Keratin for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It

Table Of Content

• Things to Know About Hair-Smoothing Keratin Treatments
• Don't do an in-salon hair-smoothing treatment more than three times a year.
• What Are Brazilian Blowouts?
• Benefits of a Keratin Treatment
• Everything You Should Know Before Getting a Brazilian Blowout
• Keratin Treatment vs. Brazilian Blowout — Which One Should You Get?
• What to Expect During a Keratin Treatment

As with all hair products or treatments, not everyone will get the same results. While a great degree of the outcome depends on the competence of your stylist, much also depends on your hair texture. Some people will get super sleek hair that has no wave to it until the treatment begins to wear off, while others will see a lessening of frizz with no real straightening unless they use a flat iron when styling.

Things to Know About Hair-Smoothing Keratin Treatments

Because of that, and knowing full well just how beneficial keratin can be on its own as a haircare ingredient, beauty brands have begun formulating keratin-infused at-home products. Depending on where you live and the stylist who is doing your hair, prices will vary, but on average you can expect to pay between $150 and $350. It's particularly expensive when you consider that it needs maintenance. Unlike relaxers and perms, which permanently change the structure of hair cuticles and need to be grown out, keratin treatments gradually wash away. You'll notice your hair's natural curl return over time—anywhere from six weeks to a few months.

Don't do an in-salon hair-smoothing treatment more than three times a year.

But they’re also expensive and sometimes contain potentially harmful ingredients. Unlike the post-keratin treatment routine, there aren't any restrictions as to what you can and can't do in terms of activity, so you won't have to skip out on your hot yoga class. Additionally, since the treatment is rinsed out in the salon, you can wait as long or as little as you'd like to wash it, but again, just be sure to use a sulfate- and chlorine-free formula to preserve it. If you do desire completely straight hair, again, be sure to inform your stylist. "Your hair will be completely straight if you use the treatment for that purpose along with adding the proper amount of heat afterward." As Uribe says, you should steer clear of all products and hairstyling in the 72 hours following your appointment.

What Are Brazilian Blowouts?

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If you’re not sure if keratin treatment is right for you, weigh the pros and cons below. It is vital that you have this treatment done at a reputable salon by a professional who is very experienced. Even if your most trusted friend says that they got the best BKT ever from their stylist, go in for a consultation armed with questions.

Benefits of a Keratin Treatment

One of the biggest concerns with keratin treatments is that some brands contain formaldehyde, and some of these formaldehyde-containing formulas aren't approved by the FDA. Others may tell you that they're formaldehyde-free, but they actually contain trace amounts (minimal enough to legally claim they have none). So when you're choosing a salon, try to figure out whether this treatment will be done in an area that has good ventilation.

Everything You Should Know Before Getting a Brazilian Blowout

We spoke to a handful of professional hairstylists about what Brazilian blowouts are, considerations to keep in mind, and who’s a good candidate for the treatment. As you can see, keratin treatments create a dramatic difference in the texture of the hair. And while we're certainly pro-curls and pro-frizz at Byrdie, keratin treatments are an effective way to straighten and smooth the hair if that's what you're after.

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"You'll also have to avoid touching it or putting it up for three days post-treatment to avoid denting." The Brazilian blowout is typically safe on color-treated strands, says Matos. In fact, since it completely seals off the hair shaft, she says there's a chance your hair will stay vibrant for longer.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Keratin can strengthen and fortify hair so it doesn’t easily break off. This can make hair seem to grow faster because the ends aren’t breaking off.

"I recommend clients use either a sulfate-free shampoo or conditioner to maintain the treatment while also doing a weekly conditioning treatment." This will help to prolong color, he explains. Keratin treatments shouldn’t be done more than three times a year, as over time they can start to damage hair. Summer, when frizz is more pronounced because of humidity, is generally when people want to get them done.

"A keratin treatment helps to straighten the hair and loosen the curl pattern. It can also help de-frizz hair," explains Kimble. Anyone who relaxes their hair knows that some coloring processes are particularly harsh on already processed hair. You also can't apply a relaxer to previously processed hair without the concern of over-processing, which may cause breakage. In contrast, a keratin treatment works well on colored, highlighted, or previously processed hair. Keratin straightening could also be a good option if you want to transition from relaxed to natural hair, as it offers a little grace period until the relaxers grow out.

Still, it's worth noting that Brazilian blowouts are more customizable than keratin treatments, adds Cristina B. "Since the market is so saturated with keratin treatments you could spend hours [searching] what you think would be best for the look you're after, but the Brazilian blowout can be adjusted for different hair textures," she explains. "The stylist can flat iron the hair at different temperatures and achieve different looks." Similar to a Brazilian blowout, a keratin treatment aims to de-frizz hair and cut down on styling time, notes Michael. However, whereas Brazilian blowouts will give your hair a straighter finish, keratin treatments will create more of a loose body wave, he explains. Performed in-salon by a professional stylist, this powerful treatment replenishes the hair with high concentrations of keratin that penetrate throughout the hair structure and are sealed within the cortex to repair the 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. After the treatment, Metzger says you’ll want to avoid washing hair immediately or using any hair products to allow the keratin product to sit in. Soekoro notes that acid treatments are typically applied to wet hair and rinsed out, whereas water-based treatments are typically applied to dry hair and left in. Lastly, hair is flat-ironed to achieve the client’s desired results.