The structure of human hair is 90 percent composed of protein compounds. The main protein in the composition is keratin. During life, hair, especially long, under the influence of the environment, improper or insufficient care, drying, straightening and washing become brittle, dull and damaged.
Due to the deterioration of the quality of hair, their appearance becomes unpresentable. Bifurcated tips of different lengths, scraps in several places, an uneven surface make any styling inaccurate, and the hair is naughty and uneven.
To improve the appearance of the hair and prevent further damage, several procedures have been invented. The most effective is keratin straightening.
Introduction to the procedure
Keratin hair straightening is a simple procedure for saturating the strands along the entire length with a special compound, the basis of which is keratin and additional components.
After applying the composition, calculated on the basis of the type of hair and damage to their surface, it is left for the required time until full or partial absorption.
After the composition is absorbed, saturate the structure, its surplus is removed with a comb. Next comes the stage of fixing and direct straightening. Dried hair is hot iron strand by strand, thereby sealing the scales and making the surface smooth.
The following is the stage of exposure (for most keratin formulations) when the hair after the procedure cannot be washed for 3 days, and you also need to keep them loose, without subjecting to breaking or crushing, in order to keep them straight.
After the right time, hair requires more thorough care to prolong the effect of keratin. For washing it is better to use professional shampoos. Then, the effect of keratin straightening can please up to six months.
Pros and cons of the procedure
Like any other cosmetic procedure, keratin straightening has its positive and negative sides, as well as consequences.
Pros:
- Keratin improves the appearance of hair, filling up microdamages and smoothing scales; thanks to filling and sealing with an iron, the hair visually looks healthier, the touch becomes smoother and “alive”, and increases slightly in volume;
- Straightened in this way, the hair does not need styling, it is enough just to wash and dry them naturally or with a hairdryer;
- Curls, straightened out in this way, retain their shape even at high humidity, they do not thicken, and are also easy to comb and not electrify;
- The "sealed" hairs are not influenced by the environment, without absorbing harmful gases, dust and not becoming dull and brittle under the influence of the sun;
- If desired, it is quite simple to put the curls, as they are more obedient and easier to take the desired shape;
- Keratin straightening can serve as a great way to increase the durability of the dyeing, since closed scales reduce the washout of the dye;
- With proper care, the effect of the procedure lasts from two to six months;
- Repeated corrective procedures tend to be cheaper than the first, since less keratin is needed.
Cons and consequences:
- With the use of most products, the first three days (72 hours) cannot be washed and do anything with hair, i.e. tie, braid, pin; so that the effect of straightening is fixed and preserved, you need to walk with your hair for 72 hours;
- Due to the increased weight, the hair keeps the volume styling worse, and later on they can break off their tips;
- Keratin straightening does not allow staining in length for some time; This property is due to the fact that the rich structure of the hair does not perceive the paint well, and if it does, the effect of keratin completely disappears;
- The procedure has contraindications associated with the general condition of the body;
- With damage to the scalp and some diseases, keratin straightening will have to be abandoned;
- Possible allergic reaction to the components of the keratin composition;
- Formaldehyde as part of the Brazilian straightening is a harmful substance, with prolonged use there is a risk of cancer, since formaldehydes have a cumulative effect in the body;
- Keratin straightening is a long and not very pleasant procedure: it takes an average of two to five hours to maintain the composition and smoothing it out with an iron, even more for particularly long and thick hair.
Types of keratin straightening
There are two types of keratin hair straightening:
- Brazilian - in addition to natural keratin and protein, the composition for straightening includes formaldehyde; It is considered more effective and durable, able to straighten weakened and curly hair that will keep the shape for a long time, regardless of humidity and weather conditions;
- American - the composition is designed for care and protection and has no chemical components; American keratin straightening is less durable and has a completely natural composition and is more expensive in comparison with the Brazilian one, but is more beneficial to the hair and harmless to the whole body.
The price of the procedure depends on many factors and fluctuates on average in the region of 5,000–15,000 thousand rubles, depending on the thickness, length and type of straightening, but may cost more.
Indications and contraindications
Keratin straightening is suitable for almost all types of hair, but, like any procedure, has its own indications and contraindications.
