects. This is a quick smoothing solution for minor frizz, ideal for maintenance or short-term results.
Rebooting Keratin Treatment
Rebooting keratin treatments aim to restore and renew hair from past chemical or environmental damage like chlorine, sun exposure, smoking, or other stresses. These nourishing treatments use proteins, amino acids, oils, and antioxidants to resurface the cuticle, sealing in moisture and strength.
Strengthening Keratin Treatment
Strengthening keratin treatments focus more on repairing damaged areas like split ends or porous sections prone to breakage. These fortifying treatments coat strands to make them more resilient, protecting against heat styling and environmental aggressors.
Color-Protecting Keratin Treatment
Color-safeguarding keratin treatments shield hair color from fading quickly while also smoothing and softening the strands. These color-locking treatments create a protective barrier to boost color retention while making hair easier to detangle and style.
Benefits of Keratin Treatments
When properly done, keratin hair treatments can provide several benefits:
Smoothing Frizz and Unruly Curls: Keratin treatments work by sealing the hair cuticles to temporarily straighten curly or wavy hair textures. This helps smooth out frizz and unmanageable curls.
Enhancing Shine: The treatment coats the hair strands to make them look glossier and healthier. Hair appears shiner and less dull after the service.
Easing Styling: The smoothing effect of keratin makes hair more slippery and easier to comb through. This allows faster blow drying and easier straightening or curling post-treatment.
Reducing Styling Time: Since it is semi-permanent, it drastically cuts styling time.
Side Effects and Risks
Keratin treatments can make hair look smoother, straighter, and shinier. However, these treatments also come with potential side effects:
Dryness and Brittleness: The strong chemicals used in keratin treatments can make hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage, especially if not properly maintained. This can worsen existing dryness or damage.
Hair Loss: Improper application or overuse of keratin treatments can damage follicles and cause excessive hair shedding or thinning. The harsh chemicals interfere with the hair growth cycle.
Scalp Irritation: Some people may experience an itchy, irritated scalp after getting a keratin treatment. This is usually due to an allergic reaction or chemical burns from the treatment.
Fading and Discoloration: Keratin-treated hair may fade quicker and lose its color faster. The chemicals strip away the hair’s natural pigment, causing treated hair to look dull over time.
Formaldehyde Concerns
Some keratin formulas contain formaldehyde, which can irritate eyes, skin, or lungs in the fumes released during the sealing process with high heat. One National Institute of Health study of nearly 34,000 women found that those who used hair straightening products more than four times a year were twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. At levels of 0.6 to 1.9 ppm, people might experience eczema or changes in their lung function.
Formaldehyde-Free Alternatives: Many brands now offer formaldehyde-free options using gentler ingredients like glyoxylic acid. However, even formaldehyde-free products can have risks. One case report found that a formaldehyde-free keratin-based hair-straightening product containing glyoxylic acid could lead to acute kidney injury.
Keratin Treatment Aftercare
To get the longest lasting results from the treatment, follow these aftercare tips:
Wait 72 Hours: Avoid washing or styling your hair for 72 hours after the procedure to allow the active ingredients to fully penetrate and set in hair strands.
Use Sulfate-Free Products: Continue using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to safely maintain results longer.
Limit Heat Styling: Avoid excessive heat from flat irons or blow dryers to prevent damage to the keratin layer.
Protect from Chlorine and Saltwater: Avoid saltwater and chlorine as they can strip the keratin coating off strands.
Be Gentle: Use a wide-tooth comb or a brush designed for wet hair to prevent breakage. Avoid aggressive towel drying.
Keratin Treatment at Home
With proper precautions, keratin smoothing treatments can be done at home using safer readymade kits with milder formulas. When choosing home keratin treatment products, preferable options include formaldehyde-free smoothing kits and natural keratin kits with plant extracts.
Popular At-Home Products
Aphogee Two Step Protein Treatment: Apply evenly throughout your hair after shampooing. Leave on for 10-15 minutes under a hair drying hood or heat cap. Rinse out thoroughly. Follow with a hydrating deep conditioner. Use 1-2 times per month.
Brazilian Blowout Acai Deep Conditioning Masque: Evenly distribute through washed, towel-dried hair. Put on a shower cap and leave in for 10-15 minutes with low heat from a hair dryer or heat cap. Rinse out thoroughly. Can be used 1-2 times per week.
