We talk a lot about hair damage these days because it is quite a common problem. Countless factors may lead to hair loss and hair damage. To get to the root of the problem, you need to find out what harms your hair.

Direct sun exposure, harsh weather conditions, cold water, heating tools for hairstyling, chemical-based products, and poor eating habits are the common causes of hair damage and even hair loss. Besides, other factors like hormonal imbalances, genetic problems, and prolonged illness can also lead to hair damage.

Once the hair gets damaged, it appears to be dull, frizzy, and brittle, and it becomes tough to manage. If you have been experiencing these problems and are here because you are looking for solutions, you will not be disappointed. With my experience as a professional reviewer and hair expert, I will help you learn about one of the most widely known elements for hair repair – Keratin! Does keratin treatments help hair growth? How can you incorporate keratin into your hair care routine? You will get your answers here. Let’s get to it:

Table of Contents 

• What is Keratin?
• How To Get Keratin Back In your Hair?
• Getting a Keratin Treatment
• Using Keratin Shampoos and Conditioners 
• Get Supplements That Can Boost Your Body’s Keratin Levels
• Does Keratin Help Hair Growth?

What is Keratin?

You must have heard about keratin treatment – a hair treatment offered by hair salons that leave your hair looking very smooth and lustrous. So, what is keratin? How does it make your hair shiny and smooth? Let’s find out. 

Keratin is a protective protein naturally found in our bodies. Our hair, skin, and nails are composed of keratin. It makes them less prone to tearing and scratching, unlike the other cells of our body. 

The role of keratin is to protect the hair and help it stay youthful and elastic by forming a protective shield around the hair shaft. 

The big question here is: if keratin is already present in our hair, why do we need it? 

We talked about the causes of hair damage in the beginning. And that is what leads to the reduction of keratin in hair. Heat, chemicals, regular styling of hair, and many other factors lead to the depletion of keratin from hair, causing damage to the protective shield that keratin forms. 

How To Get Keratin Back In your Hair

You can restore keratin in hair by getting it from external sources. There are many ways to do that, and I have listed them here: 

Getting a Keratin Treatment

Studies have shown that keratin treatments, if done rightly and with the right type of keratin (like Keratin K31), help treat damaged hair and prevent hair loss due to breakage. So, if you think your hair has lost its protective keratin shield, you can go for a salon keratin treatment. The treatment done by salon specialists involves brushing the keratin formula into your hair for about 30 minutes. It will make your hair silky, smooth, and shiny instantly. Such keratin treatments usually last for six months, and you can enjoy your manageable, healthy-looking hair for a long time. 

However, good-quality keratin treatments are costly, and it is a bit hard to maintain the results. So, if this is not the one for you, let’s look at the other (easier and more affordable) options. 

Using Keratin Shampoos and Conditioners 

Give your hair a dose of keratin every time you wash it! The right keratin shampoo and conditioner will get the job done and help you get back the lost keratin in your hair. 

There are various keratin shampoos and conditioners available out there, and you can choose the right one for your hair type and needs. You can either go for a shampoo with keratin as its main ingredient or go for a combination of ingredients like keratin with activated charcoal, biotin, caffeine, argan oil, etc. 

For best results, besides shampoos and conditioners, you can also use a keratin hair serum. 

Get Supplements That Can Boost Your Body’s Keratin Levels

Now, supplements that can boost your keratin levels can be easily found - you can buy them pretty much anywhere. However, when you're taking supplements, you must seek advice from a health expert. Too much intake of keratin supplements can cause excessive protein build-up in the body, which may be harmful. 

Does Keratin Help Hair Growth?

The answer to this question is yes, it does! 

Now, there is no direct link between protein and hair growth, meaning that keratin doesn't directly lead to longer hair. However, its core function is to protect hair from external damage by forming a protective shield. With the keratin layer intact, your hair becomes stronger and less prone to breakage and damage. 

And when there’s less breakage, your hair can grow faster. 

Takeaway 

Though keratin is already naturally available in our hair, once it gets worn out due to external factors, your hair loses its protective layer. This leads to hair damage, dullness of hair and breakage. However, the good news is that keratin can be restored in numerous ways to help make your hair stronger and grow faster once again. 

Prevent the loss of keratin from your hair by incorporating into your hair care routine the right shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products. Also, avoid using too much heat and styling tools & products to make sure the keratin in your hair is not depleted and your hair stays shiny, strong, and smooth!