Last Updated on January 9, 2023 by Gaga
How Long Does Keratin Treatment Last in Your Hair?
Keratin treatments are a semi-permanent straightening process for those with unruly curls. The effects fade over time, with the moisture from each hair wash opening hair cuticles and stripping away some of the keratin coatings. There is no unsightly demarcation line between keratin-treated and regrown hair since the treatment fades away gradually as your hair grows. The straighter your hair is, the harder it is to notice the difference between treated and regrown hair.
By the time the root regrowth of your natural hair becomes too long, the effects of the treatment on the rest of the hair will almost disappear.
Traditional keratin treatments, if done professionally, last approximately 3-4 months. This is dependent on your hair texture and how well you adhere to the aftercare instructions. Formaldehyde-free smoothing formulas are designed to combat frizz, allowing hair to retain its natural curl pattern. Results can vary depending on the selected treatment and may last anywhere between 1 and 5 months.
How Does Freshly Keratin Treated Hair Looks Like?
Keratin treatment fills the cracks in the hair structure making your hair look healthy and shiny. The treatment forms the layer of keratin around hair strands. This keratin film blocks humidity that would otherwise cause strands to swell, resulting in a frizzy appearance. Curly hair gets straight in shape and temporarily loses the ability to hold a curl. Your morning hair routine is effortless, and you can enjoy gorgeous straight hairstyles. You don’t need your flat iron anymore. After blow-drying your hair feels silky smooth with a sleek and glossy finish.
What Are the Signs that Your Keratin Treatment Has Started to Fade?
Over time your keratin treatment begins to show signs of wear and tear. If your hair grows fast, and your natural texture is curly or coarse, your untreated roots will be more noticeable. The treated portions of your hair will begin to return to their original state, which may result in an uneven and messy texture until your hair eventually returns to its normal shape.
Another problem you may experience when your treatment starts to wear off is frizzy hair. That is exactly what the treatment is aimed to prevent.
A good thing about a keratin treatment is that you can use flat iron without fear that it will speed up the fading process. However, some may not want to return to their flat iron again.
So now what? Some women feel the need to get a new treatment to maintain a straight, smooth look. Others may want to speed up the fading process to return their hair to its natural state faster.
The best thing you can do is to try to be patient and treat your hair gently.
What Options Do You Have Once Your Keratin Treatment Starts to Fade?
There are basically 3 options available:
- Re-Apply the keratin treatment.
- Speed up the fading process.
- Deep condition and use keratin-enriched products.
How Often Can You Do Keratin Treatment?
If you like the results provided by the keratin treatment service and looking forward to making the next appointment, you should be aware of potential side effects.
Keratin treatments are chemical-based, so most hair professionals recommend a maximum of three treatments per year. This means waiting for a minimum of 4 months between treatments. Some stylists advise waiting 6 months between treatments, especially if your hair has undergone a formaldehyde-based treatment. Those with damaged and fine hair should wait longer than those with thick hair.
The next keratin treatment will be applied to the entire hair strand, not just the regrown roots. Frequent applications can result in a flat look and brittle strands that break easily. More frequent keratin treatments can also increase the possibility of unwanted effects due to chemical exposure and damage from repeating passes of the hot flat iron.
I suggest building a good relationship with the stylist you can trust and letting him/her determine when it is the right time to re-apply the treatment.
How to Remove Keratin from Your Hair?
If you are not interested in reapplying keratin treatment and want your natural texture back as soon as possible, you can speed up the fading process to some extent. Just oppositely treat your hair as your aftercare instructions say. Use sulfate and salt-containing shampoos and wash your hair more frequently than usual. Also, use sea salt spray and clarify more often.
However, be aware that harsh shampoos can dry out your hair.
Give Your Hair Some TLC: Deep Condition and Use Keratin-Infused Hair Products
Deep Conditioning
To combat dryness and frizz before your next appointment, deep conditioning is the answer. Deep conditioning hydrates your hair and gives it all the necessary nutrients. Incorporating deep conditioning treatment into your weekly routine will temporarily fix problems with frizz and improve the overall look of your hair.
Keratin Shampoos and Conditioners
Keratin-infused shampoos and conditioners contain small particles of keratin that can adhere to your strands and stay there for 2-3 washes. These products create volume, reduce the appearance of frizz, and make hair look smoother. Check the label and look for ‘keratin amino acids’ or ‘hydrolyzed keratin’ on the ingredient list.
Keratin Enriched Leave-in Conditioners and Serums
Unlike shampoo and conditioner, which are meant to be rinsed after a short application, some products infused with keratin are formulated to stay in your hair. Keratin leave-in conditioners and serums have more potent reparative properties to temporarily restore damaged strands and tame frizzy and flyaway hair.
In Conclusion
If you have fine and thin hair, you are probably not an ideal candidate for receiving keratin treatment. If you do apply keratin treatment, make sure to wait 4-6 months to redo the treatment. If your hair is thick, coarse, and unmanageable, you may see noticeable benefits from receiving a keratin straightening or smoothing service. I suggest opting for formaldehyde- and aldehyde-free formulas that will combat frizz and increase manageability. You also will be able to re-apply formaldehyde-free formulas more often than formaldehyde-based formulas because there are fewer harsh chemicals.
Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.