What Is The Best Leave-in Conditioner for Your Hair Type?

Leave-in conditioners come in a wide variety of formulas to meet different individual needs. The right leave-in conditioner can make combing and styling hair easier, calm down frizz, and add luster to your locks. When purchasing a leave-in conditioner, look for a product formulated with natural ingredients and one that will suit your hair type.

Look for Key Ingredients!

When you’re picking a leave-in conditioner for your hair, take a look at the ingredient list on the product label. You may need to do a little research to be able to recognize ingredients that are unsafe and ensure that the product you have chosen is good for your hair and overall health.

Opt for a leave-in product that is made of natural and organic ingredients because the product will stay in your hair for a while. Your leave-in conditioner should be formulated without sulfates, parabens, or silicones. Parabens can cause allergic reactions while sulfates can cause skin irritation and strip away the color from your hair.

Be careful with products that have the term “fragrance” in the ingredient list, as it may hide highly toxic ingredients like dimethyl phthalate, which is often added to fragrances. Opt for a product that states “phthalate-free” on the label. Also, stay away from products that contain mineral oil, propylene glycol, and drying alcohols.

a young woman using a leave-in conditioner

Determine Your Hair Type!

Before purchasing a leave-in conditioner, it can be of great help if you know your particular hair type. Choose a product that is compatible with your hair type and is designed to combat the problems associated with your hair.

If your hair is more on the oily side, consider a lightweight leave-in treatment that can make styling easier without leaving your hair looking greasy. Using a rinse-out conditioner after every shampooing can make your strands appear even greasier. If you have a greasy scalp, but dry hair at the ends, focus on the parts of your hair that need conditioning.

Leave-in Conditioner for Fine Hair

If you have fine or thin hair, avoid creamy leave-in conditioners as they can add weight to fine hair. Consider a lightweight leave-in spray that provides the right amount of moisture without making fine hair look lifeless and flat. Opt for a lightweight conditioning spray that gives your hair more body and adds glossy shine. Make sure that you use an appropriate amount of the product, as using too much can weigh your hair down.

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Evolvh SmartVolume Leave-In Conditioner is a lightweight, water-based hair spray that helps strengthen fine hair strands and acts as a detangler and volumizer for fine hair. It reduces frizz and flyaways and gives the appearance of thick, fuller hair without adding weight. The formula is 100% vegan and is not tested on animals.

Leave-in Conditioner for Dry Hair

A leave-in conditioner is a miracle product for someone with dry and frizzy hair as it can replenish dry hair with moisture and provides all-day nourishment and hydration. Dry hair responds well to creamy leave-in conditioners, that could be too heavy for other hair types. Moisturizing leave-in treatments with natural oils and emollients add luster and shine to dry hair and provide relief for dry scalps.

AG Hair Fast Food Leave-On Conditioner is a lightweight leave-in product formulated for frizzy, thick, or coarse hair. The product also gives body and volume to thin fine hair. Despite having a thick, creamy consistency, it doesn’t leave hair greasy or oily looking.

AG Moisture leave-in conditioner contains humectants and ultra-light Abyssinian oil that work to moisturize dry, lifeless hair. Silk amino acids and hydrolyzed keratin add strength and elasticity while cetrimonium chloride helps neutralize static. The product prevents knotting, mends split ends and tames frizz during humid summer days. It helps reduce breakage, giving your hair a chance to grow longer. This leave-in product works best when you apply it to damp hair. It is formulated without parabens, salt, PABA, DEA, and gluten. The entire AG product line is cruelty-free.

Leave-in Treatment for Over-Processed Hair

If your hair is severely damaged by excessive use of heat styling tools and chemical treatments, a leave-in treatment with argan oil, Shea butter, or coconut extract will nourish hair and help repair damaged strands. Some keratin-infused leave-in treatments are formulated to restore keratin proteins and rebuild the strength and elasticity of damaged hair.

Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray is formulated to add gloss and life to damaged, dry, breaking, or lifeless hair. This formula is made up of 95% naturally-derived ingredients. The spray is enriched with a unique complex of argan, coconut, and rosehip oils and offers protection and nourishment without weighing hair down. It protects the hair against free radicals and sun damage and acts as a barrier against heat. This ultra-lightweight leave-in spray doesn’t contain parabens, silicone, phthalates, gluten, synthetic fragrances, and dyes. It is cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.

Leave-in Conditioner for Curly Hair

a dark-skinned girl with leave-in conditioner in her hair

Leave-in hair conditioners can work miracles for curly hair because, by nature, this type of hair requires a lot more moisture than straight hair. Curly hair is extra sensitive to damaging influences, so it needs constant hydration and requires specific care to stay healthy. Leave-in treatments for curly hair work to soften unruly hair, remove tangles, and provide optimal curl hydration.

If you have curly hair, go for a thicker, creamier leave-in product that will soften and smooth hair strands. A leave-in treatment for curly hair contains moisturizing and lubricating ingredients as well as sealants to lock moisture and reduce friction. Apply your leave-in product after regular hair washing and conditioning and enjoy long-lasting, soft, and perfectly defined curls.

Wet N Wavy Tangle Free Leave-in Conditioner can be used as a detangler for synthetic and human hair weaves or a daily leave-in conditioner and curl-definer. This lightweight formula provides good slip, making combing a breeze.

This product is formulated with a special blend of conditioning agents and emollients to lock in moisture, add softness, and revive dry and lifeless curls. It tames dry ends and makes hair shinier and more manageable.

Leave-In Treatment for Color-Treated Hair

A woman with conditioned color-treated hair


To keep your color-treated hair looking shiny and vibrant, use a leave-in conditioner designed specifically for color-treated hair. Look for products advertised as “color safe”, “color extending”, or “sulfate-free”. These products contain SPF as well as other color-protecting ingredients capable of preserving the integrity and brightness of your color for a longer period of time.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Hair Treatment Spray with 21 Benefits is a lightweight, UV-protecting leave-in hair spray formulated with plant extract and enriched with powerful antioxidants and anti-fading agents. It eliminates tangles, protects hair from environmental damage, and helps slow color fading.

Leave in Conditioners for Men

One of the features that make the main difference between the woman’s and man’s leave-in conditioner is the scent. Leave-in conditioners for men either have a masculine scent or have no scent at all.  A scented leave-in conditioner usually has notes of pine, sandalwood, cedarwood citrus, and vanilla.

Some of these leave-in products contain hair growth ingredients to help with hair thinning. Many leave-in conditioners can also be used on beard hair.

a man with healthy hair nourished with leave-in conditioner

What is Leave-In Conditioner and What It Can Do for Your Hair?

A leave-in conditioner is a hair care product that is supposed to be applied to freshly washed hair before styling. Unlike a regular conditioner, a leave-in conditioner stays on your hair until the next wash.

A leave-in conditioner conditions every strand of your hair to restore moisture and softness and prepare your locks for styling. People with all types of hair can benefit from using leave-in conditioning treatments but the best candidates are those with dry, frizzy, and over-processed hair.

This product comes in different forms, such as liquids, creams, or sprays. Some lightweight formulas can also be used on dry hair between washes to restore lost moisture and increase hair manageability.

Brunette hair nourished with a leave-in conditioner

Benefits of Using a Leave-In Conditioner

1. Moisturizes Dry Hair
The main purpose of leave-in conditioners is to provide intense moisture and hydration to your hair. These products are great for kinkier hair types, that need more moisture than a regular conditioner can provide. Leave-in conditioners typically contain humectants that help hydrate and soften dry strands and make them more elastic and stronger. Water-based leave-in conditioners penetrate the hair strand easier than oil-based products and leave hair feeling hydrated and nourished for longer.

2. Detangles Knotted Hair
A good leave-in conditioner contains ingredients that add slip and softness to unruly hair and makes detangling time shorter. If your hair tangles and knots easily, this product helps to release knots and makes hair brushable and easy to style. This helps reduce breakage and retain hair length.

woman styling long hair with hair dryer round brush

3. Makes Hair More Responsive to Styling
A leave-in conditioner can improve the manageability of your hair, making it easier to style with a blow dryer or a flat iron. It contains ingredients that add texture to the hair and enhance the styling results. This product provides a flexible hold to curly hair and adds that beautiful bounce to your curls. You can reapply it throughout the day to re-moisturize your curls and refresh your style.

4. Protects Hair from Environmental Damage
Too much sun exposure and frequent swimming in chlorinated pools can dehydrate hair, causing color fading, brittleness, and split ends. A generous application of a leave-in conditioner before swimming will keep the chlorine and salt from damaging your hair.

Extreme winter cold outside, followed by dry heat indoors can raise the cuticle and leave hair rough and dry. Leave-in conditioner coats every strand to protect your hair from cold and dry air.

