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I used to struggle with frizzy and unruly hair, so I decided to get a keratin treatment. But I had to struggle with side effects of keratin treatment as well.
Some people resort to hair rebonding, smoothening, or perming to tackle these issues and make it easier to manage the hair.
But these often look unnatural and have a lot of side effects. The strong chemicals in these products can really take a toll on your hair.
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Keratin is a protein that is naturally present in our skin, nails, and hair. They are also present in some of the organs and glands.
When you have a deficiency in your body, it can lead to hair thinning and hair fall. It can also reduce the shine on your hair.
What is a Keratin treatment?
Many people believe that taking keratin supplements consistently can help in improving the amount of keratin in your body.
But there are other ways to give that much-needed shine and strength to your hair.
Keratin treatment is one of the most popular salon treatments today. It aims to supply an adequate amount of keratin to your hair that helps in recovering the strength and shine of your hair.
Side Effects Of Keratin Treatment
Before jumping into the bandwagon, it is important to understand the process and the possible negative reactions to the procedure.
Keratin treatments, like every other chemical treatment, cannot be completely deemed safe. It definitely has its share of side effects that can cause a lot of issues for you.
Some of these side effects of keratin treatment include:
There Is Risk Of Formaldehyde Exposure
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas that is commonly present or added to a lot of substances like building materials and household products.
It also gets released into the hair strand during the keratin treatment because it helps in making the hair straighter.
However, when this gas is inhaled during the procedure by the customer or the hairdresser, it could prove to be harmful to your health and cause cancer.
This substance can also get absorbed into the skin when you apply these ingredients.
This is a reason why this procedure is banned in a lot of salons. Constant exposure to these chemicals can take a toll on the technician who performs the treatment.
It can also lead to immediate reactions like burning eyes, nose, and throat, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, nausea, and skin irritations.
The severity of these effects depends on your sensitivity level to the substance but you should be wary of it before getting the treatment done.
Although there are formaldehyde-free keratin treatments that include glycolic acid, the substance is still widely used for keratin. These ingredients do not give the desired quality results.
You Might Experience Hair loss
Keratin treatment involves a lot of harsh chemicals and high heat. This is bound to cause some amount of damage to your hair. People with thin hair might face these issues more.
These harmful chemicals can seep into your hair and cause internal damage. Although you might find a positive change in your hair, in the beginning, you might notice some amount of damage in the long run and even hair loss.
These harsh chemicals can also affect the root of your hair and weaken your strands. A lot of people also complain of having excessive hair loss right after getting the treatment done.
This is common for people who get a keratin treatment done often.
This Treatment Might Make Your Hair Frizzy
This is another long term side effect of keratin hair treatment.
Although you might notice soft and smooth hair initially, the results will wear off in a few weeks and your hair will become dry and frizzy.
The harsh chemicals involved in the keratin treatment can really take a toll on your hair and strip off the natural oils and moisture in your hair.
This will not just leave your hair dry, it will also make it more frizzy and prone to breakage.
It Is A Very Expensive Treatment
Keratin treatment is not easy on the pocket. If you opt for a place that is getting it done for cheap or has questionable prices, the quality of the treatment might not be great.
A keratin treatment requires some level of expertise from the hairdresser so it is important to only get it done from an experienced stylist.
This might probably burn a hole in your pocket but it is still better than getting an unprofessional job from a cheap place that might damage your hair.
The price of keratin treatment varies depending on the length and thickness of your hair. They usually cost anywhere between $300 to $800.
Even after getting the treatment done, you will have to take proper care of it by buying expensive, high-quality hair products otherwise your treatment will be short-lived.
Keratin Treatments Can Be Time-Consuming
You will have to keep apart at least half a day from your schedule to get a keratin treatment done. A keratin treatment takes anywhere around two to six hours.
This also depends on your hair length, hair texture and the type of formula your hay list has used.
You also have to be careful to not wash your hair, tie it or ride in an open vehicle three days after getting the treatment done.
