Perfectly smooth and shiny hair today remains at the peak of popularity. Many owners of curly curls dream of smoothing them out and making them more silky, but often the efforts are in vain. Not all salon procedures with the declared effect can radically solve the problem. But do not despair, because a truly persistent result of smoothing hair allows you to get keratin straightening.
This procedure is in great demand among girls. It gained such popularity due to its long-term effect: it can last up to six months. The hairstyle looks gorgeous without daily use of ironing and styling. What are the features of keratin straightening, what types of this procedure exist, we will describe further.
Features
Keratin is a protein with the amino acid cystine, which supports the normal state of not only curls, but also nails. Hair consists of keratin almost 90%. For salon procedures, keratin is used, which is obtained from sheep's wool. In this case, raw materials from environmentally friendly New Zealand are taken. Animals are sheared in the spring when their “fur coat” becomes too thick.
Upon receipt of keratin by a special technology, the protein retains its beneficial properties. Once in the hair, it stays there for a long time due to thermal exposure. The most popular is straightening after dyeing or regular mechanical action, when the hair loses its former softness.
Thanks to keratin straightening, the curls are not just smoothed out - they look more healthy and well-groomed.It is made not only by women with curly hair, but also with straight fluffy hair. During the procedure, the curls are enriched with keratin, which makes them smooth and silky, and also receive reliable protection from the negative effects of the environment.
To find out if this procedure is right for you, it is recommended to take a test. To do this, distribute a little composition on the inside of the hand. If after two days of edema did not appear and there was no sensation of itching, then you can proceed to the procedure itself.
It is not recommended to do keratin during pregnancy and feeding: formaldehyde can be harmful to the mother or baby. Even hairdressers wear special masks and glasses when working with keratin to avoid exposure to harmful fumes on the body.
Kinds
Compositions for keratin straightening are divided into two main groups: Brazilian and American.
- Brazilian straightening makes hair smooth for up to six months. The preparations used contain quite a lot of formaldehyde, which is a harmful substance. They also contain herbal ingredients that protect hair during frequent procedures and increase resistance to thermal effects.
- American compositions contain formaldehyde in smaller quantities, but the price is much higher. The procedure does not give such pronounced results as Brazilian straightening. Protective components derived from plants are also present in them.
In fact, both technologies were developed in Israel, however, they received such "geographical" names.
Advantages and disadvantages
This popular salon procedure has significant advantages and disadvantages, so before deciding to do it, you need to carefully weigh everything.
Benefits:
- suitable for all types of hair;
- increases strength and improves hair texture;
- allows you to not do daily styling;
- removes "fluffiness", which often occurs with high humidity;
- avoids the negative impact of the environment.
Disadvantages:
- high cost;
- an allergy may appear in the form of itching, rash;
- use of formaldehyde does not benefit hair;
- the need for more expensive care (you need to use shampoos without sulfates and sodium chloride).
As you know, this method of smoothing curls is expensive. At the same time, different salons exhibit completely different price tags.
The cost of the procedure consists of the quantity and quality of the materials used. The longer and thicker the curls, the more money you will have to spend on straightening them.
How long does it last?
Everyone who makes keratin wants to enjoy the effect of the procedure for as long as possible. But its validity period is not always the same and depends on various factors:
- hair structure;
- length;
- initial condition;
- care after keratin hair straightening;
- frequency of shampooing;
- frequency of staining.
Hard, unruly curls will not stay straight for long: they will lose their perfect smoothness after the first shampoo. Also, longer curls will lose the effect of keratin. If you regularly update highlighting and especially dye your entire hair, then be prepared for keratin to quickly wash off after that. But the most important factor affecting the duration of keratin can be called shampooing: the more it happens, the faster the hairstyle returns to its original form.
In confirmation of this, we present the results of an experiment in which girls with the same hair took part. One group of participants washed their hair once a week, and the other twice a week. As a result, for the former, the result of straightening lasted up to three months, and for the latter, only a month.
Technics
Keratin treatment in salons consists of three main stages.
- Deep cleansing. For it, special shampoos are used that maximally free hair from mechanical impurities, fat and styling residue. At the same time, the hair flakes open and allow the cystine to fill the entire rods.
- Composition coating. The straightener is distributed along the entire length of the hair. It should go to all areas without exception. In this case, the composition is selected based on the volume of hair and the features of their structure. An experienced master will easily select the right brand, which will provide the most lasting effect for each type of hair.
- Straightening. The final stage is soldering. To do this, the iron is heated to 230 degrees and pass through it throughout the hair. From such a powerful thermal effect, the protein coagulates and fills the hair shaft. It is impossible to activate the amino acid without heating.
When doing keratin straightening for the first time, many are surprised at how radically hair changes after the procedure, especially if it was made on expensive materials. The effect of it is so noticeable that there is no doubt - the money was spent not in vain.
Care
Judging by the reviews of women, immediately after the procedure, the hair looks very oily - they want to be washed thoroughly. However, in the first 72 hours there are many restrictions. So that the result from keratin straightening does not come to naught, they must be strictly observed.
- The most important rule is not to wash your hair for three days after the procedure, because even after heating, the process of absorption of keratin continues.
- The same time you can not visit the bath and sauna. Water procedures are allowed only in a cap, but it is better to abandon them altogether.
- It is forbidden to use irons and curling irons for the first three days. Usually this is not necessary, since the hair is already smooth and even oily, but nevertheless, a warning will be useful.
- If possible, avoid wearing hairpins - due to creases, the effect may be impaired.
After the specified period, you can finally wash your hair and enjoy the result.
The main thing is to always use sulfate-free shampoo and, if possible, distribute it only on the basal area.
After two weeks, you can start using masks. Too often, they do not need to be done, as this will lead to premature leaching of keratin - once a week is enough.
If you like to make masks with your own hands from improvised ingredients, then exclude from them salt, honey and various oils of vegetable origin. Homemade formulations of eggs, onions, lemon juice and milk do not fall under the ban.
There are also special protective sprays that can be applied with keratin straightening. They are used before vacation trips that involve swimming.
To get hair as smooth as silk and enjoy the result for several months, use keratin straightening. It will give your hair a well-groomed and healthy look, and will also allow you to temporarily forget about ironing and styling. The main thing is to choose an experienced master for the procedure and do not forget to use the right care products.
See how to choose keratin for hair straightening in the next video.