How to maintain keratin treated hair Properly

If you struggle with too many bad hair days, a Brazilian blowout, a.k.a keratin hair treatment, will surely help you kiss frizz goodbye. 

A Brazilian Keratin Treatment is a chemical treatment that straightens frizzy or naturally wavy and curly hair. It smoothens out flyaways and helps you achieve perfectly straight hair.

This popular salon treatment works on each of your hair strands, coating your hair cuticle with hydrolyzed keratin, therefore giving hair a glossy appearance. What’s more, it is a longer-lasting solution that brings dull-looking hair back to life. 

So you’ve finally done it. But what now? Considering that it is an expensive treatment, you may ask, “How do I maintain my keratin treated hair for it to last longer?”

First of all, maintaining keratin treated hair might be slightly different than caring for your natural hair. Although the basics of wash and care should still be present no matter what, there are some other things that you need to do (and not do) for you to enjoy the benefits of keratin treatment for a longer time. 

Well, you don’t want to waste the hours of sacrifice sitting obediently at a salon hair – not to mention the amount of money you shelled out, right?

How do you take care of keratin treated hair?

Keratin Treatment Aftercare:

• Do not wash your hair right after your keratin procedure. Wash it three days or 72 hours after your salon visit. That is, if you don’t want to ruin the effects of the keratin bonds and let the amount you’ve invested go down the drain. Keratin treatment is semi-permanent. Let it work its magic on your hair shafts first before washing it off.
• Use dry shampoo. To get rid of scalp dirt and gunk, try using no-rinse shampoo. This is your best solution during the “no water” 72 hour period. It helps with itchiness and prevents odor leaving hair fresh and shiny. After three days, you can wash your hair using the most suitable shampoo (usually sulfate-free shampoos) for keratin treated hair.
• Wear a hair cap in the shower. Within the 3-day “no wash period,” cover your hair when bathing to avoid wetting your hair. But just in case you accidentally wet your hair, no worries. All you have to do is blow-dry your hair and use a flat iron for keratin treatment.
• Switch to a satin or silk pillowcase. Both satin and silk pillowcases are friendly to your newly straightened hair. Compared to cotton, satin and silk produce less friction. Therefore, pillowcases made out of such materials help prevent hair breakage and kinks. As they have a smoother surface, your hair will glide smoothly.
• Sleep flat on your back during the first three days post-treatment. If you can manage it, sleep in a position that helps maintain the straightness of your hair. Try to position your hair flatly on the pillow. If you’re someone who moves a lot as you sleep, a quick hack is to put bolster or hotdog pillows on either of your sides to stop you from rolling to your side.
• Wear hair down. Post keratin procedure, your hair is a bit more sensitive than usual. It’s more prone to creases and breakage. Let the treatment be fully settled first. So avoid styling the hair for the time being. That means no buns, no ponytails, no headbands or hair clips, no tucking behind your ears, and no wearing of any other accessories that might leave a dent or crease in your hair.
• Use tepid and cool water. When shampooing your hair, use tepid water and then rinse off using cool water. This also helps in extending the straightening effects of the keratin treatment on your hair.

Don’ts After Keratin Treatment:

• Don’t use your old shampoo. Most regular shampoos on the market contain sodium and sulfates that may ruin your keratin treated locks. Sodium lauryl sulfate is an ingredient that thickens the shampoo and produces the “lather effect.” It’s a cleansing agent in shampoos that can harm hair and strip away keratin. So for a longer-lasting keratin treatment, look for shampoos that are labeled “sulfate-free.” Or, you can also skip shampoo every other day to prevent keratin loss.
• Don’t use the high heat setting. When your Brazilian blowout starts to wear off, you might be tempted to use a flat iron again. Use it sparingly, and make sure to use only low to medium heat settings to prevent hair damage.
• Don’t expose hair to chlorinated or saltwater. You don’t have to stop yourself from going swimming in the sea or the pool. However, wear a swimming cap or bathing cap to protect your hair from salt and chlorine. These elements can be damaging to keratin treated hair.
• Don’t use oils to style hair. You can use natural oils to pamper and deep condition hair but not for styling. It might result in a greasy appearance (and oily hair isn’t nice to look at!). Plus, you can’t overwash your hair either once it’s treated with keratin. 
• Don’t color your hair within the next two weeks post keratin. Dying the hair can open up the hair cuticle again, which means it increases the chances of removing keratin from your hair strands. Also, it is best to seek professional assistance when coloring hair after keratin treatment to ensure the lasting effect of this procedure.

