How many hair product advertisements have you seen that promise to repair damaged hair?
It seems like every shampoo commercial on television incorporates some scientific animation of split ends being re-bonded and strengthened as a result of product use. Obviously, I’m not the only one who would like to repair hair damage… But I’m not sold on the products I see on TV.
B
ecause you can’t repair split ends, can you? My hairdresser told me that the only way to get rid of split ends is to cut them off. He said that once the damage was done, it was irreversible.
So which is it? A simple shampoo can fix my split ends, or do I need to chop my hair?
It turns out that the answer is yes, a hair product can fix split ends. But let me qualify that statement: only very specific products will do the trick (and probably not the ones that you see advertised in magazines or on TV).
It’s not a particular brand or a new type of product, but rather one, little ingredient that makes all the difference.
You might have guessed what the secret ingredient is: functional keratin.
We already know that functional keratin can do some amazing things, but did you know that repairing damaged hair is one of them?
The way it works is simple, but first, a little background…
What exactly is hair damage?
You’re probably aware of the things that can cause hair damage… Heat from styling implements like hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers… Chemicals found in the developer for hi-lift hair color and bleach, perms, relaxers, and harsh straightening systems… Friction from brushing, hair ties and rubbing against fabric… It’s a long and daunting list. But how exactly do these things damage your hair?
Hair damage is essentially the degradation of the proteins that make up the outer cuticle layer of the hair. The cuticle can be thought of as a protective layer around the cortex (the inner core) of the hair.
This protective layer is made up of keratin protein cells that fit together a bit like scales: the cells overlap to create a waterproof and airtight barrier. Damage occurs when something damages the “scales” causing them to lift and separate.
When the cuticle in damaged, the cortex is left unprotected and is then damaged by heat, chemicals and friction. The cortex is also made up of keratin proteins that give your hair its strength and structure. The proteins in the cortex aren’t scaly, but more like a rope (did you know that keratins come in different families for different forms and functions?). When the rope is exposed to heat, chemicals and friction, it started to rip and fray.
And now you have hair damage on the inside and out. Bummer.
How can keratin fix this?
Since the cause of damage is damaged keratin, real keratin is the only thing that can actually repair damage.
When you use a hair product containing functional keratin proteins, you are effectively replacing the missing and damaged keratin from your hair. As long as the keratin in your product shares the form, sequence (and therefore function) of the natural keratin, it will work just like your own keratin does and will patch up the frayed cortex and smooth out those ruffled protein scales.
U gave me hope. I have Holes in middle of hair strands… Do u know why? Im natural and no heat.
Holes in your hair strands can be caused by chemical treatment, such as excessive bleach or too much heat treatment. However, if you have not used harsh treatments on your hair then you have may hair with naturally occurring holes, or porous areas, called medulla. This occur in all hair, but some hair has more medulla than others. A diagram of what this looks like is given here, http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.co.nz/2010/05/chemistry-of-your-hair-hair-strand.html and there is a very brief description here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medulla_(hair). If your holes are due to chemical treatment, then a hair rescue treatment with Replicine Functional Keratin will be very helpful in returning your hair to its original state. If your hair has large areas of medulla then treatments are less likely to have a significant effect.
I have had a keune chemical keratin treatment this week which has ruined my hair as the chemicals reacted to the previous keratin silicone based product. I have contacted Keraplast who are trying to get a hold of the Hair Rescue in Australia, i read about this on your website, and this is my last option, will keep you posted…
I promised to give reports on the progress of my hair after the Rescue treatments. A litlle over a month later, I am happy to update that I have had 4 in salon Rescue treatments in total and each time the hair is gettign better & better. I was faced with the possibility of having to cut all my hair as it was damaged to within 2″ from my scalp from a Smoothing treatment (sold to me as a Keratin treatment but actually a Japanese straightening treatment which should have gone nowhere near my bleached hair) so be careful!!. Thanks to Hair Rescue I have been able to keep my hair, with regular Hair Rescue treatments, good keratin based aftercare prodcuts, and regular trimming, the hair is finally coming back to life again.
