If you consider the advantages of keratin, you might be tempted to have keratin treatment every month.
Perhaps you’ve heard that keratin treatments can have side effects if done too frequently, and you want to find out if a monthly routine isn’t wrong.
I also had to answer this question, leading me to make some exciting findings.
Here, I’ll share the appropriate time for keratin treatment and the monthly pros and cons.
Table of Contents
Can I Have Keratin Treatment Every Month?
No, it would be best if you didn’t have a keratin hair treatment every month.
Regardless of your hair type, whether you have curly hair, frizzy hair, bleached hair, dull hair, dry hair, unruly hair, or even damaged, you should not have keratin hair treatment every month.
Keratin treatment is a chemical process that involves the application of hair products that contain the essential hair protein – keratin, which is integral to understanding keratin origin as it is a naturally occurring protein in our hair, skin, and nails.
It also contains other chemical ingredients to improve hair health, giving you shiny and straight hair.
Some of the chemicals on the ingredient list include formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.
Although the chemical composition of keratin hair treatment products differs based on the brand of product you’re using; the protein keratin is a constant in any of these products.
The application process helps to seal the structural protein – keratin into hair follicles, making the hair shaft smoother and straighter, giving you a better hair texture with a shiny appearance (1) & (2).
If you have had a keratin hair treatment before, you will probably want to make it part of your regular hair beauty routine.
However, you must be aware that the effects of the chemical treatments your hair receives during a keratin treatment will last 3-6 months.
How long a keratin hair treatment lasts depends on the type of hair treatment that you get.
There are different types of keratin salon treatments, and each has its peculiarity regarding how long their effects last.
Later in this article, I’ll mention the different types of keratin chemical treatments with the time their effects on hair last so you can know exactly when to make your next appointment with your hairstylist.
What Happens When You Have Keratin Treatment Every Month?
Going for a keratin treatment every month can cause hair damage. The disadvantages of monthly keratin hair treatment, including potential keratin treatment side effects, are much more than the advantages.
It is important to be aware of these side effects, which can range from dryness and brittleness to more severe reactions, depending on individual sensitivity and the frequency of treatment, to make informed decisions about hair care.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of monthly keratin hair treatment.
Pros
- It makes your hair strands resilient and protected from environmental damage due to renewed keratin coating forming over them.
- If you have unmanageable hair, a monthly keratin treatment is an end-all solution to several hair health issues, including frizz, brittleness, etc.
- Monthly keratin hair treatment is not as damaging as daily heat styling. Heat setting can cause damage to the hair making the hair weak, and this can be risky.
- It helps to save blow-drying time.
Cons
- Monthly keratin hair treatment means increased exposure to formaldehyde which might cause an over-straightening hair problem leading to hair loss and hair breakage. The formaldehyde gas in keratin products is the active ingredient that helps to keep the hair cuticles straight.
- Long-term formaldehyde exposure can also affect your health, causing skin allergic reactions and respiratory conditions. This is one of the reasons keratin hair treatment must be done in a well-ventilated area.
The effects are more dangerous for pregnant women and nursing women.
According to research, altered pregnancy incidences may serve as a potential indicator of reproductive formaldehyde toxicity (3).
- Monthly keratin hair treatment will make your hair sleek and smooth; when this gets excessive, your hair volume might appear depleted.
- The anti-frizz effect of the treatment on your hair might get very intense, making it easy for your hair strands to become limp and greasy.
- A monthly treatment can make hair porous as the keratin hair treatment involves cycles of breaking hair bonds and resealing them.
- It can make your hair strands coarse. The coarse strands can result from the keratin coating that keeps forming over your hair, preventing moisture from getting into your core.
If you’re wondering about the frequency of keratin treatments, my article “Can I Do Keratin Treatment Every Month?” provides insights and guidelines to help you make an informed decision.
What is the Ideal Time for Keratin Treatment?
The ideal time for keratin treatment varies based on the specific type of keratin treatment that you’re having.
Each keratin treatment type is formulated with a unique hair product ingredient list, affecting when to do it.
Let’s look at the different types of keratin hair treatments and the duration of their effects.
1. Brazilian Blowout
A Brazilian blowout/Brazilian keratin treatment lasts up to three months. This means you should only do a Brazilian keratin treatment once every three months.
2. Japanese Keratin Treatment
This takes five months for the effects to last.
A Japanese keratin treatment should not be mistaken for a Japanese straightening, a permanent straightening procedure that employs chemical relaxers.
It is an alternative option for those with extra-sensitive hair who prefer formaldehyde-free treatments.
3. Keratin Express
The effects of this treatment last up to six weeks.
The Keratin Express treatment has the shortest duration, over one month.
You might have to wait an average of 4-5 months for the next appointment if you are considering a Japanese or Brazilian keratin treatment.
FAQs
What If I Want A Light Keratin Treatment Every Month Instead? Is This A Good Idea?
Can Too Much Keratin Damage Hair?
Which Is Better, Smoothing Or Keratin?
Conclusion
Keratin treatment every month is a big NO, at least for your hair health. Make sure you keep to the recommended time interval between each treatment appointment.
You should also talk to your hairstylist for specific advice based on your keratin treatment type.
How long after do you do keratin treatments? Let us know in the comment section!
Resources
1. Presland RB, Dale BA. Epithelial structural proteins of the skin and oral cavity: function in health and disease. Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine: An Official Publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists [Internet]. 2000;11:383–408. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11132762
2. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The Biology of Hair Follicles. Epstein FH, editor. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999;341:491–7.
3. Duong A, Steinmaus C, McHale CM, Vaughan CP, Zhang L. Reproductive and developmental toxicity of formaldehyde: a systematic review. Mutation Research [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2021 Aug 11];728:118–38. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21787879/
