If you have long dreamed of smooth, shiny hair, like in advertising, but not a single shampoo, conditioner or mask gives the expected effect, you should try keratin straightening at home. Yes, the salon procedure can be carried out at home, it is enough to know about all the nuances, pros, cons and contraindications. Don’t panic: you won’t have to scour the Internet Let's talk about the most important things!
Why keratin straightening? Because it is keratin that decides whether your hair will be curly or smooth. According to various sources, this protein makes up 80 to 90 percent of the hair, which means it greatly affects its condition. But! Initially, you should know that keratin straightening will not improve the health of your curls, but will only make them visually more attractive: smooth, shiny, soft to the touch. Just look at the photo!
The effect of this procedure is cumulative: after the first time it will last 1-2 months, after several procedures it will already be able to please you for up to six months. Can be done on almost any hair. Those with very curly hair will have a less pronounced effect, but it will be there! If you still want to curl your curls, then there will be no problems with this either. The only thing is that you should not apply the composition before dyeing your hair, because the dye will not penetrate well into the sealed structure, and will partially destroy the acquired protein layer.
What is keratin hair straightening?
Keratin hair straightening is a temporary change in the hair structure with specialized compounds containing a high content of keratin . As a rule, keratin for straightening hair is of synthetic, not animal origin.
This salon procedure is suitable for:
- to tame unruly and frizzy hair ;
- to thicken and add volume to thin strands;
- to give a well-groomed look to any hair.
Keratinization of hair lasts about three hours - saturating the structure of the strands with liquid keratin takes time. At high temperatures, this substance envelops each hair and creates an invisible protective coating - it smoothes the surface and seals damage. All these changes are temporary, and the effect of hair straightening with keratin lasts about three months, depending on the characteristics of the hair.
In addition to keratin itself, the following components can be added to the composition of the preparation for keratin straightening:
- amino acids,
- silk proteins,
- panthenol,
- vitamins,
- formaldehyde.
Want to know everything about keratin hair straightening? Then you are at the right place! First, let's weigh all the positive and negative features of the procedure.
Indications and contraindications for keratation
In what cases will the result of hair keratization be noticeable and only positive? SalonSecret experts note that keratin and the hair procedure itself, as well as its analogues, will definitely not hurt if:
- you have curly, curly or wavy hair;
- hair is unruly, does not hold its style well or is too fluffy;
- hair is thin rather than dense;
- hair is damaged, brittle and dull;
- you want to get rid of a perm that doesn't suit you.
Keratin straightening is more rational to do on long or medium hair. Short and “thin” hair will lose volume after the procedure, although it will become significantly denser. In addition, on short haircuts, the benefits of keratinization are obvious only until the root zone grows back.
Is keratinizing hair harmful? Is it worth doing? If you are asking these questions, then you should at least evaluate the contraindications:
- tendency to allergies;
- the presence of abrasions, wounds, dermatitis, psoriasis rashes and other damage to the scalp;
- intense hair loss;
- pregnancy and breastfeeding period.
Photos before and after the procedure
Hair keratization divides life into before and after, if unruly strands have been your headache for a long time. Finally, the desired smoothness , styling is simplified, and tangling of curls is a thing of the past. Keratin hair straightening in the photo perhaps demonstrates a more obvious effect than other procedures. However, some masters believe that the technology is aimed exclusively at the surface effect, and therefore the difference is immediately noticeable.
Pros and cons of keratin hair straightening
We evaluate keratin for hair, the pros and cons of the procedure from the point of view of professionals:
- keratin gives hair a unique shine and well-groomed appearance;
- the keratin straightening procedure significantly saves time on daily hair styling because it makes combing and styling easier;
- this salon treatment provides both an immediate and cumulative effect, since with each procedure more and more keratin is retained in the hair;
- Hair keratization is almost the only way to correct an unsuccessful perm (this can be done two weeks after the “chemo”).
And at the same time, the procedure is almost universal: it is performed on medium hair, long hair, and less often on short hair; for artificial blond , brown-haired, brunette, light brown hair; straight and curly; Slavic and, for example, African.
The main disadvantage of keratin straightening is, perhaps, its composition, namely the formaldehyde contained in most preparations. This powerful preservative is known for its carcinogenic effect, as well as for the fact that it can cause dermatitis in allergy sufferers. Formaldehyde is present in cosmetic formulations in low concentrations, but good ventilation in the beauty salon is still necessary.
