Anyone try the Keratin Hair Treatment to deal with frizz etc.

[applecrisp]

I'll admit I'm intrigued to get the Keratin Hair Treatment done at the salon I go to. Ok, I realize that in a separate post I wrote that I'm in a self-imposted under the sink cleanout of shampoos, conditioners --- but this is different.

It it supposed to help with the frizzies, and make it easier to style one hair. And, the key.....cut the amount of time it takes to blow dry one's hair. Can you hear that..... that would be music to my ears. Today I look a bit like Shredded Wheat since I was in a rush drying and flatironing my hair. Scary Spice.

So, has anyone tried it? What did you think? Have you done it more than once? Do you use the followup products (shampoo etc)? I thnk it lasts a few months. And, unlike Japanese straightening treatment that was soooo popular a few years back, you don't have the same problem with growing it out. I tried the Japanese straightening and it fried my hair, growing it out was a hassle, and I didn't see any real difference. I got tough hair.

If this would reallly work and make a big differrence on my frizzy, coarse, super thick, colored, hair, it would be money well spent. The extra sleep alone, priceless.

Thanks.

[Andrea_2]

I have done it twice. My hair sounds a bit different from yours though. I have super fine, yet very wavy frizzy hair. I'd also be pretty much completely gray if I didn't color it. I swear that I have about the worst hair ever. The keratin treatment worked very well for me though. I had it done last November for the first time, and the results were quite amazing. At first, I could actually wash and air dry my hair and have it be perfectly straight! That was a definite first for me. My regular hair stylist was so impressed with it that she started taking classes to learn how to do the treatments. The wave does slowly creep back though, and I had to start drying and flat ironing again, but I had at least some benefit for at least 6 months. Even with the drying and flat ironing, it was still so much faster and looked soooooo much better than before I had it done. By the beginning of June, I kind of felt like it needed to be done again, but I decided to wait until the middle of July right before I left for England and Ireland for a few weeks so I wouldn't have to mess with my hair over there.

The first place I had it done was super expensive. The second time, I found out that Ulta offers the service, so I went there. It was just over half the price of the first place. I do think the first place did a slightly better job, but my hair is still looking really good after the second treatment (had it done around 7/10). The girl at Ulta was a complete flake though, and didn't seem very knowledgeable about the procedure at all. I'll see how long this lasts though. The price is definitely better!

Anyway, if you have any other questions, just let me know!

eta: I did buy the shampoo, conditioner and a keratin product for the hair. I'm not sure if they are really necessary, but I didn't want to risk spending that much money on the procedure and then ruin it with the wrong shampoo. I did have a small panic attack when we arrived in London and the airline had lost our luggage. My biggest concern was my hair products! Fortunately, the luggage was eventually found.

[ellery]

I wish I had had Andrea's experience, but I had the treatment done and it did nothing for my hair. Nothing. NOTHING. I'm still ticked about the amount of money I spent to create absolutely no change in my hair. As far as I know, I did everything right - the mandatory not washing it period, etc. When I mentioned this to my stylist, she just shrugged and said that sometimes it doesn't work on people. Um... that response and a bad haircut later and she's no longer doing my hair.

My hair is thin, coarse, spastically curly and it's thick (as in, I have a lot of it).

At this point I just rely on my flat iron and good products and I accept that I have special-needs hair that needs a little extra time to become presentable.

[sunnyshine]

Make sure you do your research. I looked into it for my daughter and discovered numerous websites with complaints about hair falling out after getting it done.

[Andrea_2]

Make sure you do your research. I looked into it for my daughter and discovered numerous websites with complaints about hair falling out after getting it done.

For which type of treatment? I can't see how the one I had could possibly make hair fall out. It does not use chemicals (like the Japanese one), and is basically just putting keratin back into your hair. For me, it made my hair so much healthier, and it actually fell out WAY less than before I had it done.

[applecrisp]

Thanks everyone .... keep the comments coming.

I've heard bad things about the Brazilian hair treatment (in fact, I think that basically disappeared in my area) as being quite noxious etc.

If I get it done, I will go to my usual salon since I know their quaility etc. and they do the treatment there.

I wonder if I would be in the same camp as Ellery, that I wouldn't see much difference, but can't tell without trying. Ellery, sorry that it didn't work for you.

Andrea, so happy to read that you've been so happy with it. Wash and air dry --- I can't even imagine. If I air dry, I look like Cousin It. When its been a few months, does it just basically fade away, do you see a real change in texture or whatever as the new hair grows in?

I did have the Japanese treatment and I would say that it made little difference, certainly far from wash and go, and didn't save me much time. And growing it out with the "somewhat straighter" and then the waves/frizz coming in. Ugh. And, I hated that it really was hard to give the hair any bend. I'm thinking that cost me upwards of $700. Not money well spent.

One thing that surprised me (and I might be wrong on the details), that hair treatments etc, aren't regulated by the FDA --- since not a food and drug. So there isn't any real regulation. Again, I can't recall the details but I read an article about beauty treatments, how often many things are touted as safe, or natural etc, but than there are those that disagree based on ingredients etc.

Thanks -- would love to hear more feedback if others have tried it.

[Andrea_2]

Andrea, so happy to read that you've been so happy with it. Wash and air dry --- I can't even imagine. If I air dry, I look like Cousin It. When its been a few months, does it just basically fade away, do you see a real change in texture or whatever as the new hair grows in?

I didn't notice a clear difference between the treated hair and new growth. Over time, it just got progressively wavier until I felt like it was eventually back to the pre-Keratin state. I would say that it took about 6 months for it to complete wear off. I don't want to be misleading about the air-drying part though. I was able to do that for the first week or so after the first treatment, but after that I had to dry and flat iron. After styling, it looked so much better than when it did after styling it prior to the treatment though. Prior to the treatment, I would often still look like I stuck my finger in a socket even after spending an hour on my hair. After the second treatment, I didn't find that it air-dried well. I do think the first stylist was much more experienced and did a more thorough job though. The first treatment took MUCH longer than the second one, so I think the second girl wasn't as thorough. I would research stylists and ask how long they have been doing the procedure. I think it does make a difference.

[applecrisp]

Thanks Andrea for all your feedback. I think I'm going to try it (my stylist who soooo knows my hair woes) said I should give it a try.

If I can get a better endproduct its worth the money (don't know the exact price but expect a couple hundred, 200-300 ish?). I'm so with you on how frustrating to have your hair look not so great after spending an hour plus on it.

Drying it and then flat-ironing in the hot weather, even with the AC cranking --- hate it. If I can cut a good amount of time getting ready in the AM. I would love it.

Thanks again.

[Andrea_2]

Do you have an Ulta near you? I paid $189 there. The other place I went was over $300. The result was great, but that is just such a lot of money.

I forgot to mention that a few of my friends have had it done too. A friend of mine from work went a week after me to the same stylist, and she has been extremely happy with her results. She has naturally thick, coarse and wavy hair (probably more like yours than mine), so it can work for that type of hair too. I think I know a total of seven people who have had it done, and none of them noticed any hair loss either.

[applecrisp]

Thanks Andrea. If I get it done, I'll report back.

I've never seen an Ulta. I don't think they are in my area. I would go to my salon since I know them and their quality, but thanks for the suggestions. I will google Ulta.

I had the Japanese straightening done (at a different place) and that was a huge chunk of change for certainly less than stellar results.

If it helps, I can set my clock alarm for sooo much later.