ROAD TEST: I Tried a Keratin Treatment At Home to See If It Could Tame My Frizzy Hagrid Hair
I'm Adore Beauty's resident beauty newbie. Before working at Adore, I was travelling the world for 4 months with just one tiny tube of Jurlique moisturiser. I washed my face with warm water and used olive oil as a deep conditioning treatment. Oh, how things have changed!
Low on time? Check out our key takeaways below
Key Takeaways
- Keratin treatment is an effective solution for managing frizzy hair, providing smoother results compared to traditional straightening.
- Process duration can vary, typically taking between two to five hours depending on hair length and thickness, with results lasting three to five months.
- Aftercare is crucial to maintain the treatment's effects, including avoiding harsh sulfates and not washing hair for five days post-treatment.
- Home maintenance products, like the Kerasilk range, are recommended to enhance and prolong the keratin treatment results.
- Colour caution is necessary as the treatment may strip hair colour, so it’s advisable to wait at least two weeks before dyeing hair.
- At-home treatments are available, but they don’t deliver the same results as professional salon treatments, highlighting the benefits of professional application.
Do you remember The One in Barbados? You know, the one where Rachel and Joey FINALLY kiss? Watching them kiss just felt wrong, the worst couple in the history of Friends, yes, worse than Ross and Janice.
Moving on. Why is this story relevant? Because if you’ve watched that episode, you’ll probably also remember Monica’s hair, made comically poofy by the Barbados humidity. It was meant to be so funny, but it’s not so funny when this is your actual hair when you go overseas.
Don’t get me wrong, I love curly hair, but over the years I’ve found my addiction to heat styling has damaged my natural curl, which is such a shame.
Exhibit A.
One day I’ll embrace my natural curls and detox from my heat tools, but today is not that day. Side note: if you’re interested in regaining your natural curls, we have a YouTube video on the Curly Girl Method.
When I go on holiday, humidity makes my hair unmanageable; I try to straighten it, but humidity usually has other plans. While overseas, I’ve done chemical straightening (my hair fell out), I’ve done the braids (pictured above), and I’ve pretty much tried everything to tame my frizz.
On my last trip to Thailand, I soaked my hair in coconut oil, refused to wash it, and covered the greasy roots with a hat. Now I’m asking, why the hell didn’t I try a keratin treatment? After 31 years of travelling, I really wish I’d discovered this sooner.
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about getting a keratin hair treatment, and FYI, you can listen to Hannah’s keratin treatment hair journey on this episode of the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast. Get it in your ears below!
What Is a Keratin Treatment?
Unlike chemical straightening, which permanently breaks the bonds in your hair and has to be grown out (and as I learnt, can result in major breakage and an unintended mullet), a keratin hair treatment infuses the hair with, you guessed it, keratin.
So the question really becomes: what the hell is keratin?
Keratin is a naturally-occurring protein that’s found in hair, skin and nails. According to Healthline, a keratin treatment theoretically works because the hair cuticle absorbs the keratin making it look glossier, but the effects of a keratin treatment will vary depending on the health of your hair.
Watch Hannah recap her keratin treatment experience in her helpful YouTube video below!
How Does a Keratin Treatment Work?
I had a Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin treatment at Conrad Hair in Melbourne, because despite all the great things I’d heard about these treatments for frizzy hair, I wanted to find out for myself.
The process takes between two to five hours depending on the length and thickness of your hair.
I have shoulder length, thick hair and it took three-and-a-half hours. But once you’ve put in the hard yards at the hairdresser, it’ll last for three to five months.
Here's a step-by-step of what you can expect when you go to the salon for a keratin treatment:
Step 1: You'll have your hair washed and blow dried.
Step 2: The stylist will coat each strand of your hair with the Goldwell Kerasilk keratin treatment.
Step 3: The stylist will blow dry your hair, and then the treatment is sealed in with a straightener. My hairdresser did seven passes over each section with the straighter.
Step 4: You'll have your hair washed and blow dried again, and voila! Smooth, silky hair.
My Keratin Treatment Before and After Results.
I went into this with realistic expectations. I was not expecting to have dead straight hair and neither should you.
Instead, I have smoother, more manageable hair. My styling time is cut in half - straightening took 16 minutes before the treatment, and now takes just five.
I also don’t need to straighten my hair before using a curling tong, which reduces the amount of heat damage I’m inflicting on my poor hair.
And to answer a question someone commented on my keratin YouTube video about if I had blow dried my hair in my 'after' photo above...
I can confirm, nope - that is my hair AIR DRIED! It really is a miracle (frizzy-haired girls will agree that I am not exaggerating here). Keratin treatment, in my experience, is the best hair straightening product for us frizzy hair girls.
Keratin Treatment Aftercare.
After doing your keratin treatment at-home, it’s recommended you don’t wash your hair for five days after the treatment.
Plus, if you’re investing in a treatment like this, you’ll want to maintain the results at home by using products free from harsh sulfates. Harsh sulfates will strip the keratin treatment from your hair, which is basically like burning money. Ask your stylist for a recommendation on whether a product is appropriate or not post-Keratin treatment.
Home care is really important, too. You'll be advised to use at-home products formulated to enhance and maintain the results of your treatment. I am using the Kerasilk Smoothing Shampoo 250ml and Kerasilk Smoothing Conditioner 200ml, as well as the Kerasilk Smoothing Mask 200ml
One caveat to the treatment you should know before having it done is that it can strip colour from your hair. I learnt this the hard way.
I would recommend you get your hair dyed at least two weeks after the treatment. At home, I’ve been using the evo fabuloso cool brown colour depositing conditioner 220ml to get rid of the brassy tones.
I'm pretty happy with the results.
Can I Do a Keratin Treatment At Home?
You sure can do a keratin at-home treatment! But just like at-home chemical peels, don’t expect the same results as an in-salon treatment.
I was using the Kerasilk Control range prior to my keratin treatment, and I would say these products help to repair and rehydrate the hair, which makes it easier to style.
Where Can I Get a Keratin Treatment?
Thank you to the incredible team at Conrad Hair who kept me entertained for almost four hours!
If you’re interested in getting a Goldwell Kerasilk keratin treatment, you can find a salon near you here.
Want more helpful hair content? Check out these stories from our Adore Beauty team below!