There is a brand of product only cosmetologist can go buy, but walmart is a supplier, it’s called “it’s a ten” I am a frequent color changer and this stuff makes my hair feel amazing, it’s helped with damage, dryness, heat, and each product does something different for your hair but almost every product has keratin in it, I swear by this brand
“It’s a ten” sounds like a great line. There are lots of good ingredients in the “it’s a ten” products that will provide a good boost to how your hair feels. The keratin in them is in the form of either “keratin amino acids” or “hydrolyzed keratin”, this means that it is keratin that has been chopped up into small fragments in order to make it soluble so it will go into the product. Unfortunately this also takes away a lot of the good function that the keratin can perform, such as repair. More advanced formulas are using Replicine Functional Keratin which contains intact keratin components (look for “keratin” and “oxidized keratin” on the labels). This leads to durable repair, a more long term boost for your hair and takes the keratin performance to a whole new level.
I have crazy damaged hair, so bad its rubber band like and is breaking off, I don’t wanna get it cut off cause it’ll be way short if I do, So will Keratin help it?
Keratin can help to repair severely damaged hair, if it is the right sort of keratin. Hair Rescue with Replicine Functional Keratin contains intact keratin proteins matched to the keratin in your hair. This means that the Replicine keratin can bind to the damaged keratin in your hair and repair it. This is a salon treatment so depending on where you live there may be a salon close to you that will be able to do the treatment. People with very damaged hair have reported very good results, see for example http://www.keratinquestions.com/can-hair-be-repaired-by-keratin/. Many other treatments contain only hydrolyzed keratin, which does not have enough structure or function to provide genuine repair inside the fibre, whereas Replicine can achieve this.
What about the organix ginger line with keratin in it, will it help repair?
Oranix Ginger is a nice formulation with several nice natural materials. However the keratin it contains is hydrolyzed keratin and so it is limited in how much it can actually repair the hair. Hydrolyzed keratin is often found in hair care products, but unfortunately this is a chopped up and damaged form of keratin that is so far removed from the keratin in your hair that it can’t really bind well to it and repair damage. Replicine Functional Keratin is the only fully intact keratin protein that can bind to and repair damaged keratin inside hair fibers. Look for products or treatments that use Replicine Functional Keratin.
and Can you use the Keratin products every day? I’ve heard it will damage your hair even more if used everyday. Will keratin make your hair fall out? I’ve heard that too
If a keratin product is a “wash and care” type product, like a shampoo, conditioner, styling product or similar then it certainly can be used everyday. The keratin itself is not going to cause any damage or problem. Your hair is made of keratin, so there is not much bad it can do. Most keratin treatments, the type you might get in a salon, or try at home, to make your hair straight contain other chemicals that are added to make you hair straight in a durable way. These extra chemicals are often damaging to your hair, and can cause it to be weaker and break easier, even if it looks nice and shiny for a short time. It is not actually the keratin in the keratin treatments that is causing the problem, but the chemicals that get added that react with the hair. If these treatments are done too often that will cause damage to your hair.
Hopefully you can help, i have heat damage. i’m natural and i straightened my hair 3 weeks ago. Whenever i straighten my hair, it usually takes a while to revert without any damage and i only straighten about 4 times a year if that. this time was different, i last week i conditioned and washed my hair and noticed that my ends were wavy and straight (about 2-3 in.) and the rest was curly. i deep conditioned and did a few minor protein treatments that whole week. i noticed a big difference after but the front of my hair is completely damaged, even the roots
will keratin help rebuild the bond? i’ve already cut some hair off.
For substantial damage, such as heat damage, straightening or chemical treatments, then Hair Rescue with Replicine Functional Keratin is the ideal treatment. The unique keratin in the treatment binds to the damaged keratin inside the fiber restoring the original structure and so returning the strength and condition. Not many salons have it yet, so depending on where you are it may or may not be easy to get. What is your location?