5. Acts as a Barrier Against Heat
Before blow-drying or using hot irons, you need to use a heat protectant to protect your tresses from the damaging effects of heat. Many leave-in conditioners act as heat protectants, providing an extra layer of protection against heat damage. Apply a leave-in conditioner before styling to keep the moisture in your hair and prevent split ends caused by styling.

a woman flat ironing her hair after applying a leave-in conditioner

6. Adds Luster to Color-Treated Hair
A leave-in conditioning treatment revitalizes and smoothes damaged color-treated hair and protects it from harmful sun rays and other environmental factors that can lead to dullness and discoloration. It increases the vibrancy of hair color and leaves your locks with a gorgeous shine. There are special leave-in conditioners formulated for colored hair, that help to seal the color in and make it last longer.

7. Combats Frizz
If you’re dealing with dry and frizzy hair, there is a good chance that you will benefit from adding a leave-in conditioner to your hair care regimen. A good leave-in conditioning treatment provides lasting frizz control by locking moisture in the hair shaft. This product also helps tame flyaway hair caused by static electricity during dry winters.

To keep frizz under control, use a rinse-out conditioner with humectants and apply a leave-in conditioner either to damp or dry hair according to the directions on the bottle.

Differences between Leave-In and Rinse-Out Hair Conditioners

Both types of conditioners help retain hair moisture and soften hair texture for easier combing and styling. Although both products serve the same basic purpose, a leave-in conditioner is not the same as a rinse-out conditioner. It is formulated differently and should be used differently. Here are the primary differences between these two types of conditioners:

Application

Rinse-out hair conditioner is used in the shower just after you rinse out your shampoo and it is supposed to be left in your hair for a couple of minutes. After that time, the product should be rinsed out thoroughly. Otherwise, it can weigh hair down and cause product build-up in your hair.

A leave-in hair conditioner is supposed to stay in the hair for a significant time without rinsing. It is usually applied to towel-dried hair, but there are also lightweight leave-in spray conditioners that you can spray onto dry hair between shampooings. A leave-in conditioner is generally used in smaller amounts than a regular conditioner.

Benefits

Rinse-out conditioners coat the hair’s outer layer, add softness, and help repair damage done by harsh shampoos. They provide moisture by replacing the vital oils in your hair that are lost during the shampooing process. These products also make detangling easier and help tame frizz.
Leave-in conditioners moisturize dry hair and make it softer, smoother, and shinier. They serve as detanglers, styling products, and heat protectants. A leave-in conditioner is one of the most widely used hair products to protect curly hair from dryness.

Consistency

Regular conditioners are thicker and heavier than leave-in treatments. They coat the hair strand with a thick layer that sticks to your tresses after rinsing it out.
Leave-in hair treatments are designed to be more watery and lighter compared to rinse-out conditioners.

Ingredients

Typical ingredients in rinse-out conditioners include fatty acids, surfactants, fatty alcohols, proteins, silicone, plant oils, and high molecular weight silicones.
Leave-in conditioners contain a high level of humectants that attract moisture into the hair. They often contain glycerin, which keeps hair hydrated and lubricated, and volatile silicones, which give your hair shine and smoothness.

How to Use a Leave-in Hair Conditioner?

A leave-in treatment is commonly applied after hair washing. This product works best on damp hair, providing your strands with all the benefits it can offer. You only need to apply a small amount focusing on the ends and other dry areas. A leave-in conditioner also can be sprayed onto toweled dry hair and then combed through the ends. If you have very fine hair, apply a nickel-sized amount on the ends only. After applying the leave-in conditioner, you can style your hair as usual.

Lightweight leave-in sprays are suitable for applying to dry hair between washes to restore moisture and revive the hairstyle.

If you use leave-in hair treatments with silicones, use a good clarifying shampoo occasionally to remove any unwanted residue left behind.

Blonde woman with long curly hair

Hair Straightening Shampoos: Benefits and Limitations

There are several methods to straighten your hair and obtain a sleek look and easy-to-style locks. Heat-based styling tools temporarily break down hydrogen bonds in the hair to make your lock look shiny and elegant. Flat ironing and blow-drying with a round brush are the most common ways to get smooth and lustrous hair without the use of chemicals. Heat-styling tools only temporarily change hair texture, and you need to style your hair after each shampooing.

Hair relaxing treatment and Japanese Hair Straightening are chemical straightening techniques that permanently break the bonds in the hair, leaving your locks looking straight and sleek until your hair grows out. Brazilian keratin treatment is a semi-permanent hair straightening treatment that gradually fades over time, lasting approximately about three months.

But what about hair straightening shampoos? Can shampoos straighten hair?

 a beautiful young woman straightening her hair after using a straightening shampoo

Can Shampoo Make Your Hair Straight?

There are many shampoos on the market that are claimed to have a straightening effect on the hair. Such claims may encourage unreal expectations about what the product can provide. This post is written to explain what hair-straightening shampoos can do for your hair and what makes them different from ordinary shampoos. With this information, you can decide easily if you want to include them in your hair care regimen or not.

Do Straightening Shampoos Straighten Hair?

No, they don’t!

There are some limitations to what rinse-out products such as hair shampoos can do for your hair:

  1. A straightening shampoo or conditioner can’t straighten hair. To transform your curls into straight hair, you’ll still need to use a flat iron.
  2. Straightening shampoos cannot replace flat iron, hot brush, or other heat straighteners.
  3. Straightening shampoos are not nearly as effective as chemical straighteners.
Joyful european woman laughing

Is there a Straightening Shampoo that Makes Hair Straighter?

Yes. But this is an exception.

The First Straightening Shampoo by Sweet Hair is a hair straightening product that has the term “straightening shampoo” in its name.

This professional beauty product is created and patented by “Sweet Hair Professional”. The company took 2 and a half years to develop the technology.

The First is actually a naturally based semi-permanent, amino acid smoothing treatment that is meant to be applied by a hair professional. The stylist applies the product to towel-dried hair and then massages the hair to create rich foam. The product is supposed to sit in the hair for about 20 minutes. The hair is then divided into thin sections and flat ironed. The temperature should be set between 375ºF and 450ºF. A heat-activated blend of organic acids in the shampoo creates chemical bonds in the hair, generating hair straightening. The result is frizz-free, smooth, and manageable hair with reduced volume. Straightened hair can be washed, colored, lightened, or toned on the same day.

Now that we understand what The First Straightening Shampoo by Sweet Hair is we will continue our story about so-called “straightening shampoos” with this exception in mind. Our further information doesn’t apply to The First Straightening Shampoo by Sweet Hair.

Does Hair-Straightening Shampoo Work?

Yes, it works for what it is formulated for. But this is not to make your hair straight. Hair straightening shampoos can assist in preparing your hair for straight hairstyles. So, your hair can be more manageable, less coarse, and easier to straighten by using traditional hair straightening tools. Let’s go deeper into what hair-straightening shampoos can do for you.

What Are Potential Benefits of Using Hair Straightening Shampoos

Here’s what you can expect from using a hair straightening shampoo:

  • Your hair will be shinier and less prone to frizz.
  • Your curls or waves will be more defined, softer, and shinier.
  • Your hair will be easier to comb and less prone to tangles.
  • It will take less time to style your hair by using heat-based tools.
  • Less heat will be required to get the desired straight look.
  • Your straight hairstyle may last longer.

Basically, hair straightening shampoos are supposed to support the heat styling process and make it easier for you to maintain your hairstyle. They can also be used to wash chemically straightened hair as long as they don’t have harsh sulfates and sodium chloride in their formulas.

What Are the Differences Between Straightening Shampoos and Regular Shampoos?

Straightening shampoos contain higher levels of conditioning agents like silicones and polymers that can stick to your hair. These ingredients stay in the hair, reduce porosity, and work against the hair’s natural tendency to get poofy and frizzy.

Straightening shampoos should be used similarly to your regular shampoo. To get maximum results, distribute the product evenly throughout your hair with a wide-tooth comb. Leave it to sit in the hair for a few minutes. A straightening shampoo works best when paired with a hair straightening conditioner and followed up with a leave-in conditioner or a smoothing serum.

a woman in a robe blow drying her hair

Silicones in Hair Straightening Shampoos

Silicones are very effective smoothing ingredients that make hair sleek, more manageable, and frizz-free. Many hair-smoothing shampoos contain silicones in their formula.

Silicones in hair products form a thin, waterproof coating around the hair shaft. This microfilm around hair helps reduce porosity and prevents hair from absorbing moisture from the air, making your locks more resistant to humidity. Silicones smooth the hair’s cuticle, which adds some extra shine and luster to your hair. They also reduce surface friction, making combing and detangling hair easier.

Silicone ingredients in hair products can be identified by the suffix -cone, -conol, or -xane at the end of the chemical name on the ingredient panel.