There Is An Increased Aftercare
Although a keratin treatment is supposed to last for almost six months, it is hardly the case.
For the treatment to last, you have to take proper care of your hair and maintain it. Otherwise, the results will be very short lived.
The most important thing is to keep your hair away from water.
Water can wash off the keratin coating from your hair so you have to apply a conditioner on dry hair before bringing it in contact with water. You should also stay away from activities that will make your head sweat.
People with keratin-treated hair should steer clear of hair products with sodium chloride or sulphates.
Sulphates can strip the treatment and sodium chloride will dissolve the keratin from your hair.
How is a Keratin Treatment done?
In this procedure, they don’t actually apply keratin to your hair. It is a mix of certain chemicals that helps in mimicking these effects.
It is made up of a formaldehyde derivative and glycolic acid. This helps in breaking down the hair structure to make it smooth and sleek.
Your hair is then exposed to heat using a hairdryer or flat iron that helps in sealing the style and making it last longer.
When you get the treatment done, your hairdresser will advise you to keep your hair away from moisture and not take a shower.
You are also not advised to exert too much pressure on your hair and tie or style it in any way.
This is because the hair structure is more malleable in this period and could be manipulated in some way due to these external factors.
After a few days, you will have to visit the salon to get rid of the chemicals. The stylist then applies other ingredients to keep the style intact.
Keratin treatments are also known as “Brazilian keratin treatments”.
Benefits of Keratin Treatment
Keratin treatment is a favourite of many because of the numerous benefits it provides.
You can do it yourself at home but I would recommend you to go to an experienced hairdresser that can do it safely for you. Some of the potential benefits of keratin treatment include:
Makes your hair smooth and shiny- A smooth and shiny hair is synonymous with healthy hair. This is something that everybody aspires for.
But if you have coarse or curly hair, it might be a little difficult to make your hair look like that all the time.
It also takes a lot of time and effort. They also help on temporarily bonding the hair so it is a great option if you want to reduce the appearance of split ends.
Saves time- You will not have to style your hair every day after getting this procedure done. The treatment is semi-permanent and lasts for up to six months.
Of course, this also depends on the quality of your treatment and how you maintain your hair post-treatment.
If you are looking forward to extending the lifespan of your keratin treatment, you will have to use sulphate-free hair products.
Makes hair manageable-This treatment helps in considerably reducing frizz and makes the hair more manageable so it is especially beneficial for people with frizzy and tangled hair.
If you are someone with a busy schedule, this will help you save a lot of time and energy you spend on your hair.
Reduces Breakage- Keratin treatment helps in strengthening your hair which means less hair fall and breakage. Since your ends are breaking off, your hair will seem like it’s growing.
Your hair is one of the first things that people notice in you. So it is important to take care of it and make sure it looks well-groomed.
FAQs – Does Keratin Have Side Effects
Is there a keratin treatment without formaldehyde?
There are a number of keratin treatments that do not contain formaldehyde. However, it’s important to note that not all of these treatments are safe or effective. You should always consult with a hair stylist before starting any type of keratin treatment if you have issues with the ingredients used. And even these treatments might be too severe on hair even if they don’t effect your health.
Why do I have hair breakage after keratin treatment?
There are several possible explanations for hair breakage after keratin treatment, but the most common one is that the treatment caused the hair to become too dry. This can happen in a few different ways, including using too much heat during the treatment, using a high-quality product that is not suitable for your hair type, or using too much product overall. To prevent hair breakage after keratin treatment, make sure to follow the instructions that your therapist gave you and use a moisturizer afterward to help restore moisture to the hair.
A keratin treatment is a hair procedure that helps in smoothing your hair and making it more manageable.
The best part is that the results are long-term and last for a few months.
But it’s also necessary to be aware of the side effects of keratin treatment, so you can make a safe, informed choice.
Also Read:
Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo For Keratin-Treated Hair
Does At Home Keratin Treatment Work For Curly Hair
To Summarize
