Keratin treatment is one of the most popular hair treatments done by people of different hair types. It is a versatile and effective treatment that can work wonders for the majority of people and brings them the soft, sleek, shiny, and manageable hair of their dreams. Keratin treatment is ideal for average curly hair and lasts a relatively long time.
But life after Keratin treatment is not all sunshine and rainbows. Due to exposure to strong chemicals, your hair deteriorates during a Keratin treatment, which opens the gate for many side effects. Hair fall, split ends, hair breakage, and decolorization are common disadvantages of Keratin treatment.
In this article, we try to break down Keratin treatment pros and cons to guide you through all the things you have to consider before going through the treatment and committing to the aftercare.
Keratin Treatment Pros
Even if you have never heard of a Keratin treatment, chances are you have heard of Keratin itself, maybe in the biology class or in a beauty salon. Keratin is a protein. It reinforces the strands and produces their natural form and hair type. So your body naturally builds Keratin, and you can find it in your hair and nails. The Keratin in factory-made products is usually obtained from different animal parts like horns, wool, or feathers. While Keratin shampoos and other supermarket products may not offer a significant change of style for your hair, professional Keratin treatments can be an absolute game-changer for the curly-haired. There are plenty of amazing benefits and advantages in receiving a Keratin Treatment:
Straighter, smoother, shinier hair
Whether done at home or a professional hair salon, Keratin treatments follow a particular set of steps. They tend to break down some molecular bondings that cause curliness, making the hair flexible. As the strands are straightened by flat iron and heat, Keratin reinforces the straight hair and creates new bondings over the strands.
This results in hair that is much straighter than before, has no flyaway frizz, and is undoubtedly more manageable. As Keratin covers all parts of the hair, it also temporarily repairs the split ends, which adds to the glamour of your hair!
Results that last
Keratin treatment does not last as long as more potent hair straightening treatments, but if maintained properly and not overwashed, it can offer long-lasting results that can continue to be felt for about six months.
Following a robust and professionally prescribed aftercare can be the main preservative for your shiny new hair. You will have to avoid exposing your hair to the pool water, or the sun rays a few days after the treatment, as well as certain shampoos and conditioners that contain sodium chloride or parabens. Also, washing your hair no more than 2 or 3 times a week can prolong your effective smoothed period for as long as possible.
Limitless styles with a manageable hair
If you currently have curly, frizzy, or thick hair, you have probably felt that you can not wear as many styles as your straight hair friends. Frizzy hair is not really willing to reshape into different forms and styles, and you will probably have to use a lot of heat and brushing to force it to look a certain way.
After Keratin treatment, you will have as many options as anyone else in styling your hair because your hair will be soft, straight, and manageable from now on. Also, your hair will dry much quicker than before, which will save you a lot of time and prevent you from damaging your hair by applying a lot of heat after every shower.
It saves you time
Not only do Keratin treatments save you a lot of time styling and drying your hair due to their manageability, but the treatment itself is also much shorter than other straightening methods like rebonding or Japanese straightening. Keratin treatment usually takes about 3 hours to be complete, which is a lot quicker than the 7 or 8-hour treatments. A shorter trip to the beauty salon also means less exposure to the toxic gases released during chemical treatments and is more in line with social distancing.
Keratin Treatment Cons
Of course, all this beauty and comfort come with a price, and we are not just talking about the pricey treatment itself. Like most other hair treatments, there are lots of chemicals, heat, and hair stress involved in Keratin treatments, leading to plenty of health hazards. You will also have to consider all the expenses like treatment costs, touch-up visits, and special aftercare products you need in order to maintain your shiny but fragile hair. Here are a few Keratin treatment cons that you need to know about:
It costs a lot
There is no doubt that Keratin treatments are effective. They can transform almost every hair into delicate, soft, and smooth hair, but that indeed comes at a hefty price. Keratin treatments cost from $300 to $550 depending on your hair length, hair type, salon location, and the level of expertise offered at your salon of choice. Due to the number and the severeness of possible risks, we highly recommend booking a smoothening session with an experienced specialist, even if it costs more.
