10 Don’ts for Keratin Treatment Users

Last Updated on September 25, 2022 by Gaga

1. Avoid Salons that Use a Traditional Keratin Straightening Method

Traditional keratin treatments use straightening products that contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde donors to seal the keratin in your hair. The strong chemicals in formaldehyde-based products can damage your hair and scalp and irritate your eyes and throat. Choose a salon that respects your health and cares for the employees.

Another problem with traditional keratin treatments is that the instructions tell you to wait 72 hours before you wash your hair.

Nowadays, a wide variety of modern keratin treatment products don’t require you to go three days without washing your hair.

Beautiful dark-skinned woman taking care of her keratin-treated hair

2. Don’t Apply Professional Straightening Products by Yourself

If the instructions indicate that the straightening product is meant for professional use only, make sure to have your treatment done in a salon. This is especially important if you are new to the keratin straightening process. Once you become more familiar with the procedure, you can try the treatment on your own.

3. Don’t Shampoo your Hair too Often

Keratin treatment washes away a little bit with every shampoo. Shampooing too frequently may shorten the longevity of the treatment. If you sweat a lot or your hair looks greasy, you can use a dry shampoo to refresh your hair between washes.

Since most dry shampoos tend to create buildup in your hair, make sure to choose a lightweight, residue-free formula that is made with keratin-friendly ingredients.

4. Don’t Use Regular Shampoos

Ordinary shampoos contain sulfate detergents that are harsh on chemically straightened hair. They also use sodium chloride to give optimal viscosity to liquid shampoos. However, salt can dissolve the keratin protein in the hair, making your treatment wash away faster.

Look for a shampoo enriched with hydrolyzed proteins or amino acids. These building blocks of keratin will help repair cracks in the hair shaft once your treatment starts wearing off.

a woman is proud of her long keratin straightened hair

5. Stay Away from Salt Water and Chlorinated Pools

Salt in seawater and chlorine in swimming pools tend to strip your hair of keratin. If you go swimming, make sure to protect your hair by wearing a swimming cap or by saturating your hair with a keratin-enriched conditioner before swimming. This will help shield your keratin treatment from the abrasive effects of salt and chlorine.

6. Don’t Use High Heat

Keratin treatment drastically reduces hair maintenance and the need for heating tools. However, once your treatment starts to wear off and your hair becomes more prone to frizz, you might want to use a flat iron to get a smooth and shiny finish.

Make sure to use heat styling tools sparingly, and use only low and moderate heat settings to avoid heat damage and stripping away the proteins from your hair.

attractive young woman with keratin straightened hair on a grey background

7. Use Hair Oils Sparingly

After receiving the keratin treatment, you don’t need to use hair oils for styling purposes. The use of hair oils may result in greasy-looking hair, and we know that frequent shampooing is not good for the longevity of your treatment. However, you can use hair oils when doing a deep conditioning treatment. Once the effects of your treatment start to wear off, you can apply hair oil to the ends of your hair to tame frizz and boost shine.

8. Don’t Overdo It with Styling Products

Make sure to limit the use of hair styling products, as using too many leads to product buildup. To remove the buildup, you need to clarify. Using a clarifying shampoo will shorten the longevity of your keratin treatment. Make sure to use styling products sparingly and choose only lightweight formulas.

9. Don’t Dye Your Hair Immediately After Receiving Keratin Straightening Service

It is a good idea to refrain from coloring your hair for about two weeks after the keratin service. The coloring process opens the hair cuticle and some of the keratin may be removed. You will need to use high heat to seal the cuticle again. Coloring your hair before receiving the keratin treatment can only be done by an experienced colorist as the keratin treatment will make your hair lighter than your desired shade.

10. Don’t Experiment with Different Hairstyles

Once you get that sleek, straight look, you should refrain from experimenting with different hairstyles for a while. Wearing your hair down and straight is the best option after you have received the keratin straightening service. If you get tired of your long and straight hair, you can get a layered haircut that will look glamorous on keratin-straightened hair. Just make sure not to have a haircut immediately after receiving keratin treatment.

Beautiful girl with straightened hair in a beauty salon

2 thoughts on “10 Don’ts for Keratin Treatment Users”

  1. Hi. I have a job that requires me to wear my hair up in a bun everyday. How long after getting this keratin treatment do I have to wait before I can style my hair in a bun or ponytail?

  2. The precautions vary depending on the product. For conventional keratin treatments, it is advisable to wear hair down for at least three days after the application. After that period you can tie your hair up, or wear a ponytail.

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