Once you’ve had a Brazilian Keratin treatment done, you need to take special care of your hair to make sure that the treatment will last as long as possible. Keratin treatments wash away gradually over time, but with proper care, the results will last about 12 weeks or more.
Brazilian Keratin Treatment and Hair Coloring
If you color your hair, you can do so immediately before a Brazilian Keratin Treatment without damaging your hair or reducing the efficiency of your color or straightening treatment. However, you should wait at least three weeks after the treatment before dying hair with permanent color again. This is because the keratin treatment coats the hair shaft and reduces the porosity of your strands making them less receptive to oxidative dyes.
Post Treatment Period
Avoid getting your hair wet for three days after receiving a keratin treatment. This means no washing, swimming, or sweating—and staying out of the rain. Make sure to give your treatment time to adhere completely to your strands.
Leave your hair down and unstyled for the first few days after receiving a Brazilian keratin treatment. The keratin is still malleable, so if you put your hair in a tail, or use a hair clip, this can leave dents in your hair. If you want to tie your hair up, wait until the keratin has been in the hair for at least three days, and then you can use a soft hair tie for short intervals of time.
You are not supposed to use any hair products during the 3-day waiting period, and if your hair does become twisted you need to use a flat iron to smooth it out.
Styling
Blow-dry your hair after washing, but avoid using hair products after the first shampoo. You don’t need root lifting sprays, mousse, hairspray, or gels to style your hair after a Brazilian keratin treatment. Freshly applied treatment will keep your hair silky-smooth without the need for many styling products. Overuse of styling products could make your hair look dull and dirty.
Instead, just use a blow-dryer to dry your locks and use a flat iron to create a sleek finish. Most time you won’t need a hair straightener, but it is ok to use it if you need to obtain a perfectly sleek finish.
After Treatment Precautions
To maintain a sleek shiny look longer, it is also a good idea to wash hair less often because the effects wash out gradually. Avoid exposing your hair to chlorine or salt water and high levels of UV radiation, as these factors may reduce the longevity of your treatment.
Wear a cap when swimming because the salt from the ocean, as well as chlorine in swimming pools, can wash out your keratin treatment. If you don’t like wearing a cap, take a shower before you go swimming, and saturate your hair with a pre-swim conditioner. The fresh water soaks your strands and reduces the absorption of chemicals from pool water, while the conditioner provides an additional level of protection.
Keratin Aftercare Shampoos
In the months following the treatment, use a shampoo and conditioner free of sodium and sulfates. For maximum longevity, purchase a shampoo that is specially developed for keratin aftercare. This shampoo will complement the keratin straightening treatment making the results last longer.
Deep Conditioning
Use a sulfate-free deep conditioning masque enriched with hydrolyzed keratin at least once a month. Deep conditioning works to nurture hair and helps extend the duration of keratin treatments. Once the treatment began wearing off a deep conditioning mask helps prevent the effects of humidity, keeping the hair less frizzy, smoother, and easier to style.
Nighttime Care for Keratin Straightened Hair
Sleep on a silk pillowcase at night. Traditional cotton pillowcases can create friction and disrupt hair cuticles as you move, making your hair frizzy and the treatment short-lived. By sleeping on a silk pillowcase, you’ll avoid roughing the hair strands when you toss and turn at night. Silk creates very little friction, which means a longer-lasting keratin straightening treatment.
Don’t wear your hair and avoid using hair accessories when going to bed. Instead, leave your hair down and try to keep it straight during sleep hours. Ensure your room isn’t too warm to prevent sweating and tossing which may cause friction.
When to Repeat Your Keratin Treatment
On average, a Brazilian keratin treatment should last about three months. After that, your hair will return to its normal state, but it should be healthier-looking and softer because of the conditioning impact of the keratin.
Once the effects of the Brazilian keratin treatment wear off, you can apply treatment again. Repeating keratin treatment will enhance the appearance of your hair over time. The reapplication will be done on the entire length of your hair and in the same way as the initial treatment.
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Last Updated on October 4, 2022 by
Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.