You should also keep in mind that maintaining your smoothed hair will cost you recurringly, as you will have to add particular protective layers and hair nourishments to your hair care routine. This aftercare ensures the longevity of the treatment effects and the return of the lost components during the treatment.
Its maintenance is restrictive
Keratin treatment does not fundamentally transform your hair type. Keratin covers your hair strands and is fixed over them to lock them in a straight form. So if exposed to certain materials or if rinsed too much, it can wash away sooner than you expect.
That is why you are prohibited from swimming in chlorinated or salty water because they can loosen the Keratin molecules and shorten the life of your treatment. The same restrictions continue to be applied in your bathroom too. Sodium chloride and sulfate shampoos can strip your straight hair from Keratin, and even if you use mild shampoos, you can not wash your hair more than 3 times a week. You will also have to consider a 4-day washing prohibition right after the treatment, which is not delightful for people who don’t like to skip their daily showers. These are some of the restrictions you have to deal with after going through Keratin treatment.
It needs to be reapplied
We explained how Keratin treatment does not totally change your hair’s molecular structure and only covers your hair to keep it smooth. This means that Keratin treatment effects tend to vanish after some time, unlike Japanese straightening or hair rebonding treatments. In chemical hair straightening treatments, your hair is irreversibly transformed to a new hair type, and the effects last as long as new untouched hair grows.
Keratin treatment is a relatively temporary transformation, so if you get used to your hair’s smooth and soft feeling, you would have to reapply the products every few months to extend the smoothness. That can add many costs to your bills and take its toll on your health in the long run.
It may seriously harm your wellbeing
Like any other chemical hair treatment, Keratin treatment comes with a wide array of short-term and long-term side effects. Dissolving the molecular bondings that cause frizziness results in weakened, fragile, and sensitive hair. As the roots lose pieces of themselves and Keratin washes away, your hair becomes more prone to detachment from the scalp. This is why hair loss is one of the most common Keratin treatment cons. Hair breakage, split ends, decoloration, and scalp itchiness are other by-products of weaker follicles.
Chemicals do not go well with natural body tissues, which is why allergic reactions like scalp irritation and severe coughs are reported after Keratin treatment. Inhaling the gases released during chemical treatments may also cause respiratory problems and lung cancer in the worst cases, especially for technicians.
Can Keratin damage your hair?
Well, Keratin itself is not harmful to your hair. It is a natural element that shapes the hair and is necessary for its well-being. However, during Keratin treatment, chemical dissolvents break down the frizz and soften the curls, resulting in the weakening of the hair follicles and can have side effects in the long run. Also, after using Keratin to replace the broken bondings, a lot of heat is applied to fix it on the hair, which can burn the strands and cause dryness and breakage.
What are the disadvantages of keratin hair treatment?
We covered many Keratin treatment pros and cons in this article, and the main disadvantages are expenses, limitations, impermanence, and health hazards. Keratin treatment costs a lot and will also add many aftercare products and services to your monthly bills. It will limit your lifestyle on some occasions, will need to be reapplied, and most importantly, can pose plenty of threats to your physical and mental health.
Why you shouldn’t get a keratin treatment?
Keratin treatments are not an optimal choice for certain groups of people. First, if you have extremely curly or coily hair with plenty of frizz, then Keratin treatment will not give you exceptional results. If you are a fan of watersports or if being around or inside water is a part of your lifestyle, Keratin will not last very long on your head either. If you do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on straightening your hair, or if you do not feel like dealing with all the commitment that comes with maintaining sensitive hair, you should also consider other treatments that are cheaper or more permanent.
Lastly, the stress absorbed during a Keratin treatment may be too much for people who are already dealing with sensitive, fragile, or thin hair. Keratin makes your hair lay flatter on your head, so if you do not have a lot of hair density, regardless of the side effects, your hair may look really flat with no volume to back it up.
We tried to cover some of Keratin treatment pros and cons, but we highly recommend consulting with a specialist to learn more about the treatment and whether it is the best choice for you. In Beautster, you can find many skilled Keratin technicians around you to get some professional guidance for your hair. Compare prices, see their location, and book a seat right away!
