Keratin is a substance often present in hair care products, but few people know that it is also a product of animal origin. Discover 10 things you need to know about Keratin.
1. “Basic” Ingredient
Keratin is one of the most widely used and advertised ingredients in hair care products.
2. What Is Keratin?
It is a fibrous protein that consists of long chains of amino acids which also contain minerals and vitamins
3. Where Does Keratin Come From?
Keratin is of animal origin and is present in feathers, manes, hooves, and horns of different animals. Even humans produce Keratin, especially in hair and nails.
4. Uses Of Keratin
Known mainly for being present in hair treatment products: shampoos, conditioners, masks, this substance is also often used by the pharmaceutical industry in the coating of gastro-resistant capsules.
5. The Purpose of the Keratin
In treatments and products for hair beauty, the Keratin has the function of making the hair softer and silky. This is because this protein is rich in cysteine, an amino acid made up of several sulfur atoms, ensuring health and strength to the strands. Substantially, the Keratin adhere to the hair and recompose the fibers giving volume, strength, shine, and beauty to the hair.
6. Great For Curly Hair
This substance is often used for curly hair treatments because it has a strong ability to smooth and soften, making the hair easy to comb.
7. Why is Keratin Used So Much?
Due to daily aggression, such as the sun, the flat iron, the dryer, the wind, among others, we constantly lose a small amount of Keratin. When hair goes through chemical processes (straightening, relaxing, various brushes, discoloration, and tinctures), the hair loses a higher amount of Keratin, which leaves the hair fragile, elastic, and brittle.
This is because chemical procedures change the structure of the hair, leaving the inner layer open and therefore vulnerable. The visible result, in addition to fragility and elasticity, is porosity, dryness, and opacity.
Also, there are internal factors that can weaken hair health, for example, certain medications, high-level stress, hormonal problems, and so many others.
To reverse this picture, it is not enough to hydrate and nourish your hair. It is essential to restore the lost Keratin.
8. Attention To Fake Products
Even though the products advertise the presence of Keratin in their labels and advertisements, they do not always contain significant amounts, or even in some cases, there is a keratin-like protein.
9. Safe, Natural And Cruelty-free Alternatives To Keratin
To take care of your hair, you may refuse to use Keratin of animal origin, because of the cruelty behind this trade. There is a good substitution of animal keratin for natural products. The most effective are:
Flaxseed oil
Flaxseed oil is an excellent natural product that helps to strengthen and make hair soft and shiny.
Argan oil
A very valuable and beneficial hair oil, especially for dry and weakened hair.
Aria Starr Beauty Organic Argan Oil is on my favorites list. Notice the dark glass bottle to protect its contents. Some people, who develop an allergic reaction to other Argan oils, claim to have no problem using this one.
Amla oil
Another oil that is particularly suitable for hair is amla oil. It prevents the formation of split ends, moisturizes dry hair, can treat dandruff and is perfect for curly.
Keratin of vegetable origin
There are products made from vegetable keratin, usually made from hydrolyzed soy protein, corn, wheat, rice or seaweed.
10. Keratin “inside.”
Besides acting from the outside, if you really want to strengthen your hair, you need to give a force from the inside out through food.
A diet rich in fresh and seasonal foods, such as fruits and vegetables, provides vitamins and minerals useful for hair health, and of course the proteins that stimulate keratin production by the body.
In this post, I have shared that even though there are no foods rich in keratin, consuming some foods rich in protein and some vitamins can boost the production of natural keratin in the body.
Basically, you can include in your diet whole grains (especially corn), fruits and vegetables, parsley, red fruits (blackberry, blueberry, etc.), nuts (nuts, nuts), oilseeds and spinach.
Also, it is essential to promote detoxification of the body, drinking lots of water, and practicing physical activity because this also contributes to the elimination of toxins.
A healthy lifestyle will benefit the scalp, hair, and health in general, without having to resort to expensive products of dubious effectiveness.
