In recent years, keratin treatments They have acquired a strong boom in beauty centers. Women with curly hair and strong frizz were able, for the first time, to see their hair straight and free of frizz. But the popularity of this type of treatment was also fraught with controversy and doubts due to the incorporation of chemicals harmful to health such as formaldehyde.
In the following oneHOWTO article, we want to shed light on keratin treatments, tell you what exactly they consist of and what are the types of keratin that you can find more often in hair salons.
Keratin, popularly known as keratin, is a type of natural protein present in hair, skin and nails. The outermost layer of the hair, the cuticle, is composed, among other components, of keratin. This is responsible for protecting it and giving a uniform and shiny appearance to the hair.
Misuse of the brush, aggressive chemical treatments or solar radiation can cause swelling and opening of the cuticle, resulting in brittle, brittle and lifeless hair.
Keratin treatments are shown as the solution to this problem because they condition and seal the cuticle, thus repairing the hair. In fact, keratin does not straighten hair Instead, it deeply hydrates it to eliminate frizz, relax the curl and add shine without causing damage to the internal structure of the hair. This is what achieves that popular straightening effect.
Learn about other benefits of keratin for hair by clicking on the link.
It should be clarified that keratin is a generic name and not all treatments that operate under this name are composed of keratin. With the exception of Brazilian keratin, keratin treatments do not straighten the hair, but for the reasons mentioned above, they achieve an anti-frizz effect on the hair. There are many types of keratin, which are not proper treatments, but components used for them. These are the most common.
Keratin without formaldehyde
Keratin without formaldehyde is a totally natural product that does not contain formaldehyde, so it guarantees results while maintaining hair health. Before performing any keratin treatment, make sure it is a product that does not contain formaldehyde.
Keratin with formaldehyde
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde is a toxic substance prohibited in cosmetic treatments if it is found in concentrations greater than 0.2%. When the boom in keratin treatments began, a large majority contained formaldehyde among its components.
It is true that it is a very effective straightener, since it breaks the cystine bridges and achieves a deep straightening of the hair, but a continuous exposure to this product can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems long-term.
Hydrolyzed keratin
It is a type of keratin used in hair restructuring treatments, as it acts as a conditioner. It has the ability to regenerate the damage caused to the cuticle through hydration. It gives a shiny look to the hair. Its use is recommended in especially dry hair, with brittle and weak tips. It lasts between 3 and 4 months.
Chocolate keratin
Chocolate keratin is ideal for treating strong curls, as it adds weight to the hair and repairs it thanks to the action of cocoa oil. Its natural antioxidants protect hair and give it shine.
Brazilian keratin straightening
Brazilian straightening is one of the best known and most effective, since manages to eliminate 95% of the curl protecting the hair and providing nutrition and shine. It can be considered one of the only keratin treatments that do straighten the hair. Its result offers a natural smooth with zero frizz and a duration of 3 to 5 months. Find out here what you need to do the Brazilian straightening at home.
Japanese keratin straightening
This straightening lasts for a few weeks, although it eliminates the curl completely. It is not a keratin treatment, but its method and composition is based on traditional keratin and, with it, soft, strong and smooth hair is achieved. It is one of the most controversial straighteners, as many of them contain chemicals that they tend to be aggressive with the hair to achieve the perfect smooth result.
Alpha keratin
This type of keratin is the main base of all keratin treatments. One of its main components is cysteine, which is used to provide stiffness and resistance to the hair. Alpha keratin eliminates curl and gives the hair a smooth appearance, offering a smoothing with a duration of approximately 4 months.
Beta keratin
Beta keratin is used to make smoothing treatments with a softer effect, since it hardly contains cysteine in its composition. It is found in nature, in spider webs, for example, and it has the ability to relax the curl and make it more manageable. However, it does not have the smoothing power of other treatments.
Cauterization
It is about applying a keratin shock Pure on hair to increase thickness and decrease breakage. It is usually applied as a complement to increase the duration of the Brazilian straightening.
