Lamination or keratin hair straightening: what to choose?

It can be difficult to choose between keratin straightening and lamination, even though both procedures result in smooth, glossy hair. While they all claim to reduce frizz and improve hair management, their methods of operation and end results vary.

Lamination gives the hair an instant glossy finish and a protective layer. It’s a fast fix that improves smoothness and shine without permanently altering the structure of the hair.

Conversely, keratin straightening is a more profound process. It creates a longer-lasting, straight look by smoothing out the hair from the inside out, relaxing curls and waves. By repairing surface voids, this treatment fortifies hair as well.

Before choosing, it’s critical to determine which option best suits your hair type and styling requirements as each has advantages and disadvantages.

The essence of the procedures

It is important to first understand what each service entails.

Let’s begin by discussing the process known as hair lamination. It involves applying a unique mixture to the strands, covering the curls’ surface and filling in any damaged areas. Subsequently, the mixture is stabilized using an extra medication and minimal heat.

The service only serves aesthetic purposes. The main idea behind this procedure is that the strands aren’t straightened; instead, they are just coated with a silicone solution.

In response, keratin straightening has benefits for both appearance and health. During the procedure, the strands are treated with a straightening composition and sealed using the iron’s highest temperature. After adhering to the strand’s surface, keratin enters the structure, fills it from the inside, and seals tiny breaks. Such procedures help to straighten and add shine to damaged hair while also restoring it.

Effect

At first glance, the processes appear to have the same effect. However, the action’s guiding principle is very different.

Hair treatment and restoration are the goals of keratin straightening. The effect is cumulative in nature and may last up to six months. After the service, the strands become smoother, more restored, and are covered in a protein film for protection. Unfortunately, the hairstyle loses a lot of volume after keratin straightening.

The opposite happens with lamination; the hair thickens and the volume of the hairstyle can increase by up to twice. The effect lasts for only three to four weeks.

Take note! Under the weight of the applied products, hair loss is a drawback for both services. The result is that the strands get thicker and heavier, and the bulb weakens and is unable to bear it.

Differences in indications

Services vary depending on the indications.

For example, girls with unmanageable, stiff, curly hair are frequently advised to get keratin straightened. Keratinization will work better for issues like severely damaged, overly dry, lifeless strands, split ends, and extremely curly strands. The hair is softer, healthier, more manageable, and easier to style after the straightening process.

For all girls with different types of hair, lamination of strands can be used to address issues like thin, unruly curly strands that are frequently dyed. Following this procedure, the hair will have more volume and be shiny and smooth.

Cost

At first, differences in the price of medications cause variations in the cost of services.

Lamination kits range in price based on the volume, the area of use, the quality of the product, and the popularity of the manufacturer’s brand. The most sought-after sets range in price from 2,000 to 13,000 rubles. Such a procedure in a salon will cost anywhere between 3,000 and 8,000 rubles, based on the establishment’s rating and the level of expertise of the specialists.

The price range for keratin hair straightening in a salon is 3,000–15,000 rubles. The process’s upfront costs range from 2,500 to 29,000 rubles.

Regardless of where it is used, the lamination service is less expensive than keratin straightening.

Performing procedures at home

The length of time for coating with a laminating composition and keratin straightening services varies greatly. For instance, lamination takes one to two hours, while keratin straightening requires up to six hours.

Laminating curls at home is simpler because there are kits available that include all the necessary preparations and instructions to complete the process at home. However, this work still calls for expertise and abilities.

Keratin straightening is a labor-intensive, highly skilled procedure that calls for specialized knowledge and tools. It is preferable for a professional master to do keratin straightening in a salon.

Formaldehyde is present in the keratinization preparation mixture, and when it evaporates, it poses a health risk to both the client and the master. The service needs to be performed in a room with adequate ventilation and respirators.