Unwanted Effects of Silicones in Hair Shampoos

  1. Silicone coats the hair shaft creating smooth and shiny hair. But this protective coating prevents moisture and nutrients from penetrating the hair shaft.
  2. This fine silicone coating on the hair prevents other hair treatments from working and also prevents hair dye from entering the hair shaft.
  3. Products containing silicone can leave a residue that builds up in the hair, making it look dull, lifeless, and greasy over time.
  4. Some silicone deposits are difficult to wash out from the hair. To get rid of them you have to use a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos commonly contain sulfates and can be harsh on your hair if your hair is on the dry side.
happy young woman with long straight hair

Olaplex No.3 Benefits for Hair and How to Use Olaplex No.0 and No.3

What is Olaplex no 3

Olaplex Hair Perfector is a part of the Olaplex Professional System designed for home use. This at-home product reconnects the disulfide bonds within your hair that have been broken from chemical services, heat styling, and mechanical abuse. Olaplex strengthens the hair on the molecular level, making your strands stronger and healthier.

After having the Olaplex stand-alone treatment in a salon, you can continue to rebuild broken chemical bonds and maintain the strength of your hair by using Olaplex No. 3 at home.

Olaplex No. 3 contains the same molecule (Bis-AminoPropyl Diglycol Dimaleate) that can be found in Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 but in different concentration levels.

Olaplex Hair Perfector can be used either as a part of the Olaplex Professional System or can be bought separately and used occasionally to optimize the condition of your hair, regardless of whether or not steps 1 and 2 have been performed.

Olaplex No 3 is free of silicones, parabens, aldehydes, oils, and gluten. It is not tested on animals. The product is very simple to use.

A happy blonde woman after using an at-home bond-building product

Potential Benefits of Olaplex No 3 to Your Hair

  1. Reconnects broken bonds and repairs the damage to hair that has been compromised by chemical processing, heat styling, and mechanical abuse
  2. Improves and maintains hair strength and integrity
  3. Helps repair damage from frequent coloring and bleaching
  4. Reduces breakage and helps the hair grow longer
  5. Reduces the appearance of split ends

Tames frizz and makes hair shinier, smoother, and more manageable

How to Use Olaplex Hair Perfector?

Wet your hair and apply a generous amount of the product to unwashed, damp hair. Applying to damp hair makes spreading easier, so you need less product. Focus on the areas where you have the most damage and then comb through for more even distribution. Alternatively, you can cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave the product on for 30 minutes. For better results, left in the hair for extended periods.

If your hair has a heavy buildup from hair products, you can shampoo it before applying Olaplex hair perfector. But make sure to rinse the product from your hair and then shampoo and condition the hair.

For severely damaged hair, repeat the application step without rinsing the product after the first application. When the processing time is over, rinse the hair, then shampoo and condition it as usual.

If you are going to leave the product on the hair overnight, make sure to wash it with shampoo in the morning.

Keep in mind that you need to use a conditioner after shampooing because Olaplex hair perfector is not formulated to add moisture to hair and it can’t replace your conditioner.

One bottle (3.3 Oz) should give approximately six applications for fine, shoulder-length hair or 2 applications for long hair of medium thickness and density.

How Often Should You Use Olaplex No 3?  

The product is supposed to be used once a week before shampooing. Olaplex no 3 can be used 2-3 times a week if your hair is extremely damaged.

How to Use Olaplex No 0 and No 3 Together

Olaplex 0 is formulated to be used with No.3 1-3 times a week for very damaged hair. It works as a primer to intensify the results you would get with Olaplex hair perfector.

You need to apply Olaplex No 0 to clean dry hair and leave it for at least 10 min. Part your hair in sections and squeeze the bottle to saturate your hair with the product. For easier application, order this product packed in a spray bottle from Olaplex or purchase a spray bottle separately, so you can quickly apply it to your hair and minimize waste. After 10 minutes apply Olaplex No 3 over Olaplex 0. Comb the hair to spread the product evenly and leave it on for 20 minutes or longer. Rinse the treatment from the hair and shampoo and condition it as normal.

Olaplex No. 0 + Olaplex No. 3 Review by Abbey Yung

Olaplex No 3 vs Deep Conditioning Treatment

Olaplex changes the internal hair structure and helps increase hair strength and elasticity. The strengthening and protecting effects are permanent. Conditioning treatments just coat the hair shaft providing only temporary results.

Olaplex also differs from protein treatments that can easily be overused. Unlike protein hair treatments, the more you use Olaplex, the more benefits you’re going to get from it.

Blonde woman with hair nourished with bond multiplier

Does Your Hair Need Olaplex Hair Perfector?

Olaplex Take Home Treatment works well on all hair types from virgin to over-processed and severely damaged hair. This product works best on color-treated hair that has been damaged by repeated coloring and bleaching processes. If you like to experiment with your hair color, you can push your hair limits without fear of breakage.

Olaplex also helps to undo hair damage caused by the overuse of hot tools, as well as damage caused by excessive mechanical manipulations such as wet combing and aggressive brushing. 

If your hair is healthy and untreated, you may not see a big difference after using Olaplex Hair Perfector, but it will not harm your hair in any way.

Cute blonde woman wearing loose sweater

Five Uses of Olaplex Treatment

What Is the Olaplex Treatment?

Olaplex is a reconstructive hair treatment developed by scientists for repairing damaged hair and preventing future damage. Olaplex active ingredient – Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate works on a molecular level to repair and restore disulfide bonds in the hair, giving strength and elasticity to hair fibers. When hairstylists add Olaplex to hair color, bleach, or neutralizer, this component shields against the damaging effects of chemicals and helps to improve hair quality. This makes it possible to perform chemical services with minimal damage to the hair.

The Olaplex system consists of three essential components:

  1. No.1 Bond Multiplier (highly concentrated)
  2. No.2 Bond Perfector
  3. No.3 Hair Perfector
hairdresser performing salon hair repair treatment

Different Uses of Olaplex

There are several ways to use Olaplex to improve the health of your hair:

  1. As a standalone hair-repairing treatment
  2. Bleach services, highlights, balayage, color
  3. Permanent waving
  4. Keratin treatments
  5. Hair relaxing and thermal reconditioning treatments

1. Olaplex as Stand-Alone Repairing Treatment

The ‘Stand-alone Olaplex Bond Reparation Treatment can be done whether you have had a chemical service or not. Heat styling and tension from combing and brushing can also weaken hair’s protein bonds and cause damage inside the hair shaft. Olaplex Bond Repair Treatment is a proven way to rebuild the strength of heat-damaged and mechanically abused hair.

If your hair has build-up from hair products and minerals, you need to clarify it with a chelating shampoo prior to the treatment.

Olaplex Bond Reparation Treatment steps:

  1. Fill a non-spraying applicator bottle with 3oz (90ml) of lukewarm water.
  2. Add 1/2oz (15ml) Olaplex No.1 into the application bottle and mix them together.
  3. Wet the hair thoroughly (if there wasn’t a need to wash it) and towel dry.
  4. Fully saturate the hair with the solution. You may comb through to endure that every strand is coated with the solution.
  5. Leave it on for 5-7 minutes.
  6. Don’t rinse.
  7. Apply a generous amount of Olaplex No. 2 Bond Perfector to your hair and comb through it to distribute it evenly.
  8. Leave it on for 10 – 20 minutes or more.
  9. Rinse.
  10. Shampoo and condition as usual.
blonde woman after getting Olaplex repair treatment.jpg

2. Using Olaplex to Go Lighter

Hair damage has been a major problem since the invention of hair dye. To lighten hair a colorist needs to “break the bonds” in your hair. The lighter you go – the more bonds are broken! A drastic color change can sometimes cause serious hair damage including breakage and dryness.

Olaplex has the ability to reconnect broken disulfide bonds in the hair shaft and minimize the chances of breakage. The product increases hair elasticity and enables hair to withstand more dramatic color changes with less or no damage. Olaplex makes your hair stronger and healthier, and your color will last longer.

Hair can be colored or lightened to any level with minimal damage to the strands. Dark hair can go blonde faster and blondes can have their hair even blonder without being fried. Olaplex literally goes into hair and reverses damage from previous exploits and also prevents damage to your hair that would be caused by chemicals during color service.

Olaplex Colour Change – Dull Brunette to Power Blonde by Tom Smith

Bond Multiplier

Bond Multiplier can be mixed directly into your color/bleach to protect your hair before any damage.  It works with any type of color including permanent, semi, or demi hair color, glosses, toners, and high lift. Olaplex step 1 reconnects hair bonds broken during exposure to chemical services, heat styling, and mechanical abuse.

Bond Perfector

This is the second step of the Olaplex system and is applied after the color processing has been completed and the hair has been rinsed and towel dried. In this step, your hair is saturated with the Olaplex Bond Perfector to ensure that all the newly formed bonds in your hair stay intact. The product is left on the hair for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes. After rinsing out the product the hair will be shampooed and conditioned.

a beautiful blonde woman with long curly hairstyle

Why is Olaplex Important for Blondes?

If you start with dark hair color, you will need to use bleach to pull the pigment out of your hair and get your hair as light as possible. Lightening, if you don’t do it properly, can seriously compromise your hair’s structure. Repeated bleaching in a short period of time can leave hair weak and inevitably lead to breakage.

