What is a keratin treatment and how does it work?

Understanding keratin hair treatments and their benefits

Keratin is a fundamental protein that forms the structure of your hair, skin, and nails, making it essential for strength and resilience. While your hair naturally produces keratin, daily stressors from your environment and lifestyle can deplete it. This can lead to damage, frizz, and a lack of shine.

Fortunately, topical keratin hair treatments can effectively replenish this vital protein from the outside in. This guide explains everything you need to know about keratin for hair, how it benefits different hair types and textures, and how to incorporate it into your routine.

Key takeaways

• What keratin is: As the primary protein building block of hair, keratin is essential for strength and structure. Treatments replenish this protein to smooth hair, reduce frizz, and add shine.
• Who benefits most: Keratin is especially effective for hair that is damaged, bleached, frizzy, or curly, as it helps restore integrity and improve manageability.
• Treatment and aftercare: Options include long-lasting professional salon services and convenient at-home products, with results best maintained using silicone-free aftercare.

What does keratin do for your hair?

Keratin is a protein that serves as the primary structural building block of your hair, which is composed of over 90% protein. Protecting these protein bonds is crucial for maintaining strong, healthy hair. Exposure to external aggressors can damage these bonds, leaving hair fragile and prone to breakage. Applying products that contain keratin topically helps to restore and smooth damaged hair, making it significantly more manageable.

How keratin works to repair hair

A keratin treatment works by penetrating the hair shaft to smooth the overlapping cells that form the hair cuticle. By reinforcing the hair's surface, it reduces the appearance of damage, leaving strands feeling softer and looking glossier. Key benefits of this process include less frizz, increased smoothness, and hair that is easier to manage and style.

What is a keratin treatment?

Keratin treatments are available both in-salon and at home. Salon services involve applying liquid keratin, letting it set, and then washing, blow-drying, and straightening the hair. These treatments can last about six months and typically cost several hundred dollars. In contrast, at-home keratin treatments are more affordable, faster, and applied pre- or post-shampoo, with results lasting until the next wash. You can prolong the effects with keratin-infused styling products. For instance, the Keraphix Repair & Strengthen Reparative Treatment uses bonding technology to revive damaged hair, sealing up to 94% of split ends and leaving hair shinier and healthier.

Is keratin good for damaged, bleached, or frizzy hair?

Yes, keratin treatments are particularly effective for these hair types. Heat styling, bleaching, coloring, and environmental factors can deplete the natural keratin in your hair, leading to damage, frizz, and split ends. A keratin hair treatment helps to replenish this lost protein, restoring the hair's integrity and appearance.

Using keratin treatments for curly hair

Keratin can make curly and coarse hair types feel smoother and more manageable. Curly hair is naturally more porous, making it more susceptible to damage. Applying keratin-based products helps fortify the hair structure, making it more resilient, healthier, and shinier without eliminating curls.

Aftercare: How to protect hair after a keratin treatment

To maximize and prolong the results of your salon or at-home keratin treatment, follow-up care is essential. Using keratin-friendly products will protect the newly added protein. Look for silicone-free formulas, such as the shampoos and conditioners in the Nexxus’ Keraphix range. These products are gentler on hair and contain ingredients like collagen and elastin to maintain hair health.

The path to stronger, smoother hair

Keratin treatments offer a science-backed solution for restoring hair weakened by styling, chemical processes, or environmental factors. By replenishing your hair's natural protein, these treatments can significantly reduce frizz, boost shine, and improve manageability across various hair types. Whether you choose a professional salon service or an at-home regimen, incorporating keratin with proper aftercare is a transformative step toward achieving healthier, more resilient hair.