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We all had those days when our hair just seems to have its own life! It’s quite frustrating isn’t it? Maybe a keratin treatment is just what you need! And while a keratin treatment can do absolute wonders to your mane, you still have to know how to care for your keratin treated hair.
You see, a keratin treatment can do wonders for your hair! And by wonders, we do mean WONDERS! Absolute mane heaven isn’t?
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But there are still a few things that you need to look out for after you get the treatment done! So how to care for your keratin treated hair? Stay with us to find out!
Not to burst your bubble, but aftercare is just as crucial as getting your hair saved with a keratin treatment! So if you want this treatment to last longer, read on our tips! Scroll down to get tips on how to care for your keratin treated hair.
Before Anything Else, What Is A Keratin Treatment?
Keratin treatment is a revolutionary solution to dry, frizzy, and unmanageable hair. It restores and rebuilds damaged areas using – you guessed it – keratin!
But what exactly is keratin?
Well, keratin is a strong protein compound that is naturally found in your hair. However, with time and other circumstances, the natural keratin in your hair wears out. Aging, chemical services, and hair products can take a toll on your hair.
As a solution, hair experts have found a way to infuse keratin back into your strands through a keratin treatment.
Essentially, this treatment works by applying the protein onto your hair and adding another layer of it. This process strengthens and relaxes your hair. As a result, your hair not only just becomes softer and more manageable, it also becomes healthier!
Keratin Treatment- Here’s How It’s Done!
First of all, you should know that a keratin treatment is one very time-consuming process. It also involves different stages, so you’ll not only need time for this, but patience as well!
A keratin treatment is done by following these steps:
- The hair is washed thoroughly. Your hairstylist may opt to use a clarifying shampoo on your hair to deeply cleanse. It’s also used to strip off any residue or oils on your scalp. This step is done to prep your hair for the treatment. Your hair must be “naked” as it can be. Why? So it’ll be able to absorb as much of the treatment as it can.
- The next step is drying. Your hairstylist may dry your hair fully or keep it slightly damp. After that, your hair is ready for the keratin application.
- The third step is application. The keratin usually comes in a serum form. Your stylist will meticulously apply onto your hair, making sure that every single strand is covered. This is usually done section by section to ensure full coverage.
- After it the application, your stylist will leave the treatment onto your hair for a while. This may last up to an hour, depending on your hair’s texture and current state.
- Next up is rinsing! Your stylist will wash your hair and rinse it off completely. This removes all the serum that was applied to your hair.
- Once your hair is rinsed thoroughly, your stylist will dry your hair with a towel. Once dried, it’s time to iron your hair.
- The last and final step is the most crucial of all. To seal the keratin into your strands, your hair has to be ironed. However, the heat from the straightening iron should not exceed the temperature of 380 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat is just ideal to lock in the treatment into your hair shafts, without the risk of damage.
Don’t Do The Following After Getting Keratin Hair Treatment
1. Washing or styling your hair after the treatment
What’s the biggest reminder that you will get from your stylist after a keratin treatment? DON’T wash your hair!
Typically, you must not wash, clip or tie your hair for three consecutive days after the treatment. It could be longer depending on the type of keratin treatment that you got. Some treatments may call for a shorter no-wash period while some may require more days.
Immediately washing your hair after a keratin treatment will prematurely strip off the benefits of the keratin. And that’s washing all the keratin goodness down the drain!
Follow this to a tee as your hair needs enough time to bind with the keratin. Anything less than the required number of days and the treatment would be futile and is a total waste of money!
You should also avoid styling your hair, applying any product on it, and even tying it or clipping it within the first three days after the treatment. Doing so will break or cause damage to your newly treated hair.
2. Settling for cheap shampoos and conditioners
Shampoos are almost always on our top grocery lists, and generally, these shouldn’t cost too much, right?
Well, if you just had a keratin treatment, then this situation may be a bit different for you.
And if you want your hair to stay as shiny and healthy for a significantly longer period, then it’s time for you to ditch that cheap shampoo bottle and start investing in shampoos for your keratin-treated hair.
The same thing applies to your conditioner. A cheap conditioner will do more harm than good to your precious, newly-treated hair!
