Is there a Safe Keratin Smoothing Treatment?

Last Updated on January 3, 2023 by Gaga

Brazilian keratin treatment is one of the biggest innovations in the world of hair care. The treatment is extremely popular because it provides fabulous styling results that were never before possible. After a keratin treatment, hair remains smooth, glossy, and easy to handle for up to four months.

However, recent research has revealed that the majority of keratin treatment formulas available in today’s hair care market emit formaldehyde at toxic levels. Formaldehyde is a highly reactive hydrocarbon that has been linked to several health issues, including allergic reactions on the skin and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

While some product lines are labeled “formaldehyde-free”, they actually contain formaldehyde donors that emit formaldehyde as a gas when heated with a flat iron.

Safe Alternatives to Traditional Brazilian Keratin Treatments

A beautiful brunette woman with keratin straightened hair

Healthy Alternatives to Brazilian Keratin Treatments

While traditional keratin treatments remain widely available, new market research indicates that most consumers prefer safe and more flexible hair-styling options. There is a growing demand for safe keratin treatments, without toxic chemicals and dangerous side effects. Safe hair-smoothing treatments can revolutionize hair care while protecting stylists and clients and preserving the integrity of the hair. Some innovative companies have developed products that mimic the results of traditional keratin hair treatments without using harmful ingredients.

These new keratin-smoothing products are safe and effective alternatives to formaldehyde-based keratin treatments. They don’t emit toxic formaldehyde fumes and don’t require the use of special ventilation systems or masks. This new generation of keratin treatments delivers smoother, straighter, and healthier-looking hair, without any risks for the stylists or their clients. These safe treatments can even improve the health and the condition of the hair over time.

Additionally, new alternative treatments offer more flexibility to clients than traditional keratin treatments. A flat iron can be set on lower heat settings than with classic keratin treatments. There is no need for a three-day, water-free grace period after application. You can style your hair immediately after the treatment and go anywhere you choose. You can also choose to wear your hair curly, straight, or wavy.

a woman posing with partially straight and partially curly hair

1. Cezanne Perfect Finish Keratin Smoothing Treatment

Cezanne Perfect Finish is a 100% formaldehyde-free smoothing treatment that delivers similar results as formaldehyde-based keratin smoothing treatments but without the use of harmful ingredients. The treatment does not require special ventilation or wearing a mask in the working area.

Cezanne Perfect Finish uses a blend of botanical extracts, amino acids, vitamins, and proteins, including sericin – a protein created by silkworms, to straighten the hair from inside the shaft and restore hair’s luster and brilliance. Cezanne treatment reduces unwanted frizz and leaves your hair stronger, healthier, and more manageable, without turning it pin straight or flat.

The process includes three easy steps: After a standard wash and dry, the Perfect Finish Keratin Smoothing Treatment is applied and left to sit on the hair for 30 minutes. The hair is then blow-dried and flat ironed to seal the product in the hair.

Available only in salons, this treatment can be performed on any hair type and texture. The effects will last up to four months. You will enjoy several distinct advantages over common straightening methods:

  • You can leave the salon with whatever beautiful, style you want.
  • Your hair can still hold a curl if desired. You can even style hair with a curling iron immediately after the treatment.
  • Coloring can be performed on the same day (either before or after the treatment).
  • You can go right from the salon to the gym, swimming pool, or anywhere you choose.
  • There’s no inconvenient waiting period before you can wash your hair.
  • You can use pins or wear a ponytail or a bun.
attractive woman with shiny, keratin-treated hair

2. KeraGreen Keratin and Protein Hair System

KeraGreen Keratin and Protein Hair System is a non-toxic, formaldehyde-free keratin treatment designed to improve the health and beauty of the hair. It offers a similar or better result than formaldehyde-based formulas. The KeraGreen system provides soft, silky, shiny, and manageable hair for up to 3 months. This treatment can also help to treat hair loss.

This organic-derived formula won’t expose clients to any health risks through the use of harmful agents. The ingredients include keratin complex, hydrolyzed collagen, silk, L-Cysteine, and Vitamin B5, as well as 18 amino acids and proteins.

