Just Got a Keratin Treatment? Here's How Not to Ruin It

Okay, so you just got a keratin treatment. Your hair looks amazing. You feel amazing. And now you're sitting at home thinking, "What am I allowed to do with my hair? Can I wash it? Can I tie it up? What happens if I mess this up?"

I get these panicked texts and calls all the time from clients who are terrified they're going to do something wrong and ruin their treatment.

So let me just tell you exactly what you need to do, what you need to avoid, and what actually matters versus what doesn't.

I'm Danielle, I work at Rock Paper Scissors in Chino, and while I specialize in Brazilian Blowouts, we do keratin treatments here too, and the aftercare is similar enough that I can tell you what's important.

The First Few Days (This Is When People Freak Out the Most)

Here's the good news: modern keratin treatments are way more forgiving than the old ones.

With the old formulas, you couldn't wash your hair for three days. You couldn't get it wet at all. You couldn't put it in a ponytail. If you did any of those things, you'd get a weird crease in your hair and the treatment would be ruined.

Most keratin treatments now let you wash your hair pretty much right away. Check with your stylist about the specific product they used, but in general, you're not stuck with unwashed hair for days.

That said, there are still some things you need to be careful about in the first week.

Don't use regular shampoo. You need sulfate free shampoo. Sulfates strip the keratin out of your hair. If you use your regular drugstore shampoo, your treatment is going to fade way faster than it should.

I had a client last year who got a keratin treatment and then used her normal Pantene shampoo because she "didn't think it mattered." Two weeks later she came back complaining that the treatment didn't work. I asked what shampoo she was using. She told me. I said, "That's why."

Avoid chlorine and salt water for at least a week. Pools and the ocean will both mess with the treatment. If you absolutely have to swim, wet your hair with clean water first and put some conditioner or leave in treatment in it to create a barrier. But honestly, just skip swimming for a week if you can.

Don't use super high heat on your hair. You can blow dry and style your hair, but keep the temperature reasonable. Don't crank your flat iron to 450 degrees.

Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase if you have one. Cotton creates friction, which can cause frizz. Silk or satin is smoother. If you don't have a silk pillowcase, put your hair in a very loose braid or bun. Don't pull it tight.

That's it. That's the critical stuff for the first week. It's not that complicated.

Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo 33.8oz

Your New Shampoo and Conditioner Situation

This is non negotiable: you have to use sulfate free products.

Sulfates are the harsh cleansing agents in regular shampoo that make it lather really well. They also strip color, strip keratin, strip everything good out of your hair.

You need sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. I don't care what brand. Keratin Complex, Amika, Aluram, whatever. Just check the label and make sure it says sulfate free.

You also need to wash your hair less often. I know some people are addicted to daily washing, but every time you wash your hair, you're slowly washing the treatment out. Try to go 2 to 3 times a week max.

Use dry shampoo on the days you don't wash. It'll absorb oil and keep your hair looking fresh without actually washing out the treatment.

And once a week, use a deep conditioning mask instead of your regular conditioner. Your hair needs moisture to stay healthy and keep the keratin treatment working properly.

What You Can and Can't Do With Your Hair

People think that once you get a keratin treatment, your hair is locked into being straight forever. That's not true.

You can still curl your hair. You can still put it in a ponytail. You can style it however you want.

The treatment just makes your hair smoother and less frizzy. It doesn't permanently change your ability to do things with it.

You can blow dry your hair. Just point the dryer downward so the cuticle lays flat, and don't use crazy high heat.

You can flat iron your hair if you want, but honestly, you probably won't need to as much because your hair will already be smoother. If you do flat iron, keep it under 350 degrees.

You can curl your hair. Your curls might actually look better and more defined than before because your hair is smoother and healthier.

The one thing you need to do is use a heat protectant spray before you use any hot tools. Every time. Not optional.

How Long It Actually Lasts (And Why It Might Not Last as Long as You Think)

A keratin treatment should last 3 to 6 months depending on your hair type and how you take care of it.