Keratin Hair Reconstructor: After shampooing, apply all over damp hair. Wait 2 minutes then rinse out. Follow with conditioner. Use 1-2 times per week.
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray: Shake well. Spray through damp, clean hair evenly then comb through. Style as usual. Reapply whenever needed.
I’d recommend starting slow with once a week use for any at-home keratin treatments and adjusting as needed. Always follow instructions and perform a strand test first to test hair integrity if using chemical treatments.
Is Keratin Treatment Good for Hair?
When properly done by a reputable stylist using a milder formula without formaldehyde, keratin treatments can provide significant benefits for smoothing frizz and adding shine. However, to reap these benefits without damage, the hair should be sufficiently strong and healthy first, not over-treated. Appropriate aftercare is also essential.
When overdone or misused on damaged hair, keratin treatments can do more harm than good. The harsh chemicals compromise hair health while results are only temporary.
Does Keratin Treatment Damage Hair?
While keratin sounds nourishing, typical salon treatments actually use powerful chemicals that can damage hair. The proteins and chemicals deeply penetrate and break down the internal bonds of the hair strands to achieve temporary straightening, leading to brittleness. Chemicals like formaldehyde remove moisture and proteins like keratin from within the hair shaft, leaving it dry and porous over time. Repeated exposure to harsh ingredients may impact the follicles and normal hair growth patterns negatively.
To prevent damage from keratin treatments:
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Avoid overtreating damaged or thin hair
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Use less harsh formaldehyde-free formulas
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Extend time between treatments to 6 months
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Shampoo less frequently and use intensive hair masks
When done correctly and moderately, healthier hair types can benefit from keratin straightening without significant damage. But chemical relaxing is always taxing for the hair to some degree.
Is Keratin Treatment Good for Hair Loss?
Keratin treatments are not an effective solution for hair loss on their own. While they may temporarily thicken thinning hair, they do not treat the underlying causes and can worsen hair fall. The harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, high heat application, and the short-term effects counteract any perceived benefits for hair loss.
In fact, overusing keratin treatments often damages follicles and causes more thinning or breakage. The procedures interfere with the natural hair growth cycle and cannot prevent age or hormone-related baldness.
Other safer and more effective approaches for managing hair loss include:
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Nutrient-rich diet and supplements like biotin, iron, zinc, etc.
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Gentle hair care – Avoid harsh chemicals, heat tools, tight hairstyles
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Scalp massage using essential oils to improve blood circulation
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Minoxidil topical solutions to stimulate growth
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Medications like finasteride or spironolactone to inhibit DHT production
Consult a trichologist and get to the root cause before trying vitamins, topicals, light therapies, or PRP under expert guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of keratin treatments?
On average, keratin treatments range from $150 to $600 based on hair length and thickness. Express versions cost less, while Brazilian treatments giving longer-lasting results for 2-5 months have higher price tags. Custom or salon-branded versions also boost costs.
How long do results last?
Keratin treatment results can last 1-5 months depending on the formula, your hair type, and adherence to aftercare. Some types fade faster on hair that is frequently washed, heat styled, or exposed to chlorine or saltwater which can strip the keratin coating off strands.
Are keratin treatments safe?
When proper precautions are taken, keratin treatments pose minimal risks for most people, but heat and chemical straightening is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. Low-formaldehyde options using gentler ingredients like glyoxylic acid can reduce irritation risks. Proper ventilation and eyewear also minimize exposure.
What is the aftercare?
Keratin treatments require waiting 72 hours before washing or styling after the procedure to allow the active ingredients to fully penetrate and set in hair. After that, continue using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners to safely maintain results longer. Limit heat styling when possible and use heat protectants to prevent damage to the keratin layer deposited on hair strands.
Wrapping It Up
From the popular Brazilian treatment to fast express options, keratin smoothing services offer several types to straighten, strengthen, and repair all hair types. These in-salon treatments can help manage frizzy hair and safeguard color-treated locks, all while making hair softer and more vibrant. When carefully done by a trained professional using proper techniques and aftercare, keratin treatments can be a useful solution for problem hair. But avoiding overuse and chemical over-processing ensures hair stays healthy over time. Considering all factors with your stylist helps determine which of the types of keratin treatment for hair best fits your goals, budget, lifestyle, and locks.
For more information on natural hair care alternatives, check out these related articles:
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a dermatologist or healthcare professional before introducing new hair treatments into your routine. Results may vary based on individual hair types and conditions.