You don’t want that, do you? Not after you’ve spent a fair amount on a keratin treatment, yes?
And we know you’re probably wondering why we’re telling you all this when, in fact, a shampoo’s only role is to keep your hair clean.
But if we dig dipper, shampoos and conditioners play bigger roles than you actually think. And the ingredients that make up these hair products have a huge impact on your hair’s health, most especially if you just had a keratin treatment!
As a rule of thumb, you should NEVER purchase shampoos and conditioners that contain the following ingredients:
- Sulfate
No matter what happens, avoid products with sulfate at all costs! Again, you might be wondering why, and here’s the answer- sulfate strips off and depletes natural oils both on your hair and scalp, leaving it dry and frizzy.
- Sodium chloride
Salt is often used as a thickener for these hair products, so you better watch out for this one. Sodium chloride can damage your newly treated hair and strip off the keratin coating from your hair. Yikes!
3. Using a clarifying shampoo
Clarifying shampoos can be very tempting to use, especially this product promises to revitalize and clean your scalp and hair thoroughly. However, if you just had a keratin treatment, this is a big no-no.
Essentially, clarifying shampoos are perfect for use prior to your treatment, though, as it cleans your hair deeply and removes any residues that can cause hurdles to your keratin treatment. It also preps your scalp and hair for the treatment, allowing them to absorb as many products into your hair shaft.
But using them AFTER the treatment?
Just, no. It does the same thing it does to your before the treatment- deeply cleansing it! And if you opt to shampoo with this post-treatment, it will strip your hair off of the keratin that was just applied to your locks.
4. Frequently washing your hair
You may be raising your eyebrows now that you have read this, but yes, you should not wash your hair frequently after a keratin treatment!
Frequent washing strips away any natural oils from your hair and scalp, causing it to be dry and frizzy. The same thing applies to your keratin-treated hair. If you wash it daily, then you’re only prematurely wearing off any treatment that was applied to your hair.
And while this sound kind of gross, and we understand that because as girls, I know we like to stay clean and fresh, but for the time being we highly suggest that you invest on dry shampoo!
Dry shampoos won’t really cause any damage to your post-treated hair, but does the job well in keeping it non-greasy and smelling fresh!
5. Doing excessive physical activities
RIght after your treatment, it’s best for you to stay away from physical activities that are just too much. Going to the gym, for example, should be avoided for the first three days at least, and should be done moderately in the next two weeks.
Heavily sweating can interfere and damage your hair, especially if you just had a keratin treatment. And you do know for a fact that washing is a no-no at this period, yes?
So you probably get it- try to avoid doing things that call for heavy sweating for at least two weeks and you will be sure to keep your keratin-treated hair in its gorgeous state!
6. Sleeping on cotton pillowcases
While this isn’t really that big of a deal, you should still try to sleep on cotton pillowcases right after you had a keratin treatment.
How to take care of your keratin treated hair? Opt for silk pillowcases for the time being! Not only are they more comfortable to sleep on, but they are also not harsh to your fragile hair!
Cotton pillowcases tend to be rough on your hair, especially if you lay against it for hours. This may also cause your newly treated hair to wear off way faster than it should.
So if you want your keratin-treated hair to last longer, ditch your usual pillowcases and treat yourself to smooth and velvety silk ones!
7. Dipping into the swimming pool within the first two weeks
With summer just around the corner, you’re probably very tempted to dip into the pool. We get it, it feels nice to soak in water, especially on a hot summer day!
But… you shouldn’t really do this after you got a keratin treatment!
Chlorine is a very harsh element that can easily ruin your hair, especially keratin. It has this ability to easily dissolve any existing keratin on your strands and even dry up your hair in the process!
You don’t want that, do you?
The same thing applies to the beach: as much as possible, avoid trips to the beach as well! Remember that salt can also damage your newly treated hair!
So if you just got your hair treated with keratin, skip the sunny plans out for the next two weeks, at least!
8. Bleaching your hair
Now, this should come off as a no-brainer. We all know how cruel bleaching is to your hair strands!
