What not to do after keratin treatment

What Not To Do After Keratin Treatment | Top Post Appointment Don’ts You Need To Know

What not to do after keratin treatment? Do’s and don’ts you have to follow to maintain your keratin-treated hair at home!

Keratin treatments rearrange the protein structures in hair strands using high heat and adding back keratin to reshape curly and coily hair into straighter, smoother hair structures. This treatment needs to be taken care of to make it last longer.

And as a hairstylist, I know what NOT to do right after getting a keratin treatment. These post-keratin no-no’s include:

  • Don’t use a regular shampoo especially a sulfate-based ones
  • Stay away from clarifying shampoos
  • Don’t touch your hair frequently
  • Do not use heavy oils to condition hair
  • Don’t wash your hair frequently
  • Do not style your hair, tie it, or braid it
  • Do not put sunglasses on your hair
  • Don’t color your hair for at least three weeks
  • Do not tuck your hair behind your ears
  • Do not sleep on a cotton pillowcase

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

What Not To Do After Keratin Treatment

Here, I have listed some of the things that you should definitely not do after getting a keratin treatment.

Don’t use a regular shampoo (use a special keratin-safe shampoo instead)

how to stop hair fall after keratin treatment

Keratin treatment can be expensive so you might be a little apprehensive while splurging in an expensive shampoo and conditioner. But it is important to invest in a high-quality shampoo and conditioner that will not wear off your keratin treatment. 

Yes, some of it might be expensive but if you want your keratin treatment to last long, you should stick to these shampoos. (Tinoco, A et al. “Keratin-based particles for protection and restoration of hair properties.” International journal of cosmetic science vol. 40,4 (2018): 408-419. doi:10.1111/ics.12483). It is also important to check the ingredients list of the shampoo and make sure that there are no harmful ingredients.

It is always best to steer clear from ingredients like sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, alcohol, etc.  as these are either too harsh on hair or have proven side effects when used.

But when you have keratin-treated hair, you should strictly stay away from sulfates and sodium chloride. This is because these ingredients can literally strip away the keratin coating from your hair. 

Sulfates can also strip off the natural oils from your hair to make your hair look dry and frizzy. 

If you use drugstore shampoos with these ingredients, your keratin treatment will be unfortunately short-lived. Some of my favorite shampoos for keratin treated hair are:

Keratin Complex Keratin Care Shampoos

See also  Effects Of Castor Oil On 4c Hair | Important Uses, Side Effects, Benefits and More!
What not to do after keratin treatment

Alfaparf Keratin Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner

shampoos for keratin treated hair

Stay away from clarifying shampoos

Your regular shampoo might not get rid of all the residues and buildup from your scalp. So you need to use a clarifying shampoo once a week to deep clean your hair. 

Clarifying shampoos helps in detoxifying the hair and scalp by thoroughly cleansing them. But when you have keratin-treated hair, it is not a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo. 

Using a clarifying shampoo can open up the cuticles and they have a high ph level. This will dissolve the keratin treatment from your hair. So it is important to stick to mild shampoos that are gentle on your hair. 

Don’t touch your hair frequently

dos and don'ts after keratin treatment

It can be quite tempting to keep your hand on your hair all the time when you get a keratin treatment done. Your hair definitely becomes super smooth and soft to touch after a keratin treatment. 

But this is not a good tendency and will affect the quality of your hair. Keratin treated hair is malleable and the shape of your strands can easily be manipulated when you get it done. 

You don’t want to kink up your strands and cause dents on your otherwise straight and silky hair. So you have to strictly keep your hands off your hair on the first few days of getting the treatment. 

Do not use heavy oils to condition hair

Oils are definitely a great product for your hair but it is not a good idea to use them when you have keratin-treated hair. A lot of hair oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, etc. are difficult to wash off. 

You might even have to shampoo twice to completely get rid of it. When you wash your hair this frequently, your keratin treatment will be short-lived since it will get washed off with the oil.

If you are planning to oil your hair, use non-sticky, lightweight oils that are easy to wash off. 

Related: Incredible Side Effects of Keratin Treatment on hair

Davines OI Oil

what to use after keratin treatment

Lanza Keratin Aftercare Oil

oil for keratin treated hair

Don’t wash your hair frequently

You should not be washing your hair frequently after you get the keratin treatment. Just like semi-permanent hair color, keratin treatments will wear off every time you wash your hair. 

It is also not a good tendency to stay for a long time under the shower and saturate your head with water. When your hair gets saturated, it might open up your cuticles and lead to the loss of keratin particles. 

You have to get out of the shower as soon as possible when you get the treatment. If you have an oily scalp or if your hair gets greasy fast, invest in a good dry shampoo. 

Related: What is the best Sulphate Free Shampoo For Keratin Treated Hair

Do not style your hair, tie it, or braid it

how to take care of keratin treated hair at home

You have to let your hair open for a few days after getting a keratin treatment done. Ideally, you should not style or tie up your hair or style it for at least two weeks after getting it. 

See also  What Happens If I Leave Coffee In My Hair Overnight | 7 Top Benefits, Precautions, and Hair Mask Ideas!

