All About Keratin Hair Straightening

Every girl dreams of a well-groomed and magnificent hairdo, but in the struggle for beauty often has to meet with incompetent specialists and far from medical procedures in beauty salons. A novelty in cosmetology is keratin hair straightening. But there are sometimes more questions about this procedure than answers. In this article, we will talk in detail about the pros and cons of keratin straightening and about all the nuances of this procedure.

Posters claim that beautiful and shiny curls are not a dream, but a reality accessible to everyone. Experts promise that after the keratin straightening procedure, the hair becomes smooth, silky and acquire a healthy glossy shine. The filamentous protein used in keratin enrichment gives hair flexibility and strength. And the procedure itself is not just in straightening, but in the treatment and restoration of hair.

But it is important to understand that formaldehyde is part of the preparations for keratin straightening. In the description of the composition, some manufacturers of hair care products can replace formaldehyde with methylene glycol or formalin. But this all the same means that when the hair is heated, such a composition is transformed into formaldehyde, which will penetrate deep into the structure of the hair. And despite the fact that direct contact of the composition with the skin does not occur, a large amount of harmful impurities, even in a volatile state, can lead to poisoning of the body.

Despite the complex composition, this procedure can be attributed to the treatment. Weakened hair from the hot sun, cold strong winds and hard water needs nourishment. And after perming, frequent lightening, a hot hair dryer and cosmetics with parabens, the hair needs to be completely restored. Keratin-filled hair is restored in the structure and more easily tolerates various external factors and deformations. In addition, thin hair is compacted, the outer scales are closed, thereby curls less tangled, easier to comb and become more obedient and elastic.

Keratin penetrates the structure of each hair and fills the damaged areas, and also envelops each hair individually and covers it with a thin film, like a protective veil, giving the curls a shiny gloss.

You can do keratin straightening with your own hands at home, but you can not achieve the desired effect. And it is better to entrust the care of your hair to a professional. It is a qualified master who will be able to carry out the procedure with maximum effect and without harm to health. By applying for hair restoration to qualified craftsmen, you can achieve a stunning visual effect. The result after salon care lasts longer than after a home procedure. Also, each brittle and damaged area will be filled with keratin nanomolecules, which will fill all the cracks and voids in the hair structure.

When choosing a beauty salon, be sure to talk with the administrator and the master who will perform the procedure. Ask to tell in detail about the pros and cons of the procedure specifically for your hair. And also ask to show the hall in which it will be held. The main requirement that must be met by all beauty salons without exception is keratin straightening is carried out in a well-ventilated room with an additional hood located directly above the chair with the client. If there is no hood directly above the chair, choose another beauty salon, since the risk of sending formaldehyde in the volatile state is quite large.

Before the procedure, consult with a specialist, ask for advice on exactly the tool that suits your hair. Not necessarily the most expensive drug would be the best option. But the selected product must necessarily be of high quality, which is confirmed by the necessary documents and certificates.

Immediately before going to the beauty salon for the procedure, it is not necessary to wash your hair at home. Keratin straightening begins with washing your hair with a special shampoo that deeply cleans every hair from impurities and reveals scales, which will provide deeper penetration of the protein into the structure. And only after that a keratin mask is applied to dry strands, which is then sealed with a hot iron. After this, the remnants of the product must be washed off and styled with the iron again.

During the procedure, keratin can emit an unpleasant odor, and in order to protect the respiratory tract from volatile substances, the master offers the client a disposable mask. This point should be clarified even before he applies the keratin composition to the hair.

After the procedure, you should not dye your hair with ammonia dye, but it is better to do this shortly before keratin straightening. The colorist should be warned about the planned trip to keratin recovery, because after straightening the shade of hair can lighten by 1-2 tones, and this should be taken into account for both brunettes and blondes. Keratin straightening on newly dyed hair will increase the resistance of the dye for a longer period, since keratin seals the coloring pigment in the hair structure. But with a large number of gray hair, radical staining can be carried out 2 weeks after the procedure.

A thin film formed on the hair during the procedure will protect them from the negative effects of external and internal factors. And the result will be noticeable immediately after the procedure. Curls will become more silky, soft, smooth and acquire a glossy shine. Split ends cease to be dry and brittle. And the effect obtained is enough for several months.

Like any treatment procedure, keratin straightening has its pros and cons.

The advantages of carrying out the procedure in a beauty salon.

• Owners of curly and naughty strands can forget about the untidy and curly hairstyle for a long time. After keratin straightening, the hair becomes perfectly straight and silky, and this effect will remain for several months.
• Keratin straightening is suitable for all types of hair: oily, dry and normal.
• It is especially recommended to saturate hair with keratin during the hot period, since not only the skin, but also the hair must be protected from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation.
• After the procedure, the ends of the hair less split and do not get confused, which allows you to grow curls of the desired length without much difficulty.
• Keratin-filled hair is the most protected from dirt, dust and harmful gases, which are crowded with modern cities.
• Even in wet weather, the curls do not “rise” and do not shag, they are also not electrified and easily comb at any time.
• Dyed hair retains a bright original color longer.
• Blonde girls can safely replace hair coloring with keratin straightening, because after the procedure, the strands become lighter by 1-2 tones.
• If the procedure is repeated, it will take less time and money.
• Daily styling will take less time.
• With proper care, the effect will last from several months to six months.