Bleaching, when done on a keratin-treated hair, can strip off the treatment right away. It will also dry your hair out, just as how chlorine would. In fact, we like to think that bleaching can do it even worse!
However, if you really want to bleach your hair and get that blonde look, go ahead and do it BEFORE you get your treatment. Not only will your hair be revived after the bleaching, but it will also make your highlights appear brighter and more vibrant!
Win-win situation, right?
9. Coloring your hair
If you want to color your hair, it’s best to do it before you get a keratin treatment! Doing so after the treatment will only make it difficult for the color to penetrate into your hair. And for us, that’s an absolute waste of time and money!
However, the awesome thing about getting a treatment after you dye your is that keratin seals the color into your shaft, making it not just vibrant but also very healthy looking. It will also act as a protective coating to your hair, so expect the color to last even longer if you get a keratin treatment after you get your hair dyed!
Or, if you really want to color your hair after a keratin treatment is done, wait three weeks or more. By this time, the keratin has somewhat subsided and the color will be able to stick to your hair.
Just Got Your Keratin Treatment? Here’s What You Have To Do!
So now that you just got your hair keratin-treated, you’re probably wondering how to take care of your keratin treated hair.
After all, a keratin treatment doesn’t come cheap. And we’re very sure that you don’t want your newly treated hair to be put to waste!
So below are some of the things that you should do after you get a keratin treatment!
1. First things first- keep your hair from getting wet!
Again, one of the biggest rules that your hair stylist will give you after a keratin treatment is to keep your hair from getting wet for the next 72 hours. And while this may make you raise your eyebrows, it’s is actually done for a very good reason!
You see, after a keratin treatment is applied onto your hair, it needs at least 72 hours to stay on your hair (untouched) so it can fully bond into your strands.
Why not? Well, water and keratin just don’t go well together, and will strip off all the treatment from your hair! Chlorine and salt are also often found in water and these two aren’t particularly very keratin-friendly as well!
So, all these clearly explain why you shouldn’t wash your hair within the first three days after a keratin treatment is applied!
And if you do so, then you’re only washing down all the money you spent on the treatment away. Yikes!
2. Invest in a shampoo that knows how to care for your keratin treated hair.
Cheap shampoos are cheap because they are made of several synthetic ingredients that may cause more damage to your hair than you actually know.
And if you just got your hair treated with keratin, it’s best for you to make a switch! Ditch those cheap shampoo bottles and start investing in shampoos that know how to take care of your keratin treated hair. And these are shampoos specifically formulated for keratin treated hair.
Sulfate-free shampoos, for example, are your best choice. These type of shampoos are very gentle both to your hair and scalp and gets the job done without causing damage to your keratin treated hair.
You can also opt for organic, all-natural shampoos. These kinds of shampoos often don’t contain ingredients that can be harmful to keratin-treated hair.
However, still double check the label when buying and watch out if these shampoos contain any traces of salt. Be very meticulous with what’s going on in your shampoo and your hair will absolutely thank you for it!
3. Consider getting a dry shampoo
Since you’re advised to lessen hair washing, you may want to finally invest in dry shampoo!
Dry shampoos are your best friend if you plan on ditching the washing every other day, without keeping your hair feeling all gritty and dirty.
Moreover, dry shampoos get the job done by keeping your hair clean and refreshed, without drying it out as opposed to how actual washing does it.
But same with shampoos, check what your dry shampoo is made of! You wouldn’t want to risk your hair to stuff that generally contains salt and sulfates in it!
4. Invest in weekly hair masks
Another thing that can keep your keratin treated hair in its best condition is by applying weekly hair masks!
Infused with all the nutrients and ingredients needed to keep your hair soft and moisturized, hair masks are your best friend if you want your keratin treated hair to last longer!
Related read: Tria Hair Removal Reviews
And not only hair masks nurture and keep your hair healthy, but they also give you that sense of relaxation! So go ahead and treat yourself once a week with a mask that will further strengthen and prolong the life of your keratin treated hair!
FAQs:
This is quite tricky, as the answer here is both yes and no!
No, you may not use oil on your after a keratin treatment, given that it’s only been a few days after you had the treatment done. Remember that you’re not allowed to get your hair wet or wash it within the first three days.
