Why use keratin on curly hair?
A naturally more fragile hair fiber
Curly hair is distinguished by its spiral structure, which can sometimes be irregular, making the fiber more porous and prone to dehydration and breakage. The core of the hair is weakened and requires targeted support. This is where plant-based keratin comes in, a fundamental ingredient in the hair care routine for textured hair.
Plant-based keratin, your ally for curls without straightening them
Contrary to popular belief, keratin does not always mean straightening. Straightening treatments, such as Brazilian straightening, use aggressive chemical and thermal processes.
At Madame d'Alexis, we have made a completely different choice: we use a gentle, biomimetic plant-based keratin that can rebuild the hair fiber without altering the hair's natural shape.
The benefits of plant-based keratin on curly hair
Incorporated into sulfate- and silicone-free formulas, plant-based keratin offers:
- A shaping effect without stiffness
- Protection against external aggressions
- Natural shine, without weighing down curls
- Better maintenance of fiber flexibility and elasticity
It is no coincidence that we have chosen it as our flagship ingredient. It respects the nature of the hair, while giving it that extra strength, shine, and manageability that only a high-precision treatment can offer.
What are the effects of keratin on curly hair?
You have to experience it to understand it: after a plant-based keratin treatment, curly hair feels different to the touch. It retains its shape but becomes softer and more manageable. The effect is not dramatic in the artificial sense of the word; it is subtle, profound, and long-lasting.
At Madame d'Alexis, we believe that true beauty does not impose itself: it reveals itself. And that is precisely what plant-based keratin does for natural curls.
Visible benefits without altering the nature of the hair
- Strengthening the fiber: keratin fills microscopic gaps in the hair structure, limiting breakage without stiffening or distorting the curl.
- Shine and elasticity: by smoothing the cuticles, it increases light reflection and restores suppleness to the fiber, which is essential for the curl to regain its natural bounce.
- Definition and anti-frizz: hair is better defined, cleaner, better protected from humidity, without looking stiff or cardboard-like.
- Silky effect: no more rough, dry hair; the fiber becomes softer without losing volume or lightness.
Using keratin onnatural curls is not about trying to tame them, but rather to enhance them, just as one would preserve and beautify a rare fabric. That is the art of a well-formulated hair care product.
Does keratin remove curls? Let's separate fact from fiction.
The question comes up often, sometimes with palpable concern: does keratin remove curls?
The answer is nuanced and deserves to be formulated with precision. Because everything depends on the form in which it is used, the concentration of the active ingredient, and above all, the intention of the treatment.
A keratin treatment is not a straightening treatment.
Keratin treatments are too often confused with products enriched with plant-based keratin. The former—the famous Brazilian blowout—uses heat and chemicals to semi-permanently alter the structure of the hair. It relaxes, tames, and transforms.
The second one, which we chose at Madame d'Alexis, is not designed to smooth hair. It repairs, coats, and strengthens, while respecting the natural wave. A sulfate-free keratin shampoo, well formulated, will not relax your curls. It will simply make them clearer, shinier, and better defined.
Excess damages the fineness of the hair.
However, there is one caveat: too much keratin, or keratin that is poorly combined (often with occlusive silicones), can weigh down the hair fiber. Curls then lose their bounce and shine.
- Choose balanced formulas
- Avoid repeated applications without a break
- Opt for plant-based keratin, which is gentler and more biomimetic.
At Madame d'Alexis, each formula has been designed tohonor the nature of the hair, not to constrain it. Keratin, when chosen wisely, is an ally to curly and frizzy hair, not its enemy.
Are there any disadvantages to using keratin on curly hair?
The use ofkeratin on curly hair inspires both admiration and caution. And rightly so. Like any powerful active ingredient, its benefits depend above all on the quality of the formula and the frequency of use.
This is not an ingredient to be used lightly, especially when seeking to preserve the freedom and vitality of the curl.
When keratin loses its virtue
An excess of keratin—or repeated application—can have the opposite effect to that desired:
- Fiber stiffness: if too tightly coated, the curl becomes stiff and loses its bounce and flexibility.
- Hair saturation: when used in excess, keratin can weigh down and suffocate the hair fiber.
I myself experienced this mistake at a time when I was using multiple strengthening treatments without considering the cumulative impact. The result was hair that was shiny, but lacking in movement.
What must be avoided at all costs
- Formulas based on occlusive silicones, which trap keratin without allowing it to penetrate.
- Products containing harsh surfactants, often found in conventional shampoos.
What changes with plant-based keratin
Plant-based keratin, extracted from natural sources, offers biomimetic affinity with the fiber without adding excess weight. Combined with sulfate-free products, it guarantees measured, gentle effectiveness that respects curly hair.
This is the essence of Madame d'Alexis' philosophy: to enhance without altering, to strengthen without overwhelming. A balance that only a sophisticated formula can achieve.
How can keratin be incorporated into a hair care routine for curly hair?
Introducing keratin into a hair care routine for curly hair requires precision and intention. It's not about doing too much, too quickly. Keratin, even plant-based keratin, is a structural active ingredient. Used wisely, it becomes a valuable ally; used incorrectly, it can upset the balance of the hair fiber.
A ritual conceived as a composition
Each strand of hair is unique. Some are fine and fragile, others denser, sometimes porous, and often sensitive to damage. It is after repeated exposure to heat, coloring, a change of season, or simply a period of hair fatigue that keratin comes into its own.
Here's how to integrate it elegantly:
- A nourishing shampoo with plant-based keratin, sulfate-free, to strengthen without altering the shape.
- A natural keratin mask, to be applied once a week, to restore substance and soften the lengths.
