One of the most popular salon treatments is a keratin treatment, commonly known as a Brazilian Blowout, Keratin Complex, and more. Its claim to fame is to smooth hair by reducing frizz, softening curls/waves, or straightening.
Keratin is a protein that is already found naturally in the hair shaft. It helps maintain healthy and strong hair. For example, some with slightly damaged, stressed, thin, frizzy, or breaking hair can benefit from keratin to increase strength and shine.
However, too much keratin can also cause your hair to become brittle and break because a protein overload can lead your strands to become inelastic and snap. Keratin treatments can be healthy and beneficial when done by a professional.
The aftercare of a keratin treatment is critical to follow to ensure you get the best results. The aftercare involves keeping your hair dry once the service is over and being mindful of how you style your hair with hot tools.
What is the best hair straightener for keratin treatments? The best hair straightener for keratin treatments should prolong the lifespan of your treatment in addition to maintaining higher heat temperatures consistently.
However, there are a few other important factors to consider, so follow along as we take a look at them and answer a few related questions you may have below.
What Is A Keratin Treatment?
Flat irons are a crucial tool during a keratin treatment because their heat is used to seal the Keratin protein into the strands to help achieve that straight, sleek, and smooth finish. However, what is a keratin treatment exactly? What’s the process?
According to Healthline, “a keratin treatment is a chemical procedure usually done in a salon that can make hair look straighter for as long as 6 months. It adds intense glossy shine to hair and can reduce frizz.”
Keratin treatments share some similarities to a perm. For example, it can take a few hours for the treatment to process, there is sometimes an unusual smell, and you should avoid wetting your hair for 72 hours. It’s definitely not a carefree service.
The Cut breaks down the steps of a keratin treatment:
Step 1: First, the stylist will wash your hair.
Step 2: The stylist can then decide to apply the treatment to wet hair or blow-dry your hair and then apply the treatment to dry hair.
Step 3: Flat iron the hair to seal in the treatment on a low to medium heat setting for a sleek and straight finish.
However, how you take care of your hair after a keratin treatment will determine the longevity of the treatment. On average, keratin treatments can last for 3-6 months. In addition, some people may confuse a keratin treatment with a chemical relaxer.
A chemical relaxer is permanent, and there is no way to reverse a relaxer unless you cut your hair or wait to grow it out. Keratin treatments will eventually wash out, and how you style your hair or wash it can affect the outcome.
So, what are the best tools to heat style your Keratin-treated strands? How can you prolong your results, and what other hair services can you combine with your keratin treatment?
Aftercare For Keratin Treatment
You need to care for your keratin-treated hair as soon as you step out of the salon. Your hairstylist will advise you not to wet your hair for 72 hours because, similar to a perm, keratin is malleable, and water can transform the strands to back the original texture.
In addition, your hairstylist will also tell you to avoid working out, swimming, putting your hair up in a ponytail, using clips, and even putting your hair behind your ears for two weeks.
This will allow your hair to have adequate time to adjust to the keratin treatment.
However, we are all dying to know if we can heat-style or color our hair after a keratin treatment. Will that damage our strands, or is there a way to safely style the hair without compromising the integrity of your keratin-treated strands?
Heat Styling
As mentioned earlier, flat irons are an essential tool to perform a proper keratin treatment. So you will need a high-quality one that retains heat well and can work at both low and high temperature settings to achieve frizz-free straight results.
However, can you use a flat iron to touch up your hair after your treatment? This is why you should always go to a salon for a keratin treatment. They will perform the service perfectly, but they can also guide you to the proper aftercare steps.
Unfortunately, there are various mixed opinions on straightening your hair with a hot tool after a keratin treatment. So, seeking advice from a professional and licensed hairdresser will be your best bet to maintain your beautiful keratin results long-term.
Some hair experts recommend that if you flat iron your hair after the treatment, do so with a heat protectant, especially when using a high heat setting. This will help you avoid any heat damage from occurring, but make sure you don’t heat style frequently.
However, according to Beach Wave Perm, “even after the treatment is done, exposing the hair to high temperatures every now and then could help in restoring the Keratin.”
What if you want to heat style with a blow-dryer? The same rules apply: use a heat protectant but use your blow dryer on the cool mode instead of a low setting. Using the cool blast mode on your blow dryer will also protect your keratin-treated hair.
One thing is for sure is that you shouldn’t touch your hair for the first 72 hours after the treatment. That means no heat styling, no hair washing, no clipping your hair back or tieing it up. It’s recommended to leave your hair straight during this time.
Coloring
Another popular question that is asked is, “Can I color my hair after a keratin treatment?” Individuals who receive keratin treatments might also want to pair their new sleek strands with another hair service to take their look to another level.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to color your hair until two weeks after your keratin treatment. However, this can vary based on your stylist’s expertise and what kind of treatment they are using to perform the service.
Generally, a reasonable wait time to color your hair is usually 2-3 weeks after treatment. After that, according to Salon Worthy Hair, “the hair dye will struggle to penetrate into your hair and you may not get the best results from your color service.
Keratin treatments involve using the keratin protein to deeply penetrate your hair, which is sealed to prevent the treatment from fading. So if your hair already has that barrier, it can be challenging to alter your color without ruining the keratin treatment.
However, a smarter option would be to color your hair right before a keratin treatment. If you decide to freshen up your color beforehand, then your color can also be sealed into the strands during a keratin treatment to prevent color-fading.
