Why is keratin vital for your hair?

Keratin, the master protein of the hair fiber

Every hair is a keratin cable wrapped around itself. This sulfur-containing protein, rich in cysteine, forms disulfide bridges that give the fiber its resilience and shine.

When the chains break - coloring too alkaline, straightening at 220°C - the surface wrinkles, the light scatters and the hair loses its wild silk sheen.

Watch for signs of keratin deficiency

• Spikes split after 3 cm of regrowth.
• Indomitable frizz, even in dry weather.
• Dull color, lacking depth despite pigmented skincare.

These symptoms indicate erosion of the keratin framework, making a keratin product your best ally.

Differentiating between lipid and water deficiencies

Dry hair lacks protective oils; dehydrated hair loses internal water. Keratin repairs structure, but does not moisturize: always combine a lipid phase (shea butter) and an aqueous phase (aloe vera) to seal in the result.

Keratin skincare: promises and precautions

What keratin really does for the hair fiber

• Targeted reconstruction: micro-proteins penetrate cracks and fill gaps.
• Smoothing effect: scales weld together, light refraction increases and hair appears thicker.
• Heat shield: a keratin film reduces breakage caused by hot tools by 25% after three weekly applications.
  A Parisian colorist always slips five milliliters of plant keratin into her post-sweep mask; "the blond keeps its mirror", she says, "and the lengths stay supple until the next appointment".

Side effects and limitations of a keratin cure

Too much keratin stiffens the fiber: it snaps like raffia when untangled. Space out treatments: twice a month is enough for average European hair, and reintroduce humectants in between to maintain elasticity.

Formaldehyde-free keratin: the golden rule

Brazilian straightening has caused a stir in salons: some products release formaldehyde. Demand a formaldehyde-free keratin product, certified "0% liberators". Plant-based keratin formulas, derived from fermented corn and soy, now offer comparable smoothing results, with no respiratory risk and no stinging of the eyes.

By choosing a rigorously formulated keratin product and integrating it into a balanced routine - proteins, water, lipids - you offer your hair a five-star service: long-lasting shine, strengthened fiber, cashmere touch.

What's the best keratin product?

In the world of hair, the term keratin product raises as many hopes as questions. I used to think that only salon formulas could deliver haute couture results.

That was before I discovered, during a workshop in Grasse, a new generation of treatments in which plant keratin enhances the fiber without weighing hair down.

The aim is no longer simply to "smooth": it's to restore the natural curves, mirror-like shine and suppleness that are immediately noticeable on red carpets.

Focus on the plant keratin in Shampoo Madame d'Alexis

• Ethical origin: the protein is extracted from corn and soy using gentle biotechnology, reproducing the helix structure of human keratin for maximum affinity.
• Organic hydrolate complex: Damask rose for radiance, soothing chamomile, invigorating orange blossom. This aqueous base replaces conventional demineralized water and delivers a bath of antioxidants with every shampoo.
• Results observed in a salon test: +23% shine after three applications, elasticity multiplied by 1.6 on bleached strands.
  My own anecdote: on a shoot in Saint-Tropez, the salty wind and a hairdresser's salt spray treated my lengths badly. Three washes later, the"straw" effect had disappeared; the brush glided as if on a silk poncho.

Salon alternatives: Brazilian straightening and professional treatments

Brazilian smoothing remains a ritual for disciplining stubborn curls, infusing hydrolyzed keratin sealed by controlled heat.

Advantages: smooth hair for up to four months, dramatically reduced frizz. Limitations: long application time, high cost, 230°C iron required. Modern versions ban formaldehyde, but a weekly repair treatment remains essential to maintain suppleness.

Where can I find natural or pure keratin?

• Traditional animal sources: feathers and wool, hydrolyzed and then filtered (widely used in pharmaceutical research).
• Plant-based: wheat, but especially corn and quinoa, now offer the highest content of sulfur amino acids.
• Food supplements: biotin, zinc and methionine stimulate endogenous keratin synthesis; I recommend a three-month course after winter to boost bulb microcirculation.

