- Formaldehyde. Many (but not all) keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Formaldehyde is what actually makes the hair look straighter.
- Cost. Each treatment can range anywhere from $300–$800, plus tip. There are less expensive at-home options available, but the results will not last as long.
- Hard to maintain. Washing your hair less and avoiding swimming might make it harder to maintain for some people. The type of water on your hair matters.
What is the best professional keratin treatment?
A keratin treatment can be defined as a process that makes hair smooth and shiny by infusing keratin into it. The main ingredient of this treatment is formaldehyde. During this treatment, the hair will be washed, blow-dried, and flat ironed.
Is keratin treatment worth it?
Oct 22, 2020 · These side effects are not caused by keratin itself, but instead by formaldehyde, a chemical used in certain keratin treatments for hair.
Is there a safe keratin treatment?
Apr 01, 2020 · Many (but not all) keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Formaldehyde is what actually makes the hair look straighter. According to an Environmental Working...
What to expect from your first keratin treatment?
treatments—Brazilian keratin treatments which usually contains formaldehyde and other keratin smoothing treatments. With both, curly or frizzy hair is typically heated after the
Does a keratin treatment have chemicals?
Many (but not all) keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Formaldehyde is what actually makes the hair look straighter. According to an Environmental Working Group investigation, some companies will actually try to hide the fact that their keratin product contains the chemical.
What are the ingredients in keratin hair treatment?
The ingredients that actually matter in permanently breaking the hair's bonds—ammonium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide—are just harder to pronounce. Others, such as methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol, release formaldehyde when heated or mixed with water.Sep 4, 2016
Is keratin treatment without formaldehyde safe?
Real-talk time: There's no such thing as a truly chemical-free hair-straightening treatment. For a keratin treatment to give you shiny, straighter, frizz-free hair for months, it must contain formalin or another chemical in the same family.
What keratin treatment is formaldehyde free?
When I inquired about the formaldehyde-free keratin treatment advertised on its website, I learned it was a formula called Cezanne that promises to smooth and de-frizz hair while restoring shine, cut blow-drying time in half and — most importantly — work on all hair types.Aug 30, 2017
Do all keratin treatments have formaldehyde?
No hair treatment will technically contain formaldehyde (because — a little more chemistry for you — it's a gas). What they can contain are methylene glycol, formalin, methanal, and methanediol — ingredients that release formaldehyde when heated or mixed with water.Dec 7, 2017
Why is formaldehyde in keratin hair treatments?
To make hair straighter, a solution containing a formaldehyde derivative or (the much safer) glyoxylic acid is worked through the hair to break the bonds and reseal them in a straighter position.Jan 20, 2022
Which hair treatment is chemical free?
The Keratin hair straightening method involves soaking your hair in keratin to give it a straight and frizz-free look. This technique is a lot safer than the other chemical straightening methods for your hair in the long run. It also provides sun-protection to your hair.Nov 18, 2021
What is keratin treatment without chemicals?
KeraGreen Keratin and Protein Hair System is a non-toxic, formaldehyde-free keratin treatment designed to improve the health and beauty of the hair. It offers a similar or better result than formaldehyde-based formulas. The KeraGreen system provides soft, silky, shiny, and manageable hair for up to 3 months.Apr 3, 2022
Does Aveda keratin treatment have formaldehyde?
The procedure is formaldehyde free alternative to other traditional keratin treatments.May 24, 2016
What is Luxliss keratin treatment?
This is a smoothing treatment that infuse permed,color treated hair with multi-amino to protect hair color. strengthen and straigthen and straight curls with just one application Hair Care Products Keratin Treatment Series.
Does Liquid Keratin have formaldehyde?
Liquid Keratin's at 60 Day Straighter, Smoother, Stronger & Longer Home Treatment is a patented, revolutionary, formaldehyde free, safe, easy to use, at home keratin hair treatment that tames unwanted frizz, loosens curl, smoothes and softens hair texture, adds shine, and keeps hair manageable and healthy for as long ...
Is methylene a glycol?
Methanediol, also known as formaldehyde monohydrate or methylene glycol, is an organic compound with chemical formula CH2(OH)2. It is the simplest geminal diol.
Why is keratin used in hair?
Many industries have used keratin or other vitamin supplementations that promote production of keratin as a form of maintaining or improving hair , skin, and nail health. The beauty industry has advertised keratin as a way to combat damaged hair.
What is keratin protein?
