How to Apply Keratin Treatment at Home

In-salon Keratin treatment is a fairly expensive service, so doing the treatment yourself at home can help you save money. However, to get the desired results you need to wisely select the product and carefully read the instructions included. It would be a good idea to ask for assistance from a friend who is more experienced. The complete application can take from 2 to 4 hours. The treatment cannot be rushed because the straightening product needs time to work properly. You need to be patient and work slowly.

Buy a Formaldehyde-Free Product

It is important to use a quality product to get the best possible results. Keratin hair products are available in some salons, but you can find them online as well. Knowing that Formaldehyde is harmful, choose a product that is 100% formaldehyde-free. Avoid cheap products because they will not give you lasting results. One of the keratin treatments that fulfill these criteria is Keratin Smoothing Treatment – Formaldehyde Free by Peter Coppola.

African-American girl with curly unmanageable hair

Tools You’ll Need for Keratin Straightening

The necessary tools for performing keratin hair treatment include               

  1. Clarifying shampoo
  2. Towel
  3. Smoothing product
  4. Tint brush
  5. Tint bowl
  6. Latex Gloves
  7. Hair clips
  8. Fine-toothed comb
  9. Processing cap
  10. Blow-dryer
  11. Round brush and paddle brush
  12. Flat iron

Keratin Smoothing Treatment – Formaldehyde Free by Peter Coppola

This semi-permanent keratin hair treatment is formulated to reduce frizz, add shine, and relax curls without involving toxic formaldehyde. It is safe to use on all types of hair but works best for people who want to get rid of frizz and just soften their curls.

Keratin proteins and amino acids seal the outermost layer of your hair to smooth away frizz and reduce the appearance of split ends. Your hair will be, straighter, more manageable, and more humidity resistant for up to 60 days.

This treatment is more convenient for users than traditional keratin treatments because there is no annoying downtime. You can shampoo your hair or go to the gym immediately after the treatment.

In-salon keratin treatment would provide you with better results than DIY keratin treatment at home. However, it is possible to do it yourself as long as you follow instructions and have an extra pair of hands to help with flat ironing. Make sure you watch the instructional video on the Peter Coppola website.

If your hair has been chemically treated, make sure to consult a hair professional because you should be careful with putting chemicals in your hair, or using high-temperature flat irons. The consultation is important to make sure that your hair is in good condition to withstand the straightening procedure.

You can get 1-6 treatments from one 12 oz bottle depending on how long/thick your hair is. For very thick and long hair you may need one 12 oz size bottle to do 1 treatment.

Peter Coppola Keratin Treatment Steps

Keratin Treatment Video by Peter Coppola

1. Clarify: Each kind of treatment will work better on clean hair. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo before starting the straightening procedure. A clarifying shampoo will remove product build-up from your hair, and make it ready to absorb the treatment. If your hair is saturated with styling products, shampoo it twice. Rinse the hair thoroughly. Do not apply conditioner.

2. Towel-dry: Towel-blot your hair to remove excess water. Your hair should be approximately 70% dry.

3. Part the hair: Divide your hair into 4 sections using large clips. Make sure that all necessary tools are easy to access. Shake the Keratin Treatment bottle well and pour 2 oz of product into the tint bowl.

4. Apply the product to the hair: Put on latex gloves and use a brush to apply the straightening product. Start from the neck pulling down 1″ sections of hair and working upwards. Apply the product with a tint brush and use a fine-tooth tail comb to ensure even distribution from root to tip. Make sure that your hair is completely covered with the product.

5. Process: Leave the treatment in the hair to process. If your hair has already been compromised by chemical treatments such as bleaching and relaxing, leave the treatment on for 20 minutes. Very resistant, coarse hair, needs more time to absorb the treatment than processed, high-porosity hair. If your hair is virgin, very thick, coarse, or very curly, leave the treatment on for up to 50 minutes. Comb your hair every five minutes of processing.

6. Rinse: After the time is up, rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water until the water runs clear.

7. Blow-Dry: Blow-dry your hair into the desired shape, using a round brush or paddle brush until it is completely dry. If your hair is very curly, use a round brush and apply more tension to ensure a smooth result.

8. Flat iron: Flat ironing is the most important step in the process. Use a high-quality flat iron with titanium plates that can reach and maintain high temperatures. Section the hair in 4 sections and secure it with clips. The flat iron temperature should be set between 350-430 F, according to the condition of your hair. Don’t use very high temperatures if your hair is fine, damaged, or chemically processed.

Flat ironing stage of keratin hair treatment

Take a 1/8-inch section of hair, starting from the back of your neck, and go over each section 3 – 8 times at a constant speed. Keep the iron in motion to avoid burning and breaking your hair.  

It is important to iron your hair meticulously to ensure that the keratin solution is sealed into your hair. Continue the process, gradually releasing hair sections down, until your whole head of hair is smooth and sleek.

It is advisable to color your hair before Keratin Smoothing Treatment or wait at least 2 weeks after the treatment before the color appointment.

Recently, a variety of gentle smoothing products has become available on the market. Many of them are suitable for use at home and some products can be used without a flat-ironing step. Before you take the plunge, also consider some of those gentle and easy-to-use smoothing products.