Who can and should do keratin straightening:
- The procedure is perfect for girls with curly and naughty hair, and with straight and weakened curls;
- Damaged perm, styling, dyeing, bleaching and using ironing strands come to life and become obedient and well-groomed;
- Owners of dull and dry strands that need shine and nutrition;
- Residents of places with poor environmental conditions can also carry out such a procedure to protect their hair from the harmful effects of the environment.
Contraindications to the implementation of this procedure:
- Diseases of the scalp, violation of the integrity of the skin;
- The use of Brazilian straightening is contraindicated in case of oncological diseases (also, it is better to avoid it in the presence of relatives who have had oncology in order not to provoke the onset of the disease);
- Keratin straightening is not recommended for hair loss, as it can aggravate the running process;
- Hair breaking at the roots or along the length is also not recommended to be straightened in this way, since the increased mass can provoke enhanced loss;
- Thin hair, devoid of volume at the roots and along the entire length, keratin straightening is not very suitable, as it weights the strands and the volume decreases several times.
Popular Keratin Recovery Products
Recently, the popularity of keratin straightening has increased, which greatly expanded the market for the tools offered for this procedure. Here are some of the popular brands that produce lines of these funds:
- Cadiveu Progessional - the most popular Brazilian brand that produces several lines of products for Brazilian straightening; in each line, in addition to the working composition, there are masks and shampoos that are able to maintain and maintain the state after the procedure for a long time; most of the products of this brand are positioned as universal, suitable for all types of hair; not required for aging after application;
- HONMATokyo is a Brazilian-Japanese brand of hair straighteners, the line of products is very wide, as the company has been on the market since 2008, there is a tool for any type of hair;
- Coffe Premium All Liss - a three-phase complex for hard, thick and curly strands of African, Latin, Asian and Arabic type;
- Plastica Capillar - universal straightening agent for any type of hair;
- Escova De Melaleuca - means for bleached and gray hair, enriched with proteins and amino acids for nourishing and moisturizing;
- Biyouh Liss is a completely organic product that does not contain chemicals, such as formaldehyde, that can be used for keratin straightening for pregnant women;
- CocoChoco is an Israeli brand that produces the whole range of products for the keratin straightening procedure and subsequent hair care, currently provided in two formulations for the Brazilian type of procedure: Original and Pure; has a low price and standard conditions for the care and duration of the effect of the procedure;
- Inoar - a brand from Brazil with twenty years of experience, includes both professional products for keratin straightening and home-made compositions that can be used independently.
Stages of the procedure in the cabin
The procedure of keratin restoration of the structure and straightening is quite simple, when scheduling the stages, but, nevertheless, it is laborious and time consuming and conscientious master:
- So, it all starts with washing and drying, since clean hair is better taken by the working composition, plus after the procedure they can not be washed for three days;
- On dry and clean hair, a selected working composition is plentifully applied on the surface, retreating approximately one centimeter from the roots; the applied composition is briefly left on the hair for absorption, after which it is dried with a hair dryer, passing through the hair with a large brush;
- Dry strands are divided into many small strands and begin to straighten: very hot ironing (temperature - 230 degrees) slowly pass each thin strand, soldering the hair with proteinaceous composition;
- The safety of the procedure is guaranteed if the master has richly soaked the hair with keratin; in such a case, the irons act on the protein of impregnation and do not damage the surface, but seal the scales and straighten unruly curls; The procedure lasts from two to five hours.
Home keratin straightening procedure
How to make keratin hair straightening at home? To carry out the procedure at home is possible with a special composition, which can be purchased at a beauty salon or specialty store.
There are also online stores selling these products, but the increased number of fakes cast doubt on the authenticity of the goods presented there. The selection of products for straightening need to be given a lot of time to choose exactly what suits the right type of hair and avoid buying fakes that can spoil the hair.
In addition, you need to stock up on a good rectifier, a lot of time, and also call someone for help, as it is quite problematic to distribute the composition yourself on the back of the head.
In general, the procedure for keratin straightening at home technologically differs little from the salon, but simpler formulations are used, the result itself is also somewhat simpler. Detailed instructions on the use of certain tools can be found on specialized sites and on the manufacturer's website.
Hair care
In addition to the fact that strands after keratin straightening for three days can not be washed and subjected to mechanical stress, there are also some nuances in the care.
In all lines of professional and home remedies, there are also care products that are guaranteed to be suitable for this rectifying compound.
In addition, within 1-2 weeks after the procedure, coloring is not recommended.
Reviews of the procedure
In the next video - additional information on keratin hair straightening.