Keratin is an intermediate filament-forming protein that provides support and a barrier of protection. 1 . The health of the fingernails, hair, and skin relies on the amount of keratin present in the body at any given time. In the animal kingdom, keratin is found in hooves, wool, and feathers, and it can be extracted and used for supplements, ...
What are the health risks of formaldehyde?
The use of formaldehyde in these products can then lead to health issues, including: 1 Itching and stinging eyes 2 Nose and throat irritation 3 An allergic reaction 4 Itchy skin with or without a rash 5 Scalp irritation that may present with burns or blisters 6 Mood changes 7 Hair loss and damage
How many types of keratin are there in the human body?
There are 54 types of keratin genetically encoded by the human genome and produced by the body. 2 Out of the 54 types, half of them reside within hair follicles all over the body. 3
Which type of keratin is larger than type I?
Type II keratins are larger than their type I counterparts and have a neutral pH, which can help balance out the pairings of both types when they are synthesizing proteins and regulating cell activity.
Who is Angelica Bottaro?
Angelica Bottaro is a writer with expertise in many facets of health including chronic disease, Lyme disease, nutrition as medicine, and supplementation. Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. Keratin is a type of protein that's found in epithelial cells on ...
Does wool have keratin?
Keratin proteins rely on hydration (water) to maintain their overall size and function. 1 To put this into context, wool is full of keratin. When a wool sweater is washed in heated water, it shrinks.
What is keratin treatment?
The body naturally makes the protein keratin — it’s what hair and nails are made up of. The keratin in these treatments may be derived from wool, feathers, or horns. Certain shampoos and conditioners contain keratin, but you’ll typically get the greatest benefits from a salon treatment done by a professional.
What is keratin smoothing?
Keratin smooths cells that overlap to form hair strands, which means more manageable hair and less frizz. This makes for hair that dries with little frizz and has a glossy, healthy look to it.
How long does a Brazilian blowout last?
A keratin treatment, sometimes called a Brazilian blowout or Brazilian keratin treatment, is a chemical procedure usually done in a salon that can make hair look straighter for as long as 6 months. It adds intense glossy shine to hair and can reduce frizz.
How long does it take to get keratin treatment?
Some hair stylists prefer to blow dry the hair first and apply the treatment to dry hair. They’ll then flat iron the hair in small sections to seal in the treatment. The whole process can take several hours — so bring a book or something quiet to do! If you’re not sure if keratin treatment is right for you, weigh the pros and cons below.
Does keratin help hair dry faster?
If you constantly heat style your hair, you’ll notice that with a keratin treatment your hair dries more quickly. Some people estimate that keratin cuts their drying time by more than half. Your hair may also become healthier and stronger since you can air dry it more often, saving it from heat damage.
How long does keratin treatment last?
As long as you care for a keratin treatment by not washing your hair too frequently (2 to 3 times a week is enough), then your keratin treatment can last up to 6 months.
Is keratin bad for hair?
Many (but not all) keratin treatments contain formaldehyde, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Formaldehyde is what actually makes the hair look straighter. According to an Environmental Working Group investigation, some companies will actually try to hide the fact that their keratin product contains the chemical.
What is a Keratin Treatment?
Keratin is a protein found in the hair, nails, and skin. Keratin affects your hair texture and whether it is straight, wavy, or curly. Using chemicals to change the molecules in coiled or curly hair to make it straight or wavy is known as relaxing the hair.
Why is Formaldehyde a Problem?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that causes health problems when inhaled, sprayed into the eyes, or absorbed through the skin. It can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause coughing and wheezing, and trigger a severe allergic reaction of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
Which Products and Ingredients are Dangerous?
The national Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the New York State Department of Health list the following as some of the companies that sell one or more products that contain formaldehyde: Brazilian Blowout, Badiveu Brazilian, Coppola Keratin, Global Keratin, IBS Beauty, Kera Green, Marcia Teixeira, Pro-Collagen RX and QOD Gold.
Risks to Stylists and Customers
Because stylists are at greatest risk for formaldehyde exposure, OSHA issued a set of guidelines to protect their health. If workers have been exposed to more than a specified amount of formaldehyde, their health must be monitored and they must be reassigned to a job with significantly less exposure.
What is the purpose of diethyl phthalate in hair relaxers?
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) are used as plasticizers, solvents, and fragrance carriers in a wide variety of products.[74,75] Phthalates are not listed as intentionally added ingredients in hair straightening products. Helm et al. (2018) measured the short-chain phthalate DEP in hair straightening products at concentrations higher than the longer-chain phthalates DEHP.[2] The exposure routes of concern for DEP in hair relaxers include inhalation and dermal absorption. Hazard traits of DEP and DEHP include developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, endocrine toxicity,[74] and carcinogenicity (only for DEHP).[76]
What is BP-3 in sunscreen?