Do you all think that Walmart is carrying the authentic Keratin products? I am uncertain, but have been using them from Walmart because the shampoo/conditioner is cheaper and it seems fine. When I called Keratin direct they said it was “not a guarantee that it was the actual Keratin product:” so I am confused. HELP!!
Which keratin products are you referring to? There are many products that say keratin on the label but because they are for your hair (that is made of keratin), then they are really talking about being good for your keratin, and they may not actually have keratin in them. What you want to look for is the ingredients list on the back. This should have either hydrolyzed keratin, keratin or oxidized keratin listed. If it has keratin or oxidized keratin listed, then it is much more likely to be effective. You tend to get products with keratin or oxidized keratin in salons more than Walmart. They are more expensive but much more effective.
I have horribly damaged hair, I’m frequently dying and bleaching my hair, i blow dry and straighten my hair daily and its in terrible shape, I have heard about the keratin treatments and how they repair damaged hair and reduce the need for straightening, so I’m looking into giving it a shot although my biggest concern is where to go to get my keratin treatment, how do i know that I’m getting my moneys worth and that my hair is in the best possible care?
Most keratin treatments contain chemicals that work inside each hair fiber to lock them straight. While they make hair straight, if done too many times that can damage the hair structure. To repair your hair, Hair Rescue with Replicine Functional Keratin is a specialist keratin treatment aimed at repair. Most keratin treatments use chemical agents to make your hair straight or smooth, and it sounds like that is not what you need to get your hair restored to how it used to feel. Here is a review of someone who has used a Replicine Functional Keratin treatment https://www.beautyheaven.com.au/hair/salon-treatments/35298-bhavetm-rescue, and you can also find more details here http://www.keraplast.com/hair-rescue
hi , i ve done the biggest mistake of my life, i ve put hydrogen peroxide to my virgin hair, never dye it before, i ve heard that lighten hair, i did it for four days as recommended , the result was terrible my beautiful natural hair color,(dark blonde)has turned to a very dark brown or orange or may be red.., i m crying every time i see my self in the mirror, and i remember how my color was and how it is now, i don t wanna dye my hair,specially that my scalp hurt and it feels like burned,i ve done the keratin before like exactly a month ago before i used the hydrogen peroxide,should i reapply it again to repair some of the damage and do you know if my color will comeback to my hair one day??pls help me i feel hopeless and so depressed coz of this…my hair isso dry and damaged.
The right sort of keratin treatment will help repair your hair so it feels better, but it will not effect the color. Unfortunately peroxide permanently changes the color so the only way to change it again is to put more color in, or wait for the natural color to grow back. Adding new color would be best done by a salon professional so the color is best matched to your natural color. To repair your hair, Hair Rescue with Replicine Functional Keratin is a specialist keratin treatment aimed at repair. Most keratin treatments use chemical agents to make your hair straight or smooth, and it sounds like that is not what you need to get your hair restored to how it used to feel. Here is a review of someone who has used a Replicine Functional Keratin treatment https://www.beautyheaven.com.au/hair/salon-treatments/35298-bhavetm-rescue
I just bought a starter kit of Pantenes Pro-V Expert Collection Advanced+ Keratin Repair.
It includes the Shampoo/ Conditoner and Split End Fusing Serum.
Have you ever used or heard of this product? Do you think it will actually wok or was this a waste of money?? I have very fine and thin hair it’s pretty damaged but I couldn’t convince myself to cut all 3-4inches of dead/dying hair off so I only had 1 trimmed off. Do you think this product with restore the rest of my poor hair?
Thanks!
-Brittnee
Unfortunately, as with many of the mass market brands, pantene pro-v expert collection is aimed at keratin repair, and making the keratin in your hair better, but it doesn’t actually contain any keratin at all. It may provide a short term effect that feels good for a short time, but without an active form of keratin that can actually repair the part of your split ends that are damaged it is unlikely to provide substantial benefit. You may be better to look for repairing products with active forms of keratin that can rebuild the part of your hair that is damaged. Replicine Functional Keratin is the only genuinely active keratin on the market currently.