But despite the large number of advantages of this procedure, it is necessary to understand that positive results do not always indicate effectiveness and safety for health. And therefore, it is important to study all the disadvantages of keratin straightening.

• Not all girls can rightfully appreciate all the benefits of the procedure. Individual intolerance to drugs or allergies can cause a rejection of it. The supplements included can cause burns to the mucous membrane, swelling of the respiratory tract, dizziness, nausea, weakness, increased heart rate, and seizures in the limbs. And if for the first time keratin straightening took place without incidents and troubles, a second procedure can cause the above problems, since formaldehyde or other harmful substances that are part of the body accumulate in the body gradually. Intolerance or allergic reactions to keratin are less common, but this fact is also worth considering.
• The biggest minus is that during the procedure you will breathe harmful substances. And if a powerful exhaust hood is not above the chair, the risk of poisoning is great.
• High cost. Spend a lot of money on a quality procedure in a beauty salon. But you should not save money and look for craftsmen at home or select lower-quality funds at an affordable price. An unskilled master without preparation and the necessary set of tools can only aggravate the condition of the hair.
• Few girls will be happy to give up a voluminous hairstyle for a long time.If you have magnificent wavy hair by nature, then most likely such a transformation and transformation of externally thick hair into straight lines will seem like a “sleek” greasy and unkempt hairstyle.
• You should not do the procedure for hair loss, a rash on the head and the presence of scratches - initially it is necessary to get rid of all the problems associated with the general condition of the hair, and only then carry out the procedure. When filled with keratin, the strands become denser and heavier, which is why most problems can only worsen.
• During pregnancy and lactation, this procedure is contraindicated due to the high risk of poisoning by volatile substances.
• Attempts to make Hollywood curls after keratin straightening will not succeed. Curls will be less elastic and resistant.
• Thickening hair, keratin also makes it heavier. And if the curls are too damaged and brittle, then there is a risk that they can not withstand heavy weight and begin to break in length.
• Long procedure - owners of long curls will have to spend about 5 hours on their first visit to the salon.

But despite a large number of shortcomings and contraindications, owners of dull and brittle hair, as well as girls with naughty and curly locks, will be able to appreciate the visual effect of beautiful and healthy hair with the right approach. But if the main goal is to make curls straight for a long time, then it is better to consider other types of skin care procedures, since the main task of keratin straightening is to restore the damaged hair structure.

For short hair (up to 6-8 cm), the procedure is not worth it, since with an untreated root zone the effect of the procedure will be imperceptible. But for the length of the hairstyle to the shoulders, keratin straightening is ideal. It will protect the hair from damage and relieve problems with split ends for six months, especially if the hair is split over the entire length, which will allow you to grow your dream hairstyle and get rid of bangs without any problems. In one procedure, short and brittle strands will become well-groomed and shiny.

This procedure is more popular among girls with a bob hairstyle and owners of long naughty hair. Owners of curly hairstyles with small curls should not have high hopes for keratin straightening. Firstly, on stiff and naughty hair the effect will last less than on thin hair. And perhaps the proper effect after the first session cannot be achieved.

And secondly, during the procedure, the master will not process the root zone, so about 2 cm of hair at the crown will remain curly and naughty. And such a hairstyle is hardly the desired ideal. And the owners of smooth hair at the roots with large and elastic curls at the ends can get the effect of wavy and obedient curls along the entire length.

You can get an excellent result after the procedure only if it is carried out correctly, which includes not only the execution technology, but also the right materials and tools. Keratin straightening must be carried out by means of proper quality.

All drugs are divided into two groups: natural and chemical. The fixing substance of natural origin is goat keratin, and the chemical is formaldehyde. And as manufacturers of cosmetics assure, a small content of harmful substances in the chemical composition does not adversely affect the condition of the hair and body. Based on this, we can say that natural and chemical preparations differ only in the shelf life of keratin in the hair. The effect after keratin straightening with a chemical composition is almost two times greater than when using a natural remedy.

The keratin straightening kit also includes:

• highly purified shampoo;
• disposable peignoir;
• rubber gloves;
• two combs with frequent and rare teeth;
• plastic clips for dividing curls into separate sections;
• brush for applying the drug;
• a plastic bowl;
• ceramic iron;
• hair dryer;
• sulfate-free shampoo and balm;
• mask to protect the respiratory tract.

In the beauty salon, the whole procedure is divided into three stages: cleansing, nutrition and straightening. And the whole process can take from 2 to 5 hours, depending on the length of the curls. During its execution, the master must follow the technique and follow the step by step instructions.

