keratin hair
Brazilian keratin hair straightening has become one of the most sought treatments for those wishing to keep hair in a straight position or relaxed state over a longer duration. Brazilian hair straightening started in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2003 and is today used by women around the globe, regardless of hair type.6 Some newer, more popular treatments include the Brazilian Blow Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy TM, Global Complex Treatment TM, and La Brasiliana Keratin Hair Treatment TM.
These products market to straighten and smooth naturally wavy hair, make naturally curly hair more manageable and frizz-free, and color and shine it. Many companies claim that keratin hair treatments will be less likely to damage hair than chemical relaxers and heated straighteners. Even further, marketers of many of these products claim that repeated use of the treatments leaves the hair healthier with longer-lasting straightening results.
A huge difference between keratin-straightening treatment and chemical relaxers is that it can be applied to already relaxed or color-treated hair. This means that chemical relaxers could cause over-processing if reapplied to already treated hair. Keratin treatments are particularly useful in hair that is damaged from weaves, braids, or other forms of hair processing, which is often viewed in women of African ancestry. Each professionally carried out Brazilian keratin remedy lasts 6 weeks to five months depending on the kind of product this is used, which is notably longer than heat-straightening methods.
The science behind Brazilian keratin treatment
Most Brazilian keratin hair treatment products are made, which is obtained through sheep-shorn wool. These micro-molecules penetrate the cortex portion of the hair quickly to react with the hair keratin. The hydrolyzed keratin is cross-linked to the hair by the cross-linking agent’s formaldehyde or its derivatives, formalin, or methylene glycol.
According to a study by Simpson and Crawshaw, which analyzed the reactivity of formaldehyde with wool keratin, it was shown that the amino acids of keratin, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, histidine, and the amide derivatives of aspartate and glutamate, are cross-linked by formaldehyde. Heating the hair through blow drying increases the ability of formaldehyde to react, or other forms of hair processing, which is often viewed in women of African ancestry in which enables it to cross-link the hydrolyzed in the solution to the natural keratin hair fibers. The use of the heated flat iron further enhances the cross-linking and seals the cuticle. Brazilian Blowout TM states that the capability to cross-link and seal the proteins in the cuticle accounts for the improved shine of the hair after treatment.
Hair weakness and Brazilian keratin treatment
A claim that the keratin hair treatment can strengthen hair after use makes up a significant alternative for women with damage caused by weathering or chemical treatment to the hair shaft. Curly or kinky hair, in women of African ancestry, exhibits an exceptionally high rate of hair fragility and a tendency toward more breakage compared with Caucasians and Asians. Numerous researches have addressed hair fragility and breakage in those of African origin. An important study concluded that increased hair fragility in African hair is not a result of trichothiodystrophy.
Studies with amino acid analysis, electrophoresis, and transmission electron microscopy in comparative analyses revealed that the concentration of sulfur-containing proteins in the hair shaft is identical for all races and similar distribution throughout the shaft of these proteins. This study indicates that hair breakage seen in women of African Ancestry is in part due to trauma and damage to the shaft rather than any structural differences within the hair shaft.
Concerns over Brazilian keratin treatments
It is employed as a preservative in medical laboratories, embalming fluid, sterilizers, resins to make adhesives and binders wood products, plastics, textiles, and cosmetics. Exposure to the formaldehyde gas released upon heating the keratin hair treatments leads to irritation and burning of the eyes, and of the throat, as concentrations are set higher than 0.1 parts per million. In most who are sensitive, allergic skin reaction occurs.
A subsequent study conducted by the National Cancer Institute that lasted until 2004 also reported a potential association between formaldehyde exposure, leukemia, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, multiple myeloma. The risk of cancer was related to increasing peak and average levels of exposure and the duration of exposure but not to cumulative exposure. Keratin treatments are particularly useful in hair that is damaged from weaves, braids, or other forms of hair processing, which is often viewed in women of African ancestry. There have additionally been numerous research that has determined an affiliation between formaldehyde publicity and nasopharyngeal cancer, even though this has been disputed through a couple of cohorts and case-manipulate research over the last decade.
Conclusion
In summary, Brazilian keratin hair treatments are quite popular products employed by women when they want straight hair. Women throughout the world used these products, and there was virtually no account of adverse side effects. The products are of interest to females because they cause a reduction in frizz seen in their curly or kinky hair and enhance the shine of their hair shafts, which, in turn, makes the hair have a healthier-looking appearance.
Most products applied by professionals working in a salon contain either formaldehyde or a derivative of the latter and are labeled as safe. Ignorant hairstylists with minimal information about the added substances, for example, might not effectively prevent themselves from formaldehyde exposure nor might their customers be able to ward it off properly. Until these products are thoroughly tested by an unbiased testing facility, women should only ask their hair stylist and product information coming from the manufacturers what type is being applied to their hair.
Because this information may not be entirely accurate, ingredients should be well researched to further reveal the safety of these products and the effect of the products on different hair types. The positive side to the Brazilian keratin treatments is that the cosmetic chemical market is making advances and recognizing what women want and need in newer strategies to manage their hair. This should propel the scientific study of hair shaft biology and chemistry to a point where women of all types can achieve a safe, cosmetically acceptable restructuring of the hair shaft for longer periods with less damage to the best hair shaft.