Do Keratin Treatments Damage Hair? Plus 7 Steps to Repair
Many associate keratin treatments with stronger, smoother, silkier locks – and it’s easy to see why. After all, keratin is a vital protein that plays a key role in the health of the hair. However, keratin treatment damage isn’t unheard of, and as some clients are finding, the short-term gain may lead to long-term side effects.
So, let’s explore how certain keratin treatments may impact hair if they’re not carried out with care, plus seven steps to help your client restore and repair vulnerable strands…
What is a Keratin Treatment?
First up, let’s talk about keratin itself. Keratin is a structural protein that’s naturally found in your hair, skin and nails, where it works hard to keep them strong, resilient and healthy. In fact, around 85% of hair is made up of keratin, and our bodies are constantly producing more and more of it to support, amongst other things, the hair growth cycle.
So you might assume a keratin treatment is all about building up strength in the hair. However, in most cases, the focus of the service is actually to straighten and smooth, with results that last for around three to six months. While there is keratin involved in these treatments, it’s also mixed with a host of other, much harsher chemicals. This solution is then sealed into strands through blow drying and flat ironing, so internal hair bonds are broken down and ‘reset’ into a smoother style.
Clients usually turn to keratin treatments when they want to keep frizz at bay. They’re great for blocking out humidity, making hair more manageable, and even speeding up blow dry time. However, while strands may look smoother and shinier after treatment, there can be side effects that appear soon after the frizz-defying effects fade away.
How Might a Keratin Treatment Damage Hair?
The keratin itself isn’t damaging to hair, but the excess heat and other chemicals involved in keratin treatments may leave your client’s locks vulnerable. And, as we know, chemical damage and heat damage can have a number of side effects. These include:
- Dryness and dullness.
- Split ends and hair breakage.
- High porosity (meaning the hair can’t retain moisture).
- Frizz and flyaways.
So, while the hair may look and feel less frizzy soon after treatment, over time and with repeat sessions, it can end up being harder to manage than ever before. The good news is, if a client comes to you with damaged hair from a keratin treatment, there are ways you can help them nurse their strands back to health.
Does Hair Go Back to Normal After a Keratin Treatment?
The smoother, sleeker results of a keratin treatment aren’t as long-lasting as relaxing services, so clients can expect their hair to return to its natural state around three to six months after treatment. However, if keratin treatment damage has occurred, it may take longer to get ‘back to normal’. Locks need time to recover, and a strict hair care routine is essential for restoring locks.
Depending on the level of damage your client experiences after a keratin treatment, fully repairing the hair can take a matter of weeks, or it could even take months. What’s important is that they stick to a regimen that features trusted, salon-level products. Think hairdresser-approved shampoos and leave-in treatments that offer instant nourishment.
So, How Do You Reverse Keratin Treatment Damage?
1. Take a Break from Keratin Treatments
Starting with the tricky part: you need to convince your client to take a break from keratin treatments. If they love the results of freshly treated locks, they might need a little extra encouragement. Instead, tell them to embrace at-home, leave-in treatments that truly care for their hair, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The lightweight mist delivers 12x smoother hair*, so if the frizz-busting effects of keratin treatments are the draw, they can still enjoy a silky finish. It also repairs hair damage in just 90 seconds** and reduces breakage by up to 99%*** – perfect for chemically damaged locks. All they need to do is mist it through clean, damp hair after washing, allow it to absorb for the full 90 seconds, then style as they usually would.
2. Wash with a Moisturizing Shampoo
Now is also the time for your client to break up with too-harsh shampoos. Many keratin treatments come with specific shampoos and conditioners, but once these have run out and the effects of the service have faded, they need a hydrating formula that veils compromised strands in deeply nourishing care. Recommend they try a reparative cleanser, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, which is packed with skincare-inspired ingredients to rebuild from the inside out. Inside, they’ll find AHA, which replenishes the internal hair shaft, plus a boost of Omega-9 that cares for the outer layer. It’s suitable for all hair types, so whether their locks are fine or coarse, ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo will address damage without weighing strands down.
3. Follow with a Deep Conditioner
Of all the hair wash day essentials your client’s damaged hair needs, a deep conditioner might be the most crucial. It’s going to put the moisture back in that chemicals and heat took out. Our favourite for treating all hair types is ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, which complements the Shampoo to continue the bond rebuilding process. Advise your client to squeeze excess water out of their clean hair before they apply it, then focus it on mid-lengths and ends, and allow it to absorb for up to five minutes. Hair will feel clean and fresh after rinsing, with a silky-smooth finish. To really boost the results, tell your client to wrap hair up in a warm towel while the Conditioner soaks in.
4. Turn Down the Tap
When it comes to fixing hair damaged by keratin treatments, even the smallest routine upgrades can make a difference. Not all clients know this, but washing hair with too-hot water can actually further strip damaged strands. Meanwhile, if the water is cold, shampoos and conditioners may not rinse out as thoroughly. So, tell your client to make sure the tap is always set to lukewarm on hair wash day – a small, but important change.
5. Embrace Heatless Styling
When hair has been damaged by high temperatures, the last thing your client wants to do is apply more heat. On the occasions they do, remind them to use EIMI Thermal Image to protect strands from root to tip. But, where possible, they should turn to gentle, heatless styling solutions, whether that means trying the #treatmentbun trend or wrapping locks up in heat-free curlers.
Whatever style they choose, priming and protecting strands with the right styling products is key. These are just some of our go-to picks for helping clients perfect their look heat-free…
For Beachy Waves: Try EIMI Ocean Spritz. This tousling salt spray boosts texture in locks, while also protecting hair from dehydration and UV damage. Your client can mist it into damp lengths and (very) gently scrunch, or even braid the hair and leave plaits in overnight for an ultra beachy look.
For Defined Curls: If your client has naturally curly hair and used keratin treatments to temper frizz, they will have also disrupted their curl pattern. So, introduce them to NutriCurls Curlixir Balm and the finger coiling technique. By delicately working in the balm, then wrapping and releasing curls around their finger, they can encourage ringlets to look bouncy once more.
For a Sleek Bun: AKA the #treatmentbun, this heatless style sees locks treated to a generous dose of a leave-in treatment, then secured into a nape-hugging, sleek bun while the product absorbs. ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue teams flawlessly with this look. Advise your client to stick to silky scrunchies and hair ties to seal their bun, as they won’t cause as much friction as elastics.
6. Protect Brittle Ends of Hair with an Oil
It’s the very ends of hair that take the brunt of keratin treatment damage, as they’ve been around the longest, and tend to be drier and finer than the roots and lengths. So, if the tips of your client’s hair are looking stressed and split, recommend they massage in a drop of hair oil to smooth, nourish and seal. Oil Reflections Luminous Smoothing Oil is enriched with macadamia seed and avocado oils for a glossy finish on even the most stressed-out ends.
7. Sleep with a Silk Pillowcase
Last but not least, your client may want to add a silk pillowcase to their bedtime routine. The fabric is less absorbent than cotton, so it won’t soak up all those nourishing leave-in treatments. It also reduces friction of keratin treatment damaged hair, so your client can go to bed knowing that their locks are well cared for.
Looking for more ways to help your client care for their hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring tips for every type and concern.
* When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
