Remember when keratin exploded onto the haircare scene over 10 years ago? It took the beauty industry by storm, with clients flocking to salons for the sought-after smoothing treatment that eliminated frizz and boosted shine on a semi-permanent basis.
What is Keratin?
The K-word was big news. But what does the beauty buzzword actually mean and what even is keratin? Well, first things first, keratin is a structural protein found in our hair, nails and skin. It's responsible for keeping our hair strong and smooth, and acts as a barrier to block out frizz-inducing humidity. When the strands of our hair have less keratin, as a result of treating the hair the chemicals, heat-styling, and breakage from brushing (especially common among textured, curly and Afro hair) they become weaker and more porous, so keratin treatments provide a healthy boost of the protein to fill in the gaps.
Are keratin hair treatments safe?
However, there were potential drawbacks to those pro-strength treatments. Many were known to contain ingredients – such as methanal and methylene glycol – that, when mixed with water during the treatment, release formaldehyde, which is categorised as a carcinogen.
"Early keratin treatments contained formaldehyde or methylene glycol, but these were banned due to concerns over health and safety," Jez Barnett, founder of KeraStraight, told GLAMOUR. "Modern formulations use ingredients like a glyoxylic acid-carbocysteine mix, which strengthens, repairs, smooths and straightens."
Can you do keratin hair treatments at home?
But while professional keratin treatments have come a long way, they can still be time-consuming and costly. Plus, our hair has suffered as a result of salons being shut during the lockdowns of the past year (bring on April 12th!). The good news is that, thanks to the demand for at-home keratin treatments, plenty of shampoos, conditioners, serums and hair masks now incorporate keratin for frizz-free, sleek strands. So, you can show your hair some TLC and reap the benefits of this powerhouse protein at home.
There's the Joico Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment - available from LookFantastic (save money on your order with these LookFantastic discount codes) - a mask which you leave on for just three-five minutes. It's wonderfully reparative and great for those in a rush. We also love the Frank Body Caffeinated Hair Mask which uses a combination of niacinamide with hydrolysed keratin to really up hair's overall health, and for the best keratin shampoo, look towards Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Joia Strengthening & Smoothing Shampoo which leaves your hair smelling incredible.
Whether it's a keratin-infused heat protection spray or a deep-conditioning mask, these protein-packed treatments will leave you with sleek, super-smooth and stronger-than-ever strands. Here are our top picks...
Looking for more hair hacks? Try these homemade natural hair masks and the best essential oils for overall hair health.
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