Your hair is your crowning glory. Sadly only a few of us have the luxury of sporting a naturally sleek, thick, lustrous, and shiny mane. For the rest of us, it’s hair treatments that we must rely on.
Thankfully, keratin hair treatments allow us to say goodbye to dull, lifeless, weak hair and sport strong, healthy, frizz-free, tangle-free bouncy tresses.
Keratin treatments put back keratin into our hair, but they require some care and maintenance. It all boils down to the shampoo you use post-treatment.
A suitable shampoo goes a long way in keeping your treated hair healthy.
Here’s everything you need to know about keratin-treated hair – what it is, how to look after it, and the best shampoo for keratin treated hair.
Table of Contents:
- What is keratin?
- What is keratin treatment for hair?
- Are keratin treatments safe?
- How is keratin treatment done?
- How long does a keratin treatment last?
- What are the benefits of keratin-treated hair?
- How to care for keratin-treated hair
- How to pick the best shampoo for keratin treated hair
- Ingredients to avoid in the best shampoo for keratin treated hair
- Best shampoo for keratin treated hair
What is keratin?
Keratin is a natural protein and the structural building block of your hair, belonging to a group of structural fibrous proteins called scleroproteins.
It is also an important part of your skin and nails and acts as a protective protein. Keratin is much more resistant to tearing and scratching, unlike other cells in the body.
Keratin derived from various animal sources (wool, horns, and feathers) is commonly used in hair cosmetics.
Hydrolyzed keratin is most commonly derived from silk, wool, and vegan wheat protein.
What is keratin treatment for hair?
A keratin treatment is a hair smoothing, curl-softening treatment for textured, curly, weak, dull, dry, and frizzy hair. It provides your hair with that much-needed protein, so your tresses are smooth, manageable, soft, and straight.
Keratin treatments are best done professionally in a hair salon.
Types of Keratin treatments for hair
There are many types of keratin hair treatments, with each style designed to provide precise results.
Brazilian Keratin
What it is: A Brazilian keratin treatment is designed to eliminate frizz and smoothen hair. The volume of your hair remains the same. One of the advantages of the Brazilian keratin hair treatment is that it does not contain formaldehyde.
Best Suits: Curly hair vulnerable to humidity.
Duration of the process: About an hour.
Lasts: Anywhere between three and six months.
Japzilian Keratin
What it is: This is a keratin hair treatment that combines the Brazilian keratin hair treatment to loosen curls and a Japanese hair-straightening treatment. Course strands are coated twice with the Japanese straightening treatment, rinsed off, and then blow-dried.
Best suits: Thick and curly hair
Duration of the process: Three to four hours.
Lasts: Approximately five months longer than the Brazilian keratin.
Keratin Express
What it is: A temporary quick treatment
Best suits: Straight or wavy hair prone to frizz and hard to manage.
Duration of the process: About 90 minutes or longer.
Lasts: A temporary solution that lasts for about six weeks. Using a sulfate-free keratin-based shampoo every alternate day can prolong the results.
Soft Keratin
What it is: A gentle keratin treatment applied from the root to tip and sealed with a blow drying and ceramic iron to eliminate frizz.
Best suits: Fine or medium-textured hair.
Duration of the process: About 90 minutes or longer.
Lasts: Approximately two months.
Are keratin treatments safe?
Keratin itself is safe because it is a natural ingredient. Sadly, the other chemicals and ingredients in the treatment could cause a problem.
Using the best shampoo for keratin treated hair can go a long way in ensuring your hair stays protected after a keratin treatment.
How is keratin treatment done?
Keratin treatments put back keratin into your hair. The entire treatment process can take anywhere between one and four hours, depending on your hair type, length, and the kind of keratin treatment that you choose.
For example, a Brazillian Keratin treatment can be done in an hour, while a Japzillian Keratin can take up to four hours.
During the process, the hair is washed with a clarifying shampoo to remove impurities. A keratin solution is then applied to the hair.
That is done in sections to ensure all the strands are treated. The treatment is left on until the hair is thoroughly dried.
Sometimes a blow-dryer is used to hasten the process and ensure the hair is completely dry. The hair is then ironed to bond and seal the treatment.
How long does a keratin treatment last?
Keratin treatments can last anywhere between a month to six months. It all depends on the brand you use and the type of keratin treatment you want.
What are the benefits of keratin-treated hair?
There’s more to simply getting soft, manageable, and smooth hair with a keratin treatment. Here are some more benefits:
- During a keratin hair treatment, hair is coated with strengthening and protecting keratin to safeguard every strand from the harmful effects of the sun and environmental damage.
- A keratin hair treatment is a time-saver for those who straighten their hair with a straightener after every hair wash.
- Keratin treatment is much safer than heating tools like straightening irons.
- If you have thick, unruly, unmanageable, curly hair, keratin treatment will smooth your hair and cut drying time by more than half.
- Keratin-treated hair is strong and resilient to breakage.
- Keratin-treated hair is easy to maintain, allowing you to sport soft, healthy, and lustrous hair for even up to six months.
- Keratin-treated hair does not get frizzy – even in humid conditions.
How to care for keratin-treated hair
- Keratin treatments are fantastic in that they replace lost keratin and coat your hair with this strengthening protein. But keratin treatments can be disadvantageous if they are not done correctly. Post-treatment care is critical to ensure your hair does not get weakened. Here are some tips to keep in mind before and after treatment.
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Avoid keratin treatments that contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is not a very safe substance and is associated with cancer. Inhaling formaldehyde can be harmful as well. Plus, exposing your hair to too much formaldehyde can cause your hair to become dry and weak and lead to hair fall and breakage.