Help! I am addicted to Keratin treatments – specifically Keratin Complex Express Blowouts. The last time I got the full (wait 72 hours to wash) Keratin Complex treatment was last March. Since then I have done 5 Express Blowouts. 2 of the blowouts (including my most recent) did not go as well as they usually do. This last time my hair was glued to my head, had NO life, strength – it was so limp it was like non-hair, more web-like. This treatment was done January 2nd of this year. Since then because I asked and listened to anyone that would give advice I’ve done everything from trying to wash it out by using clarifying/normalizing shampoos and continuing to use keratin based products (shampoo, cond, intenserx, infusion, straight day – you name it). MY HAIR STILL DOES NOT FEEL “NORMAL” like it usually does after keratin treatmenmt goes well. WHAT DO I DO?!?! What is the solution to my problem?!?! I want that nice, smooth, shiny, easy to blowout hair that keratin usually provides. Peeople are telling me to abstain from the p[roduct suggesting I have a protein overload – is that possible?!?! I am MISERABLE and just want my hair to feel like HAIR! Did I mention my ends dont look so great either? What do I do?? Do I do another Keratin Complex Express Blowout in hopes that is DOES fix my problem or do I leave it alone (wahhhhhh) and hope it clears up on its own?? HOW SOON IS TOO SOON FOR ANOTHER TREATMENT AND HOW COULD SOMEONE GET “TOO MUCH PROTEIN” IN THEIR HAIR? Help. :/
Many keratin treatments for straightening and smoothing contain a variety of chemicals that can damage the hair if the process is not done very well. They can also be hazardous to your health. Your description sounds like too much heat and processing during the express blowout caused damage to your hair. As the chemicals in the treatments work on the inside of each fibre to lock them straight it is possible to do too much, and bind the chemicals into the hair so much that it is rigid and looses some of its natural feel. It is not the protein that is doing this but the additional chemicals used for straightening. A repair treatment that would be worthwhile to consider is Hair Rescue with Replicine Functional Keratin. This is a keratin treatment to repair your hair, not straighten it, so it should rebuild the damaged keratin inside each hair fiber and bring back the more natural feel you are seeking.
I colored my hair then a week later i relaxed it at hime now it is fried really bad . Its breaking and falling off its really nappy and tough. Will keritan help my burned hair or is it going to fall off untill iam bald because its really fried and damaged
Hair relaxing can be really hard on hair, it sounds like you have a lot of damage. Keratin can help with repair if it is the right sort of keratin. Hair Rescue Treatment with Replicine Functional Keratin is an intensive repair process that can rebuild the damaged hair structure inside the fiber due to the structure of the keratin in Replicine binding well to the hair structure and repairing it. That would be the best thing to try. Other products that say they are keratin treatments are usually trying to make hair straight or smooth, and it sounds like for you that may only make things worse. Find a salon near you that can do a Hair Rescue Treatment with Replicine Functional Keratin.
IVE STARTE TO USE WEN SGAMPOO AND CONDITIONER ALL IN ONE FIRST WEEK IN NOV 2012.I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE LOTS OF HAILOSS. MY STYLIST SAID IT WAS DUE TO FALL WEATHER AND TO IGNORE.
WENT TO HER AT CHRISTMAS STILL HAIR FALLING. THEN A CLUMP CAME OUT FROM BACK AT NECK ABOUT SIZE OF A NICKEL FROM ROOT TO END. I FREAKED. LOOKED CLOSELY AND SAW HAIR SPLIT FROM TIP TO ALMOST TOP OF HEAD. AND RED RASH IN SAME AREA. I CUT OFF 2 1/2 INCHES BUT A FRIZZY MESS STILL. MY HAIR WAS STRAIGHT
AND BEAUTIFUL. NOW LOST 1/2 OF IT AND WHATEVERS LEFT IS A FRIZZY MESS. WILL REPLICINE FUNCTIONAL KERATIN HELP AND IF SO WHERE CAN I GO TO HAVE IT DONE. ZIP CODE 10979 IN NEW YORK.
