Keratin Treatment

Written and reviewed by Claudia Botelho, more than 15 years behind the chair, who takes courses regularly to stay current on new techniques.

Updated September 3, 2026

Smoothing, Not Straightening

This is the distinction worth understanding before you book. A relaxer or a permanent straightener breaks the bonds in your hair and rebuilds them flat, and the result is permanent until it grows out. A keratin smoothing treatment coats and smooths the hair instead. Curls loosen and soften rather than disappear, frizz calms down, and the treatment fades gradually over the following months.

That means you keep your texture. If you want your waves gone entirely and forever, this is not the service, and your stylist will tell you so rather than sell you something that will disappoint you.

Who Gets the Most From It

• Anyone whose hair frizzes the moment humidity arrives, which on the South Coast is most of the summer.
• Curly and wavy hair that you want softer and more manageable without losing the curl.
• Thick or coarse hair that takes a long time to blow dry.
• Color clients whose hair has started to feel rough through the mid lengths.
• Anyone who is tired of flat ironing every morning and would rather the hair did the work.

How the Appointment Runs

Your stylist starts with a clarifying wash so nothing is sitting on the hair. The treatment is applied section by section, blow dried in, and then sealed with a flat iron pass at the correct temperature, which is the step that does the actual work. You leave with the hair already smooth.

Plan on two to three hours depending on your length and density. It is a good appointment to pair with a haircut, since your stylist can shape the hair once it is behaving.

Living With It Afterward

Your hair should still look good weeks after you leave the salon, and with a smoothing treatment the first few days set up the next few months.

• Follow the aftercare window your stylist gives you at the chair. It varies by formula and it is the one instruction that genuinely changes the result.
• Sulfate free shampoo from then on. Sulfates strip a smoothing treatment faster than anything else. We carry Shibui and Aluram in the salon.
• Chlorine and salt water both shorten it, so rinse as soon as you can after a pool or a beach day.
• Most guests find it lasts a few months and then fades out gradually rather than stopping, so there is no awkward line or grow out point.

Keratin and Your Color

The two work together, and the order matters. Color first, then the smoothing treatment, usually in the same visit or with the color slightly ahead. Doing it the other way round means the smoothing layer sits between the color and the hair. Tell whoever books you that you want both so the appointment is scheduled with enough time, and see our color services if you are planning them together.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will a keratin treatment make my curly hair straight?

No. It loosens and softens curl and removes frizz. Your hair keeps its shape and you will still be able to style it curly if you want to. For genuinely straight hair you would be looking at a different chemical service.

How long does a keratin treatment last?

It fades gradually over a few months rather than ending on a set date, and how long yours holds depends on how often you wash and what you wash with. Sulfate free product makes the biggest single difference.

How long is the appointment?

Two to three hours for most heads. Longer, denser hair takes more time because every section is ironed individually.

Can I get a keratin treatment on colored hair?

Yes, and a lot of our keratin guests are color clients. We do the color first and the smoothing treatment after, so mention both when you book.

Is it safe for damaged hair?

It often leaves compromised hair feeling considerably better, but your stylist will assess your hair before committing to it. If your hair is very fragile there may be a treatment plan worth doing first, and we will say so.

Do I need a consultation before booking?

Not required. Consultations are only required for extension and mesh services. If you are unsure whether smoothing is the right answer for your texture, we are always happy to look at your hair first.