Keratin is a protein that strengthens hair, preventing breakage, and resists heat, maintaining its strength, health and shine. Actually, it is contained in our hair (and also skin and nails, but not about that now), but is gradually washed out, and the hair becomes weak and lifeless. And here keratin straightening comes to the rescue, which, for all its visual attractiveness, has several negative aspects.
Can keratin straightening harm your hair?
In general, this is a fairly harmless procedure, but only if you are in the hands of not just an experienced hairdresser who specializes only in hair straightening, but a master hairdresser. The latter, as a rule, is well versed in hair structures and types, which means he is able to select the necessary preparations specifically for you. If a person does not have such knowledge, the consequences can be disastrous, because at the final stage the hair is processed with a straightening iron. If the temperature is set incorrectly, they can simply be burned.
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Negative point No. 4
If nature has blessed you with curly hair, then keratin straightening will be a real salvation, allowing you to get smooth strands in just one session. Do you believe it?
Qualified specialists never tire of repeating: this procedure is especially dangerous for blond hair. Many owners complain that after the procedure the hair begins to “crumble” and length is lost. Some girls even have to resort to extensions to hide the consequences of unsuccessful straightening and the need to cut off damaged strands.
Owners of natural dark hair tolerate the procedure a little easier, but here it is important to remember that there can be no talk of any benefit.
Andrew Fitzsimons: “Sometimes keratin straightening products contain harmful ingredients that release carcinogens when they interact with water. This is actually quite risky not only for you, but also for the technician who is working with clients over and over again indoors. In 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency even classified formaldehyde as a substance that may cause cancer over long-term exposure. And there are many organizations that urge you to carefully read the ingredients on packages, and encourage craftsmen to talk about the consequences. But, unfortunately, only a few comply with these rules.”
What will happen to your hair when you stop nourishing it with keratin?
After about six months, the keratin will be washed out of the hair and it will return to the state it was in initially; you will not notice any deterioration. But there is one caveat: if your hair was initially problematic, then it may seem to you that the situation has worsened, because keratin kept it looking healthy!
By the way, if you were doing chemicals, in order to completely get rid of it, you would have to cut your hair, but when it comes to keratin straightening, such radical measures are not required.
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Negative point No. 1
Expert opinion
Artem Drevelman, celebrity stylist, colorist and image maker with more than 20 years of experience “One of the myths of keratin straightening is that there are formaldehyde-free formulations that do not have a harmful effect on the hair structure.
It is not true! Absolutely any product from this line contains substances that, when heated, release formaldehyde vapor.” Formaldehyde solution can lead to destruction of the hair shaft and even superficial burns of the scalp. In addition, it is a carcinogen, and its vapors can cause irritation of the mucous membrane and allergies, headaches, and damage to the nervous system. Thus, in America and Brazil, the client and hairdresser wear respirators during the procedure.
Will hair shine and grow better after keratin treatment?
Hair will not grow more intensively, if only because the keratin composition is not applied to the scalp, it does not penetrate into the roots. For the same reason, it does not affect hair loss. If this problem occurs, it is most likely not a straightening issue.
But softness and shine are guaranteed. Even if you have naturally thick, dense, straight hair, keratin will add shine to it. And this effect will last longer than straightening.
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Another bonus: after washing your hair, the drying time for hair that has undergone a keratin straightening procedure is reduced by at least half. They will also become easier to comb.
Doctors' opinion
Trichologists say that only people with very unruly and curly hair should undergo keratin straightening. You should not immediately use this method if you can find an alternative solution without the use of aggressive components such as formaldehyde.
There are also positive characteristics of doctors. However, most doctors advise deciding to undergo keratin straightening only if there are no health problems. The absence of contraindications and chronic diseases is the main criterion.
Who should not have the procedure?
Having an allergy to household chemicals and cosmetics is a contraindication for me personally. I don't take such clients. I also do not do keratin straightening for pregnant and nursing mothers. Although many manufacturers claim that there will be no consequences, it seems to me that it is better not to risk it.
In addition, I do not recommend this procedure to owners of thin and sparse hair. Nothing bad will happen to the hair from the keratin straightening itself, it just most likely won’t look very good.
If your hair is severely damaged by chemical treatments and other manipulations (it becomes frizzy or uncontrollable), sometimes it is worth holding off on straightening. It is better to first do a moisturizing treatment and only then fill the voids with keratin and close them. Care and keratin straightening can be done in one day, but if you need a complex of procedures, be patient. Treat your hair properly, and then straighten it.
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Customer Reviews
Any procedure has positive and negative sides. Reviews about the consequences of keratin hair straightening are also different. This can easily be explained by the individual characteristics of the structure of the curl, which leads to different consequences of the use of smoothing compounds.
Julia, Voronezh
Pros:
- wonderful effect;
- intensive nutrition;
- hair looks well-groomed.
Cons: none found.
I have long wanted to try this procedure for myself. I found all the details on the Internet and studied the list of the most popular drugs, as well as the duration of the effect of their use. After consulting with a qualified professional, I decided I was ready to give it a try.
The process took considerable time, about four hours. I washed my hair with shampoo three times; on the last application, the product was left for about 15 minutes to absorb. Afterwards, a keratin composition is applied and each strand is pulled out very carefully so as not to burn the curls. The temperature setting of the iron is different for each hair type.
