How Long Does a Keratin Treatment Last? Plus Aftercare Tips

How long does a keratin treatment last? Most keratin treatments last about three to five months. Where yours lands in that range depends on the formula and your hair, but mostly on how you wash and care for it once you leave the salon.

What a keratin treatment actually does

A keratin treatment coats the hair with a smoothing formula, which is then sealed in with a flat iron. The result is hair that is smoother, shinier, less frizzy and quicker to blow-dry. Plenty of people find they can finally air-dry without a frizz halo.

It also helps to know what it is not. A keratin treatment is not a permanent straightener. It calms frizz and loosens texture, and it wears off gradually as you wash. New growth comes in with your natural texture, so there is no harsh regrowth line, just a slow return to the hair you had before.

Is a keratin treatment right for you?

It tends to be a great fit if:

• your hair frizzes the second it meets a humid day
• you spend a long time blow-drying or flat ironing every week
• your hair is thick, wavy or hard to manage, and you want it smoother and easier to style

It may not be the right pick if you love your natural curl pattern exactly as it is, because the treatment relaxes texture while it lasts. If you're unsure, ask your stylist for an honest opinion before you book. A good one will tell you if a different service would suit your hair better.

Why some treatments last longer than others

• How often you wash. Every wash takes a little of the treatment with it. Washing two or three times a week instead of every day makes a real difference.
• Your shampoo. Sulfates and clarifying shampoos strip the treatment faster. Switching to a sulfate-free shampoo is the single biggest thing you can do.
• Chlorine and salt water. Pools and the beach are tough on a keratin treatment. Wet your hair with clean water and add a leave-in conditioner before you swim, then rinse soon after.
• Your hair's starting point. Very porous or heavily lightened hair can take the treatment differently, which affects the result and how long it holds. Your stylist will look at this before starting.
• The formula. Treatments vary in strength and in how long they are designed to last. Ask your stylist which one suits your hair.

The first few days matter most

Your stylist will give you aftercare instructions for the exact formula they used. Follow them. With many formulas, the first couple of days look like this:

• no washing
• no ponytails, clips or tucking your hair behind your ears, which can leave kinks
• no sweaty workouts or steam rooms
• a quick pass with a flat iron if a kink does appear

Some newer formulas let you wash sooner. Go by what your stylist tells you, not by what your friend's stylist told her.

Habits that make it last

After those first days, it is all about routine:

1. Wash with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.
2. Wash less often, with cool or lukewarm water.
3. Use a heat protectant before blow-drying or flat ironing.
4. Protect your hair before swimming.
5. Skip clarifying or "deep cleansing" shampoos.

Keratin and hair color

Planning color too? Talk to your stylist about the order. Many stylists prefer to color first and do the keratin treatment after, since coloring soon after a keratin treatment can shorten its life. If you're booking both, ask about timing when you book.

When to book the next one

You'll know it's time when frizz returns on humid days and your blow-dry starts taking longer again. For most people that is every few months. There is no need to rush back. Spacing treatments out gives your hair a break between rounds of heat.

Keratin treatments at EverCutz

Keratin treatments are offered at our beauty salon in Richardson (525 W Arapaho Rd, Suite 24) and at the Murphy shop (104 N Murphy Rd, Suite 215). Prices differ between the two shops, so keratin treatment in Richardson and keratin treatment in Murphy each show the current price for that location. And guys, frizz happens to you too: there is a men's keratin treatment at the Richardson barbershop and in Murphy.

Both shops are open seven days a week, 10 AM to 9 PM. Walk-ins are welcome based on chair availability, but booking ahead is the better choice for a longer service like this one. Like every service at EverCutz, it is backed by our satisfaction guarantee: if you're not happy, you don't pay, and your next service is on us.