MaryK and others: Tell me about keratin treatments

Parsley

I'm seriously considered having a keratin treatment, and would love to hear from any of you who have had them about the pros and cons as you see them.
I'm sick of struggling with my frizzy wavy/curly hair every day, and with summer coming up I'd like to make my life easier.
I've tried embracing the natural curl, and my husband loves it that way, but I just don't. Right now I have to flat iron my hair every day, and it's still super unruly. And the minute the humidity rises: BOING! it's a crazy mess.

The thing I'm worried about is that my hair is really fine, and I'm a little afraid that the only thing that gives it any body at all is the curl. I don't want it to end up limp and flat against my head. I've seen some people whose hair turned out like that. My stylist assures me that she wouldn't go too close to the roots, so that wouldn't happen.

So, should I or shouldn't I? I welcome your experience and advice!

11 years ago

Off Topic

13 replies

Latest reply was from MsMary

MsMary

Veteran

Certainly when it's freshly done, your hair is going to be very fine and limp. It took mine a week or two to get some decent body. Drying it upside down helps some.

For now I've decided to forego the straightening and embrace some wave. I still blow dry and lightly flatiron but I feel like the stick straight look is a little bit over.

Hope this helps a bit!

11 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

Thanks, Mary!
So I've heard that if you do it right you can keep some curl but get rid of the frizz. Did yours make yours totally straight?

I love your hair when you let it go curly, BTW. But do you find that it's more trouble? I sure do! It stays nice for an hour or two, then I feel like I'm a frizzy mess.

I don't know about you, but I wake up every morning looking like Bozo the clown, whether my hair was totally flat-ironed straight when I went to bed, or curly. I so envy the people who can just get up and go without messing too much with their hair.

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

I had mine done several times a few years ago. I have fine hair but a ton of it. It was definitely flat on top for a couple weeks. After that passed, I really liked it.

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Yes, it made it pretty darned straight. "Totally straight" is a bold statement, but... it made it pretty darned straight. The best part was it mostly was ready to go in the morning with minimal touch-up blow drying/flatironing.

I feel like it just looks less professional when I let it go curly, and I also feel like letting it go curly ages me. I will say, though, that I like my most recent cut au naturel more than I've liked my hair curly in a long time. My problem is my hair isn't quite curly enough to be really nicely curly (a la Aida or Runcarla) -- it's just wavy/curly enough to look like I forgot to brush my hair in the morning! Fortunately that look seems to be stylish right now so I am enjoying it while I can!

11 years ago

Anonymous

I've had a keratin treatment, but it wasn't strong enough for my hair! Mine is really, really thick and it just didn't do much of anything, but I got the feeling that my experience wasn't typical at all. The only thing that ever worked for me was the hard-core Japanese hair straightening treatment they used to do, which apparently no one offers anymore because it turns out that formaldehyde in your hair isn't the greatest idea ever.

I've kind of decided to just embrace the curliness, but I'm with you on envying people who can just get up in the morning with sleek, straight hair.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I had one last year, right before a trip to Hawaii, which was perfect! Hot humid weather? No frizz, no problem. Yes, it was kind of flat at first, but I was at the beach so I didn't care. It was so easy to take care of! I really kind of loved it. One bonus: color lasts longer with it, too. It did make my hair straighter than it's ever been, which was really kind of fun -- like I got to see how the other half lives!

But I haven't done it again since. I'm a little worried about that much wear and tear on my hair and scalp, since my hair is getting thinner. And like Mary, I wonder if maybe the stick straight look is getting a little old. However, I would not rule out doing it again. I did enjoy it. Even as the process wore off, my hair was more manageable than usual. It gradually regained wave and body as the weeks went on, but for me, the results seemed to last for months.

It's odd, I think my hair looks better in photos when it's straight, but better wavy in person than it does in photos -- photos don't seem to do it justice. I also don't have defined curls like Aida or Carla. It's more wavy/curly, but if you look at my recent WIWs you'll see what it looks like when I just blow dry the bangs and very top and let the rest air dry.

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

If you choose to do it, I hope you will at least consider a non-toxic or less toxic version. I notice there is one brand advertising a non-toxic method called Kerapure. I know nothing more about them.

