Keratin Blowout: Everything You Need to Know About This Hair Treatment

If you're considering keratin blowouts? Read this first!  

With a country that shifts between humid or dry, there’s no denying a few bad hair days from the good. Frizz and flyaways are very common, so various ways to keep them at bay are often part of your hairstyling routine. If you want a more long-lasting remedy, you might want to try keratin blowout.

From the very name itself, this hair treatment involves keratin, the protein that lines our hair and nails. Weather and styling damage take a toll on the outer layer of our hair, so the treatment aims to restore the vibrancy of your tresses.

Sound interesting? Here’s the lowdown on this deep conditioning treatment that leaves you with manageable hair, no matter the occasion.

Asian woman with long, straight, black hair wearing a one-shoulder top

Want sleek, straight hair? A keratin blowout can help you get that. Credit: Natasha Estelle

What happens when you get your hair to undergo a keratin blowout?

A keratin blowout is basically a hair straightening treatment that fills the empty holes in our hair where our natural keratin used to be. It’s like filling the gaps in our hair cuticles to help it become whole again.

Keratin vs. Brazilian Blowout

Like two sides of the same coin, keratin and Brazilian blowout do the same thing—smooth out and straighten your hair. Both treatments create an outer protein layer around the hair, making it look shiny and lustrous. The only difference is that a Brazilian blowout is a trademarked term where a blend of amino acids—smaller molecules—is used, while a keratin blowout relies on keratin to fill in the missing gaps in your hair.

Which one is good for me?

Keratin blowout works best with extremely frizzy hair or overly voluminous hair. On the other hand, a Brazilian blowout is more customizable for different hair types (by choosing how much of the product is applied to get the desired results), making it good for those with fine to medium hair, or those with slightly wavy hair.

Have you decided to get a keratin blowout? Here’s what you need to know and do to get ready.

How do I prepare for the treatment?

Just come to the salon au naturel—without using any styling or hair products. You can shampoo and dry your hair beforehand, but most salons include that service in their package already. Just make sure to set aside enough time for the treatment, since it will take a few hours.

How long does the keratin blowout take?

Keratin blowout can take up to three hours to finish, while a Brazilian blowout can be done in as quick as one to two hours in the salon. Both treatments start out with some shampooing and blow-drying before the product is applied. However, a Brazilian blowout can be rinsed out on the same day, while a Keratin treatment needs 72 hours to crystallize before being washed out.

How is the keratin treatment carried out?

Woman getting a keratin blowout at the salon
Make sure to set aside enough time for your keratin treatment. Credit: Shutterstock

Just like coloring your hair, the keratin formula is applied with a brush. A hot flat iron is then used to seal in all the nutrients in your hair. This will take at least an hour depending on how long or short your hair is. Once done, your hair care professional will advise you not to wash your hair for at most four days. It’s best to follow their advice if you want your money’s worth.

What are the effects of a keratin blowout?

Shiny, lustrous, and vibrant hair, of course! A keratin blowout guarantees frizz-free, sleek, and straight hair, while a Brazilian blowout is light, so your hair retains a natural wave. It’s not as straight and sleek compared to hair that underwent a keratin blowout, but the curls with be softer and easier to control. That means that you can style it with ease.

Both treatments last you for up to three months when taken care of properly.

How do I take care of my hair after a keratin blowout?

After getting a keratin blowout, you need to let the product sit in your hair for 72 hours before washing it out. During that time, you’re supposed to refrain from strenuous activities that cause you to sweat (unless you want to face each day with a sweaty scalp). Also, you shouldn’t touch your hair as much as possible. That includes pulling it back and tying it; otherwise, kinks will form in your hair.

A Brazilian treatment shows instantaneous results the moment you leave the salon. The restrictions of a keratin blowout don’t apply to the Brazilian blowout, as you’re free to style your hair in any way you want, and even wash it out on the same day!

Both treatments, however, require the use of sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to keep the product in your hair longer. And if possible, don’t wash your hair as often for the results to last longer.

Can I do the treatment at home?

You might be thinking that it sounds simple enough to do by yourself in the comforts of your own home, and in some instances (depending on the formula) it may be possible to do a DIY at-home keratin treatment. However, every keratin treatment has a different formulation that is meant for a certain type of hair. A trained professional can better assess your hair and figure out which formula will work best for your hair type. If you really want to do a DIY treatment, opt for lighter keratin treatment formulations and use keratin-infused hair products daily.