Professional home remedies, folk recipes
Most professional products are suitable for home use, the main thing is to follow the instructions and safety precautions. So don't be put off by kits that are marked "for salon use only." Usually the only difficulty that arises when working with these drugs is the difficulty of purchasing them, since a number of straightening products are sold exclusively to beauty salons.
In addition to the above products, you can use special fixing serums and protective compounds. These professional products will help make home care even more effective and safe.
Keratin shampoo
Keratin shampoos contain a small percentage of this protein. However, they quite successfully act as an auxiliary and supporting tool. This type of shampoo is available in the lines of many professional brands and, judging by the reviews, it helps to tame unruly curls a little and make them smoother and shinier.
Traditional cosmetology offers solutions that will enrich your hair with healthy protein. We offer you several time-tested recipes.
Recipes for keratin masks at home
- Take two tablespoons of aloe juice and add five drops of rosemary essential oil and the juice of half a lemon. Apply the resulting mixture to your hair and rinse it off after fifteen minutes with cool water without using shampoo.
- Dissolve one tablespoon of gelatin in a glass of warm water. Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of rosemary, jasmine and sage oils to the mixture. Mix thoroughly and apply to curls, retreating a few centimeters from the roots. Put on a shower cap, warm your hair with a hairdryer and wrap it in a towel. Wash off after an hour with plenty of warm water using natural shampoo.
What does keratin hair straightening give: the effect of the procedure
What does keratin hair straightening give to girls who repeat it again and again, doing three to four sessions a year for a prolonged effect? A description of the final result and how the strands look for several weeks after the procedure is the answer.
Let's go over the main advantages again to understand how keratization simplifies life:
- hair looks as thick as possible ( dense , but not voluminous), smooth, shiny and flows beautifully;
- smoothed and soft straight strands do not tangle or form knots, they are easy to comb even when wet ;
- after the procedure, the curls become obedient and very pliable to any styling;
- keratin works as an antistatic agent: hair stops becoming frizzy and electrified;
- invisible keratin film protects hair from the negative effects of hair dryers and stylers, ultraviolet radiation, chlorinated and sea water.
Types of keratin straightening
Most often in beauty salons there are two types of keratin hair straightening - Brazilian and American. We talk about their differences and nuances.
Brazilian keratin hair straightening
The main feature of this type of keratation is that the hair-straightening product contains not only keratin, but also natural oils of Brazilian plants (argan, coconut, cocoa, shea, jojoba, prakaxi), as well as a not so pleasant ingredient - formaldehyde. However, it is precisely thanks to the latter that the result of the technique is usually more impressive and longer lasting. The effect of keratin straightening lasts up to 6 months.
American keratin hair straightening
American keratin hair straightening is considered gentle and does not contain aggressive or potentially dangerous chemicals. The harmless formula causes a higher cost of the procedure and, at the same time, a less lasting result than its Brazilian “brother”: the curls retain smoothness and glossy shine for only 2-3 months. In the process of hair keratization using the American method, as well as the Brazilian method, an iron is required - thermal sealing is required in many salon procedures.
How to choose the best means, basic selection criteria
Among the huge number of products that are offered for the keratin straightening procedure, it is difficult to choose just one. However, there are a number of criteria that will help you choose a system that will allow you to achieve the best results. So, what do you need to pay attention to?
First, buy a product from a trusted manufacturer in a specialized store. Unfortunately, there are now many brands on the hair beauty market that offer useless and sometimes even harmful products to your hair. Do not purchase goods from dubious online stores, even if the price of the system seems very attractive to you: famous brands are often counterfeited, and using a surrogate can result not only in lost money, but also in hair loss.
Secondly, pay attention to the expiration date of the product. Make sure it is not interrupted. Only use products with the correct expiration date.
IMPORTANT: do not buy hair straightening products in groups on social networks. You will not be able to check the expiration date of this product, and also be absolutely sure that they really sold you the right product and not a hair mask from the nearest hypermarket.
Thirdly, it will not be superfluous to read the composition of the product. It should contain as many useful components as possible, which, in addition to the straightening effect, will also have a restorative effect.
It is also important to understand that a good salon product cannot be cheap. Therefore, if you are offered to buy the entire system for less than one thousand rubles, then most likely it is a fake.
How to do keratin hair straightening: technique
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