So, those of you following along will know that we left off with the ‘before’ for my keratin treatment. That was three days ago. The process of getting the treatment took slightly less time than I was told, and all went smoothly, if you will pardon the pun.
When I arrived they put me directly into a smock and sat me down to decide which product to use. Apparently there is one that retains more of your natural body and one that is ‘heavier’ and makes the hair quite straight initially. I was inclined towards the one that retains more of the hair’s natural body, but he told me I should smell it first since anytime your scalp sweats or you wash your hair you smell the formula. The formula unfortunately smells quite strongly like compost. Louis, my stylist, tells me that it is supposed to smell like bananas, but maybe he meant composting bananas. Anyway, in the end we decided that we would go with the smoother, less smelly one and they took me back to wash my hair with some kind of special shampoo that supposedly gets your hair extra clean so the hair shaft can absorb the formula better. And just by the way, I got an excellent scalp and neck massage out that process. Then back to the chair to get my hair thoroughly dry.
Formula applied and setting prior to the drying
Once the hair was dry Louis brought out the formula and applied it very carefully and very completely to every strand of hair, going over sections several times to be sure every hair had been coated. Then the formula was allowed to set for a few minutes and then both Louis and his assistant took hairdryers and thoroughly dried my hair once more. At this point we were almost two hours in so we took a short break and I walked around for about 15 minutes before returning to the chair.
After the flat irons and before the final washing and drying
During the next phase, the formula is bonded to the hair with heat. So both Louis and his assistant used flat irons heated to around 450 degrees (!) and went over small sections of hair, and again went over them several times to be sure that each strand had been bonded. After they were satisfied that they had accomplished the process my hair cooled off and we went to wash it again. At this point I was offered an optional (extra $30 optional) masque for the hair to help prolong the effects which (being cheap, and unsure whether or not I will like the effects anyway) I declined. Then back to the chair once more for another round of hair drying. Louis ended the drying by using a round brush and a couple of large curlers to give the ends a little shape. Since it was the first time I was doing this I was allocated a discount, though they did try awfully hard to sell me some expensive shampoos and conditioners to help the keratin stay bonded to my hair, but I resisted. I was told to use only shampoo and conditioner that do not have Sodium Chloride and Sulphates, but being a good planeteer I already have those (thank you Nature’s Gate), and to use a hair dryer or some kind of heat on my hair at least once a week to prolong the bond. The process started around 12:30, and by 4pm I was walking back to our apartment with VERY straight and VERY smooth hair.
Back home with FLAT hair!
I haven’t yet washed my hair, though I have rinsed it out twice after a work out, and I’m still getting used to it. It almost looks a little greasy or too flat to me since I’ve spent all my life with poofy hair, but I am enjoying how it doesn’t frizz up and how much longer it looks all flattened out. Louis tells me that the first month it will look quite flat and after that, over a period of about 7 more months, it will regain more and more of it’s natural properties, the body, the curl, but also the frizz. I’ll keep you posted on the changes, and I’m sure my own feelings about the process will change as the formula washes out. Hopefully I won’t experience the hair loss or breakage that some women have, but I’ll let you know. In the meantime, I have a holiday party to get ready for, and I’ll need to wash my hair!
Libby Scofield 