Then the applied mixture is thoroughly washed off. Hair is treated with balm. The product is left for 15–20 minutes. Next, the mask is washed off and the hair is dried with a hairdryer. The effect of perfectly smooth strands, even and shiny, like the models in magazines, simply shocked me. I used to always straighten my long, dyed hair with an iron to make it look more attractive and well-groomed.
I was even more surprised that after the first wash with shampoo without conditioner, the effect did not evaporate. The strands remained straight and looked healthier than before. Compared to lamination, the result was not even close! Even after 3 months, my curls delight me with their smoothness. As soon as the composition is washed off, I will definitely do the procedure again. I really like her.
Christina, Samara
Pros: perfect smoothness.
Minuses:
- the result does not last long;
- high cost of the procedure;
- unsafe process;
- the hair is ruined.
The wavy strands on my head resemble afro curls. This causes a lot of inconvenience: it is difficult to comb, and styling is simply impossible. On a cloudy day, your hair becomes like a ball. I have always envied girls with beautiful flowing locks. I can only make a bun. This is very disappointing.
One day I came across an advertisement for keratin straightening on the Internet. The bad reviews from those who have already tried this hairdressing service did not bother me. The procedure seemed like a way out of the situation, I was very happy that I had found a solution. I didn’t have to look for a specialist for a long time, nor did I have to make an appointment. The cost of smoothing for hair of my length turned out to be very high - 4,500 rubles.
I knew that the effect of not all drugs is good; there was especially a lot of negativity about Coco Choco cosmetics. The master used a mixture from a Japanese manufacturer, I don’t remember the exact name. Most reviews about the product were positive.
In the salon, the hairdresser washed the hair with a special shampoo, and then prepared a bowl and poured the composition into it. The smell was pungent but pleasant. The strands were divided into zones and each was coated with a keratin preparation. After complete treatment, it was necessary to wait from 40 minutes to an hour.
Then the specialist went over each curl with an iron and combed it with a comb. There was an unbearably pungent odor coming from the straightener. How the girl was able to withstand the entire process without a special mask is unclear. However, there was nowhere to go and we had to endure it, inhaling harmful fumes from the chemicals.
The result made me happy. The effect cannot be compared with what a hairdryer gives. The specialist told me about the taboos of washing, stabbing and exposure to water. In the morning I was afraid to leave the house—it felt like a bucket of grease had been poured on my hair. They hung like icicles, the volume evaporated. It looked terrible.
So I had to go to school. I couldn't wait until the evening to wash my hair. Immediately after the shower, curls appeared at the roots, and after the third use of shampoo, the strands returned to their natural state.
There was no limit to disappointment. At the salon they explained to me that the effect of the keratin product accumulates, and for such curly curls you need to re-treat it 2 more times.
I agreed. I was straightened three times with a break of 4 months. Only later did the mistake become so obvious. I had to spend a lot of money on treating my hair, but for a year now it has led to nothing. Now it became clear to me that natural beauty is given for a reason, and curls look very original.
Polina, Perm
Pros: smoothness and shine.
Disadvantages: short-lived effect, restrictions in the first three days.
The hairdresser who gave me my haircut persuaded me to have this procedure. Without delving into the details too much, I agreed. Straightening took a little over two hours. In practice, it turned out to be very difficult to endure three days without washing and piercing.
My hair kept getting in the way and getting into my eyes. Later I realized that now I would have to constantly walk with straight hair, and this would get boring. I didn’t feel any benefit, although I spent more than 5 thousand rubles. The strands became thinner and began to break. I don't want to do the procedure anymore.
Alternative hair straightening methods:
- Japanese hair straightening;
- permanent;
- ceramic;
- molecular;
- bio protein Honma Tokyo;
- collagen;
- Brazilian;
- keratin without formaldehyde.
Is it possible to dye and straighten your hair on the same day?
In principle, coloring and keratin straightening can be done on the same day. That's actually good. First, we fill the hair with coloring pigment, then with keratin, and finally we seal it, thanks to which the color will remain saturated longer. But this does not mean that it is necessary to combine these two procedures!
Here's what's really important to remember: after keratin treatment, you can dye your hair no earlier than two weeks later, otherwise you can shorten the duration of the straightening effect.
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How to care for your hair after the procedure?
You cannot wash your hair during the day. But when 24 hours have passed, you can return to your normal life, it is only important to use sulfate-free products, since they do not open the hair as much as regular shampoos, which means that the keratin will not come out quickly.
By the way, after the procedure it is undesirable to even get caught in light rain. Water may shorten the duration of the effect. If this does happen, don’t panic: dry your hair completely, and on uneven strands (if there are any), iron it once at home at the lowest temperature.
Benefit
- The hair becomes smooth, shiny and silky .
- Each hair is compacted, its structure is improved and its structure is restored.
- Long-term length straightening occurs . There is no need to use a flat iron every day.
- Hair is nourished and moisturized from the inside . Nutrients are retained in the structure due to keratin.
- Split ends are sealed , excess fluffiness and shaggyness is eliminated.
- A protective film is formed on the hair , protecting it from external influences: dirty air, hard tap water, temperature, UV rays, etc.
- Hair is easier to comb and style . They become more elastic and resilient.
