The secret health dangers of keratin treatments

In Asia, the obsession over pin-straight hair never quite goes away. Sure, we’ve embraced seasons of appreciating soft, beautiful waves and beachy curls, but sleek, straight hair is something we don’t foresee ever going out of style on this side of the globe.

For those who wage a daily battle against frizzes and untamed curls, keratin treatments have become a hugely popular means to achieve semi-permanent frizz-free, sleek tresses without losing the hair’s natural curl.

However, what was once enthusiastically touted as a ‘miracle hair treatment’ is now at the centre of controversy over the implications of its chemical process. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) counts the treatment as a potential health hazard – largely due to the presence of ‘formaldehyde‘ and ‘methylene glycol‘. And get this: these are known carcinogens.

While there are benefits to the treatment (for one, if you want a treatment that softens your curls without permanently altering your hair texture, a keratin treatment could be a good fit), there are alarming effects to consider. Besides being linked to cancer, keratin treatments exposes you to a risk of allergic reactions, respiratory problems and hair breakages.

If you’re still an adamant keratin treatment loyalist however, we strongly recommend doing your research into the salon you’re getting it at. Skip out on that Groupon deal and book an appointment with a reputable salon instead and do your homework on the ingredients the salon uses in its keratin treatments.

After all, as much as we all want sleek hair a la Kim Kardashian, it is genuinely not worth the health risk that comes with it.

Sarah Khan 

Photo: Getty Images

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