Benzophenone -3 (BP-3), also known as oxybenzone, is an ultraviolet (UV) filter commonly used in sunscreens. BP-3 isused as a sunscreen in lotions, conditioners, and cosmetics; it protects these products from the damaging effects of UV light.[86] A recent product database search indicates that BP-3 is used in the conditioner component of hair relaxer kits and is also an added ingredient in temporary hair straightening products.[87] BP-3 was also detected by Helm et al. (2018) in one hair relaxer kit.[2]
What is a priority product?
A Priority Product is a consumer product identified by DTSC that contains one or more chemicals – known as Chemicals of Concern – with a hazard trait that can cause harm or adverse impacts to people or the environment. As part of the process of evaluating consumer products, DTSC issues a Priority Product Work Plan identifying the product categories to evaluate over a three-year period (Figure 1). DTSC then considers the product categories based on the Work Plan’s stated policy goals.
What is hair straightening?
Hair straightening products change the structure of hair by straightening or relaxing it. They include various gels, creams, sprays, moisturizers, conditioners, shampoos, activators, glosses, and detanglers. Broadly, there are two types of hair straightening products: permanent and temporary.
Is diethanolamine a DEA?
Diethanolamine (DEA) itself is rarely an intentionally added ingredient in hair straightening products; however, it is a known contaminant of ingredients used in these products. In hair relaxer kits, DEA-related ingredients are most commonly used to make the shampoo component thicker, creamier, and more sudsy.[60,61] Since 1996, about half of hair relaxer kits contain a shampoo with DEA-related ingredients, with cocamide DEA being the most common.[50,62] Exposure to these chemicals occurs through dermal contact during use.[63]
What is lye used for?
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, is used in personal care products as a pH adjuster and cleansing agent. [24] In hair relaxers, it is used to break the disulfide bonds in hair and alter its curl pattern. Elevated concentrations of sodium hydroxide are associated with skin, eye, and lung irritation and burns, along with temporary loss of hair.[25,26] During the application of lye hair relaxers in a salon, acute dermal and inhalation exposures to sodium hydroxide have the potential to cause significant adverse impacts to both the client and other people in the vicinity, especially salon workers.[27] Since 1996, sodium hydroxide has been listed as an ingredient in over 100 hair straightening products on the market.[28] Published Safety Data Sheets show that hair straightenening products typically have sodium hydroxide concentrations at or below 2.5 percent.[29] Lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, ammonium thioglycolate, and guanidine hydroxide are examples of alternative bases used in hair straightening products. These chemicals have similar functional uses as sodium hydroxide.[24] Additionally, no-lye alternatives are strong bases and, as such, may have similar potential to cause adverse health impacts.[14]
Is race a social construct?
Although race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, they are distinct terms. Race is a social construct that is not universal and is usually associated with physical characteristics such as skin color or hair texture. Ethnicity refers to shared cultural characteristics such as language, ancestry, practices, and beliefs.
What is keratin in hair?
What Is Keratin? Keratin is a protein that is commonly found in our skin, hair and nails . Keratin is a protective protein and it protects the epithelial cells from damage. Though the treatment is named keratin, it has nothing to do with keratin based natural ingredients.
How long does keratin treatment last?
This treatment is ideal for people with fine to medium texture hair. This treatment eliminates frizz gently and it lasts for about two months. While choosing the keratin treatment, always discuss your needs and your hair type before getting the treatment done.
How long does keratin last?
It is lasts for a less time compared to other keratin treatments, it generally lasts up to 6 weeks. Generally keratin express is done by people with straight hair that becomes slightly frizzy due to humidity.
Is keratin free of formaldehyde?
But there are keratin treatments that promises that they are free of formaldehyde but we should remember that they contain chemicals like methylene glycol, formalin, methylene oxide, oxymethelene, etc that releases formaldehyde when mixed with water.
Does keratin cause cancer?
When we inhale formaldehyde, our skin, eyes and respiratory tract can be affected. Frequent exposure of formaldehyde in excessive amounts can also cause cancer.
Can you use keratin on thin hair?
If you have coloured your hair, you will experience some fading while doing the treatment. Keratin treatment is also not recommended for people with fine thin hair as it can cause hair breakage.
Can you swim in chlorine water?