By selecting a new-generation keratin product, rich in botanical active ingredients and validated by instrumental tests, you combine sensory refinement with genuine scientific performance: the quintessence of luxurious skincare.

How to use keratin at home

When should you apply a keratin treatment?

The ideal moment is just after a gentle shampoo, when the cuticle, still half-open, is receptive. I like to take advantage of the steam in the bathroom: it acts as a go-between, guiding the keratin peptides into the heart of the fiber.

Backstage stylists always wait until hair is 70% dry to seal in the active ingredient with a lukewarm blast.

Shampoo - mask - serum" routine

Adopt a three-step sequence, worthy of a spa ritual:

• Low pH keratin shampoo: prepares without stripping.
• 15-minute protein mask: amino acid chains fill in the gaps.
• Leave-in serum leaves a smoothing film and protects up to 200°C.
  Once a week is enough; beyond that, the fiber risks becoming stiff, like an over-stuffed silk.

Home keratin treatment (avocado-honey recipe + oil bath)

On days when I desert the institutes, I pull out a ripe avocado:

• Crush the flesh and add a spoonful of raw honey.
• Massage into damp lengths, wrap in cellophane for 15 minutes.
• Rinse, wring out, then treat yourself to a warm jojoba oil bath to seal in the freshly deposited proteins.
  Results from the first session: velvety touch, less brittle ends.

Common errors (temperature, rinse, frequency)

• Excessive heat: above 185°C, keratin caramelizes and turns yellow.
• Hot rinsing: dissolves active ingredients. Cool water is preferable, as it closes the scales.
• Daily treatments: counter-productive, they stiffen the fiber. Leave an interval of at least four days.

Professional vs. DIY keratin treatment: which to choose?

Duration, cost and results of professional smoothing

In a salon, keratin smoothing requires three hours and an investment of around €250. The mirror finish lasts up to four months, perfect for a frizz-free tropical getaway.

Check composition, choose formalin-free

Demand the "0% formaldehyde" label. Serious laboratories replace this polemical agent with safer glyoxylic acids, while preserving smoothness.

Types of hair that really benefit

• Unruly curls: tamed without losing their bounce.
• Post-discoloration porous hair: resurfaced cuticle, restored shine.
• Thick afro-textured fiber: discipline and time-saving styling.

Fine hair, on the other hand, often benefits from a lighter home protocol. It's up to you to choose the keratin symphony that suits your needs: an intimate solo in the bathroom or a large-scale concerto under the spotlights of an expert salon.

FAQ keratin product

Is it a good idea to put keratin in your hair?

Integrating well-formulated keratin is akin to "haute couture" care. Injected in hydrolyzed form, it seals micro-cracks, strengthens the fiber and polishes the scales.

Used at the right frequency - once or twice a week - it enhances without weighing down. The key: choose a formaldehyde-free, plant-based keratin whose molecular size guarantees residue-free penetration.

What's the best keratin hair product?

An excellent treatment combines hydrolyzed corn or soy keratin, a slightly acidic pH (4.5-5.5) and a sulfate-free base.

Shampoing Madame d'Alexis is precisely this triptych: 98% natural origin, hair care with floral hydrolats instead of water, biomimetic plant peptide. After three washes, salon tests reveal +23% shine and halved breakage on bleached strands.

What are the benefits of keratin?

Keratin is a structural protein that, like flexible armor, strengthens hair from within, repairs damaged hair and revitalizes weakened fiber. Its major benefit: filling micro-cracks, then nourishing and regenerating the cuticle. The result is visible to the naked eye: a shimmering shine and a surface that softens the touch, like a silk scarf slipping through the fingers.

What types of hair can benefit from keratin?

Virtually all hair types benefit from a protein treatment: dry hair in search of elasticity, curly or frizzy hair seeking to discipline the curl, long hair seeking to prevent breakage.

Damaged and color-treated hair gains repairing body, while fine hair regains body without heaviness. The key is dosage: always finish with a moisturizing veil.

Which keratin products are recommended?

