Will a Keratin Smoothing Treatment Damage my Hair?

Real talk - there's no such thing as a truly chemical-free hair straightening treatment.

For a keratin smoothing treatment to give you a shiny, straighter, frizz-free hair for months, it must contain formalin or another chemical in the same family.

It's important to know that a keratin smoothing treatment might damage your hair if not applied correctly or at the correct dosage.

So how do you get long lasting keratin straightened hair without damaging your locks in the process? Here's our advice.

Ask the right questions

Before you book in for your treatment, ask the salon what kind of products they use throughout the treatment and what their application process is.

A keratin smoothing treatment without chemicals is no more than a temporary moisturising technique and in most cases, your hair will be soaked with some form of formaldehyde.

You must be confident you're in the right hands. If used in excessive amounts, formaldehyde can cause dermatitis, hair loss, permanent skin sensitisation and irritation of the nose and eyes. 

Formaldehyde is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer as a chemical known to cause cancer in humans in circumstances where there is chronic high exposure.

Formaldehyde occurs naturally at low levels in many things, including plants, smoke and some foods. 

At low levels, it can be safely and legally used in cosmetics as a preservative. Free formaldehyde is permitted as a preservative ingredient in cosmetic hair products at concentrations up to 0.05 per cent. 

Our advice: ask for the exact concentration of the formaldehyde your keratin applier plans to use on their hair. Anything above 0.05% should be avoided as it's a serious risk to your health and theirs.

Try an alternative

More permanent straightening options like relaxers break your hair bonds using ingredients like ammonium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide.

While it creates permanent results, it can also cause an awkward growing-out phase with non-treated hair growing in curly or wavy formations at the roots.

There are formaldehyde-free keratin treatments (they use glyoxylic acid instead) but they're not quite as effective.

Limit the applications

Keratin smoothing treatments shouldn't be done more than three times a year.

Any more than 3 times a year and they can start to damage your hair.

Follow aftercare instructions carefully

Your keratin specialist will recommend a range of aftercare steps to follow to maintain your keratin smoothing treatment.

Ensure you follow these steps to avoid unnecessary damage in the days and months following your application.

By failing to follow the aftercare instructions, you risk damaging your hair.

Use the right products

Keratin smoothing treatments are going to keep your hair looking stunning without needing too much effort with styling each day.

This means that you won't have to use as many products like oils, gels and creams. Use a sulphate-free salon-grade shampoo and conditioner to gently wash your hair.

Applying chemicals to the hair always comes with a certain level of risk. But doing your homework (like you are now) and ensuring your keratin specialist is applying the correct product will save your beautiful hair from unnecessary damage.