Keratin - what is it and how does it work?

Keratin is a word that gets thrown around a lot in the hair care industry but how many people actually know what Keratin is and what it does?   The very simple answer is that keratin is a protein that forms the major component in skin, hair and nails. 

Specifically to hair, keratin works on the inside and outside of hair to keep it strong and healthy.  Externally it works by protecting the outer layers of the hair (the cuticle) while internally it provides structure to the hair’s inner core (the cortex).

However, over time hair can lose keratin due to physical, chemical or environmental stressors. This loss of keratin can damage the hair’s cuticle causing porous spots to appear which in turn exposes the hair’s cortex and leads to further damage to the hair.

To combat this damage and to protect hair in the long term, a number of hair care brands have created products with keratin as the key ingredient.  These keratin containing products work on the hair from the inside out by:

      1.  Filling in the porous gaps in the hair's cortex and smoothing the hairs surface

     2.  Coating the hair's cuticle in a protective shield to prevent further damage

The great thing about these products is that any type of hair can benefit from using them, whether fine, thick, normal or chemically treated, it’s just a matter of finding the product that works best for you.\

To help point you in the right directions below some of our the brands we offer containing Keratin in their products:

GK Hair

The best thing about the GK Hair range is that all of its products contain Juvexin which is a keratin anti-ageing protein blend.   This means that there will be a keratin containing product to suit everyone and includes hair care as well as styling products.

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger

Paul Mitchell has developed a collection of Keratin products featuring their own unique blends of KeraTriplexTM that utilises keratin to repair and seal damaged hair (repair range) and KeraReflectTM that utilises keratin to smooth, strengthen and adds shine to hair (smooth range).  This collection also includes a range of styling products as well.

Wella SP Luxe Oil

Wella SP also has a collection of hair care products that provides keratin smoothing properties that benefits hair inside and out, providing keratin protection while leaving hair light and smooth.

Keune Care Keratin

Keune includes two keratin collections in their line-up.  The Smoothing range delivers active keratin to the outside and deep into the hair structure, for silky smooth hair that is stronger and healthier.  While the Curl range specifically targets naturally or chemically treated curls and utilises keratin proteins to repair deep within the hair fibre, giving curls a boost to strengthen and protect the hair structure.

So if your hair is feeling weak and porous give it a keratin boost today!