What are the disadvantages of keratin for hair? 

keratin for hair

 Keratin hair treatment is a new fashion known to soften hair, and the idea of ​​keratin treatment is to make your hair softer and easier to style, but unfortunately, those who follow this method of treatment do not know the health risks and effects. Side effects caused by keratin. That is why it is very important that you get complete information about the method of treatment with Keratin before deciding to use it. In this article, we will talk about the pros and cons of this treatment.

keratin

  Keratin is a protein naturally found in your hair. The treatment is using it by making a mixture of it with a strong preservative called formaldehyde, then applying this mixture to the hair, filling it in the spaces and hair follicles using a flat iron, and very hot (straightening iron). At very high temperatures, liquid formaldehyde turns into gaseous vapors.[1]

Keratin side effects

 The harmful effects of keratin are related to the fact that it contains formaldehyde. Which causes many health problems, including irritation in the skin, eyes, nose, and lungs, and may lead to dizziness as well, whether by inhaling it, or by absorbing it through the skin. If the duration of exposure to formaldehyde is short; It causes the appearance of signs of asthma, and while the duration of exposure to it was relatively long, it may cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, and persistent lung problems, and according to some studies, a link was also found between formaldehyde and the development of leukemia, The chance of developing one of the aforementioned diseases increases when keratin treatment is repeated every 8 to 12 weeks; As a result of women's increased exposure to formaldehyde. Since hair treatment using keratin has become the best choice for hair beautification, smoothing, and making it wrinkle-free for weeks, or even months, care must be taken when using keratin, and making sure that it is free of formaldehyde

Other Names for Keratin Therapy

When focusing on the serious health problems caused by keratin hair treatment; Salons started launching treatments entitled “Formaldehyde-free keratin or keratin with a low formaldehyde content, but unfortunately, these treatments are also considered very harmful, and we will mention the reasons for this in the following points

It was found that keratin products that claim to be formaldehyde-free contained a very high percentage of it.

 It was found that hair straightening products that are claimed to be free of formaldehyde contain substances that turn into formaldehyde when they are broken due to exposure to high temperatures carried out by specialists in salons during the hair treatment process, and among these substances that turn into formaldehyde: formalin. Formic aldehyde, methanol, methylene glycol, methylene oxide, oxomethane, and oxmythylene.

 Products that are truly formaldehyde-free do not have a significant smoothing effect on the hair, which of course does not satisfy consumers. 

Products that contain formaldehyde in small amounts are not as toxic as the original formaldehyde, but nonetheless contain health risks.

Alternatives to keratin formaldehyde

  There is a so-called keratin complex, these compounds are 100% free of formaldehyde, but they do not give the same results as toxic compounds, as their results do not last for more than two or three months, and they do not soften curly hair in the same way that it does formaldehyde.

Simple tips for healthy hair

There are a group of healthy tips to make your hair soft and smooth, and among these tips are the following:

 Healthy food: your hair is the result of what you eat; Therefore, you should eat a balanced diet that contains a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as you should increase the intake of protein such as eggs, poultry, and milk; Because it supplies your hair with keratin.

In addition, you should eat a lot of iron-rich foods such as chia seeds, and green leafy vegetables such as spinach. Good hair begins with a shower: It is very important that you take care of your hair's cleanliness on a daily basis, using hair care products, which contain a lot of ingredients that make your hair healthy.

 In addition, you must keep your hair moisturized, and use products that contain ingredients such as protein, and antioxidants that help repair and protect it from bad environmental factors.

 Use conditioner on a daily basis: It is very important to moisturize your hair on a daily basis with conditioner and hair styling products, even if you have oily hair. You should also focus on rinsing your hair in a very good way; Because if there is a residue of it stuck in your hair, it will make your hair dry, dull, and lifeless.

In the end, if your hair is damaged, and you want to use a keratin treatment, we tell you that it is a treatment that does this, but you should always remember that there are levels of damage, and one of these damages may eliminate keratin from your options for treating your hair. Of course, it is up to the hair stylist, who has to be honest with you about these treatments, and also remember that these treatments are all temporary, and will not make your curly hair permanently soft and smooth.