This article explores whether keratin is beneficial for curly hair, covering its effects, pros, and cons. We also discuss alternatives and tips for maintaining healthy curls with or without keratin treatments.
Jaclyn LaBadia,
Davines Writer
Updated on May 2, 2025 | 10 min read
A keratin treatment can take your curls from frizzy and flyaway to super-sleek and smooth for months at a time. It’s one of the most effective ways to smooth hair, boost shine and speed up styling, but is keratin good for curly hair? Generally speaking, there are no long-lasting side effects, but you should still proceed with caution. We’re breaking down the pros, cons and everything you need to know about keratin treatments, ahead.
In this Article:
This article explores whether keratin is beneficial for curly hair, covering its effects, pros, and cons. We also discuss alternatives and tips for maintaining healthy curls with or without keratin treatments.
Jaclyn LaBadia,
Davines Writer
Keratin is an important structural protein found naturally in the hair, skin and nails. It's what gives hair its internal strength and resistance to damage. Keratin protects the cuticle, smoothing down the hair and reducing breakage. But things like heat styling, chemical treatments and environmental aggressors deplete your hair’s keratin over time. This is especially an issue for people with curly hair, which is naturally lacking in keratin. The good news is you can easily add protein back into your strands with keratin treatments and keratin-infused hair products. More on that below!
When applied topically to strands, keratin fills-in any gaps left from the depleted keratin, sealing them with water, humidity and frizz-proof protection. The most common way to apply protein is through a keratin treatment- a semi-permanent hair-smoothing process that’s done in-salon. But is keratin good for curly hair? Sure is! Keratin treatments are especially beneficial for those with natural curls and texture for relaxing curls, reducing frizz, adding shine and improving manageability for a smooth long-lasting blowout-effect. It also helps to strengthen weak strands, and since it is semi-permanent, it also drastically reduces your styling time. And you can prolong these effects by using keratin-infused products like shampoos, conditioners and stylers.
So far it seems like magic. But is keratin treatment good for hair? The answer to this depends on your stylist and the formula they use on your hair. With a keratin treatment, strands are coated in a keratin solution to break down bonds, before being blow-dried and straightened with a high-heat tool to seal them back up. This reduces breakage and the appearance of split ends by temporarily bonding the hair. But the reformed bonds are left inherently weaker than the original ones, which can lead to increased breakage in the future. And keratin treatments can be damaging if the hair is overheated during the process, so it’s important to choose an experienced professional who is cautious and knows the process (and your hair!) well.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the health of your curls. Is keratin treatment good for curly hair, specifically? It’s true that the protein can help reduce frizz and improve manageability, but it can also significantly loosen your curl pattern. And if not done correctly, keratin can do some serious heat damage to your curls in the process. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of keratin for curly hair.
Reduces frizz
Keratin fills in any holes left behind by the initially depleted keratin, smoothing the cuticle.
Improves manageability
By reducing frizz and flyaways with a smoother hair shaft, keratin makes your curls easier to comb through, style and manage.
Adds shine
Keratin adds noticeable shine to lackluster curls
Cuts styling time
The reduced frizz, improved manageability and noticeable shine all make your curls easier to style, meaning less styling time overall.
Can result in loss of curl
Keratin can significantly loosen or even straighten natural curls permanently.
Can cause damage
Especially if the process isn’t done correctly by a professional who knows what they’re doing, the high heat required during the treatment can damage curly hair
Risk of chemical exposure
Again this comes down to the stylist and formula they use- some treatments can contain harsh chemicals that could irritate the scalp or cause allergic reactions.
It’s time to talk about keratin infused products and answer a few questions about them. Let’s start with, is keratin shampoo good for hair? Keratin shampoo can help strengthen and repair damaged hair, for smoother, shinier, and less frizzy strands. So the answer to that is a resounding yes. But what about hair masks- is keratin mask good for curly hair? Another yes! A keratin hair mask can help reduce frizz, improve manageability and add shine. Then there’s our NOURISHING Keratin Sealer, a protective and strengthening leave-in conditioner that seals the hair cuticles to increase brightness and softness, while preventing split ends. It leaves hair shiny and soft, with visible results from the first application. But note that while keratin infused products are beneficial to your strands on their own, your results will be more dramatic when they’re used in conjunction with, and to maintain a professional keratin treatment.
So in general, is keratin good for curly hair? It is, but your post-treatment care matters. After your keratin treatment, keep your strands away from water for 72 hours. Keep your hair down and avoid ponytails or clips so that your hair doesn’t deform. Use a sulfate-free shampoo, since harsh ingredients will strip your treatment every time you wash your hair. Try to avoid saltwater and chlorine as well, but if you can't, rinse your hair with cold water immediately after swimming. The better care you take of your keratin treatment, the longer it will last.
Now let’s take a look at a few alternatives to a keratin treatment for curly hair. First up are relaxers. Keratin treatments and relaxers give similar results when it comes to straightening hair- but they’re very different processes. A keratin treatment temporarily breaks and rebonds your hair structure before it returns to its natural texture. Relaxers on the other hand, permanently break your hair’s bonds to give you a more permanent solution. Keratin treatments are less damaging than relaxers. There are also cysteine treatments, which are a natural alternative that uses cysteine, an amino acid, to strengthen hair's protein bonds. The results are similar to that of keratin, but the process is even gentler on your hair. And of course there’s always blow-drying and straightening tools, which are both short-term options and come with the risk of heat damage. Remember that anytime you style with heat, using a heat protectant on your strands beforehand is a must.
A keratin treatment can take your frizzy, flyaway curls to and smooth and sleek for an extended period of time. It’s one of the most effective ways to straighten hair, boost shine and speed up styling, but is keratin good for curly hair? While there’s no long-lasting side effects, it can cause a loss of curl pattern and some damage if not done correctly. Choose an experienced stylist who understands the process -as well as your hair type- and use only the highest quality hair products to maintain your curls like the ones from Davines. All of our curly hair products are designed to nourish and protect, while highlighting the beauty of your curls.
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