By now you probably know the good-guy ingredients you should be gravitating to for softer, smoother, less frizzy hair. Think: coconut oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, provitamin B5, argan oil, wheat protein and ceramides. But one ingredient that’s reached hero status among beauty fans is keratin, or more specifically, hydrolyzed keratin. In this blog post, we’ll answer everything you want to know about keratin, its hair-smoothing benefits and explore why it’s so popular as an ingredient, in everything from shampoo to leave-in treatments.
What is Keratin?
Keratin is a naturally occurring protein that makes up the structural foundation of our hair, nails, and skin. It acts as a protective shield against external factors such as UV rays, pollution, heat styling, and chemical treatments. When our hair’s natural keratin levels are depleted, it can lead to issues like frizz, breakage, and dullness. That’s where haircare products infused with keratin come to the rescue. Topically, keratin can be applied as a protein that helps strengthen hair to prevent breakage, heat damage, and frizz.
You’ll no doubt have heard of ‘keratin straightening’ or ‘keratin relaxing’, whereby a concentrated chemical formula is applied to the hair as a semi-permanent straightening treatment, to smooth and add shine to frizzy and curly types and help seal split ends. However this is actually typically not done with the use of keratin, but rather a formaldehyde derivative or glyoxylic acid, which is worked through the hair to ‘break’ its natural bonds and reseal them in a straighter position.
What Are the Benefits of Keratin for My Hair?
There are several benefits of keratin as an ingredient in your haircare routine, from strengthening hair, preventing breakage and heat damage, to giving it a soft and shiny, frizz-free look and feel.
Enhanced Strength and Resilience: Keratin-infused hair products help restore and strengthen the hair’s natural structure. Hydrolyzed keratin, a form of keratin that has been broken down into smaller particles, easily penetrates the hair shaft, reinforcing it from within, filling in the ‘gaps’, so to speak. This results in hair strands that are reinforced and hence less prone to damage, breakage, and split ends.
Frizz Control: If you struggle with frizzy hair, you’ll love the smoothing effects of keratin. By forming a protective coating on the hair’s surface, keratin reduces the impact of humidity, ensuring your hair stays sleek and manageable, even in adverse weather conditions.
Improved Elasticity: Keratin promotes hair flexibility and elasticity, leaving your strands more resistant to heat damage and breakage during styling. This means you can enjoy using your favourite heat tools without worrying about harming your hair.
Shine and Smoothness: One of the most noticeable benefits of using keratin-infused products is the incredible shine and silkiness they provide. Your hair will appear smoother, softer, and radiate a healthy lustre that will ensure more good hair days.
How Can I Incorporate Keratin Into My Routine?
Shampoo and Conditioner: Using a keratin-infused shampoo and conditioner as part of your daily haircare routine can help maintain your hair’s health and beauty. These products clean, hydrate, and fortify your strands, leaving you with gorgeous, resilient hair. Our REPAIR Shampoo and Conditioner both contain hydrolyzed keratin as an ingredient, and are especially designed for dry to damaged hair.
Leave-In Conditioner: A keratin-enriched leave-in conditioner provides ongoing protection and nourishment, keeping your hair soft, strong, and more manageable throughout the day. Our new REPAIR Leave-In Conditioner contains Keratin, along with Wheat Protein and natural oils such as Jojoba and Almond Oil, designed to be used after showering to lock in smoothness and shine and help tame frizz.
Dry Shampoo: It might not seem like a typical ingredient for dry shampoo, but Keratin-infused dry shampoo is a game-changer for refreshing your hair between washes. It not only absorbs excess oil but also adds a boost of body and shine. Our ORIGINAL Dry Shampoo and BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo both contain this hero ingredient for added shine plus protection from environmental factors.
Keratin and hydrolyzed keratin are truly wonder ingredients for your daily hair routine. With their ability to strengthen, protect, and beautify your hair, products containing this miraculous ingredient are a must-have for anyone seeking that coveted salon-quality look every day.
