Hair care after keratin straightening

Modern techniques allow girls to successfully correct their hair structure. At the beginning of the 21st century, a number of preparations based on formaldehyde and plant keratin called Keratin Treatment, designed to treat hair, appeared in Brazil. Over time, the technology improved, became safe and spread to the West, and about 10 years ago to Russia. Today keratin treatment is associated with hair straightening.

Keratin straightening leaves hair strong, healthy and shiny. But the maintenance of the appearance and condition of the hairstyle will have to be monitored independently. In this article, we will consider the features of hair care after straightening, dwell on what not to do, and give useful recommendations for maintaining the beauty of your hair for several months.

Initially, the structure of healthy hair contains natural keratin - a natural protein that makes hair healthy, strong and shiny. If this protein is not enough, then it can be replenished thanks to the keratin straightening procedure, followed by the maintenance of the effect with special shampoos and balms. In the keratin straightening process, the hairdresser can use conventional and advanced nanokeratin.

• The first method is to apply liquid keratin to washed and dried hair, with keratin carefully enveloping each of them. After that, the strands are carefully straightened with a special iron.After straightening with ordinary keratin, the curls look perfectly straight, but the effect of their restoration is not achieved.
• The second method is based on the ability of nanokeratin particles to "implant" into damaged hair due to their tiny size. This is, first of all, a caring procedure. Nanokeratin makes hair strong and strong, as it fills every crack in the hair shaft. The further procedure for carrying out the procedure is similar to the first method.

In addition, there are two main types of keratin hair straightening.

• Brazilian. In the Brazilian straightening or Brazilian Keratine Treatment, formaldehyde is used, which negatively affects the human body. If the norm, which is safe for a person, is exceeded, it can provoke inflammatory processes and greatly disrupt the hydrobalance of the skin. However, when done correctly, Brazilian keratin straightening is safe and serves as a protective agent for hair from external factors. The hairstyle will not be affected by ultraviolet rays, wind, temperature drops. Hair will look straight and healthy for up to six months. With Brazilian straightening, the hair will have root volume and elasticity, frizz and tangling will disappear.

• American. American keratin straightening does not use formaldehyde. This method is safer, but it will be more expensive and also have a short-term effect. With good care, your hair will look perfect for up to 3 months. In addition, with American hair straightening, it will not be protected from negative external factors.

The average duration of the procedure is 3 hours. In the process of keratin straightening, there are no smoke, a specific smell and unpleasant sensations. The final result will not be affected by whether the hair is dyed or not. However, you should not dye your hair less than 2 weeks before keratin straightening. Keratin straightening has the following steps:

• before the procedure, the head is thoroughly washed so that there are no components of styling products left on the curls, and it is dried; most often, hair is washed directly in the salon;
• hair is combed with a comb with frequent small teeth;
• the most important step is applying liquid keratin for 40 minutes; to achieve a positive result, it must envelop each hair;
• after the expiration of time, the hair is thoroughly combed, dried with a hairdryer;
• it is necessary to "solder" the keratin, each strand is straightened with an iron, which is why the keratin is fixed on the hair - this is the longest stage.

Correct care in the first days becomes decisive and determines the duration of the salon effect. In addition to the sealed keratin, another part of it remains, which must be absorbed on its own. In the first 72 hours, you have the following goal: it is necessary to avoid breaking the strands that have undergone a difficult procedure, to avoid the return of curly strands. Therefore, in the first three days after keratin straightening, much is prohibited.

• Any effect of moisture on the hair. You can not wash your hair, visit the pool, sauna, get into the rain. Some people relax on visiting the pool, they advise to wear a cap, but moisture can seep under it, and the head can sweat from physical activity. You need to sleep in a well-ventilated area on natural pillowcases (preferably silk or satin) to prevent perspiration on your hair.
• Exposure to temperature. Do not use an iron, curling iron or other curling or straightening devices, or dry with a hairdryer.However, there is an exception to this rule, to which experts advise to resort only as a last resort: when a fracture is formed, it is necessary to walk over the damaged area with an iron to straighten it. Remember: the smaller the area is exposed to the temperature, the longer the keratin straightening effect will remain on the hair.
• Hairstyles and styling. For the first three days, refrain from tails, braids and other, even simple hairstyles. It is best not even to remove the strands behind the ears once again in order to avoid fractures, to which the curls that are not strong after the procedure are prone.
• Styling products, masks. For 72 hours, refrain from using any hair products, even natural ones.

After the first three days, you can return to your usual way of life, remembering three "no" after keratin straightening:

• no sodium sulfate;
• no sodium chloride;
• no aggressive bouffant during styling.

