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 people 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 you 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.

People 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 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 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 you 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 you 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 you 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 take a break from keratin treatments. If you love the results of freshly treated locks, you might need a little extra encouragement. Instead, embrace at-home, leave-in treatments that truly care for your 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 you to do is mist it through clean, damp hair after washing, allow it to absorb for the full 90 seconds, then style as usually.

2. WASH WITH A MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO

Now is also the time for you 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, you need a hydrating formula that veils compromised strands in deeply nourishing care. Try a reparative cleanser, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, which is packed with skincare-inspired ingredients to rebuild from the inside out. Inside, you’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 UP WITH A DEEP CONDITIONER

Of all the hair wash day essentials your 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 favorite for treating all hair types is ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner, which complements the Shampoo to continue the bond rebuilding process. Squeeze excess water out of you clean hair before you 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, 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 everybody knowd 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, 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 you want to do is apply more heat. On the occasions you do, 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 you choose, priming and protecting strands with the right styling products is key. These are just some of our go-to picks for helping you perfect your 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. You 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 you have naturally curly hair and used keratin treatments to temper frizz, you will have also disrupted your curl pattern. So, NutriCurls Curlixir Balm and the finger coiling technique. By delicately working in the balm, then wrapping and releasing curls around your finger, you 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. Stick to silky scrunchies and hair ties to seal your 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 hair are looking stressed and split, 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, you may want to add a silk pillowcase to your 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 you can go to bed knowing that your locks are well cared for.

Looking for more ways to help to care for your 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.