In addition, if you are still unsure what to do but know you want both hair services, then seek out a consultation with a licensed hair professional. If you color your hair, it’s recommended to perform that service before you go in for a treatment.
Styling
Similar to how you need to keep heat styling at a minimum, it’s also recommended to keep styling products at a minimum.
Another crucial step to care for your keratin-treated hair is to wash your hair less frequently. You don’t want to create unnecessary product build-up that needs to be washed out. In addition, water can potentially weaken a keratin treatment, so wash less!
Avoid shampoo and conditioners with stripping or potentially sensitizing ingredients when it is time to wash your hair. For example, avoid using shampoos and conditioners with surfactants because they can overly strip the hair and damage the treatment.
After receiving treatment, the need to use styling creams, hairsprays, or other styling products should diminish. However, if you must use styling products, it’s recommended to avoid harsh ingredients like silicone, alcohol, and surfactants.
One essential styling product everyone needs is a heat protectant, especially if you heat style. A heat protectant will not only protect your hair from your hot tools but most of them on the market can also protect your hair from UV Rays.
You will want to keep your hair as dry as possible after a keratin treatment. So, if your blow-dryer isn’t cutting it and you are in a dire situation, try using a dry shampoo to soak up extra moisture. Use sparingly, so there is no product build-up.
However, the best thing you can do is consult with a professional hairstylist to ensure you use the proper shampoo and conditioner and the correct styling products to maintain your specific keratin treatment.
Best Flat Iron For Keratin Treatments
According to Beach Wave Perm, “to keep the keratin treatment intact, a temperature above 400°F is ideal for maintaining the hairstyle and to maintain the condition of the hair.” So, you will need a flat iron that can hold those high temperatures consistently.
In addition, Beach Wave Perm states that “features like smart moisture adjustment, adjustable temperatures, faster heating time, and use of iconic technology are also to be taken care of when selecting the best flat iron after a keratin treatment.”
One thing that is crucial to search for in a flat iron, especially one for keratin treatments, is a durable material that can handle high temperatures. For example, titanium is a great material to heat up quickly and maintain keratin-treated hair.
Titanium flat irons are ideal for maintaining keratin-treated hair for multiple reasons. For starters, they can heat up almost instantaneously, and titanium metal plates can also retain heat exceptionally well.
You’ll be able to quickly style your hair with one pass with a flat titanium iron, which can also lessen the chances of heat damage. Using a high-temperature titanium flat iron every once in a while alongside a heat protectant can offer the best results.
Suggested Product: CROC Masters Flat Iron
If you’re on the hunt for the most efficient flat iron to maintain your keratin treatments, look no further. The CROC Master Flat Iron is specifically crafted to work with keratin treatments.
The black titanium plates perform well with all hair types, including curly, coily, thick, and coarse. They lock in moisture and reduce static while negative ions seal cuticles and increase shine. Frizz will be a worry of the past!
The adjustable temperature setting ranges from 280°F to 450°F. As stated above, 400°F is the ideal temperature to maintain keratin-treated hair. The fully digital display makes it easy to tell what temperature you have it on.
The built-in auto shut-off feature turns the iron off after 30 minutes of non-use, so no need to panic if you leave the house and don’t remember shutting it off. Another great feature is the ventilation system that safeguards from internal and physical damage by automatically releasing excess high heat.
Plus, it’s simple to use. All you need to do is set your temperature and add heat protectant to your hair while the iron heats up. Then, section your hair, start at the nape, clamp the iron (which includes an ergonomic thumb grip), and glide down.
How To Care For A Keratin Treatment
Keratin treatments can benefit anyone who struggles with frizzy hair, unmanageable hair, and wants to grow out their hair or anything in between. When done correctly, your hair can be shiny, smooth, and straight for up to 3-6 months.
However, your keratin treatment will only be as good as your hairstylist and your aftercare routine. Some people even may argue that the aftercare steps are the most crucial to follow to maintain your keratin treatment and achieve the best results possible.
Thankfully, there are multiple steps and strategies to maintain your keratin treatment. For starters, it’s recommended not to wet your hair for the first 72 hours to make sure your hair won’t weaken or transform your hair back to its original texture.
Also, avoid working out, swimming, styling your hair, and putting your hair up for 2 weeks. You will want your hair to maintain the keratin proteins, and doing anything to alter your hair can create dents or bends if you aren’t careful.
After two weeks, if you choose to style your hair, do so sparingly when you’re heat styling; use a flat iron with a 400°F temperature and a heat protectant to avoid heat damage. If you blow-dry, use the cool blast setting instead of the heat setting.
Avoid styling products containing harsh and potentially sensitizing ingredients like surfactants, salt, alcohol, silicones, and more. You don’t want to strip your hair or fade the keratin treatment.
When in doubt, always get your keratin treatment done by a professional and licensed hairstylist. They will always perform the service correctly while also maintaining the integrity of your hair and guide you to the proper aftercare routine.
Keratin treatments are an effective service for sleek and frizz-free hair that is a great option for anyone dealing with dullness and unmanageable kinks and volume. In addition, they are not a permanent service like a chemical relaxer.
With the correct flat iron, your keratin treatment can last longer, and you can maintain your salon-quality hair right at home.
Up Next: After Keratin Shampoo – What To Look For
