If you’ve ever dreamed of having smoother, frizz-free hair, chances are that you’ve heard of keratin hair treatments—or, at the very least, Brazilian blowouts. These smoothing hair treatments have been the secret magic recipes of salons for years and are known for their ability to make hair look straight, smooth, and shiny for up to six months. Sounds amazing, right? Well, there is a catch. The problem with some of these products is that they are loaded with chemicals. What kind of chemicals? Try formaldehyde (the same chemical used to embalm actual human remains!) and other strong alkalines that can do real long-term damage to your hair.
The good news is that there is a plethora of at-home smoothing treatments available on the market today, but are they safe and effective?
We answer this question, and the many other commonly asked inquiries for those considering an at-home or salon keratin treatment.