Bust the keratin myth

An insight into hair smoothening

Curly hair and wavy hair are often in and out of fashion from time to time, but as far as those straight silky locks are concerned, they never phase out of fashion. Straight and silky hair is always visually appealing and it’s not just women; there are many takers among men too. It’s been commonly observed that men and women spend a lot of money on styling products, chemical treatments, blow-out prolonging straightening and expensive spa treatments designed to render perfectly smooth tresses. However, the harsh chemicals and the heated straightening irons, used over and over, damage the hair significantly. Moreover, the cost and the extensive maintenance routine may act as a further dampener. There are a number of hair smoothening products available in the market and consumers often fall prey to the advertising that offers them the “best at-home remedies” for silky smooth hair. But I’d suggest a natural way to get the desired smooth locks.

The buzzword is ‘keratin’

Keratin is one of the most durable proteins in nature and the main ingredient in the outer layer of hair. It smoothes, straightens and eliminates frizz. However, keratin treatments are temporary and the results last about six weeks. (The more often you wash, the more quickly hair returns to normal.) This kind of treatment is best for thick, curly, frizzy or coarse hair. Because it actually repairs hair, keratin treatments are also good for damaged or chemically treated hair (colored, permed, relaxed, highlighted or bleached). Keratin treatments are not intended for fine, straight or thin hair. However, there have been questions raised about the safety of keratin treatments. One must keep in mind, not all treatments are the same. Tests found dangerously high levels of formaldehyde in the Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT) brand, about 10 times higher than what is registered as safe. Having said that, some at-home 30-day hair-smoothing kits (like Liquid Keratin and Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy) use biformyl, also known as ethandial and glyoxal, to bond conditioners to the hair. This aldehyde is not classified as a carcinogen, but it has significant toxicological concerns, including skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation. However, you can enjoy the health results without the dangerous synthetics by fusing protein-rich foods into the hair. Try a blend of the following: Two tablespoons mayonnaise, One whole avocado, One tablespoon coconut oil and One tablespoon olive oil Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off. If mayo grosses you out, apply jojoba or argan oil to freshly washed hair overnight, and wash it off in the morning.

Asgar Saboo is a celebrity hairstylist