Hair Treatment Controversy: Does Keratin Do More Harm Than Good?

Women who prefer a no-frizz and straight-looking hair end up considering the idea of keratin treatment as it is known to give such results. Salons offer the treatment, while there are also at-home alternatives.

Keratin is the protein that makes up the hair. Keratin treatment is the chemical process that injects protein into the porous areas of the hair leaving it looking shiny, smooth, and healthy.

Here’s some information that one would need to know before getting a keratin treatment.

1- Keratin treatment is somewhat a misnomer

A controversy about keratin treatment being harmful has circulated. It isn’t the keratin but the other chemicals such as ethylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanethiol that would release formaldehyde when heated or mixed with water. These chemicals together with sodium hydroxide and ammonium thioglycolate break the hair bonds during the keratin treatment process to produce straight hair. Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen for humans.

2- Formaldehyde-free versions are available

One of the best things even in the beauty and wellness world is for you to have an option. You can opt for a formaldehyde-free keratin product to be used in your hair treatment. There is a difference in the longevity of the result, though. The effect of a formaldehyde-free treatment is shorter than the one with formaldehyde-releasing substances. The choice is yours.

3- Ventilation can do a bit of the trick

If you are one of those who would still opt for the usual keratin product mixture, you better check if the salon has proper ventilation to prevent you from inhaling all the gas during the process. Very minimal exposure to formaldehyde won’t be harmful as some house cleaning products contain it, too.

4- Always go with a professional

In getting a keratin hair treatment, it is best that you have it done by an expert hairstylist in their salon. Doing the treatment at home deprives your hair of being assessed by the expert hands of a professional to give it the proper treatment and care it needs. Also, consider consulting a professional like the Vera Clinic before getting any hair treatment as it can go a long way for your health. After all, it isn’t just about temporary beauty.

5- You can do away with the daily flat iron

High heat set at 450 °C during the keratin treatment may sound too much on your hair, but it is still better than doing it at 100 °C every day. You get the treatment once in two months. Your hair rests for about 60 days before it gets another blow of heat.

6- Look out for the price

An affordable keratin treatment is a piece of good news especially if you are on a tight budget, but be cautious if it is offered way too low. It is either the product that will be used is of poor quality, or you will be attended by a technician who wouldn’t care how long the flat iron stays on the strands of your hair.

7- Ironing is the secret key

Experts say that it is all about ironing. Aside from the quality of the product used, the ironing technique done by the technician can make or break the keratin treatment. It is all in the hands of your technician then. Better pick a salon that prides on the expertise of its staff.

8- Switch shampoos

If your hair becomes frizzy after the keratin treatment, you are likely to blame the treatment without considering other factors. Your shampoo may have contributed to it.  A sulfate-free shampoo will become the new partner of your hair after the keratin treatment. Make sure to do the switch.

9- Beware of salts

As much as the beach is tempting, salt is far from being a friend to your hair that has just received a keratin treatment. If you don’t want the effect of the procedure to wear down in no time or to damage your hair, stay away from the beach for now. Chlorine is not good either, so chlorinated pools aren’t for you as well. Do not cheat yourself and blame it for the treatment.

Keratin treatment is just like all the other treatments in any part of your body. The procedures may present harm in some way or another. What you can do, though, is to be aware of the facts and the process of the treatment so you can decide properly. Sometimes, being uninformed presents more harm than the product or the process itself.