Platinum blonde which has become the hottest hair trend requires serious bleaching. Many women can’t achieve their dream hair color because bleaching would be too harsh on their previously highlighted, porous, bleached-out, and already compromised hair.

Olaplex is especially essential for anyone who wants to go more than three shades lighter to reach their desired hair color. The product allows for more frequent hair coloring and makes it possible to lighten your hair to new levels with minimal damage. Re-bleaching previously bleached hair is now easily achievable and you might be able to go platinum without ruining the integrity of your hair. Brunettes can now go platinum blonde in one day without frying their hair.

3. Using Olaplex Before Keratin Treatment

a woman with keratin-treated hair and Olaplex pre-treatment

Olaplex works very well as a strengthening pre-treatment for Brazilian Blowout or keratin treatment. Olaplex Stand Alone Treatment should be performed prior to keratin service. Olaplex will penetrate the hair shaft to strengthen hair internally before the hair shafts are coated with the keratin treatment. The result is stronger and more flexible hair that is resistant to breakage. Olaplex also enhances hair softness and shine and maximizes the benefits of keratin treatment and Brazilian Blowout.

Olaplex can also repair hair damaged by a keratin treatment but make sure to wait at least three weeks after keratin service before using Olaplex.

4. Olaplex Before and After Perm

cheerful woman with permed hair nourished ba Olaplex

A perm is a procedure that breaks numerous bonds in the hair. If the integrity of your hair has already been compromised an Olaplex treatment is recommended to prepare the hair for perm service. Take equal amounts of Olaplex No. 2 and a protein conditioner and mix them in a bowl. Apply to towel-dried hair concentrating on the most damaged areas of the hair. Use a hot dryer heat to dry the mixture in the hair completely. Then, mist the hair with water and proceed with the perming process.

As a restorative post-treatment, diluted Olaplex No. 1 should be applied over neutralizer over each rod to repair the damage caused by the perm. Leave Olaplex No.1 Bond Multiplier in the hair for about 5 minutes. For very damaged hair rinse and towel blot rods and then re-apply Olaplex for another 5 minutes.

You don’t have to wait 48 hours to shampoo your hair after doing neutralization with a neutralizer enriched with Olaplex.

5. Olaplex for Relaxed Hair

The best way to protect the hair from the chemicals in relaxers is to perform a treatment with Olaplex before and after your relaxer process. Olaplex may be added to your sodium hydroxide relaxers as well as to your neutralizing shampoo.

How to incorporate Olaplex into your relaxing procedure depends on the desired level of straightness.

Can Olaplex No. 3 Save Your Relaxed Hair? by Style Domination

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What is No. 3 Hair Perfector?

The tiny bonds within our hair are constantly being compromised due to thermal, mechanical, and chemical processes. No. 3 Hair Perfector is a take-home product that helps to maintain the health of the hair between salon visits.
The No. 3 Hair Perfector contains the same active ingredient as both the No.1 and No. 2. It will continue to link bonds within the hair, making hair stronger, softer, and shinier. The product is designed to use once a week before shampooing your hair. It should be applied to damp hair and left on for a minimum of 10 minutes. Afterward, your hair should be shampooed and conditioned.

A gorgeous blonde woman with nourished curly hair

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Keratin Shampoos: Ingredients, Benefits, and Tips for Buying

Keratin is a fibrous structural protein naturally found in our hair, skin, and nails. Human hair consists of keratin (up to 95%) and small amounts of lipids, water, and pigments. The middle layer of hair- the cortex– is made of keratin proteins that keep hair strong end elastic. Keratin protein in the outer layer protects the cortex from damage that may be caused by thermal styling, chemical processing, and prolonged sun exposure.

When the keratin in the cuticle layer is depleted, the cuticle is unable to provide protection to the inner layer of the hair. Plus, damaged cuticles increase friction between hair strands, causing additional damage during washing, brushing, and styling.  Damaged hair loses its strength and elasticity and becomes weak, brittle, and prone to frizz.

One of the simplest ways to make up for lost keratin is to use keratin-enriched hair care products. Switching to a keratin shampoo and conditioner is a good way to start as you don’t have to add any extra steps to your hair care routine.

a satisfied woman with healthy hair washed with a keratin shampoo

Benefits of Keratin-Infused Hair Shampoos

Replace missing keratin: Keratin-enriched shampoos are formulated to infuse keratin proteins into hair cuticles during the shampooing process. Keratin in hair shampoos binds to the strands and fills the gaps in the hair shaft to temporarily improve hair structure.

Make hair less prone to frizz: The keratin-infused shampoos help strengthen and align the cuticle, improving hair’s resistance to humidity. Keratin shampoos create a smooth finish on chemically treated hair and add natural shine. They leave chemically processed hair looking healthier and less prone to frizz.

Shield the hair from future damage: Keratin in hair products helps restore both the inner and outer layers of the hair. This way it protects the strands from further chemical and environmental damage.

Enhance the results of keratin treatments: If you have received a keratin smoothing treatment, a keratin shampoo can extend the results of your keratin treatment service. Keratin in your shampoo and conditioner helps to replace some of the keratin that has been washed away with each shampooing.

Does Keratin Shampoo Straighten Hair?

Keratin-replenishing shampoos are made for all hair types, but they are especially beneficial for chemically processed and damaged hair.

Keratin in hair shampoos will not change the texture of your hair. However, it has the capability to fill in the cracks and polish the cuticle layer, making the strands look, fuller, smoother, and shinier. It doesn’t straighten curly hair but it will soften your coarse and frizzy locks.

a beautiful brunette with shiny healthy hair

What Ingredients to Look for?

When buying a keratin-containing shampoo, check the label to ensure that the ingredient list includes at least one of the following terms:

Hydrolyzed keratin consists of smaller fragments of keratin that are able to rebuild disrupted bonds, repair the cuticle, and strengthen weakened strands.

Amino acids have a small molecular weight and can easily penetrate the hair shaft. They will work to repair damaged strands and create protection against further structural damage.

What Ingredients to Avoid?

Make sure to avoid sulfates and salt that can wash out keratin from your hair. Some brands of keratin shampoos may even contain formaldehyde. You should only consider products offered by reputable companies, that are committed to selling safe personal care products.

Select a keratin shampoo formulated with natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and hair. Many drugstore keratin shampoos contain harsh sulfates. There are also several “low-sulfate” formulas on the market. If you haven’t received keratin treatment and looking for an inexpensive keratin shampoo, you may find that some of these low-sulfate formulas work for you. Just be aware that harsh sulfates and salt may diminish the desired effects obtained by keratin in your shampoo.

Quality Matters

Low-quality keratin shampoos contain larger molecules of keratin that can’t adhere to the hair for long enough to survive the rinsing step. So, go for a reputable brand if you want to see any benefits.    

Are Keratin Shampoos Good for Keratin Treated Hair?

If you’ve had a keratin treatment, it is not necessary to use keratin-containing shampoo for your post-treatment care. However, you can benefit from using keratin shampoo as long as the product is free of sulfates and sodium chloride.

To maintain the results of your keratin treatment, you can use shampoo and conditioner from the same line or any other brand of sulfate and salt-free shampoo. However, when the results of your treatment start to fade, it is advisable to incorporate keratin-containing shampoo into your hair care regimen. This will keep your hair smoother and more resistant to humidity. 

This post contains links to Amazon. The publisher may get paid if You purchase something through the links without additional costs to You.

Related products: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Moisturizing Lather Shampoo, Keratin Rebuild Protein Structure, Smoothing Shampoo, by EMOLENT, It’s a 10 Haircare Miracle Shampoo Plus Keratin, Sulfate-Free, Keratin-Infused SHAMPOO by ORGANICOLAB, Keratin Healing Oil Lustrous Shampoo by Lanza, and Keratin Enriched Shampoo by BELLISSO.

a girl with long hair washed with a keratin shampoo

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Is Co-Washing Good for Your Hair?

What is Co-Washing?

Co-washing is short for conditioner-only washing and basically means washing your hair using conditioner instead of shampoo.

Too frequent shampooing can seriously dry out the scalp and hair. Dry hair is prone to frizz and breakage, especially if it is texturized or color-treated.

Co-washing helps to improve the natural moisture balance of dry, frizzy, and chemically treated hair. Conditioner washing makes thick, and coarse hair softer and easier to style.

Co-washing can be done in addition to your current hair shampooing routine, or it can be used in place of shampooing with the occasional use of a clarifying shampoo.

What are the Benefits of Co-Washing?

a beautiful African girl with co-washed hair

Here are a few of the benefits that will go with co-washing:

  1. Conditioner washing is much gentler on the hair than shampooing and can be performed more frequently.
  2. Prevents the depletion of your hair’s natural oils, keeping hair soft, more manageable, and less frizzy
  3. Allows for better hydration of your hair and scalp, so your hair stays moisturized and nourished
  4. Makes hair softer and easier to detangle, which means there are less tension and breakage during the combing
  5. Helps create beautifully defined curls and waves
  6. Co-washing is gentle on color-treated hair and keeps hair color looking fresh and vibrant between coloring services.

