Keratin Treatment for Hair - All You Need to Know

In this article, we have covered all you need to know about keratin treatment for hair, as well as how to do keratin treatment at home naturally. You will also learn the various types of keratin treatments for hair that are available at salons for you to determine which one suits you the most. In the end, we have provided a few DIY hair mask recipes to restore the protein in your hair for deep conditioning.

What is keratin?
Keratin is a protein. It is a vital structural building block for your skin, nails, and hair. It is protective protein that is less prone to tearing and scratching. Hence, it is a popular belief that keratin supplements & treatments can improve the health, strength, and overall beauty of hair.

What is keratin treatment for hair?
Hair that is very curly and unmanageable is said to have insufficient keratin. Keratin treatment for hair is popularly done to remove frizziness and restore its luster, shine and strength. Keratin treatment is a hair smoothing treatment that involves the coating of hair cuticles with protein to eliminate frizz and add shine & softness. Due to its effect on the hair, it has become a makeover essential for women. Depending upon the hair type & length, this process can take between 1 to 3 hours.

What are the steps involved in keratin treatment?
Before the start of the treatment, hair is shampooed thoroughly to remove any oil buildup and oil residue. After that, hair is divided into four large sections, which are further divided into 1/2-1-inch subsections. The keratin product, which is in the form of either a hair mask or hair serum, is applied to each and every subsection from root to tip. Following the application of the product, the hair is blow dried. Once completely dry, each subsection is run through a flat iron 3-8 times depending upon how straight a client wants the hair to be.

What are the types of keratin treatment?
Depending upon the desired results and your budget, you can choose from the following types of keratin treatments:

Brazilian Keratin
This type of keratin treatment is best suited for people whose hair is very curly and affected by humidity. It offers the maximum smoothness to hair and eliminates frizz. At the same time, it doesn't hamper the volume of the hair. The Brazilian keratin treatment has to be done at a salon by a stylist, as it involves the blow drying of hair with the help of a metal-plated round brush, which ensures the maximum penetration of the product into the hair folicles. Following this, the treatment is sealed into the hair with the help of a flat iron. The process lasts for a little over an hour, and the treatment lasts for 3-6 months.

Japzilian Keratin
The Japzilian keratin treatment is a combination of Brazilian keratin and Japanese hair straightening treatment. It is the ideal treatment for very coarse and unmanagable hair. It involves the application of Brazilian keratin, and its sealing with a blow dryer & ceramic iron. This is followed up with the application of Japanese straightening perm with the help of a comb. In case of course strands, it is applied twice. The hair is washed thoroughly & blow dried once again after leaving the treatment on for one hour. This treatment requires 3-4 hours, and lasts for over 5 months.

Keratin Express
This is a short-term treatment for people whose hair is either straight or wavy, which has become frizzy due to humidity. People normally do this treatment in preparation of a party, wedding or any family function. This treatment involves the application of keratin serum on the hair from root to tip, following which it is sealed with a blow dryer and a flat iron. The effect of this treatment lasts for around 6 weeks, however, it can be prolonged with the usage of a sulfate-free keratin-based shampoo every alternate day.

Soft Keratin
The soft keratin treatment is recommended for those with medium or fine hair. It gently eliminates frizz and makes hair smooth. However, curls remain intact. Blow drying followed by a flat hair iron are used to seal the treatment, which lasts for around 2 months.

How to do Keratin Treatment at Home?
Following the steps elaborated above, keratin treatment can be easily done at home with the help of keratin hair masks of various brands, which are easily available online as well as at stores that sell beauty products. However, to do so, it is important to own all the equipment required, which includes a good-quality ceramic flat iron, blow dryer, and a sufficient quantity of hair clips to divide hair into small sections for the even application of the keratin hair mask. The proper application of this hair mask on each and every hair strand from root to tip is the most important step of this treatment. You also need to stock up on sulfate & paraben free shampoo & conditioner.

• Start with cleansing your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo to remove excess oil and dirt.
• While the hair is damp, divide it into 4 large sections with 4 large hair clips.
• Now, one by one, divide these 4 sections into 4 sub-sections with the help of tinier clips. You will have a total of 16 small sections.
• Undo one section at a time and apply the keratin hair mask carefully from root to tip with the help of your fingers or a brush. Repeat for all sections.
• Read the instructions on the hair mask. On an average, you need to leave this mask on for anywhere between 30-60 minutes.
• Once this time is over, divide your hair into 4 large sections and run a blow dryer on one section at a time till the hair is roughly 75% dry.
• After this, wash off the hair mask thoroughly with a sulfate-free keratin shampoo.
• Once dry, again divide into 16 small sections as mentioned above. Run each section through a ceramic flat iron.

How to do Keratin Treatment at Home Naturally?
These days, most people are skeptical about putting their hair through treatments with chemical products and exposure to so much heat. Although Do It Yourself (DIY) or natural homemade hair masks might not be as effective as salon keratin treatments, they help replenish protein in hair to a great extent, however, their effect lasts for few days.
Here are a few DIY protein hair mask recipes that you can prepare easily at home and use a few times a month:

1) Egg, Almond Oil, & Honey Mask
This highly protein-rich mask works wonder on dull and damaged hair. Honey is a natural conditioner and eggs are rich in proteins & fatty acids. Natural oils are rich in essential vitamins. These three ingredients together lock moisture into the hair, and result in thicker, longer, & smoother hair.
In a bowl, mix 1 egg with the yolk, 1 tbsp. almond oil, & 1 tsp. honey. Mix well and apply all over the hair. Wash off after 30 minutes with lukewarm water, followed up with a mild sulfate-free shampoo. This treatment can be done once a week.

2) Banana & Olive Oil Hair Mask
This mask is very easy to prepare and can be used as often as desired. All you need is 1-2 ripe bananas depending upon the length of your hair and 1 tbsp. of olive oil.
Combine both ingredients and blend in a blender to remove all the clumps in the banana. Apply this mask from root to tip and leave on for 45 minutes. Wash with a mild shampoo.
Banana is rich in amino acids, which help restore protein loss in hair. Olive oil is rich in vitamins E & K as well as monounsaturated fats. A combination of these two ingredients provides deep conditioning of hair and the prevention of split ends.

3) Egg, Yogurt, & Cream Hair Mask
This is a highly protein-packed mask that coats the hair strands with protein and, at the same, time, ensures the effective cleansing of the scalp without disturbing its natural ph.
Mix together 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp. cream, and 1 tbsp. yogurt and apply on the hair from root to tip. Leave on for one hour and wash off first with cold water, followed by a mild sulfate-free shampoo. This hair mask can be used once a week.
These are some natural hair masks that almost match up to keratin treatment as they replenish protein in your hair and scalp. Do comment below and let us know which of these hair masks you tried at home and your experience with the same. We would love to hear from you :) In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy, and stay beautiful!