Can I do keratin again after 3 months?

My hair has been a source of constant frustration in my life. In middle and high school, I flat-ironed it into submission daily. In college, I decided to rock the curls, but the precise and complex sequence of products and care instructions got exhausting. You ever tried to scrunch out your gel even two minutes too soon? Disaster! My first year out of school, I was Our Lady of Perpetual Bunnage. That is, until I tried keratin.

Usually, keratin treatments use heat (and sometimes formaldehyde, ick) to bond keratin proteins to the hair to make it smoother and straighter. Results last around three months and treatments can cost up to $300. I never wanted straight hair, not to mention that I have nowhere near the coin needed to maintain treatments. It was a pass for me. That is until I read about the Keratin Express Blowout.

This treatment doesn’t straighten hair (it does loosen my curl just a little bit); it just smoothes down frizz and decreases dry time. You can wash your hair after only eight hours as opposed to the full keratin treatment’s 72-hour washing ban, and the results lasts four to eight weeks. The best part? My stylist offers it for only $80—though I live in the Midwest, so it may well be pricier in your area.

I loved my first Keratin treatment. On the first day it looked super sleek and smooth, and when I washed it afterward, I had flowy, wavy curls without the halo of frizz. But the effect faded after six weeks, and soon enough, I was back in the salon chair.

Still, even at the more palatable price, I wanted my treatments to last. I’ve found that using keratin-containing hair products on a regular basis can help me stretch a treatment for nearly three months. Here’s what I love to use.

$11.99

I first gave Shea Moisture’s line a shot. Using a sulfate-free shampoo and washing infrequently can help extend a keratin treatment, so this shampoo fits the bill. Since I can only make it two days without washing, I use this to wash my hair in reverse. I apply conditioner to my whole head before shampooing to help protect it against the surfactants in the shampoo. The two together keep my hair moisturized, smell great, and can frequently be found on sale at Target.

If I want a deeper treatment or I’m trying out a non-keratin shampoo and conditioner, I like to use a keratin hair mask.

One of my friends has used the AG Reconstruct Intense Anti-Breakage Mask before, and it was no less dope when I tried it. This super-rich mask smells like buttercream and goes on just as thick. It has tons of shea butter to balance out the moisture and protein and leaves my hair incredibly soft.

$34

Another mask that’s a total steal is the Ion Keratin Smoothing Mask. You can get a one- to two-use packet for under three bucks at Sally Beauty Supply. It has a much lighter consistency than your average hair mask, which makes it ideal for fine hair. It gives you that hair like when you just got back from the salon and it’s suuuuper smooth and soft but also incredibly light and bouncy. And of course, you can’t beat the price.

$6.29-$7.99

Since I started using keratin hair products in between blowout treatments, I’m making it longer and longer between triangular hair debacles. Six weeks after my most recent keratin treatment, my hair is as smooth and soft as ever.

If you’ve recently gotten a keratin treatment after care is probably on your mind. For those of us here at ATH HQ, there is probably nothing worse than a bad hair day. From a never-ending battle against frizz or working with hair that just won’t hold the pin-straight style of your dreams—we get it, things can be super frustrating. If this sounds like you, getting a keratin smoothing treatment can seriously be life-changing for your hair. However, keratin treatment after care procedures needs to be done properly as well so you can get the most out of your session.

What is a keratin treatment?

Keep reading to learn all the keratin hair treatment after care tips so you can have the smoothest strands possible!

Breaking Down the Keratin Hair Treatment

A keratin treatment is a type of hair treatment you can get that will make your hair smoother, softer, and shinier. There are many keratin products on the market, like keratin treatment shampoo, keratin protein treatment, keratin deep conditioner, and many more. There are also soft keratin treatments, keratin treatment for curls, and vegan keratin treatments!

Each strand of hair is actually made of a protein called keratin. Over time, it can get damaged by anything from a normal hairstyling routine, like blow-drying and straightening, to harsher chemical processes like coloring and relaxing. This results in damage to the keratin sheath. A keratin treatment, therefore, works by filling in gaps in your hair that have damaged keratin.

When you get the treatment, your hair typically becomes frizz-free, straighter, and more manageable. Sounds awesome, right? Depending on the keratin treatments you receive, your hair may still have curls and body but will be a lot easier to style and work with. A treatment can last up to 6 months.

Keratin Treatment After Care Tips and Hair Hacks

Read on for more after-care tips:

1. Keep Your Hair Dry

When you go to the salon to get your keratin treatment, remember to ask your stylist how long you should avoid water. You will typically need to wait three days to wash your strands. However, due to there being different keratin treatments, this amount of time can vary.

For Oily Hair

Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Dry Shampoo

When waiting to wash your hair,  Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Dry Shampoo will be a lifesaver. We love how this dry shampoo instantly gives your hair volume.

2. Choose a Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner

For Dry Hair

TRESemmé Pro Pure Micellar Moisture Shampoo

For Dry Hair

TRESemmé Pro Pure Micellar Moisture Conditioner

Before washing your hair, choose a keratin shampoo and keratin conditioner that is sulfate-free. Using a set with sulfate in it will damage your treatment and make it not work as well.  We love TRESemmé Pro Pure Micellar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner. We love this set because it gently cleanses and conditions your hair while still giving you great results! The most important thing is to avoid using shampoos that are too strong post-treatment such as clarifying shampoos that might strip your hair of the treatment or leave you with uneven results.

3. Don’t Wash Your Hair as Often After the Keratin Treatment

Once it has been three days since your treatment, try not to wash your hair daily. Following this keratin treatment after care step helps the treatment last as long as possible. Some people have hair that gets oily quicker than others, and as such will need to wash their hair every other day. If you are one of the lucky ones who can go for days with your hair still looking clean, go for it. Invest in a good shower cap to seal out water and protect your hair while you bathe in between wash days.

4. Keep Your Hair Down for Keratin Treatment After Care

After you get a keratin treatment, your hair is most vulnerable for the next three days. To avoid any odd creasing or dents, it’s crucial to keep your hair loose and free of any hair ties. Avoid tucking behind your ears as well!

5. Get Styling

After getting the keratin smoothing treatment, your hair will be so much easier to style. If you still struggle with knotty hair afterward, use a detangler to help you safely comb out knots once it has been three days since your treatment.

6. Use a Silk Pillowcase

You may have heard before, but using a silk pillowcase can help reduce any friction, making your hair smoother and less prone to damage. When doing keratin treatment after care, this is important to keep in mind because your hair will be more prone to damage from a cotton pillowcase.

7. Blow-Dry Hair After Working Out

For the first three days of your keratin treatment after care, you’ll need to keep your hair completely dry. Yes, that includes sweating too. If your hair gets sweaty when you work out, it’s super important to blow-dry your strands as soon as you’re done. This will help make sure your sweat doesn’t damage the treatment.

From washing hair less often to using a silk pillowcase, there are many keratin treatments after care tips you can use to make sure your treatment lasts as long as possible. Good luck!

Can I do keratin treatment every 3 months?

How often can I get keratin?

Can you do two keratin treatments in a row?

Can you redo a keratin treatment?