11 Facts You Should Know about Keratin Treatments for Your Hair ...

1. What is a Keratin Treatment?

Well, a Keratin treatment is actually a hair straightening treatment that can really cut down on frizz and curls. It will actually give your hair a sheen and shine, but remember, this is not permanent, so you will have to get it done about every 4 months. It's a great alternative to constantly straightening your hair every day! This is one fact about Keratin treatments that you might not have known if you didn't do your research! Remember girls, this is a chemical treatment, one that has been known to be dangerous to people with sensitive scalps, certain allergies, and so on, so before you take off to get one, you may want to continue to read below!

2. What is the Difference between Keratin and Japanese Straightening?

Japanese hair straightening treatments are a permanent change. They actually change the internal structure of your hair to remove all curls to create straight strands. These treatments may damage hair. Keratin hair treatments, on the other hand, only last three to six months. These treatments will work to straighten or soften curls, eliminate frizz, and can make hair healthier over time.

3. How Does the Treatment Work?

So, how does the treatment work? Well, this is actually one of the most important facts about Keratin treatments that you could ever learn! A keratin treatment is a formula used on the hair in order to make it straight and shiny! There are chemicals that you are going to have to deal with when you are going through a treatment like this. One of them is formaldehyde. Typically, if you are getting an authentic keratin treatment, it is going to contain a safe amount of formaldehyde. This chemical does have an odor and has been known to cause allergic reactions and health problems, so make sure that you are careful.

4. Are You Right for the Treatment?

So ladies, you are probably wondering if you are actually right for this type of treatment. If you have unruly hair that is super curly and all kinds of frizzy in the summer, then this could actually be the treatment option for you! As I mentioned above, formaldehyde is one of the chemicals that is typically used in these types of treatments. How much formaldehyde do you ask? Well, that all depends on the brand, but typically, if you are having this type of treatment done in a certified salon, it's going to be a safe amount.

5. Are the Treatments Safe?

One of the biggest facts about Keratin treatments that most women want to know is if it is safe or not. It can be hard to judge whether it is safe for everyone or not. There is a lot of controversy over whether or not you should actually invest your money in this particular treatment. Do you know why these treatments aren't considered completely safe? It is because of just how concentrated the chemicals are, especially formaldehyde. This type of chemical has been known to do medical harm and has been known to cause allergic reactions.

6. What's Your Hair Type?

One important fact about Keratin treatments that you have to consider is your hair type. Is your hair coarse and frizzy all of the time? Do you constantly have to straighten it to get it to feel beautiful and silky? This could be the ideal treatment for you! My hair is wavy and curly and in the summer, it's so frizzy, I can barely hair a brush through it! That's why I first got interested in learning about this type of treatment!

7. Which Treatment Will Work for You?

Did you know that there are actually many different types of keratin treatments out there? There is the Brazilian blow-out treatment, the Keratin complex treatment and even a Strawberry Keratin treatment. So which one is best for you? Well, you'll have to do the research and also consult with your stylist in order to find the best Keratin treatment that will work for you!

8. What Are the Benefits?

There are a lot of benefits when it comes to keratin treatments. If you have curly hair and spend a lot of time straightening your hair every day, or every few days, this could really change your life! Sounds dramatic, but it can save you so much time getting ready. Not only will you save time, but your hair won't be nearly as frizzy as it normally is. You'll be able to walk in humid or rainy without worrying about your hair poofing up!

9. Wait to Wash

Make sure that after you get your treatment done, you don't wash your hair for three or four days. This is to give the solution the time it takes to work and you don't want to risk washing it out before it's worked fully. After this time period has passed you should use sodium-sulfate-free shampoo to help maintain the treatment.

10. How Much Does It Cost?

These treatments can cost a significant amount of money. They, of course, are worth the money that you'll be spending because of the benefits, but if you're tight on money I would save up. They can ranges from about $250 to $400, and also the cost of the shampoos, conditioners, etc. after you have the treatment, to ensure best results.

11. Consult Your Stylist

Finally ladies, always keep your stylist in mind whenever you are looking to do a hair treatment like a Keratin treatment. After all, they would know best of what works for you and your hair. Also, make sure that they are certified to do a Keratin treatment, that way you know you are getting the best! Getting certified is extremely expensive for the salon, so if you see that the salon is advertising that they are certified, consult them and have them walk you through the process of getting this particular treatment. Bring up any concerns that you have!

Well ladies, there you have it – all of the facts about Keratin treatments that you could ever want! So girls, do you think that you'll end up getting a Keratin treatment? Do you think it is worth it? What other facts about Keratin treatments are out there that you should know? Share!

This article was written in collaboration with editor Lydia Sheehan.