How Soon Can You Repeat a Keratin Treatment?

Written by Shehnaz Shirazi

Updated on June 30, 2023

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Keratin hair treatment can be addictive because it makes the hair easy to manage by eliminating frizz. However, it is important to know the limits and when it’s safe to apply again.

The best way to determine how soon you can repeat a keratin treatment is by:

• Assessing the condition of your hair,
• Or check with your hairstylist.

Otherwise, you may risk causing protein overload and heat damage.

Wait at Least 3 Months to Repeat Keratin Treatment

You must wait at least three months before you repeat a keratin treatment. Waiting time can also vary based on hair type and the keratin treatment formula you intend to use.

Key Factors to Consider Before Repeating Keratin Treatment

1. Is Your Hair in Good Condition?

If your hair is in good condition and not protein-heavy, it’s reasonable to go ahead after the 3 months. But if your hair shows signs of excess protein, it’s best to wait until the protein-moisture balance is restored. Healthy hair will yield better results than damaged hair.

2. Is Your Hair Protein Sensitive?

If your hair is protein sensitive, it’s better to avoid keratin and focus on nourishing and moisturizing treatments. The length of time depends on the degree of protein overload in the hair. Do an assessment on your hair before you proceed.

3. Is Your Hair Fine?

Fine hair has less volume and elasticity than thick strands do. A consecutive keratin treatment may add more weight to the hair, making it flat and difficult to style. Consider an alternative salon treatment that is more suitable for fine hair instead.

4. Is Your Hair Thick?

Thick hair is more resilient to heat and can withstand higher thermal damage. Keratin straightening or smoothing treatments are suitable options if you’re looking for long-lasting results.

5. How Often Do You Wash Your Hair?

Hair washing frequency affects the longevity of the treatment. If you’re washing more frequently than recommended, your existing keratin treatment may last less than 3 months. In this case, consider extending with a new one.

6. Is It Urgent?

Are you planning to top up your keratin treatment for a special occasion like a wedding, a prom, or a milestone? How much time do you have? If it’s been less than 3 months since your last treatment, a keratin express can help boost your existing treatment in urgent cases.

Why Wait So Long to Repeat a Keratin Treatment?

Before repeating a keratin treatment, the previous treatment must wear out almost completely to prevent overcoating the hair with protein. Overcoating creates buildup and excess keratin and may not give the desired result.

Here’s why …

Keratin is a fibrous protein found in the hair, skin, and nails. It is a vital component that provides structural support and protection to these tissues. However, too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad. Excess keratin can cause protein overload in the hair, a disbalance between the hair’s protein-moisture content that can reduce hair’s elasticity and strength.

Protein and moisture are two important components of human hair. Protein helps build the hair’s structure, while moisture keeps it flexible and strong. Both protein and moisture need to maintain a perpetual balance to keep the hair fiber strong and healthy.

When the amount of protein is too high, the moisture level drops, which creates a disbalance. As a result, the hair becomes dry, brittle and prone to breakage.

That’s why waiting a few months for the previous treatment to fade out before coating the hair with protein again is vital.

What Happens If You Overdo Keratin Hair Treatments?

Overdoing keratin treatments can cause protein overload, resulting in dry, brittle, flat, and greasy hair. It can also lead to breakage and split ends due to over-processing from the high heat that bonds the solution to the hair.

Additionally, if the treatment is not applied correctly or if the hair is not properly primed, it can result in heavy and greasy hair. It’s highly recommended to consult with a hairstylist to determine the suggested times based on your hair type and condition.

Do Repeated Keratin Treatments Damage Hair?

Doing too many keratin treatments in a short interval of time can damage the hair if not done correctly following the product instructions and salon procedures.

A keratin treatment requires high heat to activate, infuse, and seal into the hair. Overexposure to this type of intense heat can cause cracks along the cuticle layers of the hair strands, resulting in hair damage. Plus, don’t forget that some keratin treatments contain toxic chemicals like Formaldehyde, Thioglycolate, and Sodium Hydroxide. Formaldehyde exposure is not only bad for the hair, but it can also affect overall health.

On the other hand, if you use a Formaldehyde-free formula, your hair is always well-maintained, and you stick by the 3-4 months rule before topping it up, it can improve the overall condition of your hair, making it easy to manage and style.

It’s all about assessing the condition of your hair and having a regular visits to your hairstylist or hairdresser so you can get the right advice.

