What’s the Skinny On at Home Keratin Treatments for Longer Lasting Straight Hair?

At-home beauty and hair products have been popular and a booming business for years and for many it makes perfect sense to use them.  They are practical, less expensive than salon visits and with the right person applying the technique, you can look like you just came from a salon.

From hair dyes, to acrylic nails to relaxers; women have been using at-home kits on themselves and others for a less expensive way to be gorgeous. Smart?  Sure, if you know what you are doing. Dangerous? Sure, if you do not know what you are doing. It truly matters on who is doing it and their level of so-called expertise.

Many naturals are already doing many of their own hair treatments instead of going to pricey salons and I happen to be one of them. Denver is downright ridiculous with their salon prices and now that I am natural I am a tad bit squeamish about going just to anyone to get my hair done.

I trim my own hair, have my sister color it with the Shea Moisture* Hair Coloring System, and do not apply heat, so no worries on that. As a matter of fact, most of the naturals I know are DIYers now that they are natural so as they rock their Twistouts, Fros, crochet braids and straight styles, I know the vast majority of them are either doing it themselves or having a friend or family member do it.

With all that said it comes as no surprise that after the Keratin Smoothing treatments hit the market a few years ago, someone would be working on an at-home version.

The Keratin Smoothing treatments allow for curly, coily or kinky* hair to lay flat longer with a sleeker look and with more moisture. How does it work? 

Well, with the application of heat, some controversial ingredients and Keratin, these smoothing treatments can keep your straight hair straighter longer and without permanently altering the texture of your hair. Sounds a little too good to be true? Well, it depends on who you ask on how good they actually are.

The Brazilian Blowout has been in the news for quite a few years now and the biggest problems is its effect on the salon workers and the clients when applying it.

It originally had FORMALDEHYDE (a colorless pungent gas in solution) and when you heat up the hair to seal in the keratin, the mixture is aerosolized it creates a disturbing odor that would burn eyes, create breathing problems and headaches.

This became a serious problem with OSHA stepping in and trying to deal with all the complaints, sick workers and some clients.

“The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and several State OSHA programs are investigating questions and complaints from hair salon owners and workers about possible formaldehyde exposure from hair smoothing products.

Some of these products have been labeled as “formaldehyde-free…During Federal OSHA investigations, air tests showed formaldehyde at levels above OSHA’s limits in salons using Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, labeled “formaldehyde free,” and Brasil Cacau Cadiveu.” Source

Now in all fairness to the Brazilian Blowout, they have since cleaned up their act and created newer versions that were formaldehyde-free but the stigma is still around and many activist groups are still fighting the use of this treatment.

Despite all the negativity the treatment is still highly popular among women who feel their tresses are unruly or who just want a break from long straightening sessions and dry hair since this treatment claims to fix those issues.

Most of these treatments were being applied in pricy salons where clients would expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $800 but with the dangerous ingredients they could expect their keratin treatment to last up to 4 months.

Now, most of these treatments are formaldehyde-free and less expensive and they can be found at beauty supply stores for the DIYers.

As the popularity increases with the notion that they no longer are dangerous, more women are opting or the at-home keratin treatments for obvious reasons.  It seems there are more at-home keratin treatments than in the salons!  Here are a just a few:

Keratin Perfect

Ojon Super Sleek Hair Straightening Treatment

Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy

Keratin Earth Hair Straightening and Smoothing System

All of these systems boast of results that last for 30 days or around 16 washes and it makes sense since most experts feel that to get the longer results, formaldehyde would be a necessary component of the treatment.

Despite not using formaldehyde in these products and many others, there are still some skeptics as they feel the formaldehyde is being replaced with chemicals not has harmful as the former but can still irritate eyes and lungs and skin.

Ultimately the choice is yours and as there are several bloggers trying, liking, loving or even hating these treatments, it just shows that all should err on the side of caution but many are happy with it despite all the negativity surrounding them.

Bloggers who have tried them seem to find them easy to use; they follow the instructions, and overall seem pretty happy with the results. There are even women who opted for an at home brand with formaldehyde because they want the straight hair longer!

The take away is to be smart about what you are doing and know the risks. Take care of your tresses; if you choose to try the at-home treatments, limit other chemical treatments like texturizers and color.

So, have you tried one?  Would you try one?  Share below!