Frizz and dryness in hair seem the norm as the weather changes. Well, not for long because there are treatments out there that can turn the look of your hair around for the better. Here is what to know about keratin treatment and hair relaxing before you visit a permanent hair straightening salon.

What Are The Differences Between Keratin Treatment And Hair Relaxers?

The Treatment

First, you need to know what each treatment is. Keratin treatment and hair relaxing treatment may sound the same, but they’re worlds apart.

Keratin Treatment

This is treatment that is applied to freshly washed and dried hair. The treatment is what contains all of the magic stuff. This treatment breaks down frizz and makes the hair very smooth, straight, and healthy.

This usually contains a mix of keratin, a protein that is naturally good for the hair, and formaldehyde, which is meant to break the frizzy and very dry hair bonds. This chemical is also considered bad for health but in keratin treatment, very low levels of it are used

The treatment is left for about 30 to 40 minutes and then it is rinsed off. This step is optional, but a lot of salons also offer heat styling of the hair to fuse the treatment in place and let it do its work.

Hair Relaxing

A hair relaxing treatment is exactly what it sounds like. No, it’s not a massage, rather it is a permanent, chemical hair straightening treatment that relaxes even tightly coiled and dry hair. This treatment also contains certain chemicals that can break the bonds in your hair, but it also makes the hair look and feel lax and pin straight.

This treatment is best for curly or wavy hair, mainly because this is a treatment that actually straightens your hair and it is also permanent.

The Results

So, now you know what each treatment differs in. Now, you have to know about the results, because a lot of the time, people can get the treatments wrong and their results mixed up and you end up with a treatment that doesn’t even give your hair the results it needs.

Keratin Treatment

So, keratin treatment is not a hair straightening treatment per se. If you have curly and coily hair, then it will change your hair texture just barely or maybe even not at all. This is important to know because a lot of people think that keratin treatment straightens the hair. It doesn’t and it only makes hair look straighter if it is already naturally straight or a bit wavy.

If you want a treatment that completely straightens your hair, try hair relaxing and Japanese hair straightening.

Hair Relaxing

A hair relaxing treatment is specifically targeted at women with really coiled and twisted-up hair. Think of the curliest hair and that is the type of hair for which a hair relaxing treatment is perfect.

It is a straightening treatment and it makes the coils and curls in your hair less tight and more relaxed – hence the name. So, if you want to go for something to tame your unruly and curly hair, then this treatment is what you want to go for.

The Damage

This is another important factor to consider when you’re deciding on a treatment. Besides the hair type, the amount of damage a certain treatment does to the hair can be detrimental, so you need to know exactly what you’re going into.

Keratin Treatment

Keratin treatment, for the most part, is a safe hair treatment. It only damages hair that is already quite dry and unkempt. Why? Because it has formaldehyde in it.

People with sensitive and very irritated scalps need to stay away from this treatment because it will end up doing more bad than good for your hair and you don’t want that.

Hair Relaxing

Hair relaxing is just as damaging as any other hair straightening treatment. Aside from using potent chemicals to break down the hair bonds, straighteners are also used on the hair to fuse the treatment and make it long-lasting, which is great, but when it comes to damage – not so much.

So, it is important to take care of the hair after the treatment. And if you have sensitive skin, then avoid this treatment.

The Maintenance

After getting a treatment, it is only natural that you want it to last for as long as possible so that you don’t need to get your hair touched up every so often. For that, you need to care for your treated hair.

Keratin Treatment

When it comes to keratin treatment, it is advised not to wash your hair after the treatment. This is why it’s done before the fact. The reason why you should not wash your hair for one to three days after the fact is to let the treatment stay in the hair for as long as humanly possible. This will only make your hair look sleek and amazing.

Also, you might want to swap out your normal hair care products for damaged hair, because keratin treatment makes your hair go through the wringer.

Hair Relaxing

In hair relaxing treatment, the same methods are employed. You want to avoid washing the hair, but you also want to restore your hair’s dryness and damage.

After a relaxing treatment, your hair will be very dry and brittle, so in order to ensure that it doesn’t break or get more damaged, you want to moisturize and nourish your hair to bring it back to life.

The Price

This is also another very important thing to go over, because sure, you want to get a treatment done on the hair, but it shouldn’t be crazy expensive either.

Well, if you were eyeing a keratin treatment, then you will be sad to know that it is way more expensive than a hair relaxing treatment. Keratin treatment is quite recent and it is less damaging than relaxing treatment, so it’s only better that you bite the bullet and go for a treatment that won’t leave your hair in the dust.

Which Is Better For What Purpose?

This is the question that everyone seems to be asking. Well, the answer is not as straightforward and it can vary from person to person.

Keratin Treatment

If you want to go for frizz-free hair with minimal damage and good results, then keratin treatment is wonderful to go for. It is a treatment that will redefine your hair in the best way and it is going to leave your hair feeling super soft, sleek, and very healthy. But, remember that it won’t completely straighten your hair unless your hair texture already is straight or slightly wavy.

Hair Relaxing

If you want to straighten your coiled-up hair and want to make it look loose and less wavy, then you can go for a hair relaxing treatment. It is a treatment that is designed for women with super curly hair, so you know that you’ll get the best results.

Since it is a straightening treatment, you can expect a bit of damage, more than a keratin treatment, because it is more potent than others. If that’s something that bothers you, consult your hair specialist first. They will give you the best-suited opinion.

Conclusion

Keratin treatment and hair relaxing are two of the most common and popular hair straightening treatments out there. The former is considered semi-permanent while the later is permanent till your hair grow out. If you want to get a hair straightening treatment done or want to ask any questions, contact a keratin treatment salon Rockville.