{
  "id": 8927136,
  "title": "What a keratin mask actually does to damaged hair",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/what-a-keratin-mask-actually-does-to-damaged-hair",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T12:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/best-buys/BestBuys-lifestyle/what-a-keratin-mask-actually-does-to-damaged-hair-1.500682263"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Keratin masks offer cosmetic reinforcement, not permanent repair for damaged hair. The hair fibre consists of an outer cuticle and a protein-rich cortex. Stressors like bleaching, coloring, heat, and mechanical action can damage the structure, which a keratin mask cannot fully reverse. Protein conditioners contain hydrolysed proteins or peptides that can penetrate the hair shaft and bond to keratin, temporarily improving smoothness and strength. However, this effect fades with washing. Masks are most beneficial for hair heavily bleached, colored, chemically treated, or exposed to heat. For UAE residents frequently using heat styling tools, a keratin mask can be part of a conditioning regimen. The key is choosing a formula that pairs protein with conditioning ingredients. GK Hair Deep Conditioner is an example, combining plant-derived quinoa and pea protein with natural grain extracts and jojoba seed oil. Users should apply it to washed hair for 5-20 minutes and rinse thoroughly. A sensible usage frequency is once or twice a month, not daily. It should be viewed as an intensive treatment for dry, damaged hair, not as a daily protein treatment or a permanent straightening solution. This product does not offer permanent repair or straightening.",
  "summary": "Hair is already made largely from keratin, which explains both the appeal and the limits of putting protein back onto it. The fibre has an outer cuticle surrounding a protein-rich cortex, and colouring, bleaching, heat and everyday mechanical stress can alter that structure. Research reviews describe some of these changes as irreversible. A keratin mask cannot turn a weathered strand back into…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}