Precautions

Even though co-washing can be really beneficial, it’s not advisable to only co-wash for extended periods of time. You need to use an actual shampoo (sulfate-free or not) to cleanse your scalp and strands every so often. Try to use shampoo after every 2 co-wash wash days. If you don’t use any shampoo, you’ll likely experience product buildup, which will make your hair feel dry and keep it from being able to absorb products properly, making your products ineffective.

How to Co-Wash Your Hair?

Before you start with your co-washing routine, clarify your hair and scalp by using a sulfate-free shampoo to remove dirt, excess oil, and product buildup.

Completely soak your hair with water before applying conditioner, because wet hair better releases debris and other impurities. Apply a generous amount of a moisturizing conditioner in the same way you would apply your shampoo. Use your fingers to massage the conditioner into your scalp, and then scrub your strands working evenly through your hair in a downward motion. Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the conditioner from roots to ends.

Apply more product on the ends, which tend to be the driest part of your hair that needs additional moisture. Let the conditioner sit on your hair for three to five minutes before rinsing (five to 10 minutes for extra curly and frizzy hair). It is important to thoroughly rinse your hair to remove the co-washing product because the conditioner residue can leave your hair looking dull and lifeless. Use warm water to rinse. Hot water can be damaging to hair.

Adding co-washing into your hair care routine once a week will be just enough to reduce the drying effects of over-washing. Be sure to clarify every few weeks to remove product build-up, mineral deposits, debris, dirt, and other impurities.

a dark-skinned girl with co-washed hair sitting in a park

Hair Types that May Benefit from Co-Washing

1. Dry and Brittle Hair

If your hair and scalp are on the drier side, co-washing will soften your hair and keep your scalp moisturized. If your hair is very dry, you can use a cleansing conditioner in place of regular shampoo, every time you wash your hair. Be sure to use sulfate-free clarifying shampoo once a week to remove any buildup that can accumulate on your hair and scalp.

If you have moderately dry hair, alternate between co-washing and shampooing.

2. Curly Hair

Conditioner washing is a great solution for textured hair, as too-frequent shampooing can strip curly hair of much-needed natural oils.
Washing with conditioner helps refresh your curls without stripping hair of its precious natural moisture. In addition to infusing curly hair with moisture, co-washing helps with detangling and combing. It makes curly hair more manageable and helps create beautifully nourished waves and curls.

3. Colored Hair

Conditioner washing keeps the colored hair from over-drying and slows down the fading process. Using conditioner for washing instead of shampoo prevents stripping away pigments and leaves your hair shiny and healthy-looking.

A beautiful African girl with colored hair

4. Relaxed Hair

Co-washing is an excellent way to restore the moisture in your hair and scalp after chemical treatments like relaxers. Co-washing keeps relaxed hair from drying and falling off.

Not Suitable for Everyone’s Hair

The following are some hair types and conditions when co-washing is not the best choice:

1. Fine and Straight Hair

If your hair is thin and fine, co-washing will make it appear flat and oily. If your hair is fine and dense you can try alternating first. Apply conditioner to the mid-shaft and the ends. When applied close to the scalp, the conditioner can weigh your hair down.

2. Oily Hair

You may not see the full benefits of co-washing if you have oily hair. Oily hair needs shampoo to remove excess oil, and co-washing won’t do it.

3. Product Build-Up

If you regularly use styling products with silicone, mineral oil, and petroleum, occasional shampooing is essential to thoroughly cleanse your hair and prevent product buildup.

4. Scalp Problems

If you are experiencing scalp issues, co-washing may worsen existing problems. If you’re prescribed a shampoo that is designed for severe scalp conditions, stick to your regular shampooing routine and consult your doctor before you start experimenting.

 blonde woman playing with her fine co-washed hair

How to Care for Your Relaxed Hair

The hair relaxing process involves the use of strong chemicals designed to break down the protein bonds in the hair. To do the job, the chemical straightener needs to remove the invisible hair’s protective layer. This can leave hair dry, porous, and prone to breakage. To ensure that your relaxed hair stays bouncy, smooth, and frizz-free, proper care is essential.

Black hair requires very gentle handling because relaxing makes this type of hair very fragile and prone to damage from heat and chemicals. Hair that has already undergone some type of chemical processing can be seriously damaged by chemical relaxers.

How to Nourish Relaxed Hair

Beautiful African-American girl with relaxed hair

The relaxer is a rather strong chemical that, if left too long on the skin or scalp, will cause severe chemical burns. It is important to thoroughly rinse hair with water to get the chemicals out of your hair. Any trace of a relaxer that is left on your hair will continue to process and may cause your strands to break.

After rinsing out the relaxer proceed with the neutralizing shampoo to eliminate traces of relaxer that may remain in your hair. Active ingredients in the neutralizer will penetrate the hair shaft and stop the relaxer from working. Leaving the neutralizing shampoo in the hair for a few minutes helps restore chemically-treated hair to the natural pH balance.

Relaxers leave your hair very, very vulnerable. After rinsing out the neutralizing shampoo, apply a protein conditioning treatment to fill in the cracks in the hair shaft. The relaxing process leaves the cuticle lifted, so your hair will be ready to absorb and replenish the lost protein.

Some stylists prefer doing the protein treatment immediately after rinsing out the relaxer and before the neutralizing shampoo.

Some hair professionals suggest doing Olaplex Stand-Alone Treatment instead of a protein treatment, to reconnect broken bonds in your hair and prevent shedding.

How to Wash Relaxed Hair

Shampoo your hair twice a week and use conditioner after each shampoo. Use a moisturizing, sulfate-free shampoo and moisturizing conditioner formulated for chemically treated hair.

After applying shampoo, gently massage the scalp with your fingertips. Make sure not to use your nails. Using your nails can create tangles and cause breakage.

Apply conditioner and let it work for five to ten minutes. Untangle the hair using a wide-toothed comb. Work from the ends to the roots, with the conditioner still in your hair.

When you have finished combing rinse your hair with lukewarm water. Use cool water for mid-lengths and the ends of your hair to seal the cuticles and prevent frizz.

Wrap a soft towel around your head to remove water from the hair. Don’t squeeze or wring out your hair, just let the towel gently soak up the excess water. Follow with a cotton shirt and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

Always use a leave-in conditioner after washing and conditioning relaxed hair. Make sure to detangle your hair thoroughly at this stage.

Take a small amount of coconut oil between your fingers and coat the ends of your hair. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to help retain moisture inside the hair.

African-American girl with chemically straightened hair listening to music

Co-Washing Relaxed Hair

Shampooing too often can dry out chemically treated hair due to harsh detergents in traditional shampoo formulas. If you want to wash your relaxed hair more often than twice a week, “co-washing“, or “conditioner-only washing” is a gentler alternative to shampooing. This no-shampoo method can be done with a lightweight moisturizing conditioner, that cleanses and refreshes your hair without stripping the scalp of its natural oils. Washing with a cleansing conditioner adds moisture to your hair instead of taking it away, and can even be done daily.

Air Drying

Air drying is the healthiest option to dry your relaxed hair. To help your hair stay straight, wrap it into a cross wrap and tie it with a satin or silk hair scarf. Another way to get straight hair without heat is to smooth all the hair back into a loose bun.

For a nice, wavy look, the roller set is the best way to keep hair smooth without using too much heat. You can also put your hair in a braid and leave it that way until it is dry.

If you do blow-dry, let your hair air-dry partially before using the hairdryer. Put your blow-dryer on the lowest heat setting and hold it at least ten inches away from your hair. Also, make sure to constantly keep the device in motion.

Deep Conditioning

happy dark-skinned woman with nourished relaxed hair

Deep condition your relaxed hair at least every fortnight. Relaxers strip the hair of its natural oils. Deep conditioning helps rehydrate chemically treated hair and makes it strong enough to withstand styling. Coat your hair in the conditioner, starting from the ends. For best results, use a plastic cap and go under a hooded dryer. Let the conditioner sit for up to 30-45 minutes using a low heat setting. You can also put on a plastic cap and leave the treatment overnight.

Apply a protein-based deep conditioner once a month to strengthen your hair and replenish the lost protein. Make sure not to do protein treatments frequently, as too much protein can cause your hair to become weak and brittle.

Hydrolyzed Proteins

Adding hydrolyzed proteins to your shampoo or conditioner can be very beneficial for relaxed hair. Chemical relaxers can leave hair extremely dry, brittle, and prone to tangling and breakage. Hydrolyzed proteins added to your hair care products can fill in damaged areas in the cuticle layer. This strengthens your hair from within and reduces the risk of breakage.

Hot-Oil Treatment

Do a hot-oil treatment every week to add extra moisture and give body to your hair. Gently warm olive, coconut, or jojoba oil, and massage it into your freshly washed hair. Wrap your head in a plastic shower cap and leave the oil on for half an hour before rinsing.