Additionally, applying (coconut or argan) oil onto your hair will make you feel greasy. Personally, for us, we hate that feeling and it pushes us to wash our hair – so it’s a just a no.
However, if it has been past the three-day-no-wash period, then by all means, go ahead and apply oil onto your hair! Let your strands soak in all the nutrients from the oil of your choice.
Absolutely not! In fact, it’s advisable to use a dry-shampoo during the 72-hour no wash period if you feel like freshening your hair up a bit! It’s also practical, as you will be able to rid of that greasy feeling without having to wet your hair
However, be very selective with the dry shampoo that you will use. Make sure that you get a product that is sulfate-free, and has no traces of salt in it. Remember that both these compounds can damage keratin-treated hair, so you are best to stay away from them.
Keratin-infused dry shampoos are also in the market, and these are obviously your best choice. This type of dry shampoo will not only leave your hair feeling fresh, but it will also preserve your newly treated hair, making its effects last even longer!
As a rule of thumb, you should avoid shampoos with sulfates and salt at all costs. These two compounds can easily damage and strip off the keratin from your newly treated hair.
And not only is it a total waste of bucks, but it will also leave your hair dry, frizzy, and unmanageable.
If at all possible, grab shampoos that are made of all-natural ingredients. It also helps to check the label! Generally, if shampoo has more than eight ingredients on it, then it’s just a no!
After the three-day no-wash period, there are really no rules that state that you cannot curl or style your hair in any way you want it. However, a keratin treatment is a straightening treatment so the question here is, why would you want to curl it in the first place?
But, if you really feel like giving your hair a different look, then go ahead and curl it! Just make sure that you keep your hair secured with a heat protectant prior to curling, especially if you’re going to apply heat.
Also, it’s is best to use a curling iron with a temperature indicator to make sure that you’re not going beyond 380 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that anything more than that can be very damaging to your keratin-treated hair!
Yes! Regardless of your hair type, you can still opt for a keratin treatment. However, take note that if your hair is naturally curly or very kinky, your mane may straighten up a little bit after the treatment!
Remember that heat must be applied to the hair to seal in keratin, and this is usually with a straightening iron. If you have curly hair and had keratin treatment done, chances are, the end results will be softer, healthier, and slightly wavy hair.
But either way, go ahead and give your hair that keratin-loving it deserves!
The answer here is a straight no. Keratin treatment and relaxer are two very different things. And while their aim is to make the hair look softer and healthier, a relaxer is more complex than a keratin treatment.
To put things simply, a relaxer will leave your hair very straight. However, It can alter your hair’s texture and structure. While a keratin treatment, on the other hand, will seep into your hair shaft and nourish every strand without breaking down its natural composition.
A keratin treatment typically lasts for three to six months, before it’s stripped off of your hair. However, the keratin treatment may or may not last longer than the said period, depending on how you take care of your hair.
Generally, if your hair is well taken care of after you had a keratin treatment, then the chance of the treatment lasting longer is a lot bigger! You may even be able to make it last for more than six months!
How often should you get a keratin treatment is totally dependent on you! If you notice that your hair is starting to go back to is previous condition, then perhaps it’s time to get the treatment done again!
You may choose to get it done every four or six months, depending on how fast the treatment wears off.
The Final Takeaway
Achieving that salon-gorgeous, soft, and manageable hair does indeed take a lot of effort!
Not to mention, keratin treatment sure does come with a price! It fairly costs a few hundred bucks and takes a while to do, too!
So it’s not just your money, it’s your time, too!
But at the end of the day, a keratin treatment is worth every dime and second spent if you just know how to take care for your keratin treated hair! It will give you that model-like, soft mane that’s truly every girl’s dream.
It’s also your ticket to saying goodbye to bad hair days and waking up to fizzy and unmanageable hair!
However, keep in mind that knowing what to do and what not to do after you got a keratin treatment is a key to keeping your hair in its best condition. Investing In the right products is also just as crucial.
Remember, always check the label! Skim and scan every single ingredient to see if they’re fit to keep your keratin treated hair healthy!
After all, a keratin treatment isn’t cheap- and so are most of the good things!