- Immediately post-treatment, hair appears extremely limp and straight. If you are getting your hair treated for a function, make sure the treatment is done at least a week before, so your hair appears natural.
- Avoid washing, pinning up, or styling your hair for at least three days after the treatment.
- If you are color-treating your hair, it must be done before the keratin treatment.
- Use mild hair products that are safe and don’t contain harsh detergents like sodium Laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate.
How to pick the best shampoo for keratin treated hair
- Keratin-treated hair requires special care to ensure the treatment lasts as long as possible. Harsh shampoos can definitely strip your hair of the treatment and leave your hair frizzy and dry.
- Dry shampoo is critical if you have just had a keratin treatment. Invest in an organic dry shampoo – it’s the best shampoo for keratin treated hair. Your hair cannot be washed for three days, and a dry shampoo gets rid of the initial icky sticky feeling of the treatment.
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Choose products that will complement your expensive keratin treatment.
- Look for natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on your hair and won't strip the keratin coating prematurely.
- Look for moisturizing shampoos as keratin-treated hair tends to be a bit dry.
- Use a moisture-rich conditioner on dry hair before shampooing. That will prevent your hair from swelling during the wash and the treatment from leaking out.
Ingredients to avoid in the best shampoo for keratin treated hair
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Like many other sulfate-based ingredients used in shampoos (for example, ammonium lauryl sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate), Sodium Laureth Sulfate too washes out keratin, dramatically reducing the life of an expensive keratin treatment.
Sodium lauryl sulfate
The best shampoo for keratin treated hair is one that is free of sodium Laureth sulfate. It is used as a mild detergent in many hair shampoos and strips color from color-treated hair and keratin from keratin-treated hair.
Sodium Chloride
Avoid shampoos that contain sodium chloride as they are the fastest way to undo your keratin treatment. Sodium chloride all strips the hair of essential oils and moisture. Look for products stress they are sodium-chloride free.
Parabens
Parabens, commonly used as preservatives in beauty and hair care products, are another ingredient that must be avoided when your hair has been treated with keratin. Parabens are also associated with breast cancer tumors and other health issues and must be avoided.
Alcohol
Hair experts recommend avoiding shampoos with alcohol as they can dry the hair, which can be damaging for your keratin-treated hair that already tends to be a bit dry.
Best shampoo for keratin treated hair
Your keratin-treated hair needs a lot of TLC and nourishment so that it does not end up dry, rough, and brittle.
Pamper your hair with an intensive home-based hydration routing. A moisture-rich shampoo is the best shampoo for keratin treated hair.
Extend the life of your recent keratin treatment by investing in a nourishing Argan oil shampoo that won’t strip away the natural oils or your keratin treatment.
Try WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo with Vitamin B%, saw palmetto, and nettle leaf extraction. This shampoo is sulfate, paraben, color, and silicone-free and is specially blended to provide nourishing hydration.
Moroccan argan oil is liquid gold nourishment that helps repair damaged hair and restores strength and elasticity. Almond oil provides shine to your tresses while replenishing extra moisture and nourishment to your keratin-treated hair. Aloe vera offers your quenched hair soothing hydration and helps with moisture retention.
Team it up with the WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner.
Top up your protein-rich hair with a dose of keratin. Try WOW Skin Science Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo designed to repair the damage, restore hair strength, and remove buildup simultaneously. The botanical blend of keratin, sweet almond jojoba, and argan oil strengthens every strand and gives your hair a boost of shine.
Help your keratin-treated hair stay hydrated, frizz-free, and damage-free with WOW Skin Science Himalayan Rose Shampoo. This sulfate, paraben, silicone, PEG, and color-free formula is designed to soothe and strengthen weak and frizzy hair.
It also provides a burst of hydration and nourishment to your dry and damaged locks. Pro-vitamin B5 adds volume to keratin-treated hair that tends to look limp immediately after treatment, and it also improves the texture of damaged, chemically-treated hair.
Rose hydrosol has high antioxidants, flavonoids, and a host of other nourishing ingredients that support new hair growth. Purified water free of salts and mineral ions ensures your scalp and hair do not dry out.
Team it up with WOW Skin Science Himalayan Rose Condition.
Keratin-treated hair leaves your hair soft, frizz-free, easily manageable, straight, and lustrous. But the treatment does put your hair through the wringer and could leave your hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
Protect your hair and, at the same time, prolong the life of your keratin treatment by investing in the best shampoo for keratin treated hair.
The right shampoo can provide the intense hydration and nutrition your keratin-treated hair needs to stay beautiful, strong, and lustrous.
Looking for Other Products and Offerings? There is plenty more to Find in the WowSkinScience Store!
Check out WowSkinScience's diverse Haircare and Skincare lines, which provide a comprehensive approach to your Hair and Skin Care requirements. From shampoos to conditioners, and face masks to moisturisers, you'll find everything you need to round out your routine with high-quality natural products.
WowSkinScience’s essential oils aid with rejuvenation and offer 100% pure single oils and blends to address all of your beauty and well-being concerns naturally.
If you want to learn more about our products, visit our blog, which has a variety of current conversations that are sure to help you make the correct decision! We can assist with Expert Advice and answers your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
If you're still not sure, from our Best Sellers we recommend Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo. These are some of our most trusted store items that are likely to meet your requirements! With excellent customer feedback and comprehensive perks, you can't go wrong here!
And if you would like to learn more about apple cider vinegar's benefits or onion oil's benefits check out our ultimate guide on how to use them on your hair.
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