I have wavy/frizzy hair too but I find that if I treat it gently (no rubbing with the towel, wide tooth comb when wet, sleep on a silk pillowcase) and use the right oils (I use different ones but coconut oil seems to have the most "holding" power), I don't really have an issue with frizz. Unless I go to the beach. Then I try to embrace the curl. Or wear a hat.

I typically only slightly straighten mine with a big fat curling iron. Then I put a very small amount (pea sized) of coconut oil on my hands and rub it until it melts well, then lightly smooth over the back of my hair first (at the driest points) then the rest. Too much oil and it will look oily. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to sort of soak into the hair. I also have used almond oil and Kiehls Silk Groom with similar results. I really like the natural aspect of the coconut oil and I have it on hand to cook with anyway. I keep a small glass container of it in my bathroom for my hair and skin.

11 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

Aubergine, Janet, and Texstyle, thanks so much for weighing in!

The impetus for thinking about it is that we're taking a trip to Florida where I'll be in and out of the pool and ocean, and I'd love to not have my hair be a frizzy mess. My hair seems to have gotten frizzier and curlier as I've gotten older- maybe it's the gray hairs, but I don't really know what my natural color is right now!

Aubergine, maybe it didn't work because your hair's so thick? That doesn't sound typical.

Janet, I agree about the stick straight look, and I think I'm going to ask my stylist if we can preserve some wave but get rid of the frizz. Not sure if that's possible...

Texstyle, the method my stylist is talking about using is supposed to be non-toxic, without formaldehyde (or at least without direct formaldehyde). I think they're all pretty nasty stuff.
You have some great tips for dealing with the frizz. I haven't tried coconut oil on my hair- I'll have to try it. I love it for my skin! (And I tried oil pulling- gross!)

This is all food for thought. The good news if I do it is that it's only hair and it doesn't last forever, so if I don't like it I just won't do it again.

11 years ago

Susie

Veteran

My hair is that weirdly wavy/not good curls type too. I have had both the full treatment (wait for 3 days before washing) as well as the express treatment (wash the next day). I actually preferred the express. I still had some wave to my hair if I let it dry naturally but it was quick and easy to blow it pretty straight. It rreally wasn't too flat and it helped to calm the frizzies. I've thought about getting one again this year.

11 years ago

Carla

Veteran

Wow! Checked in here to see if this might be something I should check out/try and see nice things said about my out of control mop! Thanks for the kind words! May to October is 'I give up' time. Hopefully a good cut and some 'Sebastien Potion #9' and let it air dry. Watch out for the silicone stuff. Drying.

I do agree with MaryK and wonder if curly=unprofessional. Haven't cared much since in my little community I'm pretty well established. In July I move to a new work forum (Head Office) and I'm starting to think about a mini style revamp, including hair. Due to wash and wear requirement for sports, was thinking short/pixie version.

Good luck, Parsley, with whatever you try.

11 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

Susie, thanks for telling about your experience. The one my stylist is talking about using is by Kenra, and you're supposed to be able to wash it, swim, or do whatever you want with your hair right away.

I've made an appointment for the end of this month. We'll see how it goes!

Carla, I hear you about "I give up" time! Summer, and especially vacations at the beach, I have to do the same thing! I like to swim a lot, and I just can't spend a bunch of time messing with it every time I go in the pool or ocean.
I love Sebastian's Potion #9, too! It is good stuff.
I can imagine that your curly hair would be a challenge with your sporting activities. Sometimes I think the only way to go is either long- and keep it in a bun or ponytail, or really short.
The only thing is, mine wasn't all that easy when I had it really short. It seemed like it was always going flat where I wanted body, and sticking out in weird places everywhere else!

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

LOLing in sympathy with "I give up" time. Oh do I know about that. It's starting already. I actually defy normal hair behavior by leaving mine longer in the summer so I can pull it back in a ponytail for exercise.

Susie, the express treatment sounds interesting! I'm going to ask my stylist about that next time I'm there.

11 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Parsley, I think you will really get a kick out of having straight hair, at least for a while! Can't wait to see it!

11 years ago

Category