Keratin treatment is a process that smooths and often straightens hair by adding additional keratin to your hair, which can help to reduce frizz, increase shine, and strengthen hair. However, this beauty practice can come with side effects and health risks. Keratin used in beauty treatments is usually from the skin, hair, or nails of animals or humans. While keratin is a natural protein, these products are made with several other added ingredients, including a chemical called formaldehyde, which can cause eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea, chest pain, vomiting, and rash. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to the components of the chosen product to avoid harmful components that can cause long-term hair and scalp health problems.
Here are some positive and negative aspects of keratin treatment:
Positive:
- Silky hair: Keratin treatments work to “refill” areas that have lost keratin, leaving hair smoother and shinier.
- More manageable hair: Keratin treatments make hair more manageable, especially if your hair is particularly frizzy or thick. If you constantly heat style your hair, you’ll notice that with a keratin treatment your hair dries more quickly. Some people estimate that keratin cuts their drying time by more than half.
- Hair growth: Keratin can strengthen and fortify hair so it doesn’t easily break off. This can make hair seem to grow faster.
Negative:
- Health risks: Keratin treatments can come with some unwanted side effects, and could present some safety issues. Formaldehyde, a chemical used in many keratin treatments, can cause eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, nausea, chest pain, vomiting, and rash.
- Expensive: Keratin treatments can be expensive, especially if done in a salon by a professional.
- Unsuitable for some hair types: Keratin treatments may not be suitable for all hair types, and can cause damage to already weakened or damaged hair.
Ingredients or materials:
- L-Arginine, organic actives, and blue pigment are the most powerful components to make a Brazilian keratin treatment healthy for bleached, damaged, and sensitized hair.
- Real Brazilian Coconut oil has spectacular benefits for hair, preventing protein loss by penetrating the hair shaft and slowing hair loss.
- Brazilian Aloe Vera is rich in fatty acids, amino acids, and can protect hair from the polluted environment.
- Some keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, which can cause health risks.