Night Time Care 

Relaxed hair requires special care for bedtime. Conventional cotton pillowcases tend to rob the hair of moisture, and can cause friction and tangles. Sleeping on a satin pillow keeps your hair from getting tangled and prevents dryness. If you don’t have a silk or a satin pillowcase, tie your hair in a bun or wrap it in a silk cap. Apply a leave-in serum to the ends to keep them moisturized while sleeping.

MY RELAXED HAIR NIGHT-TIME ROUTINE by Healthy Hair Junkie

Heat Styling

Avoid using heat when styling your hair, as the high heat can cause relaxed hair to become very dry and prone to breakage. You can style your hair occasionally, using a high-quality, ceramic flat iron with adjustable heat controls. Be careful, because repeated usage of flat iron can burn relaxed hair.

When you are using a curling iron, hold the barrel cover slightly open – so the hair simply passes over the barrel without being tagged or pulled by pressure from the barrel cover.

Brushing

Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently detangle your hair. Never use a brush while your hair is still wet because brushing vet hair can cause breakage. Gently brush with a boar bristle brush and avoid pulling and tugging on your hair. Overbrushing relaxed hair can cause split ends and hair breakage.

Protective Styles

Wearing relaxed hair down daily is not advisable. Protective styling is one of the best ways to minimize hair breakage. Wearing the hair in a protective style helps hide the ends from harsh elements and from rubbing on your shoulders and clothes. Popular protective styles include buns, chignons, braids, twists, and weaves. Create protective styles that will last at least for a few days with minimal touch-ups and give your hair a rest from styling.

protective hairstyle for relaxed hair

Dying Relaxed Hair

You should wait at least two weeks after a relaxer service before applying permanent hair color. If the hair is brittle and prone to breakage, permanent hair color is not recommended.

Because chemical relaxers are so harsh on hair, consider picking a dye that doesn’t require bleach or ammonia. Restore color vibrancy and shine with a tinted conditioner, or use temporary and semi-permanent colors as well as ammonia-free hair colors. These colors can be used immediately following a chemical relaxer. Apply hair gloss or hair glaze to revive color and add glossy shine.

To cover gray hair, use demi-permanent hair color. To hide your gray roots between color services use temporary root touch-up products – like root touch-up sprays, color wands, and color touch-up powders.

Trimming

Keep your hair trimmed to remove dry split ends and uneven growth. Regular trims will prevent further damage to your hair. Get a trim every 2-3 months.

Healthy Diet

To increase your hair’s protein content, eat healthy meals, and incorporate a lot of protein-rich food into your diet. Drink plenty of water to keep your hair hydrated from the inside. Your hair will be healthier and resistant to breakage.

How to Avoid Over-Processing

Before the next relaxer service, make sure it’s been at least 10 weeks since your last touch-up. Applying relaxing treatments more frequently could lead to breakage and thinning. When retouching, only relax your new growth. Don’t use strong formulas every time you get your hair relaxed.

Beautiful black woman with  long relaxed hair

Hair Botox vs Brazilian Keratin Treatment: Which One is for You?

What Makes Hair Botox Different from Brazilian Keratin Treatment?

While both treatments will give you similar results, Hair Botox and keratin treatment are actually quite distinct from one another.

Things that hair Botox and keratin treatments have in common: They both create a smoothing effect, eliminate frizz, add shine, and help significantly reduce styling time.

Differences: The biggest difference between these treatments is that Hair Botox products don’t contain formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals that you can find in traditional keratin treatment products.

Other differences include that Hair Botox is a rejuvenating hair treatment, which works to restore the natural beauty of damaged hair, while keratin treatment is intended primarily as a hair straightening method that is not suitable for extremely damaged hair.

Your stylist will suggest treatment that is best suited to your needs. The proper choice of treatment depends on the condition of your hair, and the results you want to achieve.

Cute confident brunette with Botox treated hair

The Best Candidates for both Treatments

Keratin treatment is a great option for women with thick curly and unruly hair. This straightening treatment delivers perfect results on frizzy hair that is exposed to humid weather. On virgin hair, the effects won’t last as long as on porous and chemically treated hair. Keratin treatment is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women and children under the age of twelve. The treatment is also not intended for super fine, straight, or thin hair.

Hair Botox can be performed on all types of hair. This treatment is geared toward you if you have fine, dry, colored, bleached, overprocessed, dull, or lifeless hair. The treatment is considered safe to receive during pregnancy.

gorgeous young brunette with keratin treated hair

Health and Environmental Concerns

Traditional keratin products contain a chemical called formaldehyde that can be released during the flat ironing stage. Exposure to formaldehyde fumes can have harmful consequences for the client, stylist, and people around them.

On the other hand, hair Botox uses safe and environmentally friendly products. No toxic vapors are coming from the product and no gas mask is required when working with it.

gorgeous brunette after Hair Botox treatment

The Differences in the Procedure

Brazilian keratin treatment spreads the active keratin molecules on top of the hair, not inside the cuticle. Keratin molecules are too large to penetrate the hair strands.

Unlike keratin treatments, Hair Botox is a blend of essential nutrients like vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants. This mixture penetrates the cuticle to restore hair from the inside out. The treatment helps keep hair smooth, healthy, and strong.

gorgeous brunette with keratin treated hair

Can You Apply The Treatments at Home?

Keratin treatment should be done in a salon by a hair professional, following all the safety precautions. If you can’t afford it to be done professionally you need the proper tools and an experienced friend to help you with the application process.

Hair Botox treatment is safe to do at home, but an experienced hairstylist will ensure better results.

Cute brunette with Botox treated hair

Which Treatment Is Less Damaging to Hair?

Keratin products can sometimes cause hair to become dry and annoyingly brittle. If you have weak hair, flat ironing can cause damage to the cuticle resulting in hair breakage. Some people may experience increased hair shedding immediately after the treatment.

After receiving hair Botox treatment, you won’t experience negative side effects, such as dryness, breakage, and hair fall. If you want to keep your hair and scalp healthy in the long run, hair Botox may be a better option for you.

Which Treatment would Be More Suitable for You?

gorgeous young brunette with keratin straightened hair

A keratin treatment will make your hair appear naturally straight, smooth, and much more manageable. Keratin-treated hair will not become frizzy even when exposed to humid weather. Styling time will be dramatically decreased.

Hair Botox revitalizes damaged hair, repairs split ends, eliminates frizz, and adds magnificent shine to your hair. The treatment also nourishes your scalp and helps fight dandruff and hair loss.

Keratin straightening treatment is a better option if you want straight and manageable hair since the keratin treatments make hair straighter than hair Botox treatments.

If you want to bring your hair back to life and diminish the frizz but still keep your waves intact, then hair Botox is what you need.

Hair Botox smooths the curls and makes them much more manageable, but this treatment won’t completely straighten the hair.

Also, hair Botox would be a treatment of choice if you prefer not to use harsh chemicals.

If you have fine hair, keratin treatment will weigh your hair down, causing it to look flattened and without volume. Hair Botox is more suitable for fine hair, as it doesn’t reduce the volume or weigh your hair down to the same degree as a keratin treatment does.

Cute smiling brunette with Botox-treated hair

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How to Do a Botox Hair Treatment at Home

How to Do a Botox Hair Treatment at Home

The Hair Botox is the latest, non-invasive, repairing treatment formulated to restore vitality to hair that has been damaged by heat and chemical processing. This effective treatment promises to make your dull and aging hair look young and healthy again.

The formula generates its rejuvenating power from a blend of powerful antioxidants, proteins, and essential nutrients, including silk and wheat proteins, caviar oil, omega-3, amino acids, collagen complex, and vitamin B5. The Botox solution fills cracks in the hair shaft to provide intensive hydration and replenish lost protein. It also repairs split ends, reduces frizz, and adds a beautiful shine to your hair. The treatment nourishes strands from the inside out and gives the hair a smoothing effect without taking away volume.

Hair Botox treatment is friendly to all hair types, regardless of texture or condition. The total treatment time is about 1.5 hours, and the effects last for quite a few weeks.

Beautiful woman after hair Botox treatment

To get the desired results, it is advisable to consult an experienced professional to give you a good start. It is advisable to keep visiting the saloon until you become more familiar with the procedure. It is possible to apply the treatment at home, but you need to dedicate the appropriate amount of time. Make sure to follow the instructions and have another pair of hands if possible.

Below are described the common steps of the application procedure. Some products have slight variations in guidance regarding the required time for product application and appropriate flat iron temperature settings.

