The main goal of Keratin treatments is to smooth, shine, and protect hair. It is often used to de-frizz frizzy hair and add protection to your hair where it may lose it over time. As your hair grows without being cut, it is subjected to the outside world’s natural elements and the damage we might do to our hair ourselves.
Using heat products like curlers and straighteners damages our hair over time and extended periods in the sun, cold, or extreme moisture. Your hair develops holes of its natural protein Keratin, making your hair more brittle and easier to break.
What a Keratin treatment is, essentially, is putting the natural protein back into your hair to fill in the ‘holes’ that were caused by various lifestyle factors. These treatments are recommended to people looking to bring some moisture back into their hair and restore it to its natural, healthy beauty.
Keratin treatments can go by many different names, but the most common treatment currently is Brazillian blowouts. Instyle.com says that “The Brazilian Blowout hair treatment is a liquid keratin formula that bonds to your hair to create a protective layer around each strand, effectively diminishing frizz, sealing the cuticle, and protecting against any external damage.[…] after getting the treatment, your hair will be left hydrated, less frizzy, and more resilient to heat styling — not to mention, with an insanely glossy mirror-like shine.”
As the most classic and well-known Keratin treatment, Brazilian Blowouts have become synonymous with smooth, healthy, and luxurious hair. But the process of a Keratin treatment can be different for many people with long hair depending on which type of hair you have and how much product you might need. Brazilian blowouts are said to “work on any type of hair, including virgin, permed, colored, previously straightened, bleached (and) blonde.”
of the best treatments on the market because “Cezanne ADDS keratin, the protein your hair is made of strengthening it against damage and repairing it while smoothing.”
The final type out of the most popular treatments is Japanese Keratin treatments. Japanese treatments are mainly used for long-term fixes and will only grow out, not fade away. “Japanese straightening restructures your hair by breaking the bonds and realigning them. Unlike traditional keratin, which washes out over time, Japanese straightening will grow out. Japanese hair straightening requires a lot of upkeep” unlike other treatments, according to salonworthyhair.com.
Keratin treatments are known to take a long time. When booking, expect to be in the salon for upwards of 5-6 hours if you are also getting a cut. Allure.com breaks the process down the best: “The process goes something like this: shampoo (no conditioner); rough-dry hair until its 80 percent dry; apply the treatment working in small sections; let process for 15 minutes; blow-dry product into hair; flatiron hair in tiny quarter-inch sections (this takes the longest!); rinse hair for five to ten minutes to ensure the product is completely out of hair; shampoo (again); apply keratin sealing serum; blow-dry. Phew!”
Like any trip to the salon, there are always some weird smells you encounter. If you bleach your hair, you know the smell of bleach penetrates your nose and can’t get rid of it. Same with any hair lightning products, dyes themselves, etc. There’s always a weird smell and keratin treatments do not stand alone in that. If you are sensitive to smell, make sure to prep yourself for the treatment and know what to expect.
Halfway through the process, your hair might start to flake – don’t be worried or think this is dandruff. It’s perfectly normal for the treatment and usually expected – allure.com says its “actually excess product residue flaking off the hair, which tends to happen at this stage of the treatment. I am happy to report the flaking disappeared after the final rinse.”
Keratin treatments don’t hurt your hair, but a hot flatiron or other tools might. Always use professional tools with temperature gauges, setting it on the lowest setting and working your way up if needed. If you want to maintain your curl pattern you must use sodium-chloride-free products and wrap your hair or keep it up at night to protect it from damage. The treatment lasts about 6 months and you can choose to continue it or let your hair grow back naturally after.
Check out the official Keratin Complex Instagram here to see before and after results for what look you might expect from the treatment.