Pros and cons

The following are some advantages of lamination:

• hair shine;
• increase in volume;
• affordable cost;
• ease of performance at home;
• protection from the effects of negative environmental factors;
• ease of styling;
• antistatic effect;
• elimination of unevenness, split ends.

The following are lamination’s drawbacks:

• short duration of the effect;
• hair is not restored;
• the film is washed off unevenly;
• possible hair loss.

The benefits of keratin hair straightening include the following:

• hair is restored from the inside;
• protection from the effects of harmful factors of the environment;
• curls become manageable, smooth, shiny;
• eliminates fluffiness of strands, brittleness, split ends;
• long-lasting effect;
• the service has healing properties.

The following are keratinization’s drawbacks:

• high cost of the procedure;
• possible hair loss under the influence of the applied composition;
• loss of volume of the hairstyle;
• the procedure requires certain professional skills;
• impossibility of carrying out independently at home;
• rapid contamination of curls;
• the composition of the drug contains a dangerous substance – formaldehyde, which can cause cancer.

Features of care

The fact that keratinization is cumulative—that is, the curls get healthier with each session—is another way in which the processes differ from one another. It is not advised to laminate hair strands too frequently because beneficial ingredients disappear from the hair structure when the composition is washed off.

Following keratin straightening, curl maintenance and coating with laminating compositions are comparable in the following ways:

1. After performing the service it is not recommended to wash your hair for the first 48-72 hours.
2. For care, you need to use sulfate-free shampoos.
3. It is not recommended to tie your hair tightly with an elastic band, pin it with clips.

Following the procedures, there are the following variations in care:

1. After lamination, it is not recommended to use a hair dryer, iron or curling iron to style your hair. Straightening curls with a keratin composition allows you to style them using straighteners, curling irons, etc.
2. Keratin straightening is not recommended before a trip to the sea due to the fact that under the influence of salt water, the composition will quickly wash off the curls. Lamination, on the contrary, is recommended to be done before a trip to the sea to provide greater protection of curls from UV rays, salt water.
3. It is recommended to dye curls after keratinization only with dyes that do not contain ammonia. Lamination of curls allows you to dye strands with any paint.

You should research the following things on your own before visiting a salon for a procedure: what kind of hair type-appropriate composition; what kind of after-session effect is required. Although the external results of both procedures will eventually be similar, their effects on curls will be different.

Keratin straightening is a better option for treating and restoring curls. However, lamination is a better option if a girl wants to have straight curls that are only attractive on the outside and doesn’t require any further restoration. After analyzing the hair type and identifying any issues, only an expert can help decide whether lamination or keratin hair straightening is preferable in the end.

Discover which keratin-containing products work best for straightening hair:

• keratin Salerm cosmetics;
• Nutrimax extreme solution premium;
• Rich keratin;
• Trissola keratin;
• Luxliss;
• Bombshell gloss;
• Kerafill keratin.

While lamination and keratin hair straightening are both excellent methods for improving the look of your hair, they have slightly different functions. Keratin treatment tries to smooth and straighten frizzy or wavy hair by restoring its natural structure, while lamination concentrates on making your hair look shiny and healthy by adding a protective layer.

It really depends on what your hair needs most to decide between the two. Lamination could be your best bet if you’re looking for shine and a quick fix. On the other hand, keratin straightening might be a better option if you’re looking for long-lasting smoothness and frizz control.

Whichever option you select, it’s critical to take into account your hair type, the outcomes you want to achieve, and the amount of maintenance time you’re willing to commit to. Both treatments can make your hair look amazing, but which one is best for you will depend on your personal objectives.

It ultimately comes down to the needs of your hair and the desired outcomes when choosing between keratin hair straightening and lamination process. Lamination gives hair a quick cosmetic makeover by adding shine and smoothness without changing the structure of the hair. However, keratin straightening works deeper into the hair to remove frizz and give it a sleeker, more transformative finish that lasts longer. You can select the best treatment for your hair type and maintenance preferences by being aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

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