Hair Botox Procedure

HAIR BTX ??! OMG! DOES IT WORK? – YouTube video by Heidi

  1. Shampooing. Wash your hair twice with a clarifying shampoo to remove any residual chemicals and ensure that the hair is completely clean and ready to receive the treatment. Rinse thoroughly. Don’t use a conditioner at this stage.
  2. Blow-drying. Towel dry your hair to remove any excess water. Blow-dry your hair on medium heat to get hair about 80 percent dry. Untangle your hair.
  3. Preparing the Botox Mixture. Extract the required amount of product into a glass jar. Add the necessary quantity of warm water, depending on the chosen treatment and the result that you want to get. Mix with the brush until a homogeneous cream is formed.
  4. Application. Part hair into 4 sections. Apply the treatment with a color brush 1/4 inch from the root starting from the back. Do not over-saturate. Comb the solution throughout your hair to distribute the product evenly. Make sure that every hair strand is completely coated with the treatment.
  5. Wait. Leave the treatment on hair for about 45 minutes (allow extra time for very curly hair). Put on a shower cap and blow-dry your hair with hot air for about 15 minutes. The heat helps the mixture to penetrate the internal structure of the hair.
  6. Washing. Wash off 50% to 80% of the treatment, leaving the remaining 20%-50% for the blow-drying process, which will follow.
  7. Flat Ironing. Blow-dry your hair with a brush. Use a titanium flat iron to implement and seal the treatment. Set the flat iron temperature at 410- 450F. For fine or bleached hair, reduce heat to 356F.

How to Maintain the Results

You can wash your hair on the same day and you can style your hair the way you want it. To maintain hair Botox effects, use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner every time you wash your hair.

You may need to repeat this process every 1-3 months, depending on the product and the condition of your hair.

This post contains links to Amazon. The publisher may get paid if You purchase something through the links without additional costs to You.

Hair Botox Brands

1. Majestic Hair Botox

This formaldehyde-free, nutrient-rich formula includes caviar oil, B5, BONT-L Peptide, E vitamin, amino acids, and collagen complex. The Botox solution penetrates the inner layer of hair strands and restores hair from the inside out. The treatment claims to soften and nourish hair, eliminate frizz, repair damaged hair, mend split ends, add shine, and straighten curly hair.

Majestic Hair Botox can be used on any type of hair, including virgin hair, but the results will be more visible on previously chemically treated hair, as the porous hair will be more likely to absorb the treatment.

The treatment should be left in your hair for 50-75 minutes and the flat iron temperature should be set at 440F. You are free to wash your hair the same day after the treatment.

300 ml bottle is enough for 4 applications for medium-length hair or two applications for long hair. Be prepared to spend a good amount of time, as the process is time-consuming. The effects last 3-4 months on average. The manufacturer recommends washing the hair with the replenishing shampoo and conditioner that are included in the kits.

Majestic Hair Botox – Video tutorial by MAJESTIC KERATIN

a woman with shiny hair after Botox treatment

2. Brazilian Botox Hair Mask Treatment

There are two product options available: Brazilian Botox Hair Mask Treatment – Blond Hair and Brazilian Boto Hair Mask Treatment for Dark Hair.

The product claims to eliminate frizz, restore gloss, and reverse chemical hair damage. You can also wear curls if you wish.

After washing with a deep cleaning shampoo and drying hair up to 80%, the treatment should be applied to your hair. Leave it on for 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the desired degree of straightening. After rinsing the treatment, blow-dry your hair and style as you desire.  If you want to increase the straightening effect, you can use the flat iron after blow-drying.

The results last two to 2 to 4 months. Make sure to use sulfate-free shampoo for maintenance.

3. BotoSmart Rejuvenating Hair Treatmentir?t=softerhair 20&l=am2&o=1&a=B00Q1X3SV8 

This formaldehyde-free formula supplies the hair with natural keratin and plenty of nutrients. It forms a moisture barrier and gives the hair a frizz-free, soft, and shiny look without reducing the volume.

The product should be applied to towel-dried hair that has been previously washed with a clarifying shampoo. Apply the product to small sections of the hair and comb it through to coat each strand evenly. Cover the hair with a plastic cap and leave the product on for 30 to 45 minutes at room temperature or 20 to 25 minutes if you apply heat. Rinse approximately 60% of the product using warm water, then dry your hair completely. Set the flat iron temperature at 450F and iron small sections of the hair, passing over each section 4 to 6 times.

4. Prismax Botox Capilar ir?t=softerhair 20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01K0EQ0AE

This Hair Botox product offers a deep moisturizing treatment that conditions and restores damaged strands, giving hair shine, softness, and elasticity. Deep hydration helps control frizz and leaves your hair silky, soft, and manageable.

Application steps (Progressive Treatment Method)

  1. Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo.
  2. Blow-dry with cool air.
  3. Mix 5 cc of the product from the vial with 50 ml of warm water until a thick, white cream is formed.
  4. Divide hair into sections and apply the product to each section from the roots to the tips using a color brush.
  5. Cover hair with a thermal cup for 15 minutes or apply heat over a plastic wrap.
  6. Wash your hair with water, without shampoo to remove the product by 80%.
  7. Blow-dry the hair to your desired style.

5. Brazilian Hair Botox Expertir?t=softerhair 20&l=am2&o=1&a=B015DJ8K3Q 

Brazilian Hair Botox Expert Treatment for Damaged Hair is a professional treatment that provides a smoothening effect for up to 2 months. The patented formula utilizes a combination of Glutamic Acid, Collagen, and Almond Oil.

The treatment is advertised to repair the damage, reduce volume, tame frizz, and add a glossy shine to hair.

As with most Botox hair treatments, the process consists of clarifying, blow-drying, product application, and flat ironing stage.

Beautiful girl with botox treated hair

Tips for Getting the Perfect At-Home Blowout

Nothing makes a woman feel more attractive than a fresh salon blowout. However, getting a gorgeous, shiny blowout doesn’t mean you have to go to a salon.

A salon pro blowout can be achieved at home if you have the right tools and you know how to blow dry your hair.

The following tips ensure the perfect at-home blowout that you can create on your own, which could save you money.

How to Give Yourself a Salon Blowout 

hair blow-drying

The most essential tool to do a salon blowout at home is a quality hair dryer. A quality hair dryer should have adjustable heat and speed settings including a cool shot button. This blow-dryer should also have the necessary attachments such as a diffuser and concentrator. A diffuser is an essential accessory for styling curly hair while the concentrator nozzle helps to create straight hairstyles.

1. Comb your hair before shampooing to make sure it is completely tangle-free. Tangles and knots can get worse with shampooing and can interfere with blow-drying and styling. Use a wide-toothed comb and gently start detangling from the ends and slowly work your way up.

2. Use a shampoo that best suits your hair needs. If you have oily and thin hair, do not use moisturizing shampoo which can make your hair feel flatter and heavier.  Moisturizing shampoo works well for dry and processed hair. A moisturizing shampoo will lock in moisture and prevent the hair from over-drying when you blow-dry it.

However, oily hair needs a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo that will make your locks feel light and bouncy. Thin and fine hair needs a shampoo that gives lift and volume. Curly hair needs a smoothing shampoo that helps reduce frizz. If you have a buildup from using too many styling products, use a deep cleansing shampoo. If you have a problem with hard water or chlorine buildup, a chelating shampoo will be the perfect choice to give your hair a fresh start and restore its natural shine.

3. Apply a conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Avoid applying conditioner to your roots as it can leave your style looking flat. Also, make sure to thoroughly rinse away the conditioner as residues can weigh the hair down and ruin your blowout.

Woman applies conditioner to the hair

4. Towel dry your hair to absorb excess moisture. Use an ultra-absorbent microfiber towel that dries hair quicker than a cotton one, cutting down on the drying time. Simply cover your hair and allow it to dry for 15 minutes under a towel turban. Don’t rub the towel against your hair as the scrubbing movement can create friction resulting in frizzy hair.

5. Apply a blow-dry spray with heat-protective properties to prevent heat damage. Apply blow-dry spray while your hair is still damp to spread the product easier and more evenly.

6. Don’t blow dry your hair in the misty bathroom. High humidity can cause frizz. Open the bathroom door prior to drying or move to a room with a good mirror and no humidity.

7. Set your hair dryer on medium heat setting and rough-dry hair in circular motions. Massage the roots with your fingers to get them more lift. Continue with this finger massage until your hair is about 75% dry.

8. Divide your hair into four to six sections and use clips to hold it in place. Work with small sections, starting from the areas that are hardest to work with. Combine the section you have finished with the section that is still damp and blow-dry them together. Such blending will give a more natural appearance to your style.

girl using blow-dryer

9. Use a brush made of heat-resistant material. Metal brushes heat up quickly and can damage the hair. A boar bristle brush has the right tension to make hair smooth and shiny. A round bristle brush works best for giving hair some lift and for creating volume. A paddle brush works better for straight and sleek hairstyles.

10. Keep the dryer at a distance of a minimum of 6 inches away from the hair to protect your hair and scalp from getting burnt. If you need to spend some extra time on certain areas of your hair, use the lower heat setting to avoid damage and prevent the hair from over-drying. Keep the blow-dryer in motion and avoid focusing on a single spot. This helps prevent over-drying and uneven texture.

11. Make sure to use the concentrator nozzle to focus the air stream for more targeted drying. The nozzle prevents hair from burning and helps reduce the appearance of frizz. Point the nozzle down and follow the natural direction of the hair, from root to tip. This helps to seal the cuticle for more smoothness and shine. In the opposite case, blow-drying hair upwards will ruffle the cuticle, causing a frizzy mess.

girl uses a blow dryer with the nozzle pointed down

12. If your arms get tired easily, start the blow-drying process from the front part, because the front pieces are the most important for creating the perfect look.

