Gettin’ my keratin
Hiiiii 😀 How are ya? Hope your day has been wonderful <3
Bella and I ended up deciding on the farmer’s market– it was such a gorgeous day today.
TONS of amazing vendors
and Bella got to meet many new dog friends:
I didn’t end up buying anything because I haven’t planned out this week’s meals- the main thing I wanted was goat cheese and they weren’t there today. It was fun to walk around, people watch and food watch 🙂
After the market, I grabbed a snack:
and met my madre at the salon to get my hair did.
Today we did a Keratin Complex treatment, which is a hair smoother. There is a lot of controversy and heresy out there about hair straightening and smoothing treatments, mostly due to the Brazilian Blowout, which my mom’s salon (and many others) have refused to offer. Brazilian Blowouts have made quite a few people very sick and contain high levels of formaldehyde. Ever since I heard about it, I’ve been wary about getting any type of straightening or smoothing treatment on my hair and have spent the last year drilling my madre about Keratin Complex and doing online research. She’s an Educator for the company (so she travels to train stylists on how to use the product and perform the treatments) and could answer ALL of my questions… including scientific mumbo jumbo that flew right through my brain (I’m a math girl, not a science girl).
Keratin Complex is a smoothing treatment, unlike Brazilian Blowout, which is a straightening treatment. Keratin Complex contains a high level of keratin (a protein that is in your hair—the keratin for this product is derived from sheep’s wool and they aren’t hurt in any way during their haircuts). As a smoothing treatment, Keratin Complex repairs your hair, whereas straightening treatments break the hair down. We lose keratin in our hair from everyday damage such as blowdrying and straightening (which I’m guilty of both on a very frequent basis), and no over-the-counter products will repair this damage.
Keratin Complex contains aldehyde, which is a plant-based preservative (all beauty products need some type of preservative to keep them from going rancid). It’s at a level 2, which is the same level that’s found in perfumes and body lotions (I use both of these). I found the treatment to be extremely gentle –it didn’t hurt my eyes and smelled lovely- and feel like it was way less abrasive than getting my hair colored.
Of course, you always have to do what’s right for you. There are a boatload of hair treatment options out there and it’s up to everyone to become educated and make their own decision. Just wanted to share my experience with you 🙂
First, my madre washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo to bring my hair to the proper PH level. She then blow-dried it and applied the keratin treatment to my hair, from roots to ends. She wore gloves, but said the only reason for the gloves is that the molecular structure of the keratin is so small, it would end up going into her hands instead of my hair.
The treatment sat in my hurr for 20 minutes, not so that a chemical process would occur, but so that my hair would soak up all the keratin:
Then, she dried my hair again and straightened it to seal in the product.
My hair feels SHINY and NEW 😀
I’ve been banned from sweating for 2 days (which is perfect because I usually take Sunday and Monday off or active recovery) and then my hair will blowdry more quickly and be frizz free. FRIZZ FREE?!? I can’t even imagine!
Here’s what it looked like before: And after:
(After waking up hahah)
Fun 😀 It will still curl when I want to go curly, too.
After hair, we went and grabbed some lunch at Choice Greens, a create-your-own salad place.
You fill out the ingredient list with all of your salad choices:
and the chop it all up for you!
A brilliant concept 🙂
My salad beast of joy contained:
-romaine
-artichoke hearts
-asparagus
-sundried tomatoes
-mushrooms
-albacore tuna
-balsamic on the side
+ a veggie soup
I’m off to pick up a cake for my friend’s birthday and then celebrate!
Have a fabulous night <3
xoxo
Gina
Your hair looks very sleek and shiny! I had to giggle a bit at your frizzy “before” picture though. On the best of days, my hair could never be half as smooth and shiny as yours on the worst of days! Ah, the joys of curly, frizzy hair!
They offer Keratin at the salon I go to too. It is nice to see what the outcome is. Your hair looks amazing.
I wish I had had some sunshine up in hurr! Your hair looks gorgeous girl, I’ve always wondered about keratin treatments!
Your hair looks beautiful girl!!!! Your mom did a great job!
xo
Your hair looks so shiny! I think I may have to look into getting that done too. Thanks for the review!! 🙂
Your hair looks AMAZING!! I seriously want to get that done. I’ve always liked the little wave I have in my hair, but it seems to frizz so easily…this seems like the perfect solution!!
Oooh, getting the keratin treatment is so tempting. Do you know if it’s expensive? Your hair looks very pretty and shiny!
That restaurant looks great. When I was going to school in NY, I’d always go to Hale n Hearty. Love chopped salads!
i’m not sure how much it costs- maybe a couple hundred dollars? i have no idea
Hi Gina,
Your hair looks beautiful! I had it done last summer. I have very similar hair to you. The best part was that it took to bulk out of my hair. I wasn’t thrilled with it though. I had spots that didn’t take and it was frustrating. Also, my throat burned when my hair was being flat ironed w/ the treatment in and I did have the Coppola too! Please keep us updated. I am am curious what you think as time goes on. I am still debating if I should try it again.
Your hair looks gorgeous!! I should really look into getting a Keratin treatment. How often do you have to get it done? It looks so smooth! Have a great day. 🙂
it lasts about 3 monthes
Your hair looks so good!
Yum that salad place IS a good idea!
I’ve gotten a Keratin treatment and it changed my life!!!
I’m glad to hear the details because I was worried about the recent controversy regarding formaldehyde.
Your hair looks beautiful! How long does the treatment last, and what does it normally cost?
it lasts about 3 months but i’m not sure how much it costs
I do Keratin treatments once every month, if not more. They are AWESOME! My hair is SO much healthier & SOOO soft! 🙂
You hair is soooooo pretty!!
thank you!
Your hair looks great! Does the keratin treatment work on colored hair the same way that it does virgin hair? Do you think it’s less damaging to get the keratin versus a gloss or color?
My hair is dull without being colored, and if I could find a way not to color it every six weeks or put a ton of products in it and still have shiny hair I would be one happy girl!
yes and yes!
Does Keratin do anything to keep hair straight? My hair is kinda straight but not 100% so I still have to flat iron it every morning. I’d love to NOT have to iron it daily.
it doesn’t make it straight, but it’s easier to work with. i can blow dry it much straighter than i used to be able to, so now i just have to straighten the ends a little
Looks great! Now you have to treat your hair right.
http://www.keratintreatmentforhair.com/keratin-aftercare
Is it true that you can’t put your hair in a ponytail or behind your ears for 3 days after getting the keratin treatment?
What would the keratin treatment do to curly hair? Would it help keep it less frizzy or would it take the curl out until it wears off?
the curl would still be there, but it tames the frizz
hi! i’m a fellow tucson-an and have quite the untamely mane myself! if it’s not too weird to ask, what’s the salon called that you go to?/do they have a website with more info on the treatment (pricing etc.)??