The best choice combines protein purity and elegant galenics:

• Madame d'Alexis shampoo (plant keratin, hydrolats).
• Furterer Absolue Kératine repair mask for intense treatment.
• Keratin Research liquid pre-brushing care.
• Keratine Biocyte capsule supplement for diffuse breakage.
  A high-quality Brazilian treatment completes the range for those seeking ultra-smoothing results.

What are the disadvantages of keratin?

When over-dosed, the protein stiffens the fiber, making hair brittle like over-stretched silk. Some straightening formulas also release formaldehyde, which is irritating to the respiratory tract.

Finally, poorly filtered animal protein can grease the root. Moral: space out cures, prefer vegetable versions and check the "0% formaldehyde" label.

Is keratin treatment safe?

Most modern ranges are formulated without formaldehyde, limiting any respiratory risk. The warning applies above all to the older versions, which are rich in aldehyde releasers.

Prefer a hair treatment based on controlled natural products, ventilate the space and respect the sealing temperature (≤ 185°C): safety then joins efficiency.

How does keratin treatment work?

The treatment process is based on a blend of proteins that penetrates the cuticle, smoothes the scales and strengthens the hair fiber.

Under gentle heat, keratin cross-links, repairing damage while depositing a protective film. This invisible mesh provides suppleness, hold and a shimmering sheen reminiscent of the couture hairstyles of editorial shoots.

What are the possible side effects of treatment with a keratin product?

Excess results in a rough feel, static electricity and snapping tips when brushed. Rarely, itching occurs if the formula contains aggressive quats. The remedy is simple: clarify with a gentle rhassoul shampoo, reintroduce humectants (aloe, glycerine) and then reintroduce keratin on a monthly basis.

Signs of keratin deficiency?

• Spikes split at three centimetres.
• Persistent frizz, even in dry weather.
• Dull hair despite oily treatments.
  

These indicators reveal an eroded protein framework; a keratin treatment will restore elasticity and luster.

Where to find natural keratin? Where to find pure keratin?

The plant-based route dominates: fermented corn, rice and quinoa deliver a biomimetic keratin rich in sulfur-containing cysteine. It can be found in top-of-the-range "clean" ranges or in raw powder form from home cosmetics suppliers. Animal sources (wool, feathers) persist in pharmaceuticals, but their persistent odor makes them less elegant in beauty.

How does the treatment work? How safe is it?

The hydrolyzed peptide attaches itself to the porous zones via ionic bonds. Moderate heat (160°C) welds the whole, smoothing the scale. Recent, formaldehyde-free protocols are considered safe if the site is properly ventilated and the indicated application time is followed.

How do I make a homemade keratin treatment?

Mix: 1 ripe avocado, 1 spoonful raw honey, 10 drops vegetable liquid keratin. Apply to damp hair under a self-heating cap for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water and seal with three drops of jojoba oil. A weekly treatment restores shine and body in three weeks.

How do I use keratin products?

A keratin treatment must be simple to use:

• Apply a keratin mask to towel-dried hair and leave for ten minutes.
• Rinse or opt for a " no-rinse " treatment on damp lengths.
• If necessary, follow up with a professional salon treatment.
  For daily maintenance, a light spray keratin care can be used before styling to protect the fiber with a fine, even spray.

When should keratin be applied to hair?

After shampooing, when the scales are still open and the water has been squeezed out with a towel. The sebum-free fiber is receptive, and a 70% blow-dry and warm blow-dry fix the protein.

Does keratin damage hair?

No, if dosed elegantly. The danger lies in over-proteinization: too much keratin sets the fiber. Respect the balance: proteins one day, humectants the next, lipids the third.

The food richest in keratin?

Eggs, veritable vaults of cysteine, take precedence over wild fish and sunflower seeds. An omelette flavored with truffle oil is the breakfast of choice for many Italian hair stylists, to nourish the hair matrix from within.

Dangers of excess keratin?

In addition to stiffness, excess can mask actual porosity and delay the necessary trimming of the ends. In the salon, a professional will measure elasticity: if the strand breaks before 30% stretch, stop the protein and rehydrate. Balanced hair prefers velvet to armor.