Thinking About a Keratin Treatment? Let Me Explain What It Actually Does

People confuse keratin treatments with Brazilian Blowouts all the time. I get asked about the difference at least twice a week.

Here's the short answer: they're similar but not the same. A Brazilian Blowout is what I specialize in, and it gives you that smooth, sleek, frizz free result. A keratin treatment is more about strengthening your hair and reducing frizz while keeping more of your natural texture.

If you love your waves or curls but you're tired of the frizz and you want your hair to be healthier and easier to manage, a keratin treatment might be what you need.

I'm Danielle, I work at Rock Paper Scissors in Chino, and while Brazilian Blowouts are my thing, we have stylists here who specialize in keratin treatments. Let me walk you through what it actually is and whether it makes sense for your hair.

What a Keratin Treatment Actually Does

A keratin treatment is not a relaxer. It's not going to permanently straighten your hair or change your curl pattern forever.

What it does is add keratin protein back into your hair. Your hair is made of keratin naturally, but damage from heat styling, coloring, sun exposure, all of that breaks down the keratin over time. Your hair gets weak, porous, and frizzy.

A keratin treatment fills in those damaged, porous spots with protein. It strengthens the hair shaft and smooths the cuticle. The result is hair that's smoother, shinier, less frizzy, and stronger.

It's semi permanent, meaning it lasts about 3 to 6 months depending on your hair type and how you take care of it. Then it gradually wears off and your hair goes back to its natural state.

The big difference between a keratin treatment and a Brazilian Blowout is the end result. Brazilian Blowouts give you straighter, sleeker hair. Keratin treatments keep more of your natural texture but make it softer and more manageable.

I had a client maybe a year ago, Christina, who had really curly hair that was damaged from years of bleaching. She didn't want to lose her curls, but the frizz was out of control and her hair felt like straw. I sent her to Angelina, one of our stylists who does keratin treatments, and the difference was huge. Her curls were still there, but they were softer, shinier, and way less frizzy. She could actually run her fingers through her hair without it getting tangled.

Product you may use:  Olaplex Bond Maintenance conditioner No. 5

What Happens During the Appointment

If you're getting a keratin treatment, here's what the process looks like.

First, we do a consultation. We need to know what your hair has been through. Have you colored it? Bleached it? Do you use heat styling tools every day? What's your natural texture? What do you want the end result to be?

Then we wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo. This strips away all the buildup, oil, product residue, everything. We need a clean base for the treatment to work properly.

Next, we apply the keratin formula to your hair in small sections, making sure every strand is coated. This takes a while because we're being thorough.

Then you sit for 30 to 45 minutes while it processes.

After that, we blow dry your hair completely. Then comes the flat ironing, which is the most important step. The heat from the flat iron seals the keratin into your hair cuticle. We go through your hair section by section with the flat iron at a high temperature. This is what makes the treatment last.

The whole thing takes about 2 to 3 hours depending on your hair length and thickness.

You can see the results immediately. Your hair looks shinier and feels smoother right away.

The Aftercare (Which Actually Matters)

After you get a keratin treatment, you usually have to wait 48 to 72 hours before you wash your hair. Some formulas let you wash sooner, but most require a waiting period for the treatment to fully set.

During those first few days, you also can't get your hair wet from rain or sweat, and you can't put it in a ponytail or clip because that can leave a crease. Basically, you have to leave your hair down and keep it dry.

After the waiting period, you need to use sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates will strip the treatment out faster. You also want to avoid chlorine from pools and salt water from the ocean as much as possible because those will fade the treatment.

If you take care of it properly, a keratin treatment can last 4 to 6 months. If you don't, it'll be gone in 6 weeks and you just wasted your money.

I've seen people get keratin treatments and then immediately go back to using their regular drugstore shampoo with sulfates. The treatment fades so fast. Don't do that.

What It Can and Can't Do

Let's be realistic about expectations.

A keratin treatment will reduce frizz significantly. Not 100%, but a lot. If your hair is a frizzy mess now, it'll be way more manageable after the treatment.

It will make your hair feel stronger and healthier, especially if your hair is damaged.

It will cut down your styling time. If you normally spend 45 minutes blow drying and flat ironing your hair, you might only need 20 minutes after a keratin treatment.

It will make your natural texture softer and more defined. If you have waves, they'll be smoother and less frizzy. If you have curls, they'll be elongated and easier to manage.

What it won't do is make your hair completely straight unless you already have pretty straight hair to begin with. If you have very curly hair and you want it bone straight, you need a chemical relaxer, not a keratin treatment.

It also won't fix severely damaged hair. If your hair is breaking off and falling out, a keratin treatment might help a little, but you really need to focus on cutting off the damage and starting fresh.

Who Should Get a Keratin Treatment

Keratin treatments work best for people who have wavy or curly hair that's frizzy and hard to manage, but they don't want to lose their natural texture completely.

They're also good for people with damaged hair who want to strengthen it and make it healthier.

If you have very fine, thin hair, a keratin treatment might weigh your hair down and make it look flat. You might be better off with a lighter treatment or just a good deep conditioning mask.

If you already have straight hair and no frizz issues, you probably don't need a keratin treatment. It's not going to give you a dramatically different result.

And if you want your curly hair to be completely straight, a keratin treatment isn't going to do that. You need something more aggressive.

Why It Works Well Here in Southern California

Living in the Inland Empire means dealing with dry heat and Santa Ana winds. Both of those things are terrible for your hair.

The dry air makes your hair brittle and prone to breakage. The wind tangles it and makes it frizzy.

A keratin treatment creates a protective barrier on your hair that helps it retain moisture in the dry air. It also makes your hair smoother so it's less likely to tangle in the wind.

I live here too, and I have a Brazilian Blowout because I want my hair completely smooth. But for people who want to keep their waves or curls, a keratin treatment is perfect for our climate.

What It Costs

Keratin treatments usually cost $200 to $350 depending on your hair length and thickness. Longer, thicker hair costs more because it takes more product and more time.

That's not cheap. But if it lasts 4 to 6 months, you're looking at about $1 to $2 per day. And you're saving time every single day because your hair is easier to style.

Some people think that's worth it, some people don't. It depends on your budget and how much the frizz is bothering you.

Who Does Keratin Treatments at Our Salon

Isaac and Angelina are the stylists here who specialize in keratin treatments. They've both been doing them for years and they're really good at customizing the formula and application for different hair types.

Isaac is great at creating that glossy, smooth finish. Angelina does a lot of keratin treatments on colored hair because the treatment can actually help seal in the color and make it last longer.

I don't do keratin treatments. I do Brazilian Blowouts. So if someone comes in asking about keratin, I usually send them to Isaac or Angelina because they're going to do a better job than I would.

Should You Get a Keratin Treatment?

If you're spending a ton of time fighting frizz every day and you want your hair to be smoother and easier to manage but you don't want to lose your natural texture, a keratin treatment is probably a good option.

If your hair is damaged and you want to strengthen it, it can help with that too.

If you're not sure, come in for a consultation. We can look at your hair, talk about what you want, and figure out if a keratin treatment makes sense or if something else would work better.

Consultations are free. We're at Rock Paper Scissors, 5222 D St. in Chino. Call (909) 707-9553 or book online.

Let's figure out what your hair actually needs.

Danielle