13. Practice a mix of cool and hot air. The heat from the blow dryer causes the hair cuticle to open which allows you more control over your hair. Cold blasts tame static and seal the cuticle for an extra shiny finish.

Once you’ve finished drying, blast your hair with a shot of cold air while gently brushing it. This aligns the cuticle, adds extra shine, and helps the style to set.

Hair Dryer Brushes for a Salon-Style Blowout

If you find that using a hair dryer and a round brush takes too much time and effort, you may want to try a hot airbrush. Hot air stylers dry your hair while styling it. The result is a voluminous, smooth, and shiny blow-out. To minimize the chances of heat damage, it would be best to air dry your hair a bit before using this tool. These brushes work best on medium-length hair.

A girl using hair dryer brush

Sulfate Free Dandruff Shampoos that are Worth Buying

Scalp flaking happens because of increased skin cell turnover, which can be triggered by skin dryness during the cold winter months. It also can be caused by a fungus called Malassezia, which can irritate your scalp and cause flaking.

For years, anti-dandruff prescription shampoos have been considered the top choice for controlling the appearance of dandruff. Unfortunately, some of those shampoos contain ingredients such as coal tar, selenium sulfide, zinc pyrithione, and ketoconazole, which are known to be harsh on the skin.

Many over-the-counter, chemical-based shampoos are formulated to target this problem. Ideally, the perfect dandruff shampoo should provide relief without the use of abrasive chemicals that may cause harm to your health.

Natural dandruff shampoos are formulated with gentle ingredients such as plant extracts and essential oils that help balance the scalp. Such herbal-based shampoos are known for their non-toxic nature, so you can feel confident that you are not harming your skin and body.

Young girl with dandruff problem in front of the mirror

7 Naturally Based Dandruff Shampoos

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1. Maple Holistics Sage Shampoo for Dandruff with jojoba, argan, and organic tea tree oils is formulated to fight moderate to severe dandruff. Sage herb is a dermatologist-recommended for its’ ability to combat dermatitis. Spikenard and sage work together to promote hair growth. Jojoba and argan oils add shine to hair, balance sebum production, and nourish the scalp. Like most natural shampoos, it doesn’t create rich leather. Its strong herbal aroma doesn’t linger in the hair.

2. ORIBE Serene Scalp Anti-dandruff Shampoo is a gentle dandruff shampoo that contains 2% salicylic acid. Salicylic acid gently exfoliates the scalp to remove sebum build-up and dead skin cells. This shampoo is designed to relieve and prevent dandruff and soothe dry and irritated scalps.

Scalp soothing and healing ingredients include Bilberry Fruit & Sugar Maple Extracts, Caffeine, Sugarcane Extract, and Orange & Lemon Fruit Extracts.

This anti-dandruff shampoo is formulated without sulfates, parabens, and sodium chloride. It is safe for colored and chemically straightened hair.

Leave-on Treatment: ORIBE Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-on Treatment is formulated to reduce scalp irritation and nourish dry and itchy scalps. This fast-absorbing, leave-in treatment rejuvenates hair follicles and exfoliates the scalp while removing loose flakes.

3. Pure Tea Tree Oil Shampoo for Dandruff is formulated with natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial ingredients to reduce dandruff, soothe itchy scalps, and control hair loss and acne breakouts. This shampoo doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, which is important if you have sensitive skin. It has a mild, soothing scent. This product is color-safe and free of parabens, harsh sulfates, and animal testing.

4. Davines Purifying Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is formulated with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ingredients to fight microbial attacks and clear up dandruff.

It works either for dry or greasy dandruff and helps soothe itchy scalps.

This potent clarifying and detoxifying shampoo helps to cleanse and balance the scalp to keep the follicles in good condition and promote healthy hair growth.

It contains selenium sulfide (0.6%) – a chemical that is not recommended for longer contact with the skin, but this ingredient increases the ability of this shampoo to efficiently control persistent dandruff.

The smell is quite strong but still less irritating than with most medicated anti-dandruff shampoos.

This shampoo is not color-safe, so keep that in mind if your hair is freshly colored and you want to keep the color looking vibrant. Another downside is its low ability to create leather which makes it hard to spread. To get richer foam, add a bit of your regular shampoo.

5. SheaMoisture African Black Soap Dandruff Control Shampoo is formulated with natural and certified organic ingredients to deeply cleanse hair and scalp, remove product build-up, and soothe the dry, itchy, and flaking scalp. African Black Soap, Bamboo Charcoal, Tea Tree Oil, and Willow Bark Extract help calm dandruff without the use of harsh chemicals. This shampoo also revitalizes hair and leaves it feeling fresh and clean.

6. If you travel a lot, you will need a compact anti-dandruff treatment to pack in your carry-on bag. Naturel Soothe Dandruff Shampoo Bar perfectly meets your needs while protecting your luggage from spills.

7. Another travel-friendly dandruff shampoo is Solid Shampoo Bar for Dandruff or Touchy Scalps by Ethique. This eco-friendly solid shampoo bar is formulated with natural oils to combat dandruff and calm itchy scalps.

a woman washing her hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo

What Results are Realistic to Expect?

A natural anti-dandruff shampoo won’t eliminate severe dandruff. However, it can significantly reduce symptoms and keep your condition bearable. A sulfate-free dandruff shampoo leaves your scalp moisturized and nourished. It also makes your hair softer and more manageable.

Although sulfate-free shampoos don’t produce many suds, they are effective in cleaning your hair and scalp.

a woman brushing her long healthy hair

How to Get Maximum Results from Using a Natural Dandruff Shampoo?

  1. Be sure to leave the product in your hair for at least a couple of minutes to allow your scalp to absorb all the therapeutic benefits. Massage gently for a couple of minutes to rub the product into your scalp. Rinse and repeat because the first shampoo gets the scalp clean, while the second one nourishes it.
  2. Do not give up if you don’t see the results from the first use. Dandruff is going away with each wash. It can take a few shampoos to see a noticeable difference.
  3. Rinse your hair with cool or lukewarm water. The cool water rinse helps reduce irritation. Your scalp can get itchy and dry if you wash your hair with hot water.
  4. Apply a vinegar rinse once a week to help reduce flaking and add sheen to your hair.
  5. Add a few drops of jojoba oil to your favorite shampoo or conditioner to help dissolve the dandruff scales and keep the pores clean.
  6. Use a good conditioner because shampoo can be a little drying on the hair, and combing it out can be a challenge. Maple Holistics Tea Tree Oil Conditioner is a good accompaniment to any dandruff shampoo.
  7. If you have been using the same shampoo for several months, your scalp may become immune to it. Once you figure that the effectiveness of your current shampoo is decreased, start to rotate brands. Switch to a different brand every few months. Such a combination of multiple shampoos can provide you with better and longer-lasting results than using a single product.  
Happy woman after washing hair with dandruff shampoo

Good Reasons to Use Sulfate-free Dandruff Shampoos 

  1. Having a very dry scalp can cause flaking which provides a good environment for fungi to grow. Sulfate-based products can strip the scalp of natural oils that protect your skin from fungal infections. Natural anti-dandruff shampoos are much less drying than sulfate-containing shampoos. Your scalp and hair are clean without feeling stripped. They do a good job of keeping dandruff under control without harming your scalp and hair.
  2. Sulfate-free, naturally-based dandruff shampoos are gentle enough to be used on very sensitive skin. This is important if you are allergic to preservatives and certain chemicals in skincare products. Many popular dandruff shampoos contain irritating ingredients that can cause scalp flaking or inflammation. Artificial fragrances and harsh chemical ingredients often trigger or exacerbate dandruff. Natural dandruff shampoos not only reduce dandruff but also nourish your scalp.
  3. Some active ingredients in medicated antidandruff shampoos can affect the vibrancy of your hair color. Sulfate-free shampoos are gentle on your colored hair. After dying your hair, you can use sulfate-free, anti-dandruff shampoo with no problem.
  4. If you recently have received a keratin treatment, you need to use only sulfate-free products including sulfate-free dandruff shampoos. Natural dandruff shampoos are the only keratin-safe shampoos you can use to keep your dandruff under control.
  5. Scalp inflammation can inhibit healthy hair growth, contributing to thinning hair or hair loss. Gentle sulfate-free shampoos help reduce the severity of hair thinning associated with scalp inflammation.
  6. Natural dandruff shampoos don’t leave your head with an unpleasant medicated scent that most prescribed anti-dandruff shampoos do. Instead, they have a relaxing and refreshing herbal fragrance that doesn’t linger on your hair.
  7. Sulfate-free shampoos are not harmful to the environment. When washed away there are no toxic chemicals enter the water system.

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Which Anti-Dandruff Shampoo to Use on Color-Treated Hair?