Women give special care to increase the beauty of the hair and preserve it from the changes that occur over time, as the hair of the head is considered a crown of beauty, and an address of health, and the beauty of hair affects the rest of the body. One of the important beauty standards in hair is that it is free of wrinkles, a lot of luster, and its smoothness, in addition to its color and length, so the search for materials that help achieve and maintain these specifications has been the preoccupation of many people throughout the ages.
Among the materials that have been widely used in recent years is keratin, a protein that is naturally found in the body, especially in hair and skin, and works to protect the body tissues that cover it, for example, this material forms a network-like insulating layer surrounding a single hair, and acts as an insulator that protects it Among the external factors, keratin also gives hair shine, strength and a healthy look.
Keratin cannot work on individual hair alone, but it needs additional materials that are mixed with protein during individual sessions, in order to be able to straighten hair and get rid of its folds. Iron the hair when applying keratin.
There are many types of keratin in the market, and the Brazilian product is the best and oldest, although other American products have begun to appear. The types of keratin vary according to the policy of the company producing it. These companies are divided into:
Companies that produce keratin that treats hair breakage, loss, and brittleness, softening and smoothing it, and making it healthy and shiny (does not contain formalin).
Companies that produce keratin that provides a 70% straightening rate, as a result of a simple formalin ratio, and amino acids that straighten the hair in a very safe and natural way.
Companies that produce keratin with a high proportion of formalin, so it results in an individual ratio of 90 to 100%, but they have immediate and long-term side effects as a result of the presence of this high percentage of formalin.
The best healthy types of keratin are considered to be completely free of formalin (zero formaldehyde), (the World Health Organization allowed the addition of formalin not to exceed 0.2%). However, most companies add formalin in order to work on straightening the hair and making it soft. In order to avoid buying keratin that contains a high percentage of formaldehyde, you should read the ingredients label carefully to know its percentage, as well as pay attention to some chemical compounds that work in the same way as formaldehyde, and have the same side effects and damages such as: glutaraldehyde, oxaldehyde, ammonium thioglycolate (which is also used in creams perennial individual), and methylene glycol.
It should be noted that keratin is not suitable for use on weak hair and severely damaged hair, and in general, if the hair bears a temperature of up to 450 degrees while ironing, it can tolerate the individual with keratin, and it is also not recommended for use with girls under 16 years of age, as well Keratin has a weak effect on curly and twisted hair (so several sessions are recommended to get good results).
As for its effectiveness, it lasts for several weeks and not always, as its effectiveness gradually decreases after each hair wash. In general, if you want to extend the effectiveness of keratin on your hair, you must follow these steps:
Do not wash your hair for 3-4 days after applying keratin, as it takes longer for keratin to set on the hair.
– After the above period (the no-wash period), it is recommended to use a shampoo that does not contain sodium sulfate, which is the foaming substance in most shampoo products, so baby shampoo can be used instead of regular shampoo, as it does not contain sulfates Sodium. Also, hair should not be washed too much, as it is recommended that it should not be more than 2-3 times a week.
It is recommended to avoid going to the swimming pools for 3-4 days, as well as covering the hair when going to the pool or the sea (after this period) to protect it from sodium chloride, which reduces the duration of the effectiveness of keratin.
Do not overuse the flat iron after treating the hair so as not to cause hair breakage.
Avoid dyeing hair for two weeks before and after keratin treatment.
Read also: 7 simple tricks to get long and healthy hair
As for the method of keratin hair treatment, it goes through the following stages, as the hairdresser first washes the hair with shampoo and dries it with a hair dryer, then divides the hair into strands and each strand is treated with keratin with a brush, and leaves for 20 minutes, after which the hairdresser irons the treated hair with an iron Hair (where you use a high temperature, it should be suitable for your hair), and this process lasts for up to 90 minutes or more, depending on the type and length of the hair.