How long does a keratin treatment last? Professional vs. home treatments

 

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If you always try to do everything with your own hands, I’m sure that you were a little disappointed when you read the first lines.

I’d even say that you must have thought it was unfair, but everything has an explanation.

 

  While at-home keratin treatments are a boon for a fast-paced society that never seems to have time for anything, they aren’t as effective as a professional treatment.  

Why?

 

Because applying a keratin treatment is different from the application of a nourishing mask. It involves a technique.

You can learn about it after getting special training.

Are home keratin treatments worth it?

 

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You can only decide that.

To do so, you must know the difference between each process.

Also, why there is such a difference between the duration of professional keratin treatment and a home-use one.

Will you join me?

 

Why does professional keratin treatment last longer than one for home use?

The main difference between a professional treatment and the one you can buy in a store or online lies in the application process.

The keratin treatment that’s applied in the salon has a specific technique that involves high heat.

 

  Once applied, the keratin treatment is sealed with a flat iron at 230 degrees Celsius or 450 Fahrenheit. Therefore, it may last for three to four months.  

Also, the stylist uses the iron up to fifteen times per strand.

Each of these strands is very thin, at most two or three centimeters wide. Yes, that’s right.

 

You can do the math to imagine how long it takes the stylist to seal the keratin treatment.

When the hairdresser flat irons the hair, she isn’t in a hurry. Also, she doesn’t feel any discomfort when she irons the back parts, and she is very meticulous.

That is why the duration will be between 2 to 4 months.

 

What about the keratin treatment at home?

Generally, it’s not applied with that much heat because not everyone has professional flat irons that can reach high temperatures.

But also, most people don’t have the patience to iron the strands many times.

 

  In that case, home-use keratin treatments last much less than professional ones. They could last a maximum of 45 days.  

 

So, now that you understand the difference, do you think it’s worth it to get treatment in a salon?

If you think it’s better, you should also consider another issue.

 

The duration of the keratin treatment also depends on the hair structure

There are three main types of hair structures: straight, curly, or wavy. The duration of the keratin treatment is also different for each of them.

 

How long does Keratin last on straight hair?

Naturally straight hair needs more hydration to avoid frizz. The scalp in straight hair tends to be less airy and becomes greasy quickly.

Therefore, the roots and growth will always be greasy while the mid-lengths and lengths will be dry or frizzy.

 

Keratin solves the frizz and controls the greasiness of the hair. The treatment usually lasts for three months in straight hair.

 

How long does Keratin last on wavy or curly hair?

Wavy or curly hair is finer and tends to have frizz. If your hair is curly, it’ll feel dry from the middle to the ends and unmanageable when wet.

 

  Keratin strengthens the structure and thickens each hair strand while hydrating it. It fills the spaces of each strand to “tame” your hair.  

The keratin treatment will last for a maximum of two months in curly hair.

Do you want an extra tip after the keratin treatment?

 

After the treatment, don’t comb your hair. Just style it with your hand to avoid breaking the structure and leaving your hair dull.

 

How long does the keratin treatment last according to your hair health?

Damaged hair needs more nutrients than healthy hair.

When I refer to damaged hair, I’m not just talking about bleached hair. If you use a flat iron or blow dryer too often, or color your hair regularly, it’ll be at least slightly damaged for having lost nutrients and moisture.

 

Damaged hair absorbs keratin quickly.   In that case, the treatment won’t last long because several applications are needed to fully repair the hair.   Therefore:

 

How to maintain the keratin treatment to extend its duration?

After applying the keratin treatment in the salon, the countdown to the next application begins.

You can space out the treatment times if you consider some important aftercare in your hair beauty routine.

 

Some of the factors that can influence the duration of the treatment are:

 

  You should maintain a beauty routine that doesn’t get rid of the keratin treatment.  

For example, washing your hair frequently with beauty products that contain chemicals such as sulfates, metallic salts, or alcohol can ruin your treatment in no time.

 

It’s even worse with permanent dyes or bleaching. Those processes will remove the keratin you’ve applied.

Here are some recommendations to extend the duration of your keratin treatment.

 

Scalp oil is a natural way to moisturize and protect your hair from drying out due to external factors such as the sun.

If you remove it daily by washing, your hair will look dry and frizzy even if you apply keratin treatments every two months.

You’ll also remove part of the keratin treatment with each wash.

 

This is one of the most important care habits that you should consider and adopt for the rest of your beauty routine.

You should include new products that don’t contain sulfates, parabens, metallic salts, alcohol, and silicones.

 

  These types of chemicals cause wear and tear on the hair, and also remove keratin.  

What hair products should you use after the keratin treatment to extend its duration?

 

Basically, products that nourish and moisturize your hair without removing the keratin.

 

It may be a bit harsh, but it’s the only way to keep the keratin treatment in your hair longer.

The chemicals involved in these processes remove the keratin in a matter of minutes.

 

Permanent hair color should be applied two weeks before the keratin treatment because it contains chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide to lighten your hair.

If you color your hair immediately after the keratin treatment, the keratin will start to degrade because the developer washes away everything in its path.

 

Conclusions

A professional keratin treatment can last up to four months while a home-use treatment lasts forty-five days at the most.

The duration will also depend on the structure of your hair, your hair health at the time of application, and your aftercare techniques.