- A protective keratin serum, applied as a finishing touch or before drying, to smooth the cuticle without stiffening the curl.
Find your rhythm, listen to your instincts
Some hair types will benefit from weekly application, while others will prefer less frequent use. It all depends on the level of dryness, how it feels to the touch, and the desired softness.
At Madame d'Alexis, we have designed each treatment to be just right. When properly integrated, plant-based keratin enhances curly hair without ever overpowering it. It acts not as a corrector, but as a revealer.
What Madame d'Alexis recommends for your curls
At Madame d'Alexis, we believe that caring for curly hair is an art. An art of balance, texture, and respect for the nature of the hair. Our approach is based on a simple conviction: to enhance the hair fiber without ever constraining it.
Keratin is therefore not a tool for transformation, but anatural treatment which, when used delicately, reveals the hair's most noble qualities.
A plant-based keratin with gentle cosmetic properties
We have made the exclusive choice of a plant-based keratin, extracted from wheat and corn proteins, with a biomimetic structure. It blends harmoniously with the hair fiber without ever suffocating it. It strengthens, smooths the cuticles, and protects, but does not alter the shape or lightness of the curl.
Formulas without compromise
All our products are formulated without sulfates, silicones, parabens, or added water. This conscious choice allows us to offer products of rare purity, highly concentrated in plant-based active ingredients, and perfectly tolerated, even by the most sensitive hair.
- The fortifying mask, rich in plant-based keratin, prebiotics, and cationic hyaluronic acid, deeply strengthens the hair fiber while respecting the natural elasticity of curls. It repairs without ever stiffening or weighing hair down.
- The day serum protects and beautifies. Thanks to its ultra-light texture, enriched with plant ceramides, heat-protective active ingredients, and jojoba oil, it tames the hair and prolongs hydration without ever compromising its natural movement.
A texture designed for pleasure and performance
Each product has been formulated with a light, melt-in, non-greasy texture to preserve the volume and bounce of curls. It is not just a simple application: it is a ritual, a moment of care, almost of silence, where the fiber regenerates and the hair is soothed.
Your most frequently asked questions about keratin for curly hair
Does keratin remove curls?
No, provided it is used in gentle cosmetic treatments based on plant keratin, such as those we have chosen at Madame d'Alexis. Unlike chemical straightening treatments, these formulas do not alter the internal structure of the hair.
They simplystrengthen the hair fiber, smooth the cuticle, and reveal the natural shape of the curl without altering it. The curl is better defined, not transformed.
Can keratin be used without straightening the hair?
Absolutely. The common misconception that all keratin treatments straighten hair is incorrect. Only treatments that combine keratin with high temperatures and chemical agents aim to achieve long-lasting straightening.
A sulfate-freeshampoo, mask, or serum containing plant-based keratin will not relax your curls. It will simply improve their softness, hold, and shine, while protecting the hair fiber.
What keratin treatments are safe for curly hair?
The safest hair care products are those that are sulfate-free, silicone-free, and free of occlusive ingredients, formulated with plant-based keratin. This type of keratin is lighter, gentler on the hair ecosystem, and ideal for textured hair. Choose products such as a strengthening mask or heat-protective serum, to be used according to the needs of your hair fiber.
How can you avoid the stiff effect of keratin?
This effect often occurs when you use too much product or use treatments that combine keratin and heavy polymers. To avoid this:
- Follow the recommended frequency (1 to 2 times per week maximum).
- Choose light, melt-in-the-mouth textures.
- Alternate with moisturizing treatments rich in hyaluronic acid or plant oils.
What is the difference between animal keratin and plant keratin?
Animal keratin is extracted from wool, horns, or feathers. Although effective, it can be heavier and sometimes less well tolerated. Plant-based keratin, on the other hand, is derived from wheat, corn, or soy proteins.
Its structure is biomimetic, meaning it is better absorbed by the hair. It is also more ethical, lighter, and ideal for natural luxury hair care.
Is keratin suitable for curly, colored, or bleached hair?
Yes. Colored or bleached hair is often fragile, porous, and needs targeted repair. Plant-based keratin strengthens its internal cohesion, improves its resistance to breakage, and preserves color. It is therefore an excellent addition to a post-coloring routine, provided it is well formulated.
Can keratin be used on fine curly hair?
Yes, provided you choose products formulated for this purpose. At Madame d'Alexis, our textures have been developed to avoid weighing down even the finest hair. Plant-based keratin acts as an invisible veil, protecting and structuring without flattening the volume or compromising the lightness of the curl.
How many times a week should you use a plant-based keratin treatment?
It all depends on the condition of your fiber. In general:
- Once a week to maintain and prevent breakage
- Twice during periods of intensive repair (after sun exposure, straightening, coloring)
- Once every 10 days for fine or low-porosity hair
The key isto listen to your hair. Too much keratin can cause stiffness and loss of bounce.
Can keratin help define curls better?
Yes. By filling in gaps in the fiber and smoothing the cuticles, plant-based keratin improves light reflection and hair cohesion, resulting in more defined curls. And it does all this without the stiff or greasy effect of some styling products. Hair remains fluid, lively, and textured.
What treatments are likely to cancel out the effects of keratin on curly hair?
To preserve the quality of your curls and the performance of the keratin, avoid:
- Sulfate shampoos, which strip and weaken the hair fiber
- Non-volatile silicones, which coat keratin without allowing it to act
- Cumulative protein treatments, which can overload and stiffen the fiber
Instead, opt for skincare products rich in hydrolats, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and moisturizing active ingredients to create a complete, balanced, and perfectly tolerated routine.