What products can I use on keratin treated hair?

• Sulfate-free Shampoo – once you’ve keratin-treated your hair, you need to invest in shampoo that is free from SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). This chemical can break the fibrous protein bonds in your hair, leaving it damaged and brittle. So avoid your typical shampoo and go for a sulfate-free one. It’s a bit more expensive than a regular shampoo, but it’s worth it. 
• Aftercare conditioner – Conditioning the hair is essential to maintain moisture and the lustrous appearance of your locks. It also enhances keratin bond treatment’s detangling effects and allows you to freely wear your hair down every day, even with minimal combing and brushing. Some ingredients to look for in both shampoo and conditioner include collagen, amino acids or polypeptides, hydrolyzed keratin, and other hair-boosting natural ingredients that help strengthen your precious strands and prevent split ends.
• Hair mask – While hair conditioning alone is enough, doing some extra TLC is very much welcome. Applying a hair mask once a week will help rebuild lost hair proteins in the hair shafts and boost its shine. Plus, it is super hydrating, leaving your scalp moisturized and dandruff-free.
• Blow-dry product – When blow-drying, make sure to heat protect the hair. Although it is not an absolute essential, giving your hair some extra love will maintain your treated hair and shield it from damage.
• Hair supplement – Chemical-treated hair is more prone to brittleness, breakage, and potentially hair loss if given the right care.  Hair growth boosting collagen and biotin supplements can help you avoid those. Health and beauty start from within. With the proper supplementation, you can achieve stronger and healthier hair from the inside out!

Best Oils for Keratin Treated Hair

• Argan oil – helps reduce hair breakage and keeps your scalp moisturized and healthy.
• Virgin coconut oil (VCO) – prevents hair loss and promotes healthy hair growth. It also has anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties to help fight scalp infections and itchiness.
• Jojoba oil – this oil is rich in hair-boosting vitamins and minerals, therefore nourishing your hair from root to tip. 
• Almond oil – this oil is a natural hair softener that also protects it from the sun’s harmful rays. Almond oil is also a great scalp nourishing treatment.
• Marula oil – this unique oil is a great hair moisturizer without making it look too oily. It also helps hair retain moisture, therefore making it a good remedy for dry and brittle tresses.
• Abyssinian or Crambe seed oil – this oil is also a non-greasy option to naturally moisturizing your keratin treated locks. 
• Baobab oil – If you have fine and weak hair, this oil is an excellent weekly treatment. It is packed with omega acids that nourish both hair and scalp. 

If you can’t seem to choose the best oil for your hair after a keratin treatment, why don’t you pick the one that is readily available in your local market? Consider which oil is most beneficial to your hair needs.

Are you prone to hair loss? Do you get dandruff and an itchy scalp sometimes? Do you have split ends and suffer from hair breakage?

These are some of the questions that will help you decide which hair oil is most beneficial to your hair.

In Conclusion

Keratin-treated strands deserve your extra care and attention. Investing in the right quality hair care treatments and products is worthwhile. You deserve to be pampered.

If it means shelling out some cash, that’s OK as long as you get the results you want.  Also, be wary of the possible side effects that come with the keratin treatment before you move forward.

Finally, as you have decided to get this keratin smoothening treatment done, it is only right to make the most out of it and make it stay as long as possible. Following the above steps will help you do just that. Have a great hair day every day!