Keratin treatment is one of the most popular hair treatments right now, mainly due to the sleek, glossy and shiny look it gives. The process of keratin treatment involves application of products, followed by blow drying of hair and finally sealing in the moisture with a flat iron. It makes hair smooth and shiny by locking in moisture and is suitable for all hair types- whether you have curly, straight or even wavy hair. It is used to make hair more manageable, frizz-free and non-tangible. It also makes hair styling pretty easy and fast.
However, almost every good thing comes at a cost. There are many potential side effects of keratin treatment like irritation on the scalp and eyes. In this article, we’ll learn all about keratin treatment side effects and its benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Keratin treatment is a hair care treatment used to achieve a fuller, silkier and frizz free hair look.
- It is used by applying products to the hair strands and then locking them in through a flat iron.
- Benefits of this hair treatments include: strengthening of hair, reduction in apparent frizz, manageability, smoother lengths, reduction in the amount of split ends, damage repair, improvement in hair texture, etc.
- There are also a few potential side effects of keratin hair treatment like coughing, wheezing, skin and scalp irritation, rashes, breathing problems and burning sensation in the eyes, nose or throat.
Common keratin hair treatment side effects
Keratin is usually a safe ingredient to use on the hair strands. However, keratin hair treatment comes with loads of chemicals, some of which can cause certain side effects like:
- Respiratory issues: Wheezing, coughing, burning sensations in nose or throat are some of the common keratin treatment side effects experienced by people. Breathing difficulties are mainly caused due to presence of formaldehyde in the keratin treatment formulations.
- Irritation in the eyes: If, by any chance, formaldehyde goes into the eyes of a person, there can be temporary or even permanent scarring of the cornea. So, it is advised to keep the formulations as far as possible from the eyes during these hair care treatments.
- Scalp and skin allergies: Many people have reported burning sensations either on scalp or skin. Rashes are a pretty common side effect of keratin hair treatments. This can be characterized by redness, inflammation or rashes on the scalp or skin which was exposed to the chemicals.
- Hair damage: If not maintained properly by applying recommended products by experts, you might actually damage your hair rather than making it straight and silky. Prolonged exposure of hair and scalp to harmful chemicals may cause breakage and damage to the hair in the long term.
Long term side effects of keratin treatment
- Bad hair health: According to dermatologists, keratin treatment does not have any therapeutic effect on the hair health, rather, it can cause damage in the long run. Increased breakage and split ends along with rough hair lengths can be seen after a few years.
- Prolonged hair fall: One of the most dreadful keratin treatment side effects in the long run is excessive hair fall. If done frequently, it can cause hair to fall in large amounts leading to a receding hair line. And, if suffering from hair fall already, it is advised to not go for keratin hair treatments. Treating hair fall can be a tricky thing, if you don’t know the underlying reason behind it. Take Traya’s free hair test to determine the same, today.
- Cancer-causing elements: Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that is often used in keratin treatments. It is an agent known to cause various cancers like skin, blood and throat cancer.
- Dry and brittle hair: Keratin hair treatments often involve use of excessive heat along with chemicals that are known to rip of the scalp of natural oils which can cause hair to break easily in the long run.
- Stomach health issues: If formaldehyde gets absorbed in the body through the scalp or skin, it might even lead to tummy problems like nausea, excessive stomach pain or puking. In severe cases it might also lead to organ damage.
- Infertility: Exposure to formaldehyde present in keratin treatment formulations may pose risks to pregnant women and cause infertility issues including an increased risk of miscarriage in women. So, it is advised to consult an expert before getting this hair treatment.
- Respiratory problems: Presence of formaldehyde in some of the products can cause problems in a person’s respiratory system. Bronchial irritation and increased levels of fluids in the lungs can be caused due to presence of higher concentrations of this chemical in the formulations used on hair and scalp.
Also read: What is Keratin Treatment for hair ?
How to minimize the effects of these potential risks?
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Avoid heat on hair: After getting keratin hair treatment done, it is necessary to avoid heat styling as much as possible as excessive heat can damage hair and cause various side effects.
- Be gentle with hair: It is really important to be gentle with hair after keratin treatment. Brushing or styling hair too vigorously can damage them.
- Use sulphate-free products: For minimizing damage, it is advised to use shampoos and conditioners that contain mild ingredients. Chemicals like sulphates can cause damage to hair.
- Condition hair regularly: To fight damage, it is necessary to keep hair deeply conditioned always. It is advised to use a deep conditioner regularly after shampooing.
Alternatives to keratin hair treatment
- Japanese hair straightening: This is a popular hair straightening method among salon owners, and the best thing about this is that it straightens the hair permanently. It does not contain formaldehyde and hence does not cause any major side effect (by formaldehyde) in the long run. However, one disadvantage of this hair treatment is that when the natural hair grows, there is a very obvious line of demarcation which sometimes looks bad.
- Brazilian blowout: With similar results as Japanese hair straightening and keratin hair treatment, this method is becoming popular day by day. However, it contains tons of formaldehyde which can be a drawback considering its side effects.
- Tourmaline hair treatment: This hair treatment is easy to use and can be used at home too, it uses glycolic acid in place of formaldehyde and can provide similar results as keratin hair treatment.
Natural alternatives to keratin treatment: Want to achieve that sleek, glossy straight hair look without causing damage to your hair? There are a lot of natural ingredients that can be used as an alternative to achieve beautiful hair.
