Even after a keratin treatment, humidity can be a relentless control freak. When the air is high in moisture, your hair acts like a sponge soaking it up, leading to the much-dreaded frizz.
Formaldehyde treatments work by pushing the keratin into the cuticle with heat and the formaldehyde acts as its finishing product. Whittier notes that this gives the illusion of shine, but over time, the hair becomes dry because it's too harsh on the hair, especially fragile hair.
Use a Silk Pillowcase
Unlike cotton, silk reduces friction, preventing breakage and split ends. It also helps your hair retain moisture and reduces static, preserving the smoothness and shine achieved through your keratin treatment.
If there is dirt, oil, grease, or any product in your hair, then the treatment won't adhere to the strands and you'll just be wasting time and will get no results in the end.
The Downsides
While it can strengthen strands, keratin treatments can potentially cause other types of damage to your hair. Mensah explains that the process involves high heat and harsh chemicals which can lead to moisture loss and leave hair dry.
Keratin Effects: While keratin treatments smooth the hair by sealing the cuticle, they can also weigh down fine or thin hair, potentially reducing volume. Balance Between Smoothness and Volume: Achieving the right balance involves selecting the right product and applying it in a way that minimizes volume loss.
To care for your hair after a keratin treatment, use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, avoid washing your hair too frequently, and steer clear of hot water. Gentle handling and a shower filter can also help maintain the treatment's results.
Using a flat iron or curling iron in humid conditions may take longer for your hair to dry than usual. So, it causes it to become frizzy when you wash it out later. If this happens to you, try using a blow-dryer or leave-in conditioner with your blow-dryer before styling your hair.
Keratin treatments don't harm the hair in the same way as conventional hair and relaxing techniques do. After two to three months of treatment, the hair returns to its natural form.
OLAPLEX N°. 6 Leave-In Styling Treatment helps manage frizz for up to three days, and I'm putting it to the test.
Well-formulated conditioners, oil treatments, and masks can provide temporary improvements to the texture and appearance of hair, especially when they contain nourishing and protective ingredients. These products can help hydrate the hair, reduce frizz, improve manageability, and enhance shine.
One of the common culprits for frizz after a keratin treatment is product buildup. Over time, styling products, oils, and environmental pollutants can accumulate on the hair. So, they start creating a layer of residue that weighs it down and compromises the effectiveness of the keratin treatment.
Regular Deep Conditioning
While your keratin treatment provides deep conditioning benefits, incorporating a regular deep conditioning routine can further enhance your hair's health. Use a high-quality deep conditioner, like GK Hair's Deep Conditioner, every few weeks to maintain moisture and strength.
Basically, if you apply too much keratin, your hair will lose its elasticity and become stiff and hard. It is more brittle because of this hardness. Therefore, when hair is yanked, it doesn't bounce back into shape but instead breaks more easily.
Primarily a smoothing treatment, be prepared to lose a little of the hair's natural volume – especially if you have usually curly or wavy hair with a lift at the root. Over time (around three to six months) the effect will slowly lessen and hair will return to its natural state.
A Brazilian blowout is temporary and lasts for 12 weeks. It requires a special conditioner and shampoo to maintain the smoothness. A keratin treatment is temporary and lasts for 3–6 months. It needs a special conditioner and shampoo to prevent the keratin from rinsing off.
The high heat and strong chemicals used in keratin treatments risk making your hair dry, brittle and prone to breakage. People with fine hair and/or already processed hair should be especially wary, since their more delicate strands may not be able to withstand the treatment without breaking.