Are You Confused About Keratin Treatments and Hair Color: Advice to Ease Your Chemical Questions?

Are You Confused About Keratin Treatments and Hair Color?

Are you confused about keratin treatments and hair color? It appears many are, and rightfully so. If you aren’t a professional and are receiving information from a stylist that isn’t full of details, you might be in a head spin. Additionally, there are many online fakes who profess to give the right answers. But, sadly, they just add to the confusion. So, today I hope to put to rest some misinformation with another Q&A from Ask the Pro Stylist.

Happy Hump Day

Whoop, whoop! It’s Hump Day gorgeous! Happy Wednesday! The warm weather is arriving. Vaccines are moving swiftly. Normalcy is about to return! As we are midweek, it is time for another question for Ask the Pro Stylist. Today we hear from Krystal who has questions about keratin treatments and hair color. Yes, I have addressed this issue many times. I hope this post settles some lingering questions.

The Keratin Treatment and Hair Color Situation

Hope you are well, I just read your article on keratin and color on the same day and need some advice.

My situation:

I have been doing keratin treatments for years and the process has really done well for me. I had thick curly hair with no chemical treatment other than the keratin.  In January, I decided to have my hair professionally colored, which initially turned out too bright. A couple of weeks later I revisited my stylist to have the color toned down, which turned out okay, but not what I wanted.

It’s been about 3 months now and the color has again totally faded; especially on the left side. I’ve booked an appointment to again have my stylist tone down the color and do a keratin treatment. However, she’s suggesting that I do the keratin treatment first and do the color right after on the same day as the keratin will lighten the color. I’m really confused as to why she’s suggesting this, as I’ve read on multiple sites that it’s best to do the opposite; color then keratin.

Any suggestions? What should I do? Here are some photos of my dilemma. 

Thanks so much in advance for any feedback.

Color done in January – 1st color, which came out too bright!

Hair toned down a few weeks later.

Hair 3 months later: even the texture of my hair had changed. One side refuses to curl. 

To top things off this is what I originally wanted.

My hair before all this crap.

My Reply, But I Have More Questions

Hi Krystal! 

Thank you for your email and the photos. It is always hard to answer people when they don’t have any pictures attached. So, you have a few things going on. 

1. To be honest, it appears she got pretty close to what you were looking for. But I have a question about that – You said this was your first “professional” hair color. Were you coloring your hair at home? If you were, it would affect the results.

2. The hair on the side that doesn’t curl appears to have had too much keratin applied to it. Unfortunately, as stylists we are not perfect, and the application might be off. However, it also looks like that side is a bit lighter, which means it might have had more lightener applied or processed longer. If that is the case, then it absorbs more keratin because the cuticle is very open. (And that is if you had the keratin after your initial color). If not, then over processing of lightener could also affect curl patterns.

3. If all your stylist is doing is “toning down the color,” she is using either a toner, gloss, or glaze. It is standard practice to do this after the keratin. She is correct and sounds like she knows what she is doing. In addition, most brands suggest doing color after smoothing, because the treatment can dull the color. EXCEPT, when lightening. Lightening goes first, then treatment, then toner.

Krystal’s Follow-up

1. I’ve never had color in my hair; only keratin for the past 8 plus years. In addition, the last treatment was done in August 2020. I do max, 2 treatments per year.

2. Would there still be keratin in my hair considering the last treatment was done last august 2020? My biggest concern is the color keeps getting lighter and lighter and I’m wondering why this might be. My texture perhaps?

Thank you so much for your response, really appreciate it. I try my best to take care of my hair and I use professional products, specifically from the Moroccan oil line.

Advice to Ease Your Chemical Questions?

There shouldn’t be keratin remaining in your hair after 8 months. However, this does depend on how often you shampoo and receive haircuts. But, you can suggest she focus on your regrowth and do less on your ends. And the lightening of your hair is oxidation, and a normal reaction to lightener. The toners do not last very long. If you were my client, I’d recommend returning for a glaze every 6 weeks. I do that for all my highlighting clients, especially on those with a darker base.

Keratin Treatments and Hair Color Points to Consider from Previous Questions

The beauty industry is constantly evolving and the best answer depends on the brand. Now with Keratin Complex you can do it all the same day. However, the steps are altered depending on if you lighten or color. Any professional following the manufacturer’s directions will ensure you have the best service, in the proper order to maintain both the Keratin and the color. The actual smoothing treatments dull color, so if you are waiting in between hair services, I would do the smoothing treatment, then the hair color.

When doing both on the same day, the color is NOT shampooed out, but rinsed only. The professional doing the service knows the correct way to do the process, depending on which keratin brand they are using and following manufacturer’s directions. In general, the shampoo prewash before the smoothing treatment is done prior to hair coloring. Clarifying shampoo does NOT remove color, but it will fade semi & demi colors. The iron at the end of the service will not fade the color.

A Note to Stylists

As a cosmetology teacher, I have always stressed the importance of communication to our clients. They are not stupid. Unfortunately, if you aren’t giving details or making sense, they will search the Internet and receive inaccurate information. Be specific, respect your client’s intelligence and they will respect you. I have heard on many occasion a grateful thanks for explaining the process.

Happy Styling!

If you have a question like today’s query for keratin treatments and hair color, please email me at asktheprostylist@gmail.com.. Until then, stay safe, wear your face covering, get vaccinated and happy styling!

©Deirdre Haggerty, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It is unlawful to reproduce this article or any part therein without prior written permission and consent from the author.

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