- Coconut oil: One of the best all-rounders naturally found ingredients that can be beneficial for hair of all types. It is rich in fatty acids and hence can provide keratin-like shine and moisture to the hair. It can be applied warm or even lukewarm to the hair before washing them with a shampoo.
- Flaxseed gel: Flaxseed gel contains many compounds that are proved beneficial for hair health by researchers in the past. Boiling these seeds with water can result in formation of gel-like liquid which can be applied to hair before shampooing (around 15-30 minutes) and can provide keratin-like shine to them.
- Other oils: Many other oils like argan oil, Castor oil can also lock in moisture and leave hair all shiny and smooth. Traya’s nourish hair oil is one such oil that can be used, to restore that lost shine and gloss.
Also read: 12 Best Hair Growth Oils Recommended by Doctor in 2024
Expert opinions on keratin treatment:
Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta, a renowned dermatologist has raised the issue of side effects of keratin treatment on social media. She said that she doesn’t recommend keratin hair treatment to her patients. She says, “Almost all keratin chemical brands use an ingredient named formaldehyde, which can lead to side effects like eye irritation, skin or scalp irritation, cough, throat problems etc.”
Dr. Aanchal Panth, a practicing dermatologist from Gujarat, says that keratin treatment may cause more hair fall after a few months. Also, there might be instances where formaldehyde is not listed in the formulation list but might be present and may cause severe side effects.
Conclusion
Keratin is a protein produced by the human body that keeps our nails and hair strong and young. However, due to multiple factors the production of keratin reduces which results in less hair shine and growth. To combat this, people opt for keratin hair treatment, which has many benefits like: strengthening of hair, reduction in apparent frizz, manageability, smoother lengths, reduction in the amount of split ends, damage repair, improvement in hair texture, etc. However, it is both a boon and a bane. It contains a chemical called formaldehyde that can be harmful for the body. Many alternative treatments and natural remedies can also be done instead of getting a keratin hair treatment to minimize side effects. One must consult a dermatologist before going for any kind of hair treatment.
FAQs
What is keratin treatment?
With the rising popularity of keratin hair treatment, it is also vital to understand what this hair treatment really is. Keratin is the name of the fibrous protein which is present in the outer surface of human nails, skin and hair. Due to a lot of factors like natural ageing, environmental factors and chemical exposure, it gets broken down in our body with little to no new prospects of growth. That’s where keratin hair treatment comes to play. It involves application of products containing keratin to the hair, followed by locking it in using an iron. In simple words, it is the chemical process in which the outer layer of hair strands is smoothened. It is used to achieve a frizz-free smoothened hair look and also drops down the blow-drying time considerably.
What are the types of keratin treatment
- Soft keratin treatment: If you have fine and curly/wavy hair, soft keratin treatment is the ideal type of hair treatment to go for. It works by applying keratin from root to the tip of the hair strands, after which a blow-dryer is used for a few minutes followed by healthy and moist locks by a ceramic flat iron.
- Cezanne keratin treatment: People who want frizz-free, smooth hair along with minimal chances of damage are usually recommended this keratin hair treatment.
- Trisolla plus hair treatment: This treatment works best for people with thick and curly hair as it is the strongest keratin treatment available. It can stay up to three to six months if taken proper care of.
- Keratin express treatment: Lasting up to six weeks, it is used by people who have medium intensity curly or wavy hair and want to get rid of excessive dryness and damage.
- Brazilian keratin treatment: People with extremely curly hair mostly opt for this hair treatment. It doesn’t contain harmful chemicals and lasts up to three to four months.
- Japzilian keratin treatment: Japanese hair straightening and Brazilian hair treatment are two of the most popular treatments among people who want smooth and straight hair. This keratin treatment is the amalgamation of both of these. It lasts up to five months more than other keratin treatments.
How does keratin hair treatment work?
Although different salons have adopted various methods, the usual method of keratin hair treatment is as follows: the hair of a client are washed using a clarifying shampoo to clean the dirt, oil or other impurities that might be present at the scalp or on the lengths. A solution containing keratin-based products is then applied to wet hair and spread uniformly through a comb, which is then allowed to sit on the hair for two to four hours depending on factors like texture and density of hair. Then, the hair is blow-dried properly, followed by sealing in the moisture and shine by a flat iron.
Some keratin hair treatments contain formaldehyde, which is responsible for potential side effects caused during the same. It has a very strong smell and may cause watery eyes, coughing, irritation on the skin as well as the scalp, and maybe even a burning sensation in nose or throat. It is actually mostly responsible for making the hair look straightened after the treatment. There are a few straightening options like Japanese straightening treatment which are done without the application of formaldehyde. Other alternative ingredients like ammonium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide are used in these formulations.
What is the safest keratin treatment?
Out of all the options available in hair smoothening or straightening, a Brazilian hair treatment is the safest.
Can keratin treatment cause hair loss?
Due to the use of excessive heat during ironing and use of harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, keratin treatment can cause hair loss in the long run.
How often should one get keratin treatments?
Experts do not recommend getting keratin treatments too frequently as they can cause much damage to the hair, including breakage, hair fall, dryness.
Are there any natural alternatives present which can look like keratin hair treatments?
Yes, many natural ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, flaxseed gel, DIY hair masks can provide shine and gloss to hair which can look somewhat similar to keratin.
Are there any chemical-free (formaldehyde) methods of keratin hair treatment?
Yes, a few formaldehyde-free keratin hair treatments are present in the market which have lesser side effects when compared to the ones that use formaldehyde.
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