Keratin is a popular hair smoothing treatment for women to get a sleeker, shinier, more manageable mane. There have been some concerns about the safety of using keratin treatments with hair loss afterward.
To determine whether you’re at risk for severe hair loss after a keratin treatment and whether your hair is strong enough to withstand it, you must first understand the chemical side of what’s going on from the inside out.
Do Keratin Hair Treatments Cause Hair Loss?
Yes, keratin treatments can cause hair loss because of the high heat and the ingredients involved.
It can, but it’s not obvious that hair loss will happen to everyone. The amount of hair loss, if any, will depend on factors like how the treatment is done, products used, hair type, age, hair health, any existing disease, etc.
Why Do Hair Fall Out
Wanting smoother and shinier hair is a goal of most women, but you may want to reconsider due to the harmful chemicals used in a keratin treatment. The chemicals plus the high heat temperature used to perform the process, make it more of a risk than you might be willing to take.
Keratin treatments done in the salon have formaldehyde in them. The formaldehyde and the keratins get mixed, and the stylist applies the mixture to your hair and seals them in with the flat iron.
This hair treatment is semi-permanent, and it smooths your hair cuticle, which is the outer layer of your hair strand. The result? Silky smooth hair!
Various salons and companies that do this treatment state that you can restore and revitalize hair follicles by getting a keratin treatment. They also declare that it doesn’t damage your hair.
Still, experts warn that formaldehyde is an extremely harsh chemical on the hair and may even be associated with cancer.
Additionally, it’s common knowledge that using flat irons at high temperatures like 450°F is damaging, as it breaks the existing keratin structures in your hair. However, that is the amount of heat necessary to do a keratin treatment.
Therefore, there is a strong correlation between losing hair and keratin treatments, just not in the way that you might think.
You might experience excessive hair shedding and breakage, which causes you to lose hair.
Formaldehyde
If you continue to use formaldehyde over long periods, there may be grave consequences. Some salons are even opposed to performing a keratin treatment because the chemical exposure can cause symptoms such as watery eyes, wheezing, chest pains, respiratory illness, nose bleeds, sore throat, etc.
The FDA also warns that people should be wary of products that claim to be formaldehyde-free.
Those with damaged or fine hair should not get keratin treatments because they will further weaken the hair and cause damage over time.
What To Do After a Keratin Treatment to Avoid Hair Loss?
Water and even moisture can wash away some of the protein treatment and the benefits thereof. Consequently, this can make hair prone to frizz, being porous, and leaving marks in your hair.
Therefore, do not wash your hair for at least three days after the treatment. That also means that there will be no swimming, and you will have to cut down on physical activities that can cause you to sweat.
You should wear your hair down and straight for the first couple of days after the keratin treatment.
Directly after the treatment, the keratin is pliable, and styling your hair into a ponytail or braiding can leave dents behind in your hair. Within three days, you can use soft hair ties to tie your hair up. Just be sure not to leave them in too long.
How To Reap the Benefits of Keratin
You can begin promoting healthier-looking hair through proper nutrition. Make sure you consume a balanced diet consisting of the necessary vitamins and minerals that you need.
Also, drink lots of water! An alternative to this option is to take a daily clinically proven hair growth supplement that contains some natural ingredients.
Try to use a sulfate-free shampoo if you can since shampoo already strips away essential oils that we need to keep dryness at bay. You should make it a habit to deep condition at least twice a week to restore moisture and elasticity to your locks.
So, can keratin treatments cause hair loss?
Yes, they can. But, when used properly, they can do wonders for the overall aesthetics of your hair.
However, there are restrictions you must follow to reap the full benefits. Be careful that these treatments can cause damage to your hair.