Swimming in chlorine water is also not recommended at least for the first month after doing the treatment. Heavy oiling is also not recommended after doing the treatment. Sulfate free shampoos and conditioners are recommended after the treatment and it is best to use them instead of the regular shampoos.
What is a Brazilian blowout?
"You either have your traditional keratin treatment, commonly called a Brazilian blowout, which really straightens out your hair texture ,” she says, “or you have your smoothing treatments, like Goldwell Kerasilk which help de-frizz hair and add shine, without disrupting its texture.”
Is it safe to eat hair straightener?
Sorry, but safe-enough-to-eat hair-straightening systems simply don't exist here in the real world . If you want to smooth your frizz and straighten your hair texture, you need to accept that your hair will be doused in some chemicals that might not be FDA-approved. If you want to take your texture from coarse and curly to flat-iron straight, you'll need some formaldehyde—which has a pretty bad rap.
Can you know if you have keratin on your hair?
Because life is like a box of chocolates, there's no way to know the results of a keratin treatment on your hair , regardless of which one you sit hours in the chair for.
Does keratin help with hair loss?
Yes, all of the hair-smoothing treatments involve the use of the protein keratin (which explains why people lump them all under "keratin treatments"), but keratin isn't really the shining star of the treatments—the other ingredients are.
How long does keratin treatment last?
It reduces 90% of curls and can last up to four months, making the long treatment process worthwhile.
Why do we use keratin fibers?
Why we like it: These natural keratin fibers are to designed to instantly thinning hair or bald spots, intertwining with your existing hair for an all-natural look. The fibers are also wind, rain, and sweat-resistant, helping to keep your new ‘do safe.
How long does it take to apply keratin at home?
At-home keratin treatments vary widely in how time-consuming or tricky to apply they are to apply. Some require just a few moments of your time, while others may take hours out of your day. Make sure to pick one that fits with your lifestyle and schedule.
How long does it take to get keratin out of hair?
The whole process takes only two minutes, during which you can wear a heated towel to boost your hair’s absorption power.
Can keratin damage hair?
Keratin treatments can certainly damage your hair if you get them too often. However, the keratin itself isn’t what does the damage, but the heat that seals it into the hair. Unfortunately, almost all in-salon keratin treatments require flat-ironing your hair to get the best results.
Is keratin a carcinogen?
Many keratin treatments release this carcinogenic gas during use. Interestingly, this is because formaldehyde has some excellent de-frizzing and straightening agents for your hair. However, it’s only a concern for people who regularly expose themselves to it, like salon workers.
Does green tea help with hair loss?
While the ingredient list is fairly comparable to those in the Vitamins Keratin Hair Mask, this product also boasts green tea extract, which contains chemical compounds called polyphenols that are known to nourish the scalp and hair follicles, as well as slow hair loss.

What Is A Keratin Treatment?
- Keratin is a protein found in the hair, nails, and skin. Keratin affects your hair texture and whether it is straight, wavy, or curly. Using chemicals to change the molecules in coiled or curly hair to make it straight or wavy is known as relaxing the hair. In a keratin treatment, cream containing formaldehyde (or another chemical that releases for...
Why Is Formaldehyde A Problem?
- Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that causes health problems when inhaled, sprayed into the eyes, or absorbed through the skin. It can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, cause coughing and wheezing, and trigger a severe allergic reaction of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Some people have also reported that it caused headaches, dizziness, nausea, chest pains, …
Which Products and Ingredients Are Dangerous?
- The national Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the New York State Department of Health list the following as some of the companies that sell one or more products that contain formaldehyde: Brazilian Blowout, Badiveu Brazilian, Coppola Keratin, Global Keratin, IBS Beauty, Kera Green, Marcia Teixeira, Pro-Collagen RX and QOD Gold. See the full list of produ…
Isn’T A Brazilian Blowout “Formaldehyde-Free”? No!
- Brazilian Blowout is one of the most common brands of keratin treatments. As a result of the 2010 controversy over formaldehyde in keratin treatments, Brazilian Blowout created a formula that they advertised as “formaldehyde-free.” While there is no formaldehyde listed in the ingredients, the main chemical used is methylene glycol, which releases formaldehyde when it i…
Risks to Stylists and Customers
- Because stylists are at greatest risk for formaldehyde exposure, OSHA issued a set of guidelines to protect their health. If workers have been exposed to more than a specified amount of formaldehyde, their health must be monitored and they must be reassigned to a job with significantly less exposure. The salon is required to install ventilation systems, use lower heat s…