Here are some benefits of KeraGreen Keratin and Protein Hair System:

  • Natural and organic ingredients
  • Easy application procedure
  • Does not emit toxic fumes
  • Faster drying times with no residue
  • Does not irritate the scalp, so can be applied close to the roots
  • Eliminates frizz and softens curls
  • Adds shine
  • Seals in color 
  • Does not contain silicone
  • Helps to control hair loss

3. KERAPURE Smoothing Products

This keratin and amino acid-based smoothing treatment is another safe alternative to Brazilian Keratin Treatment, without toxic chemicals and dangerous side effects. KERAPURE smoothing products use natural agents to enhance the strength, shine, glossiness, and manageability of all hair types.
KERAPURE smoothing products combine gold peptides, keratin proteins, cross-linked amino acids, and exotic oils to penetrate through the hair cuticle to restructure and rebuild individual strands.

The vapors released by KERAPURE products have been tested by independent laboratories in enclosed environments and actual salon environments to reveal that there are no toxic levels of formaldehyde released at any point throughout the process.

4. Liquid Keratin 30-Day Straight Smooth & Long Treatment

Liquid Keratin’s 30-Day Treatment is an innovative, formaldehyde and aldehyde-free keratin smoothing system. The treatment is also free of all formaldehyde donors, sodium hydroxide, urea, thio, and guanidine.

Lately, Liquid Keratin has launched the new and improved Liquid Keratin 60-Day at-home treatment with results lasting up to 12 weeks.

5. Cysteine Hair Treatment

Cysteine Hair Treatment is the latest innovation in hair smoothing technology, which revitalizes and straightens your hair by infusing cysteine. Cysteine is an amino acid that is naturally occurring in the hair. Cysteine smoothing treatment is considered much safer for you and your hair than formaldehyde-based keratin treatments. The main active component in the formula is cysteine, but it can be combined with collagen, vitamins, and herbal extracts.

Cysteine treatment softens the curls, eliminates frizz, helps manage weak and coarse hair, and improves the overall condition of your locks.

A young woman with healthy, smooth hair

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About the author

Website | + posts

Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.

 

5 thoughts on “Is there a Safe Keratin Smoothing Treatment?”

  1. Liscio by Milbon makes a product that smooths the hair for 4 to 6 months. It’s a different technology than the Keratin treatments that are on the market today. It can be used for permanent hair straightening (thermal reconditioning) by using a stronger treatment and applying more heat. By using a weaker solution and adjusting a few more things, it can be used as a smoothing treatment that wears off in in 4 to 6 months. There is no formaldehyde in any form (hidden or not). It’s a wonderful treatment that works! -Blair in San Francisco

  2. It is my understanding that the Goldwell Karasilk treatment is all-natural and should also last 4 to 6 months. Has anyone else tried this?

    Cheers,

    Julia

  3. Yes. I have. It’s not totally natural like others I have read about but then again- ‘natural’ could be a buzzword, just like keratin is for marketing purposes. Kerasilk Keratin Smoothing Treatment (Goldwell). I have very curly frizzy hair (ringlets with much frizz that looks like natural perm after washing and not touching- but frizzy without mixture of products and twisting or crunching). I used to get professionally straightened decades ago(in a place where they call straightening a perm) like in Malcolm X’s movie. Hair is a natural blonde with highlights so very damaged. The Kerasilk smoothing treatment is not all-natural (unless sodium hydroxide is considered natural?) and uses Glyoxylic Acid (for the Control Shape Intense. (Depending on strength you get – there are 2 products a shaping product and in Medium & Intense) and a Smooth Product (for frizz) which has Hydrolyzed Keratin that is used together. It does use a flat iron to seal in but you don’t have to wait 2 days to wash hair (although I waited a week). My hair is very smooth and curls relaxed ALOT! You have to use the products to keep it lasting (they also have sodium hydroxide, hydrolized keratin, etc. in them) and are not sulfate-free but if they were- they wouldn’t work due to nature of ions, etc….I love it. My hair is shinier, healthier, and ends that needed cutting look amazing 2 weeks after, but still need cut for healthy hair. It hasn’t reduced frizz totally especially around the hairline but it has stayed frizz-free in rainy weather & hair is much silkier, smoother & curl is a bit relaxed, not defined as they claim but just limper after the second wash. After 1st wash, it was wavier and I’ve been using their after-products. I’ve never had any other straightening treatment done as I wouldn’t use formaldehyde, since youth. I’m looking forward to seeing how it works on my curl in the summer.

  4. I am confused ? You said it does contain formaldehyde or it does not ? I think you said if it does not contain it – it will not straighten and defrizz hair correct ?

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