The first month or two, your hair is going to look and feel amazing. Super smooth, barely any frizz, easy to style.

Around month 3 or 4, you'll start to notice your natural texture coming back. A little more wave, a little more frizz. This is normal. The treatment is gradually wearing off.

By month 5 or 6, most of it will be gone and your hair will be pretty close to how it was before the treatment.

How long it lasts depends entirely on what you do with it. If you wash your hair every day with regular shampoo and swim in chlorinated pools and use high heat styling tools constantly, your treatment is going to be gone in 6 weeks.

If you use sulfate free products, wash your hair 2 to 3 times a week, protect it from chlorine and sun, and don't abuse it with heat, you'll get the full 4 to 6 months out of it.

I've seen both extremes. I've had clients who make their keratin treatments last half a year. I've had clients who ruin them in a month.

The Mistakes People Make

Here are the most common ways people mess up their keratin treatments:

Using regular shampoo because they didn't want to buy new products. I've said this like five times already, but it's the number one mistake. Don't do this.

Going swimming without protecting their hair. Chlorine is terrible for keratin treatments. So is salt water. If you're going to swim, wet your hair with clean water first and put conditioner in it. Or wear a swim cap. Or just don't put your head underwater.

Using scalding hot flat irons. You don't need your flat iron at 450 degrees. That's too hot. It'll damage your hair and break down the keratin faster. Keep it at 350 or below.

Washing their hair every single day. Every wash removes a little bit of the treatment. If you wash daily, it's going to be gone fast.

Not using a heat protectant. Your hair might feel strong and healthy, but it still needs protection from heat. Use a heat protectant spray every time you blow dry or use hot tools.

What to Do When It Starts to Fade

Around month 3 or 4, you're going to notice the treatment fading. More frizz, more of your natural texture coming back.

This is normal and expected. The treatment isn't permanent.

If the frizz is bothering you, you can use a smoothing serum or anti frizz cream on damp hair before you blow dry. That'll help manage it.

You can also come in for a gloss or toner service to add shine back to your hair even as the treatment fades.

Or you can just ride it out until it's time for your next keratin treatment.

Some people get keratin treatments every 3 to 4 months. Some people stretch it to 6 months. It depends on your budget and how much the frizz bothers you.

Do You Really Need All These Products?

Yes and no.

You absolutely need sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. That's not optional. Everything else is helpful but not required.

A heat protectant spray is a really good idea if you use hot tools regularly.

A deep conditioning mask once a week will help your hair stay healthy, but if you're already using a good conditioner, you might be fine without it.

A smoothing serum or oil can help with frizz as the treatment fades, but it's not necessary in the first few months when your hair is still super smooth.

Don't feel like you have to buy ten new products. Just get good sulfate free shampoo and conditioner, and maybe a heat protectant. That's the basics.

What Happens If You Mess Up

Let's say you accidentally used regular shampoo. Or you went swimming in a chlorinated pool without protecting your hair. Or you flat ironed your hair at 450 degrees.

Is your treatment ruined?

Probably not completely, but you did shorten its lifespan. One mistake isn't going to totally destroy it, but repeated mistakes will.

If you realize you messed up, just go back to taking care of it properly. Use sulfate free products, avoid chlorine, use lower heat. You might not get the full 6 months out of the treatment, but you can still get several months.

If your hair starts looking frizzy or damaged way sooner than it should, come back to the salon and we can assess what's going on. Maybe we can do a gloss or a treatment to help. Maybe you just need to book your next keratin treatment sooner than planned.

The Bottom Line

Taking care of a keratin treatment is not complicated. Use sulfate free shampoo. Wash your hair less often. Avoid chlorine. Don't use crazy high heat. That's it.

If you do those things, your treatment will last months and your hair will look great the whole time.

If you don't, you're wasting your money.

We're at Rock Paper Scissors, 5222 D St. in Chino. If you have questions about your aftercare or you're ready to book your next treatment, call us at (909) 707-9553 or book online.

Don't ruin your expensive keratin treatment with $5 shampoo. Just don't.

Danielle