Everything You Need to Know About Keratin Treatments

Are Keratin Treatments Good For Your Hair?

There are many pros and cons to keratin treatments. The major benefits of keratin treatments include smoother, shinier, and thicker looking hair that’s easier to manage. Keratin treatments also strengthen hair strands, making them less likely to break off. This can lead to the appearance of hair growth as well as a reduction in split ends. 

So, if you’re wondering if keratin treatments are bad for your hair, many people would say no. However, there are other health risks you should be aware of. Some keratin treatments include exposure to formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals which can lead to side effects like headaches and dizziness as well as increased cancer risks if inhaled. Not all keratin treatments include these chemicals, however, and there are many safety regulations and best practices salons can do to limit your formaldehyde exposure. Understanding these and checking in with your salon before undergoing keratin treatment can therefore help minimize the risk.

Keratin After Care 101: What To Do After Keratin Treatment

Once you’re satisfied that your salon can safely perform keratin treatments, there are plenty of things you can do afterwards to ensure maximum results. From gym classes to skip (yay) to ingredients to avoid after keratin treatment, here’s everything you need to know.

For Three Days After Your Treatment

DO Avoid Water

When it comes to what to avoid after keratin treatment, it’s more than just shampoo. In fact, keratin after care is as basic as avoiding water – period.

Think of your treated hair like a clay sculpture that’s still malleable (aka. dentable) because it hasn’t dried yet. So, your goal is to keep your tresses as bone-dry as possible for three days. This means steering clear of any exposure to water. In addition to not dunking your head under a showerhead, you should also avoid extreme humidity: no bubble baths, steam rooms or indoor pools, even if you’re just sitting poolside. If it’s raining outside, pull up a hood and open an umbrella — but don’t wear a hat. Remember, your hair is still malleable and crushing it under a cap could impact its shape and result in unwanted dents or lines.

DON’T Go To Spin Class

For the same reasons as we outlined above, head sweat is your hair’s (temporary) enemy. If you must exercise within the three-day window, choose an activity that doesn’t cause you to perspire heavily.  This could include gentle yoga, walking outside (in low-humidity weather), or light strength training. And, if your scalp does become damp, blow-dry it asap.

DO Leave Your Hair Alone

The best thing you can do for your hair during the three-day waiting period? Make like The Beatles and let it be. Don’t use barrettes, headbands, elastics, bobbi pins, braid it, or even tuck it behind your ear. Remember — it’s still highly malleable. Anything you use to manipulate your hair can leave a lasting impression, literally.

After Three Days

DON’T Use A Shampoo With Sulfates

A surefire way to shorten the lifespan of an in-salon keratin treatment is to suds up with sulfates, which are cleansing agents that may strip the keratin right out of your hair. If you use Prose products, this is a non-issue because all of our formulas are sulfate-free.

DO Skip Alcohol And Salt

There are a number of styling products that contain alcohol and some that contain salt (a.k.a. sodium chloride), such as beach sprays, mousse, and hairspray. Most hair experts recommend avoiding both of these additives while you have a keratin treatment because alcohol can dry the hair (and keratin-treated tresses are already a little dehydrated), and salt has an abrasive quality that could dissolve and remove keratin from your strands.

DON’T Shampoo So Much

Even though it’s technically okay now to shampoo your hair, you will find your keratin treatment lasts longer if you stretch time between cleansings. Just like with salon color, the more you wash, the faster you remove what the treatment deposited (e.g. color or keratin). Most pros recommend extending time between shampoos to at least two days. You can use dry shampoo and a blow-dryer to get by in the meantime.

DO Nourish Your Hair At Least Once A Week

During the Prose consultation process, we always ask if you’ve had a keratin smoothing treatment because, like most chemical processes, it can leave hair on the dry side. This means, if you answer in the affirmative, we will typically make a nourishing mask or a leave-in conditioner part of your weekly regimen to ensure your newly-smooth hair stays healthy and hydrated. Active ingredients often found  in these masks include a reparative complex made of Collagen, Lilac, and Hyaluronic Acid and a deeply hydrating blend of Argan, Sacha Yushi and Jojoba Oils.

How to Get Your Curls Back After Keratin Treatments

Some people regularly use keratin treatments to make their hair more manageable. Others use it sporadically for a temporary change to their overall look. If you fall into the latter category and want to get your natural curls back and care for relaxed hair after your keratin treatment fades, there are a few things you can do to aid the process.

Key things to consider include:

• Minimizing heat-based styling tools
• Keeping hairstyles loose – avoiding putting tension on your strands
• Sleeping with a silk wrap or pillowcase to minimize friction
• Incorporating nourishing masks and hair oils into your routine

Get Maximum Results from Your Keratin Treatments

To get the most out of your Keratin treatment, allow us to help you create a sulfate-free, nourishing regimen made especially for your hair.  Whether it’s a custom-made conditioner, hair oil, or Custom Root Source® Hair Supplements, we’ll help you find the right balance of nutrients and ingredients to keep your keratin-treated hair smooth, luscious, and healthy for as long as possible. Or, if you’re looking to help your curls bounce back after straightening them, we can help with that too!