It pays to have a hairdresser friend! Trust me. If you don’t have one, make one!

Tips to Make your Brazilian Straightening or Smoothing Treatment Last Longer

Once you see the keratin treatment results, you’ll keep it as long as possible. Here are some tips to make your keratin hair treatment last longer.

• Wash your hair less: You should avoid getting your hair wet in the first three days after a keratin treatment. Extending it for even a week is recommended. Don’t wash your hair frequently until you have the green light. Reduced washing will enhance the keratin treatment, making it last way longer.
• Use sulfate-free products: Use high-quality sulfate-free shampoo designed for keratin-treated hair because sulfates can peel off the keratin coating from the hair. Same goes for your conditioner and hair serum.
• Avoid towel drying: Cotton towels cause friction and frizzy hair, which will not be good for the treatment. Instead of a thick cotton towel, use a microfiber towel like Aquis. It absorbs excess water fast from the hair, and you do not need to rub it. Just wrap it around your head for a few minutes, and it dries the hair effortlessly. You won’t even need to blow dry.
• Air dry as often as possible: Ditch the blow dryer and avoid using heat-styling products. Use a well-ventilated area to air dry your hair fast. It helps reduce frizz.
• Limit styling products: Limit styling products like creams, gels, and other concentrated products in your hair. Otherwise, it will require frequent washing. The less you wash your hair, the better.
• Avoid touching your hair: Our hands are not always clean and, as a result, can make your hair more oily.

What to Do If Your Keratin Treatment Didn’t Work?

You may do a keratin treatment and find that your hair is far from the shiny and sleek mane you want. Your first instinct would be to immediately do another one, especially if you’re doing it yourself at home, but resist the urge by all means!

You may strip the keratin treatment completely or talk to your hairstylist to see if the treatment can be patched up. Most times, your hairstylist can fix the problem without any drama.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Do Keratin Treatments in a Row?

You can only do keratin treatments every 3-4 months or 3 times a year. Anything more than that can damage the hair with excess protein.

Can Hair Still Be Frizzy After Keratin Treatment?

Hair can still get frizzy after a keratin treatment because the hair may take some time to adjust. The problem can also be related to your aftercare process.

The most common mistake people make is washing their hair too soon and not respecting the 3-day rule. Also, it would help if you used the correct shampoo.

What Kind of Hair Care Products Should Be Used After a Keratin Treatment?

Keratin treatment aftercare products must be sulfate-free and sodium chloride free. Sulfates and sodium have an exfoliating effect and can remove keratin coating from the hair. It’s best to avoid them.

Is Keratin a Better Option Than Other Treatments?

One of the biggest benefits of using keratin is its long-lasting effect. The amount of time we spend every day styling our hair can be greatly reduced with a keratin treatment. The effect can last around 3 months, and if you take good care of your hair, sometimes even more.

Also, there is no need to always go for an intense Brazilian keratin treatment or the blowout. Suppose you would rather have a curl or a wave to it. In that case, you can always try a keratin smoothing treatment, which is more customizable to different hair types.

Are Keratin Treatments Safe?

Always do your due diligence before applying a keratin treatment. Different products have different chemical ingredients and application procedures. Plus, every person is different. Some may have known or unknown allergies.

To ensure safety, always do a patch test if you’re doing it at home and get a high-quality professional keratin treatment with a Formaldehyde-free formula.

Most professional hairstylists nowadays insist on a patch test at least 48 hours before such treatments.

Does Keratin Hair Treatment Change Your Hair Forever?

It depends on the keratin treatment you use. Brazilian blowouts can permanently change hair textures because they are strong relaxers. On the other hand, Keratin smoothing treatments do not alter the bonds and texture of the hair. They work as semi-permanent treatments. So if you have straight hair, it will remain straight. If you have curly hair, it will enhance your curls but keep its god-given texture.

Check Your Hair Before Your Next Top Up!

But before doing so, do an honest assessment of your hair to check whether the treatment is necessary. Consider factors like your hair’s protein content, lifestyle, heat damage from the flat iron press during every treatment, and your hair care habits.

After all, keratin treatments are not so easy to maintain. But the benefits are plentiful when it’s done right.

About the Author

Shehnaz Shirazi

Shehnaz Shirazi has been writing in the beauty and cosmetics industry for over 8 years, sharing her expansive hair care and beauty knowledge. Shehnaz researches and tests new hair care trends and publishes her insights here.