Things you should know about a Hair Keratin Treatment

A Keratin treatment is a hair conditioning procedure used in straightening and smoothening hair to make it frizz free for several weeks or months. This treatment solution makes the hair smoother, shinier and ultra-sleek. There are basically two types of Keratin treatments namely the Brazilian Blowout which is the traditional keratin treatment used for straightening out hair texture and then there is the use of smoothening treatments such as Cezanne for de-frizzing the hair in order to make it shiny without disrupting hair texture.

When it comes to pricing, you can’t really place a price tag on keratin treatment procedures because hair salons price their services differently. On average, a keratin treatment can cost between $250-$450.  Another thing to consider regarding pricing is the length of your hair. Hairstylists charge customers who have long hair more than they would charge customers with short hair. With just a single treatment, your hair can maintain its straight shape for as long as 6 months without any need to repeat the process.            

There are several hair Keratin products in the market that you can use to straighten and improve your hair quality. These products are sold at different prices but have similar effect on your hair when you use them. Some of them contain formaldehyde while others don’t. Picking a suitable product should be down to your choice or budget. Here are five of the best hair keratin treatment on the market currently.    

This treatment formula has formaldehyde agent and a unique INVERTO formula included in the product for improved performance. After applying Keratin research, it can be washed off the next morning unlike some other treatment solutions that has to be left for about 3-4 days. Keratin research contains Moroccan Argan Oil, amino acids, coconut oil and protein. If you want to repair, strengthen or condition your hair quickly, this is your best bet.

Unlike Keratin Research, L’anza does not contain formaldehyde but a proprietary mixture of Phyto IV complex and Keratin protein which gives you healthy and silky hair. It contains Babassu Kernel oil, acai fruit oil, coffee seed oil and flower oil to improve hair elasticity and flexibility.

For users looking for a quick hair fix within a very short time, it’s a 10 has all the active agents required to give you your dream hair. This treatment solution spritzes the hair with conditions to leave the strands looking frizz-free, silky and soft. It’s a 10 is easy to use but do note that it is not designed to straighten curls but to remove flyaway and frizz.

The Paul Mitchell is specially formulated to repair and enrich colored and chemically processed hair. It has Keratriplex which is a very rich blend of protein used in repairing rough bonds that are difficult to unstrap with combs.     

This one of the best smoothening and refinishing keratin treatment professionally designed for hairstylists.  The Coppola is free of Aldehyde and Formaldehyde and it smoothens and softens hair. This quick action formula can also be used at home if you follow the correct application process.           

If you’ve never had a keratin treatment procedure before, it is normal to feel nervous about having your hair straightened out. But bear in mind that the process is just like any other hair treatment procedure you visit a hair salon for so you shouldn’t be fazed in any way. The only difference is the time it takes to complete the process. Keratin applications can take about 3 -4 hours to complete so be prepared to sit for a very long time. Keratin treatments can keep your hair straightened out for as long as 6 months and is a long-term treatment process that requires a long-term commitment. Here are some of the things to expect when you go to a salon for a treatment session.

To kickstart the process, the hairstylist will shampoo your hair thoroughly before blow drying it to remove about 80% of the water trapped in between the strands and your hair scalp

After blow drying your hair thoroughly, the next action will be to apply the treatment chemical on your hair. It has to be applied luxuriously to get the desired after effect.

In order to be able to work the treatment solution into the hair’s root, your stylist will partition your hair into two parts. Each part is then blow dried.

Due to moisture, the solution may begin to fall off. As a way of preventing this, a flat iron is used to seal the chemical straightener on your hair.

After straightening your hair and sealing in the solution with a flat iron, your stylist will rinse your hair thoroughly and dry with a towel. You can be sure that after the process you will fall in love with your hair even more.

If you’ve never had a Keratin solution on your hair before, it is normal to feel slightly uncomfortable due to the very strong odor it has. During flaking, white flakes may begin to fall on your shoulders but this is nothing to worry about. The appearance of white flakes is not an indication that your hair is falling off, rather the flakes are as a result of excess residue from the treatment solution.

This subject remains heavily debated across various forums about whether keratin treatments are safe for human use.  To start with, many Keratin products contain a chemical called formaldehyde also found in building materials. Some experts argue that the formaldehyde agent found in Keratin products can lead to cancer due to prolonged exposure. Those in favor of Keratin formula treatments argue that the risks associated with its use can be avoided if used moderately with all safety measures in place. Here are some of the side effects of Keratin treatments.

Users stand the risk of suffering from skin cancer if exposed to formaldehyde constantly.

Products with formaldehyde at safe levels of 0.0002% and under are better. Better still, you can go for a product with an alternative agent.

Formaldehyde has been known to cause skin sensitivity, nausea and eye irritation.

To avoid this, it is advisable to wear clothes that cover the shoulders. Also, do make sure you wrap a towel around your neck. You may choose to wear an eye shield to protect your eyes from exposure.

Due to the very strong musk smell it produces, it may cause difficulty in breathing.

Make sure the hair treatment exercise is done in a well-ventilated room with adequate cooling conditions for free air flow.

Another side effect of this treatment solution is the radical change in appearance it gives to your hair. If used regularly, the structure of your hair may change permanently which is something you may not be comfortable with long term.

To prevent this, do not use a treatment solution more than twice a year

You also face the risk of suffering from hair breakage if your hair is exposed to so much heat during the blow-drying session.

Set the temperature of your flat iron between 390-400 degrees for moderate heat.

In the past, Keratin treatments were only done at beauty hair salons so to get you hair treated, you had to visit a salon but these days, with a rise in the number of DIY treatment products, you can as well do it on your own in the comfort of your home. You don’t have to be an experienced stylist to get the wonderfully straight hair that you desire. With all the tools and materials at your disposal, you can get the job done in a few hours.

To get started, you need to have in place all the materials you need. You don’t want to start only to remember halfway through the process that you left something out. The items you need are black latex gloves, a blow dryer, flat iron with a 410F capacity, hair clips to section your hair apart, face mask, comb set, shampoo, an intensive repair mask solution and your keratin treatment formula.

Apply shampoo on your hair and massage thoroughly. Leave afterwards for 3-5 minutes

Blow dry your hair until it is 80-90% dry. For the right temperature, set your dryer to medium capacity.

Partition your hair into sections and wrap each section with hair clips to keep them apart.

Apply your Keratin treatment solution on the upper part and root of each section. Apply sufficiently and work it through each section till it reaches the hair root. Now, comb each section and after you are done, fold and clip each section.

Reset your dryer to the cool setting and blow dry each section. When blow drying, do not comb.

Set your flat iron between a temperature of 390 degrees to 410 degrees. Wait for flat iron to be well heated then work on each section from the root to the end of the hair strand about 10 times per section. Do this maximally to straighten hair.

Once the hair is straight enough, rinse with warm water to remove keratin residue. Massage your hair scalp to get the solution out.  Then dry with a towel.

If you like, you can apply an intensive hair repair mask generously on your hair and allow to dry for roughly 30 minutes

Rinse hair again to remove all intensive mask solution using warm water.

Blow dry again to dry hair. At this point, you will begin to notice that your hair looks straight and less frizzy.

Hair keratin treatments are very effective in helping you maintain a straight, shiny and healthy hair. They also last very long so you don’t have to spend money going for a keratin treatment every now and then. Just avoid touching your hair too often so the style will hold on for much longer. With the DIY process highlighted above, you can also work on your hair within the comfort of your home to look beautiful.