Does Oiling Remove Keratin?
No, oiling does not remove keratin from hair. However, certain oils can help soften keratin bonds, making them easier to manage or remove, particularly in the context of hair extensions.
Keratin is a protein that makes up the majority of your hair. Oils, on the other hand, are lipids (fats) that coat the hair, providing moisture and shine. While oils don't dissolve keratin, their use after a keratin treatment or with keratin hair extensions requires careful consideration.
Keratin Treatments and Oils
Several sources indicate that you can use oil on your hair after a keratin treatment, but only after waiting a few days (Scandinavian Biolabs, Quora). This waiting period allows the keratin treatment to fully set. Lightweight oils, such as argan or grapeseed oil, are recommended. Heavier oils might interfere with the treatment's effectiveness.
Keratin Hair Extensions and Oils
Oils like coconut and olive oil can soften the keratin bonds used in hair extensions, making them easier to remove (ILoveSlavicHair, Reddit r/hairstylist). However, this doesn't mean the oils remove the keratin; they simply facilitate the removal process by professionals using appropriate tools and techniques. Specialized oil-based removers are also available for this purpose (Salon Geek).
Removing Keratin: A Clarification
It's crucial to distinguish between softening keratin bonds and removing keratin from the hair itself. While oils may assist in the removal of keratin-bonded hair extensions, they do not remove the keratin protein from your natural hair. Methods to reverse keratin treatments involve breaking down the keratin bonds chemically, not through oil application (Hair by Moses).
In Summary: Oils do not remove keratin. Their use in relation to keratin treatments and extensions is limited to softening bonds, aiding in the removal of extensions, and providing hair conditioning, but not the removal of the keratin protein itself.
