Keratin Treatments vs Relaxers
Hey my beauties, I recently had a conversation with a friend about the difference between keratin treatements and relaxers. I want to break down the difference between the two and who would benefit the most from one or the other. Both options have been in the hot seat at one time or another in regards to alleged “health risks”. However, I wil say that as a professional I do my due diligence to ensure that the brands I use are regulated and as healthy as possible when it comes to safe use and effects on the hair and scalp.
I did a deep dive on relaxers on this blog post a few posts back if you’d like to go back and read all about that. Just to reiterate though, a relaxer goes into the inner most parts of the hair structure, known as the cortex, and breaks down the bond responsible for maintaining your curls which are known as disulfide bonds. Now the problem in the past is that most users of relaxers, consumer and professionals alike, would break the disulfide bonds down until they completely separated. This is a BIG no-no, much like the process states in the name, we are meant to relax the curl not obliterate them. When this happens you run into a higher risk of breakage and dryness. When done properly, a relaxer can give great flexibility for most on the go and need a more convient option for manageability, growth and versatility. Clients that come to me can expect to get a relaxer touch up ever 6-12 weeks, although I have a few that stretch out their touch ups further out than that.
As for keratin treatments, I have to admit that I’m a bigger fan of this treatment over the relaxer for a few reasons but I will remain objective for this post. Keratin is the natural protein that exist in hair, skin and nails. Unlike the relaxer, the keratin treatment is temporary. Depending on the manufacturer it can last anywhere from 3-5 months. Over that period of time the treatment is gradually worn off the strand and you revert back to the state your hair was in prior to getting the keratin treatment. The keratin treatment provides temporarty smoothing/straightening to help fight againt frizz and humidity. Now much like the relaxer, consumers and professionals alike, abuse the use of the treatment and end up with permanent curl damage. This happens when they get their keratin treatment before it’s time actually get it done again. For my clients I usually make them wait until a month AFTER the “expiration date” of their keratin to get a new treatment. This will ensure that if you’re naturally curly you won’t damage your curls and your hair can still have the benefits of going back and forth between curly and straight.
So which one is best for you? Well, that depends! For my beauties that just want to take a break from their curls and don’t want a long term commitment of growing out a more permanent process, like the relaxer, the keratin is just right for you. If you’re a beauty that wants a permanent solution and have a more time restricted schedule then a relaxer will work best for you. Both options are great for gym hair, however, I will say that if you sweat in your head A LOT then the keratin will last about a month shorter than what the manufacturers promise. Lastly, there’s also an investment factor, keratin treatments in general cost more than relaxers so as a client you will have to sort out which one you will want to afford.
I hope this helped to clarify the difference between the two and should you have any questions about which one is best for you don’t hesitate to book an appointment for a consultation to see which one is a good fit for your wallet and lifestyle. Don’t forget to comment, share and subscribe! Until next time…SMOOCHES!!!