Detailed Keratin Treatment Guide

Keratin is a protein that is the basic structural building block for hair, skin, and nails. Keratin is found in humans and animals in forms ranging from hooves to soft and supple skin. This shows you how strong and delicate keratin can be. When the outer layer of keratin is damaged, it affects new cells that are no longer underneath. This causes damage in the form of dry, brittle hair or rough and cracked skin.

How it works

Reversing this damage can be achieved with keratin hair treatment. Keratin is used to repair and replenish damage to the cuticle layer of the hair. Keratin is not unlike a perm or relaxer in that it does not alter the disulfide bonds of the hair making it a semi-permanent treatment that takes about 3 months depending on the texture.

A Keratin treatment creates a barrier from heat and moisture, so it can be the perfect treatment for clients who have perfect hair but want their natural curl and curl to be softened and protected from the elements. A keratin treatment won’t completely remove the frizz, but it can straighten your clients in half, if not more.

Are Keratin Treatments Safe?

There has been a lot of talk about the safety of keratin treatments. Not all treatments are equal. Tests found dangerously high formaldehyde in the Brazilian brand of Keratin Treatment (BKT), about 10 times higher than what’s been recorded as safe.

A safer option is gk hair‘ Keratin Shot, a favorite of professional stylists.

Keratin treatments are also safe on hair that has already been highlighted or colored.

Are There Other Products With Keratin On The Market?

There are some great shampoos, conditioners, and styling products on the market that contain keratin.

Best Keratin Treatment by Hair Types

Depending on the texture and type of your hair, your height, thickness, and overall health of your hair, some keratin treatments may be better than others. Below are the 4 best keratin treatments for different hair textures.

1: GK Keratin

There are 2 versions of the GK hair treatment. One comes with Formaldehyde and the other with Formaldehyde. The popular one does not contain formaldehyde, GK treatment also contains conditioners, glycerin, and keratin. It is best suited for fine to medium textured hair. Perfect for someone who prefers to keep their curls or waves but still wants some softness. It is necessary to wait 72 hours before washing. Results last up to 8 weeks.

2: Brazilian Keratin

Brazilian blowouts are the most favored of all keratin treatments. This procedure smoothes hair, eliminates frizz, and leaves hair ultra-smooth and silky, while the super-nutrient complex keeps volume understated. This is a very strong and intense treatment perfect for someone with very coarse, thick, dry hair who wants sleeker and more manageable hair. The procedure takes about 90 minutes, the results last up to 3-4 months, and the hair can be washed immediately after the procedure.

3: Liquid Keratin

This treatment contains keratin peptides and keratin molecules that help bond the hair perfectly with great nourishment. Liquid keratin is widely used and considered one of the safest keratin treatments out there. Ideal for fine to medium hair. It makes hair naturally smooth and manageable and results can last up to 30-40 days.

4: Refreshing Color Lock Keratin

Contains superior keratin proteins and collagen that help build hair fibers and lock in color. Ideal for people with colored hair or those with environmentally damaged hair. The process makes the color look natural and vibrant and reduces styling time. Results last up to 4-8 weeks.

Is Keratin Good or Bad for Your Hair: Pros and Cons

Recently, many people have been voicing concerns about this smoothing procedure, wondering if the keratin treatment is safe, does the keratin damage the hair, but rather heal it. Moreover, is it worth the money or just one trendy word of mouth? We’ve taken a closer look at the pros and cons so you can better decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Pros

• Hair is bouncy, soft and manageable.
• It cuts styling time so much that you can tackle it without even having to style it.
• The treatment can keep the hair texture intact and still produce soft and smooth results.
• It does not interfere with the growth phase. Natural hair emerges slowly as it wears off during treatment.

Cons

• The process involves a chemical known as Formaldehyde. The higher concentration level of this chemical is considered unsafe by the FDA. Having said that, formaldehyde is found in most commercial products.
• Pregnant women are advised not to use this treatment, as this may affect their own baby and the health of the unborn baby. This goes with any chemical procedure where the product is absorbed by the skin.
• The process involves high heat of 450 degrees, which can be damaging for some hair types. This step cannot be skipped as it is a very important step in sealing the product inside the hair cuticle.
• The results of this treatment are relatively short-lived and only last for 4-5 months.

Difference Between Keratin Hair Smoothing and Japanese Straightening Treatment

Japanese straightening gives hair a permanent, smooth, and straight look. Keratin treatments gently wash away, allowing natural hair to regrow. While keratin treatment fades over time, Japanese straightening treatments require a lot of maintenance to maintain the effect. Therefore, keratin does not take long as long as the Japanese flatten, but it also does not affect the growth phase. Both processes use a very high heat flat iron to seal the product in the hair fibers.

Anyway, it’s always a good idea to get a professional consultation about your hair’s elasticity and porosity, texture, density, and curl pattern. After that, you will be advised to use keratin or a Japanese straightener.

Caring for Treated Keratin Hair

The average keratin treatment takes 3-4 months. Depends on lifestyle and post-salon hair care. Each keratin treatment has its own instruction. If you want to broaden your results, you should follow them. However, these recommendations will help you protect keratin-treated hair in any situation:

• If it is necessary to wait 72 hours, do not wet the hair during this time, avoid hair accessories;
• if the hair is accidentally wet, it is dry-dried and ironed slightly warm;
• Wash your hair as rarely as possible, use dry shampoo on occasional days;
• ideally use sulfate-free and sodium-free shampoos specially developed for post-keratin care;
• Shampoo with warm water, followed by a cool rinse;
• Use built-in conditioners and masks containing keratin;
• when not shampooing, wear a shower cap to keep hair dry in the shower;
• always use heat protectant oils or sprays when curling, flat ironing and blow-drying;
• apply products with UV protection in the warm seasons;
• Use conditioners (or a swim cap) before swimming in chlorinated or salt water, forget about sea salt sprays;
• avoid using coloring products for at least three weeks after the procedure;
• take care of your ends – consider using hair serum;
• do not overuse hair products – hair sprays, mousses, gels;
• try hot oil treatments
• use a tangle to gently comb through the knots;
• consider sleeping on a silk pillowcase;
• Retreat in a timely manner as keratin treatments are ‘cumulative’.