What Should I Wish I Knew Before Getting a Keratin Treatment?

Keratin treatments can last six months with proper care and maintenance; however, before getting one it’s essential to understand all its drawbacks; such as chemical exposure, transient results necessitating regular touch-ups, as well as pricey application fees.

Keratin treatments provide an alternative to chemical straightening that does not damage internal bonds, need to be grown out, and may result in major breakage and an unwanted mullet effect.

1. You’re not alone

Keratin treatments can transform frizzy, unruly hair into silky strands; however, not everyone may be suitable candidates. Before making this decision it’s essential to carefully evaluate potential chemical exposure risks as well as maintenance requirements associated with keratin treatments.

At home, keratin treatments require a different routine since you must avoid touching or wetting your hair during treatment – something which might prove challenging if you’re used to washing their locks daily – in order for the keratin treatment to stay intact. In addition, use only sulfate-free shampoos and avoid activities involving chlorinated or salt water that contain chlorine (e.g. swimming or other vacation activities) since their chlorinated waters contain chlorine that will wash out any applied keratin from underneath – use at-home kits instead for similar results without risking harming your locks – just follow instructions carefully!

2. It’s not permanent

Importantly, keratin smoothing treatments do not permanently straighten hair; rather, they seal the cuticle with chemicals to reduce porosity, providing easier manageability and frizz control.

Keratin treatments do not cause hair to thin out; instead, for curly locks with coily coils a smoothing keratin treatment can reduce curls for a sleeker, straighter appearance.

Colombini notes that at-home keratin treatments may be less arduous, yet you must still read and follow all instructions closely and work in an area with good ventilation as formaldehyde (a carcinogen) can be released and can cause permanent damage if inhaled.

For maximum longevity of keratin treatments, use sulfate-free shampoo and avoid chlorine and salt water at all costs. If swimming frequently, be sure to add leave-in conditioner twice weekly so as not to dry out your locks. Keratin treatments usually last anywhere between several weeks and several months.

3. It’s not cheap

Keratin treatments use chemicals that may damage hair over time if applied frequently and without being touched up regularly, and require regular touch up appointments which add up over time. Before embarking on this treatment it’s essential to consider your budget before making a decision to undergo this therapy.

Before considering getting a keratin treatment, it’s also important to assess your hair type and texture. According to Pena, if you have curly locks a smoothing treatment may not work in its place – instead he suggests looking for stronger products which can permanently straighten them.

If you want to completely avoid formaldehyde, speak with your stylist about a non-formaldehyde treatment that uses glyoxylic acid rather than methyl glycolate. According to Fitzsimons, this formula does not use as much heat and is less damaging over time, not significantly altering hair texture, yet helping reduce frizz while making hair shineier and shinier at the same time. To maximize benefits from such treatments it is advisable to wash with sulfate-free shampoo while avoiding chlorine and salt water sources when washing hair before having treatments performed.

4. It’s not for everyone

Keratin treatments use potency formulas containing formaldehyde, an extremely toxic gas that has been linked to cancer and other health concerns. Formaldehyde can be hazardous when inhaled or absorbed through the skin and should therefore be avoided at all costs.

However, an increasing number of salons now provide formaldehyde-free keratin treatments. If you’re interested in undergoing one of these procedures, be sure to ask your stylist which formulas they use.

Keratin treatments not only offer visible advantages such as eliminating frizz and imparting gorgeous shine, but they can also protect hair by decreasing heat styling needs – particularly important during hotter weather when frizz can become increasingly worse.

To maximize results of keratin treatments, it’s best to avoid washing too frequently or using shampoo with sulfates, which will strip keratin off of strands. Furthermore, swimming in salt or chlorinated waters such as an ocean or pool is hard on results as well.