What is keratin, and what can it do for your hair?
We would love to explain to you what keratin is and what it does for your hair in this blog because we get many questions about it. Is a keratin treatment bad for you? What does it do? Can you dye your hair before or after a keratin treatment?
What is keratin, and what can it do for your hair?
Keratin is a protein that your body naturally produces. It helps keep your hair, skin and nails healthy and strong. Sometimes a protein deficiency occurs in your hair due to chemical treatments, for example. With a keratin treatment, you can restore this, making your hair smooth and healthy again.
As mentioned, keratin is a protein. Your hair consists of as many as fifty different types of proteins, but keratin is the most important. Keratin protects your hair shaft by smoothing the hair cuticles. Your hair loses this protective keratin due to a number of factors. The two most important ones are:
Heat styling
Do you like using the straightener or blow-dryer? Unfortunately, that can change the internal structures of your hair and cause a loss of elasticity and makes your hair frizzy.
Chemical damage
Chemical treatments such as bleaching, highlighting, decolouring, perming and straightening can cause breakage and loss of hair cuticles on the outer layers of the hair. The hair then feels extremely dry, tangles and it will break easily.
You notice this because your hair is dull and lifeless, for example, or dry and coarse and feels rough, making it difficult to control.
So, how does a keratin treatment at your hair salon work?
During a keratin treatment, proteins are brought back into your hair, making it stronger and shinier. It becomes smooth again and frizz is reduced. A keratin treatment is also known as Brazilian blowout, as the treatment was brought over from Brazil.
During a keratin treatment, your hair will be washed with a special shampoo and then dried with a towel. Then the liquid keratin solution is applied to your hair in small sections. Next, your hair is blow-dried. A straightening iron is then used to seal the keratin solution into your hair. The treatment can take as long as two to four hours. If the keratin treatment is performed by a hair specialist, and you stick to the prescribed care, your hair will remain smooth for up to six months.
What should you pay attention to after keratin treatment?
During treatment, a small layer is placed around your hair, protecting it. This layer needs to 'harden' a bit. That is why it is better to leave your hair alone for the first few days. Don't wash it, don't get it wet, and don't use any hair products. Don't use hair clips, scrunchies, elastics, hats or sunglasses in your hair either. After those first few days, it is usually necessary to use special shampoos and other hair products to maintain the treatment.
Swimming in both swimming pools (because of the chlorine) and in the sea (because of the sea salt) is not recommended, but tap water abroad is also best avoided. This will cause the treatment to wear off faster. You should also wash your hair as little as possible, preferably once or twice a week at most.
Salt (sulphates), which are often found in shampoos, will shorten the life of your keratin treatment. Hair products containing alcohol also have this effect. It is best to sleep on a silk pillowcase after a keratin treatment.
Combining hair dyeing and a keratin treatment
If you also dye your hair, it is better to do this just before the keratin treatment, considering the layer that is placed around your hair. The treatment locks in the colour, making your colour last longer and look brighter. Do discuss this with the hairdresser who will be doing the keratin treatment for you.
Keratin treatment and curls
A keratin treatment will not necessarily straighten your hair. It will make your hair softer and smoother, but it will still curl. So it is really different from straightening or relaxing your hair. Therefore, you don't have to worry about your curls after a keratin treatment. Keratin only reduces the volume of your hair and returns your curls to their original shape. However, there are different types of keratin treatments, so it is important to indicate to your hairdresser that you want to keep your curl, so that the best keratin treatment can be selected for you.
Why is a keratin treatment discouraged by some?
A properly done keratin treatment, although expensive, makes your hair shiny and silky and reduces frizz. The effect can last up to six months. Besides, keratin is a natural, bodily substance. So what's not positive about a keratin treatment? A keratin treatment with formaldehyde can sometimes also negatively impact your body. This substance used to be commonly used in keratin treatments. In that case, you may suffer from headaches, hair loss, coughing, eye irritation, rashes or other side effects.
Formaldehyde
formaldehyde solution or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients are still used sometimes. This is a chemical used as a germicide, fungicide and disinfectant, and you may know it from its use in funeral homes and medical laboratories. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause cancer. Fortunately, it is now possible to have a keratin treatment without formaldehyde. We therefore recommend keratin treatment without formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. It may also be wise to do an allergy test before starting a keratin treatment.
Formaldehyde releasers
Formaldehyde is usually not the name on the ingredient list because formaldehyde releasers are usually contained in the products, which are substances from which formaldehyde is released. Your hairdresser may not be aware of this. Therefore, pay close attention to the following substances commonly used as quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).
And be aware that there must be a chemical active ingredient in the treatment that will ensure your hair stays soft and smooth for a long time, which means it makes a chemical bond with the hair cells.
Animal origin
In addition, a keratin treatment often contains animal-derived substances. Keratin consists of many different proteins, including different types of keratin, keratin-associated proteins (KFAPs) and enzymes from animal tissues. The keratin in keratin hair treatments usually comes from ground animal parts. Most producers get their keratin from the slaughterhouse; from the hair of pigs or from ground beef or pig hooves. Understandably, not everyone wants to use these products...
Alternatives for keratin treatment
Think you have a shortage of keratin in your hair but would rather not have an (expensive) keratin treatment at the hair salon? Then you have the following options:
Keratin supplements
Keratin supplements contain a combination of ingredients such as keratin, biotin and other vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair growth. However, opinions on these supplements are divided. Some claim that biotin supplements, for example, have a good effect on your hair. Other articles again say that scientific research could not prove that your hair benefits from these kinds of supplements.
Either way, it is always advisable to consult a doctor before starting a supplement treatment.
Hair care with keratin
Studies have indicated that shampoos and conditioners containing keratin hydrolysates can make your hair stronger, brighter and softer.
Nutrition
You can help your body boost keratin production by adding the following foods to your menu a little more often:
- broccoli
- carrots
- eggs
- garlic
- kale
- salmon
- sweet potatoes
Proper hair care, such as using a gentle shampoo and conditioner and avoiding excessive heat styling, always helps to keep your hair healthy or becoming so that it is beautifully elastic, strong and smooth. Going for supplements or a keratin treatment? Again, this will be most effective when combined with a healthy diet and a good hair care routine. Want to know more? Then read our blogs. Of course, you are also always welcome to contact us if you have any further questions about what keratin is and what it does for your hair.