It is worth adhering to the following rules regarding hair care after keratin straightening:

• interaction with sodium sulfate and sodium chloride leads to the destruction of the keratin layer, in this regard, it is forbidden to swim in the pool without a cap, and after swimming in salty waters, you must thoroughly rinse your hair, since salt adversely affects the keratin coating;
• it is not recommended to make salt, honey and oil masks for hair;
• the head must be washed with gentle massaging movements;
• use a balm after washing;
• most likely, you will have to buy special products, since sulfates are present in almost all ordinary brands of shampoos; in specialized stores of professional cosmetics, you will find hair products after keratin straightening;
• it is better to buy shampoos containing keratin and wash your hair with them at least 2 times a week in order to maintain the optimal amount of keratin in the hair and prolong the life of the procedure;
• use masks regularly - you can buy a ready-made mask or make it based on gelatin, onion juice, eggs;
• before going out, we advise you to apply special sprays to your hair that neutralize the effects of external factors; they are especially relevant after American keratin straightening;
• you can do any hairstyle, but avoid too aggressive exposure, which will not benefit the curls even without keratin intervention, and after the procedure, the hair needs to be paid much more attention.

Hair care after keratin straightening involves the use of a large number of both store and folk remedies. Both should be considered.

It is worth paying attention to the following manufacturers of hair products after keratin straightening:

• Kerastase;
• Estel;
• Kapous;
• Schwarzkopf;
• Melvita;
• Matrix;
• Natura Siberica;
• Gliss Kur;
• L'Oreal.

The most famous sulfate-free shampoos include Matrix Biolage, Kapous Professional Caring Line Daily, Estel Otium. Separately in this series is the shampoo "Granny Agafia's Recipes", which will appeal to lovers of budget folk solutions.

To nourish hair with folk remedies, you can make special masks. To do this, you will need tools at hand that can be found in any kitchen or the nearest store, for example, gelatin, onions or tea. Here are some powerful recipes.

• Gelatin mask. Dilute the gelatin according to the recipe on the package in a water or milk bath until a homogeneous consistency and apply to hair for 20 minutes, then wash your hair with shampoo. To prevent dryness, egg yolk or thick warm sour cream can be driven into the mask.
• Tea mask. Brew strong green tea, add 1 teaspoon of sugar to it and apply to washed hair for 5 minutes, then rinse with warm running water. This mask works well for oily hair.
• Beer mask. Add one well-beaten yolk to one glass (250 ml) and mix thoroughly until smooth. Spread the mask evenly from roots to ends, leave for 20 minutes. Shampoo your hair.
• Onion mask. There are two varieties of this mask: from onion juice or onion skins.
  1. This mask will prevent hair loss, as it will invigorate the hair follicles. Mix 2 tablespoons of onion juice, 1 yolk and 1 tablespoon of brandy. Whisk the mixture until smooth and apply to hair for 15 minutes, paying special attention to the roots. Rinse off the mask with shampoo.
  2. Onion peel decoction mask will help avoid strong odors. Boil the onion skins over medium heat for 30 minutes. The resulting broth should be used to rinse the hair after each wash. In its effect, this mask can replace honey, which is prohibited with keratin-straightened hair.

• Egg mask. There are a huge number of variations of the egg hair mask, let's dwell on the simplest and most universal recipe from egg yolk. Separate the white and yolk, beat the yolk and apply to the hair roots. You can add ½ tablespoon of vitamin A or E to the mask. Please note that vitamin A is not recommended for use for more than a month and a half, as it can cause hypervitaminosis.

Quality commercial keratin masks include the following:

• Keratin Restore (Wella SP, Germany);
• Keratin Masque (Spa Pharma, Israel);
• Estel Keratin (Estel, Russia);
• Keratin Perfect Mix Powder (Lador, Korea).

In some sections of the article, we have already touched on some prohibitions after hair straightening with keratin, for example, sulfates and chlorides. Let's supplement and organize the list. So, after keratin hair straightening, the following is prohibited:

• the use of deep hair cleansing products (based on sulfates);
• the use of vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, oils;
• too frequent aggressive exposure to curling devices;
• abuse of tough aggressive fleece;
• hair coloring earlier than two weeks after keratin straightening;
• swimming in the pool without a cap.

Professionals recommend not contacting an inexperienced master with a lack of positive feedback. They advise you to pay attention to those reviews that are made after some time after the procedure. There you will see the result in time. Keratin straightening only from the side seems uncomplicated, but it has many nuances. A novice or non-certified home craftsman must strictly follow the protocol of execution and not forget about the consequences of a poorly performed procedure.

It is necessary to choose a good salon that will buy high-quality keratin with an acceptable formaldehyde content. Salon Keratin must be certified and officially approved for use in the country. A high-quality procedure will preserve disulfide compounds and prevent the formation of microcracks.

Stylists recommend using one line of hair care products, as their compositions complement each other and help to carry out comprehensive care at all stages and levels. If you want to get rid of the remains of procedural keratin in your hair, hairdressers advise you to wash it with salt products or remove with oil masks. Do not forget about additional hair care, as it becomes weakened after the loss of a significant part of the "core" component. Frequent application of nourishing masks, you can additionally drink a vitamin and mineral complex.

According to professionals, negative reviews of keratin hair straightening are mainly associated with clients' failure to comply with basic care requirements. Because of this, the effect is not fixed or disappears in a few weeks. If you decide on the procedure, weigh all the pros and cons, choose a suitable quiet time, when you do not have to rush or urgently do an unplanned professional styling. Even check the weather forecast if necessary. Don't be afraid to change, try new things, keep up with new trends.

How to care for your hair after the keratin straightening procedure, see below.