When Can You Tie Your Hair After A Keratin Treatment?
Written by Camelia Smith
Updated on
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It’s always a bummer when your hairstylist tells you that you can’t tie your hair up after a keratin treatment 🤦♀️
Well, at least for the first 3 days.
But then again, why would you want to throw your silky smooth and shiny hair into an updo or a ponytail anyway?
Simple: Can’t be arsed today!
We don’t want our hair in our faces when we’re having a lazy day slumped on the sofa watching Netflix!
We all have those lazy days when keeping our locks on fleek is not on the agenda. Yes, we want our hair to look glorious when we’re out on a date, but that doesn’t happen every day.
I don’t know about you, but my hair lives in an updo or ponytail all the time when I’m at home, and I love it.
So let’s talk about tying our hair up after a keratin treatment. What are the rules, and why you need to listen to your hairstylist?
Why Can’t You Tie Your Hair Straight After A Keratin Treatment?
A keratin treatment takes at least 3 days to set in properly. During this time, you need to let your hair down and avoid manipulation that will interfere with the process. Pulling, tugging, and using accessories are not recommended at all.
It’s important to let your hair hang loose and straight and follow a proper aftercare routine to avoid tangles and knots.
What Happens If You Tie Your Hair Up After Keratin?
Using bobbles, elastic bands, ties, and accessories in your hair will create tension and friction, causing the keratin coating to peel off.
In some cases, you may even see lines of demarcation, bends, and frizziness in parts where the keratin hasn’t soaked in and attached to the hair properly.
The resulting mess can leave you with uneven hair that won’t be easy to manage.
When Can You Tie Your Hair Up After A Keratin Treatment?
2 weeks after your keratin treatment is ideal if you want to tie your hair up in ponytails or updos.
I’ve done many keratin treatments over the years, and from my personal experience, I think after 2 weeks is a reasonable waiting time.
However, it all depends on your hair type and texture. Some people’s hair may take in the keratin treatment faster than others, while some may still see their hair feeling lumpy and greasy 2 weeks after the keratin treatment.
It also depends on the brand and type of keratin treatment you’ve had.
There’s no clear cut answer to this, but here’s what you can do:
Listen to your hair.
Take a small section behind your ear and do a test.
If you feel lumps of keratin peeling off with your hair tie, then your hair is definitely not ready.
If it works, then proceed with care by following these tips:
Ease In With Soft Ties In The First Week
Keep your hair tie or accessory loose to hold your hair away from your face. Don’t stretch or create any tension in the first week.
Tension on newly keratinized strands can cause them to break as they are still in a post-processing recovery state.
Don’t Leave Your Hair Tied Up For Too Long.
Give your hair time to adjust back into its newly-found smoothness and natural state. I usually take my hair tie off for around 15 mins and allow my hair to hang straight downwards, gliding my fingers gently through them to loosen up.
If you leave your hair tied up for too long, it may cause the shape to distort.
So give your hair regular breaks from your accessories during the day.
What To Consider When Tying Your Hair After A Keratin Treatment
Here are some tips on how you can tie your hair after a keratin treatment without causing any damage.
Opt For Loose-Fitting Styles
Loose-fitting styles won’t put pressure on your hairline and tresses.
If you go for tight ponytails on keratin-treated hair, you risk pulling the keratin coating out of shape so it can no longer maintain its adherence in your hair. This will leave you with frizzy and unmanageable hair. No one wants that!
Use Silk or Satin Hair Ties
Silk or satin hair ties are your keratin treatment bestie. They are smooth and won’t tug on your strands, especially when wet.
Unlike cotton or plastic materials, silk and satin hair ties are friction-free and won’t soak in any moisture or keratin from the hair.
Celestial Silk Mulberry Silk Scrunchies for Hair
Use Silk Or Satin Scarves To Tie Your Hair Up
If you’re not ready for bobbles or elastics yet, try tying your keratin-treated hair with silk or satin scarves. While it may not be your best option, you can use it until your keratin treatment is fully set in.
Silk Embroidery Red Hair Scarf
Avoid Rubber Bands
Avoid using rubber bands to tie up your hair after a Brazilian treatment because they can cause snags by pulling on your strands, peeling off the keratin coating.
Use a satin or silk Pillowcase To Sleep On
Let your hair recover from the tension overnight by allowing every single strand the chance to relax. A good way to do this is to lay on a silk pillowcase. Silk allows your hair to glide effortlessly without creating any friction and tangles.
These materials are also good temperature regulators. Silk, in particular, can help keep your hair cool, therefore minimizing the risk of the keratin coating melting off and smearing on your pillows.
SLIP Silk Pillowcase
Tying It Up:
- Do not tie your hair up within the first 3 days after your keratin treatment
- It’s best to wait 2 weeks before doing any ponytails or using any hair ties and accessories.
- Always do a patch test with a section of hair from behind your ear.
- Start with loose hair ties and accessories
- Give your hair regular breaks by letting it down for around 15 minutes
- Allow your hair to relax on silk overnight
About the Author
Camelia SmithCamelia Smith can color hair, perform keratin treatments, bleach hair, and even cut curly hair. She is our go-to person whenever we have hair treatments and styling questions.
She's also currently training as a freelance makeup artist and is passionate about helping others feel beautiful in their skin. When she's not writing or doing hair, she's usually spending time watching British period dramas.