Chemical hair straightening and keratin treatment are popular hair straightening methods. But which option is better? Read this guide before visiting a keratin treatment salon.

Chemical Hair Straightening Vs. Keratin Treatment

Even though both treatments involve the use of chemicals, there are some critical differences between chemical hair straightening and keratin treatment. Let’s have them!

What It Is And What It Does?

Chemical Hair Straightening

Chemical hair straightening is a broader term. It means any hair straightening treatment that uses chemicals to permanently straighten hair. Major types of chemical hair straightening are: Japanese hair straightening (rebonding) and hair relaxing.

This is why chemical hair straightening treatments are more commonly known as permanent hair straightening treatments. This keeps them from being confused with other chemical treatments, like keratin treatment or Brazilian blowout, that are not permanent.

Chemical hair straightening changes the internal structure of the hair and makes it pin-straight, whether you have wavy, curly, or coily hair. However, most of the time, people with curly or coily hair get this treatment.

Keratin Treatment

It’s a semi-permanent hair smoothing treatment that is essentially for de-frizzing hair and making the hair more manageable. It involves smoothing the outer cuticle of hair, making hair smoother and shinier. As it doesn’t involve changing the internal structure of hair cuticles, you may not see a significant difference in your hair texture, even though your loose waves may look straighter and more manageable.

This treatment is also for anyone with straight, wavy, curly, or coily hair. But remember that it will make hair smooth and frizz-free, but won’t change the hair texture, especially if you have curly or coily hair. At best, it can make your hair a notch less wavy, curly, or coily.

So, if you like your curls and want to make your hair smooth, frizz-free, and manageable, keratin treatment is a good option.

How Much Time Does The Treatment Take?

Chemical Hair Straightening

Permanent straightening treatments, such as Japanese hair straightening and hair relaxing, can take from 3 to 8 hours. The final time depends on your hair length, thickness, and density of the hair.

Keratin Treatment

You may have to sit in a salon chair for as little as 2 hours for keratin treatment, as it can take from 2 to 4 hours in general. Similar to any other treatment, the time required for the treatment depends on the length, thickness, and density of your hair.

Longevity

Chemical Hair Straightening

Chemical hair straightening treatments are permanent. Your hair stays straight until the regrown hair takes its place. Usually, it can last for 6-8 months. However, as new hair grows from the roots, you may notice your natural hair texture, so you may have to touch up every 3-6 months if you want to keep the hair looking uniformly straight.

Keratin Treatment

Keratin treatment usually lasts for 3-6 months. As the hair is not permanently straightened in keratin treatment, the hair may gradually revert back to the natural texture over the period of a couple of months. If you intend to maintain the results, you should touch up the hair every 3-4 months.

Can You Get The Treatment On Dyed Hair Or Dye Hair After?

Chemical Hair Straightening

Hair dyeing is a chemical treatment and it can leave hair slightly damaged. Right after dyeing hair, a chemical hair straightening treatment or any hair straightening treatment can take a toll on the hair and lead to further damage.

So, applying chemical hair straightening to dyed hair is not recommended. If you want to get both treatments, then the best way is to get chemical hair straightening first, and then after 2 weeks and proper care, dye your hair. It’s better to dye your hair by visiting a balayage salon Potomac and avoiding DIY hair coloring.

Keratin Treatment

Keratin treatment is milder than chemical straightening treatments, so you can dye your hair and get keratin treatment safely in any order, only if you wait at least 2 weeks between the treatments.

If you get keratin treatment on dyed hair, it can still fade the color slightly, but there can also be more shine and smoothness to the hair.

Damage

Hair treatments can damage hair. So, which treatment is the least damaging? Chemical hair straightening or keratin treatment?

Chemical Hair Straightening

Any permanent hair straightening treatment like Japanese hair straightening and hair relaxing, is more damaging to the hair compared to semi-permanent hair smoothing treatments. This is because chemical hair straightening completely alters the hair structure. This can cause brittle, dry, and damaged hair. Plus, there can be hair thinning or loss of elasticity. Some people might also experience scalp irritation.

And if you choose to touch the roots every 3-6 months, this can weaken hair even more. To lower damage, firstly, you must maintain your hair properly after the treatment by following the aftercare instructions of your hairstylist. And secondly, it’s advised to never get a permanent hair straightening treatment more than twice a year.

Keratin Treatment

The damage caused by keratin treatment is much less when compared to permanent hair straightening treatments. However, you will still need to maintain your hair to keep it from getting dry and damaged, and also to extend the effects of the treatment.

In addition to that, the treatment includes a chemical, formaldehyde, that’s associated with eye, skin, and scalp irritation. The fumes could also cause respiratory problems. However, there are formaldehyde-free versions of keratin treatment you can use. But get confirmation from a stylist that a formaldehyde-free treatment doesn’t have the chemical or any other similar chemical with a different name.

Cost

Most permanent hair straightening treatments, like hair rebonding and relaxing, cost as much as double the cost of keratin treatment. This is the upfront cost.

If you want to keep your hair straight or smooth all year, the yearly cost of permanent hair straightening might be slightly less or equal to keratin treatment due to less frequent salon visits.

Transition Or Demarcation Line

How does hair transition from treated to natural hair and does it appear bad?

Chemical Hair Straightening

Permanent hair straightening treatments will always create a visible demarcation line between the treated, pin-straight hair and the new hair growth of the natural texture.

The reason is that the hair is straightened permanently, so it won’t change over time. Plus, the new hair will grow in its natural texture. So, the demarcation line will be clear and can be off-putting. It will look even more prominent if you have curly or coily natural hair.

If you don’t want the ugly demarcation line, you should consider root touchups every 3-6 months.

Keratin Treatment

The demarcation line is less prominent because of the semi-permanent nature of the treatment. Firstly, keratin treatment doesn’t make your hair super straight, so you still have your natural hair texture. Secondly, the treatment gradually fades. Therefore, as your new hair grows and the treatment fades, the demarcation line is less noticeable.

Conclusion

Chemical hair straightening has various types. They make hair pin-straight and are permanent, but can damage hair and the upfront cost is higher. Whereas keratin treatment only smoothens hair and is less damaging to the hair and the upfront cost is lower as well. Visit a Japanese hair straightening salon Potomac for consultation.