By Karen Espig
If you want to tame or straighten your curls, seal in colour, or add extra shine to your locks, a keratin treatment might be for you! And, great news: it doesn’t just last a day or two; depending on the treatment and the follow-up care, it can last for weeks or even months!
Want to learn more about this easy care technique that could save you hours of styling and hair care? Read our keratin treatment guide to find out more!
What Is Keratin?
Keratin is a protective protein in the human body, including hair, skin, nails, and internal organs. It represents 90% of the structure of hair, which is why adding it to frizzy or damaged hair is such an effective treatment. A keratin treatment smooths the outer layer of the hair shaft, sealing in colour and making it look shinier. It may be done at the salon or at home, but having it done by a professional lasts longer.
It is important to note that keratin used in hair treatments is generally sourced from animal sources, such as feathers, hoofs, and horns. So, if you follow a vegan lifestyle, this is not the solution for you.
At Home Or At The Salon?
Ideally, an experienced stylist will do the treatment. This way, you can discuss whether it is a good option for you. If you have fine or significantly damaged hair, it may not be. Keratin treatments can weigh down very fine or thinning hair, so you may not get the results you are hoping for.
The process involves washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove dirt and hair product residue. This opens up the hair follicle to better receive the keratin product. Your hair is dried and divided into sections before applying the keratin mask.
After setting for 20 to 30 minutes, your hair will be thoroughly rinsed before being dried again. In the final step, a very hot straightening iron will smooth the hair and seal the individual strands, leaving you with shinier, straighter tresses.
If you choose an at-home treatment, the process is similar to a salon treatment, and the products are readily available at many department or beauty stores. You can enlist a friend to help, making it a more enjoyable experience.
Post-treatment Care
For the first couple of days, be gentle on your hair. Don’t tie it back, expose it to chlorine, or wash it. Only use a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner when you want to clean it.
For the longest-lasting results, avoid heat-styling products or at least lower the temperature when using them. If you can go a few days between washes, this will serve you well.
Risks
The main concern with keratin treatments is that they contain chemicals that release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Some treatments are marketed as formaldehyde-free, which means they do not contain formaldehyde in their original state.
However, some of these treatments still release formaldehyde during the process, as it is the formaldehyde that allows for the lasting effect.
Costs
There is a cost in terms of both money and time. A salon keratin treatment will cost between $200 and $500 (USD), and the price may vary according to the stylist’s experience. An at-home version will cost well under $100.
I believe you could safely say, “You get what you pay for” in terms of lasting quality results, but if your budget is small and you wish to try it out, by all means, try the DIY kit! Either way, set aside several hours to complete the hair treatment.
Benefits
If you regularly straighten your wavy hair at home, then a keratin treatment can reduce that preparation time and save your hair from the damage of straightening irons.
For those with chemically coloured hair, the treatment locks in the colour and brings back some of the shine, allowing it to look better and last longer.
And, if your hair is damaged due to heat styling, hair treatments, or environmental factors, adding keratin can return some structure and shine.
Additionally, if your hair is prone to frizziness, smoothing and sealing it with this treatment will keep it under control, even in temperamental weather.
For those with very textured hair, it will relax the intensity of your curl pattern, allowing for easier styling. However, the straightening effect you see on salon days may be transient.
As you can see from our keratin treatment guide, it is an effective method of relaxing curls, maintaining colour and improving hair’s shine and structure while keeping frizzies at bay. With proper care, a salon treatment may last five months, meaning you only need to do it two or three times per year.
But please talk to your hairstylist about whether it is suitable for your hair type before diving headfirst into a keratin treatment.