• First of all, the master will carefully rinse the curls with a special shampoo with a deep degree of purification, and then dry them with a hairdryer - this is necessary to open the outer layer of the hair. Then the curls will be most ready for the effects of keratin.
• After that, each strand is alternately treated with a special keratin solution. It is applied over the entire length, but at the same time, the master retreats from the basal zone by 1-2 cm so that there is no direct contact of the product with the scalp. The priority for the development of the zones is as follows: nape, temples and parietal part. About 30 minutes is necessary for the keratin composition to be absorbed into the hair structure.
• Then, when the hair dries after the mask, each strand is worked out with a hot ceramic iron, heated to 230 degrees. During heating, keratin coagulates in the structure of each hair, then the scales close. Thus, an upper protective coating is formed. But if the master applied less keratin than was required, there is a risk of "burning" the curls, and not restore them. And vice versa, if the funds are applied in excess, then after the procedure, the curls will quickly get dirty and become greasy.
• Each strand is ironed 4-5 times. But if the task is to create a flowing canvas of curls with a glossy sheen from curly locks, then the master can process each individual zone 8-10 times. If necessary, if the manufacturer of the keratin composition indicated this moment, the product is washed off with warm running water and then the curls are thoroughly washed with a sulfate-free shampoo. Then a moisturizing balm is applied to wet strands, and after a couple of minutes they are washed with water.
• Towel-dried hair is dried with a hairdryer and again pulled out with an iron.

After the procedure, a specialist will advise how to care for your hair in the near future so that keratin is fixed and the result is preserved for a long time.

Key recommendations after the procedure.

• You should refuse to visit the sauna, pool, walks in the rain and baths. With high humidity, keratin can break down.
• It is recommended to wash your hair with warm boiled water.
• The usual shampoo must be replaced with sulfate-free, the master after the procedure can advise a suitable brand.
• You can not tie your hair in a bun, braid, put on hats, use hairpins - any creases and excesses will not affect the result in the best way. In addition, the extra visual volume created by the pile can destroy the hair structure.
• After the procedure, you can not use oil, hair sprays, mousses, perfumes and deodorants - they can make curls heavier, giving extra weight.
• You should also refuse for a while from a hot hair dryer, it is better to leave the curls to dry naturally.
• It is necessary to abandon hair coloring with ammonia, in the next two weeks you can use only tinting agents to maintain the desired shade.

In the next couple of months, it is not recommended to contact with salt water and wash your hair often, otherwise keratin will quickly leave the hair structure and the result will be less stable. You can go to the bathhouse and visit the pool with special hats that protect your hair from high temperatures and hard chloride water.

Hair care products will need to be replaced with special keratin cosmetics. The minimum set includes shampoo, conditioner-balm and mask. It will also not be superfluous to use the oil for the tips a month after the procedure so that they do not dry out and become brittle. But do not have high hopes for keratin straightening as a means of getting rid of dry tips. The problem of untidy hairstyles with brittle tips can be solved only by making a haircut. But when to cut hair - before or after the procedure - you decide.

With proper care, the result after keratin straightening will be noticeable from a couple of months to six months. The duration is affected by the quality of the composition used, the features of the hair structure and proper care. Do not think that during this time you will have to walk with one haircut. In a couple of weeks after the procedure, you can curl hair with a curling iron or wind it on curlers, and you can also give them additional volume with a pile. And in addition, it will be possible to change the color of the hair: lighten, highlight or dye in a rich and deep shade.

Most of the positive reviews boil down to the fact that daily care after the procedure requires much less time. Just wash your hair, apply a nourishing balm, comb and dry the curls in the usual way. And now for the installation, which was previously required from half an hour, you need to spend only a few minutes. In addition, the need to use various means for fixing the hair disappears.

Keratin allows you to soak loose hair that has suffered after a failed curl, frequent lightening, or daily use of a hot curling iron. And if the structure is not completely destroyed, then the result will definitely please, as evidenced by the positive reviews. Otherwise, the craftsmen are advised to cut weakened strands in which chemical bonds are irretrievably destroyed. Since keratin will only aggravate the damaged area, why fragile hair will break in length, girls who are faced with this feature of hair are asked to pay attention to this.

Among the large number of positive and negative reviews can be found and conflicting comments. It often happens that after the first procedure, the hair became smooth and silky, but when you visit the salon again, the expected result was not achieved. But it is quite obvious that a little time has passed between the sessions and the interval should have been increased, then the external healing of the hair would have been noticeable.

In negative reviews, it is often said that during the first two months after the procedure, the hair began to fall out intensively. But this does not always indicate the quality of the procedure. Nervous shocks, stresses, hormonal disruptions and various diseases suffered during this period can also negatively affect the quality of the hair. Therefore, when analyzing their state after keratin straightening, it is also necessary to take into account the general condition of the body in a given period.

Judging by the reviews, those girls who chose a salon procedure are satisfied with the effect obtained and subsequently turn to the masters for repeated keratin straightening as necessary.

See how to perform keratin hair straightening in the next video.