It sounds like there is more than just hair damage happening for you, do you regularly straighten, bleach, color or dye your hair as well?. Do you see the same effect with other products?. Replicine Functional Keratin may help, but if there is some sort of reaction to one of your regular products occurring then you should consider using different products or seeing a medical professional.
i would like to get this product in
hi, my hair was overprocesed, it felt gummy when it was wet for a while. then i bought biolage keratindose. my hair doesnt feel gummy anymore. but my hair still feels dry, and its breaking a little, and its also falling out a bit. please help! what should i do? should i stop using the keratin shampoo im scared my hair will feel gummy again when its wet.
You hair sounds like it needs some very intensive TLC! Has your hair has had a lot of alkali relaxation treatments? It will be quite a challenge to completely bring your hair back to a good state and you may need to allow the previous treatments to grown out before it will fully regain its health.
However you may like to try a Hair Rescue Treatment as an alternative treatment process to the ones that you are currently using. To give you some background information on the differences between Hair Rescue and the Biolage Keratindose shampoo that you are currently using here are some details of the products:
Biolage Keratindose advanced shampoo contains a L’Oreal developed and patented ingredient called Intra-Cylane as well as silk hydrolysed protein. The Intra-Cylane is a silicon-based crosslinking agent that is intended to help repair hair by building flexible links within the hair fiber structure. It is quite a small molecule so it can penetrate the hair well and then form a network within your hair on drying. The silk is a source of protein which can also penetrate hair. However, neither of these ingredients are actually Functional Keratin. What you describe indicates that your hair has lost its flexibility and extensibility, so it may be that the Keratindose is not the best option for your hair in its current state.
An alternative treatment that may help you – though may not completely restore your hair to full health is Hair Recue treatment. This contains actual keratin. It’s not Hydrolysed keratin and it is very close in form to the natural proteins within your hair as it is extracted from New Zealand Sheep wool. In scientific studies Hair Rescue Treatment has been shown to deliver 80% less hair breakage while 97% of people saw an improvement in the shine after hair rescue treatment.
The Hair Rescue Treatment is a versatile formulation which can also be used as a pre-color with 83% improvement in the evenness of the color and a 78% improvement of natural color tones!
You hair sounds like it needs some very intensive TLC! Has your hair had a lot of alkali relaxation treatments? It will be quite a challenge to completely bring your hair back to a good state and you may need to allow the previous treatments to grown out before it will fully regain its health.
However you may like to try a Hair Rescue Treatment as an alternative treatment process to the ones that you are currently using. To give you some background information on the differences between Hair Rescue and the Biolage Keratindose shampoo that you are currently using here are some details of the products:
Biolage Keratindose advanced shampoo contains a L’Oreal developed and patented ingredient called Intra-Cylane as well as silk hydrolysed protein. The Intra-Cylane is a silicon-based crosslinking agent that is intended to help repair hair by building flexible links within the hair fiber structure. It is quite a small molecule so it can penetrate the hair well and then form a network within your hair on drying. The silk is a source of protein which can also penetrate hair. However, neither of these ingredients are actually Functional Keratin. What you describe indicates that your hair has lost its flexibility and extensibility, so it may be that the Keratindose is not the best option for your hair in its current state.
An alternative treatment that may help you – though may not completely restore your hair to full health is Hair Recue treatment. This contains actual keratin. It’s not Hydrolysed keratin and it is very close in form to the natural proteins within your hair as it is extracted from New Zealand Sheep wool. In scientific studies Hair Rescue Treatment has been shown to deliver 80% less hair breakage while 97% of people saw an improvement in the shine after hair rescue treatment.
The Hair Rescue Treatment is a versatile formulation which can also be used as a pre-color with 83% improvement in the evenness of the color and a 78% improvement of natural color tones!
Keraplast would be able to direct you to a salon that use the Hair Rescue treatment if you contact them at http://www.keraplast.com/contact or 210 494 5596.