When it comes to the effectiveness of salon treatments, it’s all down to ensuring that you care for your hair post-treatment. This will help keep hair looking and feeling soft and healthy. If you’re considering a keratin blowout, stock up on products that’ll help keep your hair soft and moisturized post-treatment.

Keratin blowout: Asian woman with long straight hair wearing a pink sleeveless dress
Post-treatment maintenance is key. Credit: Natasha Estelle

1. TRESemmé Keratin Smooth KERA10 Shampoo

This shampoo is a great choice for taking care of your hair post-keratin blowout. It has KERA10 Protein Complex, which can penetrate your hair up to 10 layers deep for intense nourishment. It also gives your hair 10 salon benefits in one wash! These include keeping your hair soft, smooth, and shiny, an anti-frizz and anti-humidity formulation, providing heat protection, detangling, and strengthening.

2. Dove Intense Repair Keratin Tri-Silk Serum Shampoo

Help your hair recover from damage by using this shampoo. It has Keratin Tri-Silk Serum, the newest triple action formula that combines the power of keratin, fiber actives, and serum ingredients to instantly repair damage, deeply nourish and protect hair, and leave it extra beautiful. Dove Intense Repair Keratin Tri-Silk Serum Shampoo also has Keratin Repair Actives that repair and nourish damaged hair from the core up to the surface.

3. Dove Straight & Silky Keratin Tri-Silk Serum Shampoo

Keep your hair silky smooth after getting a keratin blowout by washing it regularly with Dove Straight & Silky Keratin Tri-Silk Serum Shampoo. Aside from the combined benefits of keratin, fiber actives, and serum ingredients, this shampoo also boosts hair health, thanks to its Amino Essence. The result? Hair that’s extra straight, smooth, and shiny!

4. Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Straight Ultra Conditioner

With this conditioner, your hair gets the benefits of three keratin products in one! Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Straight Ultra Conditioner has keratin relaxers that tame frizz, keratin serum that revives hair from intense damage, and keratin essence that restores shine to extremely dull hair.

5. Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Repair & Shine Ultra Treatment Wrap

If you have damaged hair, treating it at home has just become easier. Simply wrap your hair using Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Repair & Shine Ultimate Treatment Wrap, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse. It deeply penetrates and nourishes each strand to help repair damage inside out.

There are many types of keratin conditioners that you can use, depending on how you want to use them. Check out these examples.

1. Rinse out conditioner

Asian girl has long and shiny black hair that benefited from a Keratin blowout
Keratin makes your hair shiny. Credit: Shutterstock

After shampooing your hair, you can use a keratin conditioner right after to help repair damaged, coarse, and tangled hair. Letting it stay on your hair for about 3 minutes helps the keratin particles to seal the cuticles and minimize friction. As a result, you’ll have better hair strength, smoother hair, and lesser static electricity. Then, you can rinse your hair afterwards.

2. Deep conditioner

Keratin blowout: Model has her hair in a low sleek ponytail
Rock a simple but sleek hairstyle. Credit: Shutterstock

If you have dry, severely damaged, chemically processed hair, then, a keratin deep conditioner is what you need. It usually comes in a hair mask form which helps improve hair elasticity, make hair thicker and fuller of life, and restore its strength. After using this type of keratin conditioner, you will notice that your hair gets less frizz and flyaways.

Aside from sealing the hair shaft, it also penetrates the dry ends to reduce splitting. There will also be lesser tangles and roughness after regular use.

It is best to use this keratin deep conditioner, especially if you have received keratin treatment at the salon. The conditioner keeps the treatment from wearing off too soon. And if you have curly hair, the keratin conditioner will make your curls more defined.

3. Leave-in conditioner

keratin blowout: Asian girl is spreading leave-on conditioner on her hair
You can also use a leave-in keratin conditioner on your hair. Credit: Shutterstock

Yes, there is also a leave-in keratin conditioner which helps strengthen, moisturize, and protect your hair from damage. Also, it makes your hair easier to brush and tangle-free. What makes the leave-in conditioner unique aside from not needing any rinsing is how it leaves hair less porous and more resistant to humidity.

And if you are tired of your hair always falling flat and thin, then, keratin conditioner can help make it bouncier with your every move. Of course, you can also use this even on your curly hair. All the more you need keratin conditioner because it keeps the frizz away.

Whether it’s keratin or a Brazilian blowout that you choose for your hair, the main thing is that either treatment can help tame unruly mane. Although both come at a hefty price, the result lasts for a long time.

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