At brunch the other day one of our friends walked in with, what looked like, the best blowout of her life. Smooth and silky with tons of movement: It was the stuff of shampoo commercials...and it was all thanks to a keratin treatment. We needed more details immediately so we called upon Jackson Simmonds, an advanced stylist (and hair-smoothing magician himself) at the Julien Farel Salon in New York City. Here's what we learned.
5 Things That Might Happen If You Get a Keratin Treatment
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Published May 1, 2017
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It Might Require Some Research Upfront
First things first: There are many different types of keratin treatments out there, and they all have different names (like Brazilian Blowout or Cezanne Smoothing Treatment). The end goal for all of them is to reduce frizz and make your hair more manageable. Based on your natural texture and desired outcome (for instance, you want to tame flyaways but keep some volume), your stylist can help you find the best option.
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You Might Actually Keep Your Natural Curls And Waves
If you’re coming in with naturally curly or wavy hair and are expecting it to be straightened, this is not the service for you. (For that, you might want to ask your stylist about other popular services like Japanese rebonding or thermal straightening.) A keratin treatment is purely designed to smooth the cuticle (aka the outer layer) of your hair so it’s more manageable—not completely change its texture, says Simmonds.
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It Might Set You Back A Bit Initially
Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, a treatment can cost upwards of a few hundred dollars. Clearly, this is no pocket change, but if you’re one of those people who regularly drops $50 a week on blowouts, it might be worth it since keratin results usually last between two to three months. (Not to mention all of the extra time you’ve just gained from not having to style your hair every morning.)
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You Might Have To Switch Up Your Hair-care Regimen
The first (and most important) thing to check is whether or not your shampoo or conditioner has sulfates in it. This is key to prolonging the results, as sulfates can break down the smoothing ingredients in the keratin treatment faster. On that note, cutting back on the frequency of washing can also buy you more time. (We've heard that updos and braids are great for hiding greasy hair—just saying.)
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You Might Have To Change Your Color Appointment
A general rule of thumb for any type of hair treatment is that you shouldn’t get them all on the same day, says Simmonds. Space them out by at least a few days—if you’re planning on changing up your color at all, get that done before any smoothing treatment to help seal it in.