Keratin-treated hair is very malleable and its shape and structure can be manipulated easily when you exert pressure. Hair styling tools can pull and tug your hair which will disturb the structure. 

Even hair accessories like hair clips, pins or bands can demark your hair and leave dents. Also, if you are going to use any hair accessories on your hair, make sure they do not exert too much pressure on it.

If you want your keratin hair treatment to last long, you should leave your hair open as much as possible. 

Do not put sunglasses on your hair

Even though sunglasses are not hair accessories, they do spend a lot of time on our hair. If you use sunglasses, you might subconsciously tuck your sunglasses on your head. 

A lot of us even use sunglasses to hide a bad hair day. This can cause disturbance to your keratin-treated hair and even cause minor dents. 

If you don’t want your hair shape to get manipulated, it is best to keep the sunglasses away from your hair.

Don’t color your hair for at least three weeks

what to do after keratin treatment

If you want to get your hair colored, it is best to do so before the keratin treatment. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the color pigments to penetrate your hair which is coated with the keratin treatment. 

Do not tuck your hair behind your ears

Now, this might seem like a task since you don’t want hair flying in front of our faces. But if you want to make the most of your keratin treatment, you have to take care of the minor details. 

When you tuck your hair around your ears, it could lead to dents on the hair behind your ears. So you should try to avoid this as much as possible to avoid these unwanted creases.

Don’t work out too much

I’m are not asking you to put your workout at a halt. But it is a good idea to tone it down at the gym when you get a keratin treatment done. 

When your scalp sweats a lot, it will affect your keratin treatment and will not get absorbed properly into your hair. You also have to take a shower frequently when you hit the gym. 

This can also get rid of the keratin treatment from your hair. If you cannot halt workouts at all, try to reduce the frequency of your workouts for at least two weeks after getting the treatment to prevent this. 

Do not sleep on a cotton pillowcase

how to sleep after keratin treatment

You need to create a smooth atmosphere for the hair to rest when you are sleeping. When you use a cotton pillowcase, it can cause friction between your hair and the pillowcase which will cause creases and dents. 

This will manipulate the straightness of your hair. Invest in a good silk or satin pillow to sleep in. Silk and satin and soft and smooth materials that do not cause much friction with your hair. 

Your hair can glide easily through these materials so they are the best alternatives to cotton pillowcases.

It’s perfectly safe to get your hair keratin-treated. If you have curly hair like mine and want a more long-lasting smoothening effect, keratin treatments are your best option.

But like any other hair perm, the smoothening and straightening effects of a keratin will last if you take care of your hair. 

See also  How Long Does Splat Hair Dye Last On Unbleached Hair | 2 to 6 Weeks Is Normal?

So make sure you follow my suggestions above to keep your tresses looking fabulous!

Dos And Don’ts After Keratin Treatment

After getting a keratin treatment, it’s important to properly care for your hair in order to maintain its smoothness and shine. Here are the dos and don’ts that you should follow:

DO wait at least 48 hours before washing your hair. This gives the keratin time to fully settle into your hair and provide the desired results.

DON’T use any hair accessories or style your hair for the first 48 hours after treatment. This includes hair ties, clips, and hats. Any creases or folds in the hair during this time can ruin the effect of the treatment.

DO use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. This will help to maintain the keratin treatment’s results for as long as possible.

DON’T swim in the first week after treatment. Chlorinated water can strip the keratin from your hair, making it lose its shine and smoothness.

DO use a heat protectant before styling your hair with hot tools. This will help to prevent damage and keep your hair looking healthy. Remember, following these dos and don’ts will help you to get the most out of your keratin treatment.

How To Do The First Hair Wash After Keratin Treatment

How to Do the First Hair Wash After Keratin Treatment Congratulations on your new keratin treatment! You probably can’t wait to enjoy its benefits, such as frizz-free hair and a smooth, shiny finish.

But before you start planning your hairstyle, it’s important to follow the right steps to prevent damaging your hair and ruining your keratin treatment. First and foremost, you need to wait at least 72 hours before washing your hair. This waiting period is critical to ensure that the keratin has enough time to set in and bond with your hair.

It may seem like a long time, but it’s worth it for long-lasting results. When it’s finally time to wash your hair, use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates can strip the keratin from your hair and leave it dry and brittle. So, if you want to preserve your keratin treatment, steer clear of sulfates.

Gently massage the shampoo into your scalp, but don’t rub it vigorously. Rinse your hair thoroughly to remove all shampoo residue and follow with the conditioner. Leave the conditioner on for a few minutes before rinsing with cool water to seal the hair cuticles.

Finally, dry your hair with a towel by patting it gently instead of rubbing it. Avoid using hot styling tools such as hair dryers and flat irons as much as possible.

Conclusion

There you have it – a complete guide on what not to do after a keratin treatment! From avoiding hair ties and bobby pins to skipping out on washing your hair, these tips are here to help ensure that your luscious locks stay frizz-free for as long as possible.

Also Read:

What Is Amino Acid Treatment For Natural Hair

Best Keratin Shampoo And Conditioner For Damaged Hair

How To Use Keratin Treatment At Home

Does At Home Keratin Treatment Work For Curly Hair

Scroll to Top