Your Ultimate Guide to Keratin Treatments for Curly Hair (2024)

Keratin treatment is a chemical process that works to smooth and relax hair. It gives it a shiny and manageable finish by injecting keratin protein into the hair follicle. This treatment became popular in South America, particularly Brazil, when a mortician noticed that the formaldehyde being used to embalm bodies was also straightening hair. Today, most stylists don’t use formaldehyde for the treatment, because they have found similar chemicals that relax hair and are safer to use. And let’s be honest, keratin treatments sound way more appealing than formaldehyde!

Keratin treatment is so popular because it makes hair more manageable and easy to style, plus it can last up to 3-5 months. Many people with curly hair choose to use keratin treatments to loosen their hair and give it a different texture, but there is a lot to know about how it works. Before you dive in, let us share everything we know about the process.

Is Keratin Good for Curly Hair?

A keratin treatment is a great option for those with curly hair who want a more relaxed and shiny finish. Depending on your exact hair type and how curly your strands are, there is no promise of a completely straight finish, but it will be much looser and shinier! It’s also a great way to tame frizz and flyaways, which can be very common for curly hair types. One concern for keratin treatments on curly hair is doing them incorrectly, if not done right, it can lead to irreversible heat damage and change your natural curl pattern.

How Does a Keratin Treatment Work?

Okay, let’s break it down: genetics take centre stage when it comes to your curl pattern. But how? Genetics are responsible for determining the number of disulfide bonds that live within your hair proteins. Disulfide bonds occur when two sulfides (sulfur atoms) collide and create a spiral in your hair. Long story short, curly hair has TONS of these disulfide bonds – hence a head full of bouncy, sometimes frizzy, curls.

In order to disrupt the curl pattern to create straight hair, a process of breaking down the disulfide bonds must be used. Enter: keratin treatments.

When using keratin treatments, your hair will go through three stages: relaxing, neutralising and conditioning. The relaxing stage changes the way proteins merge through the use of alkalis which causes hair to break down enough to loosen the curl pattern without permanently damaging the actual strands. Next comes the neutralising stage, which restores the pH balance so that hair is less delicate after going through controlled damage. Finally, the hair is conditioned to add just the right amount of TLC to your smooth hair. Who knew hair could be so scientific?

Which Keratin Treatment for Curly Hair is Right for You?

Brazilian Blowout

This is likely the keratin treatment for curly hair that you’re most familiar with. The Brazilian treatment is known for maintaining volume while eliminating frizz and smoothing hair. It’s a simple hour-long process where the treatment is blow-dried in and then sealed with a straightener. The best part? You’re looking at three to six months of gorgeous hair as a result of one hour with your stylist.

Japanese Keratin Treatment

Think: Brazilian plus Japanese hair straightening. This three to four-hour treatment is brought to life by first applying the traditional Brazilian treatment, followed by completely sealing the cuticle with the Japanese treatment. The benefit of this treatment is that you can essentially kiss your heat styling tools goodbye because your hair will dry pin straight after every wash.

Keratin Express

This is the keratin treatment for curly hair that works with your waves. In as little as four to five minutes, your hair will be frizz-free and ready to take on the humidity without so much as a flyaway for four to six weeks.

Soft Keratin Treatment

For those of you who want to embrace your curly beauty, look no further than this two-month solution. Re-cap your curl spray and put away your styling creams because this keratin treatment for curly hair is known for keeping your curls intact while transforming them into frizz-free spirals without so much as a pump of mousse.

Our Favourite Keratin Hair Products

When it comes to maintaining a Keratin treatment, it’s important to use products that will help with longevity and mimic what the initial treatment achieved. These products are also great for those who aren’t ready for an actual Keratin treatment but want some of the benefits that using Keratin protein offers. Let us break down some of our faves:

Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner

If you’re looking for an in-shower Keratin-infused product, we highly recommend a cleansing duo like TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo and TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Conditioner. This dream team will help you maintain your silky-smooth finish, nourishing your hair with up to 72 hours of frizz control.

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Oil

Create smooth frizz-free styles with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Oil. With up to 72 hours of frizz control, add this gem to your routine for gorgeous silky smooth hair.

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray

Protect your hair and smooth it at the same time when you’re using heat with TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protect Spray. Enriched with keratin and marula oil, this spray provides up to 72 hours of frizz-free hair.

Keratin Treatment Before and After

Before and after a Keratin treatment won’t be the same for everyone, it depends on your level of curl and how much of the chemicals your stylist uses. You can work this out with your stylist before beginning! After your treatment, your hair will be smoother and shinier, and your curls will definitely be looser, potentially even very straight.

Can Keratin Treatments Be Done on Natural Hair?

Yes, Keratin treatments are safe and can be done on natural hair! For all hair types, it’s important to know what chemicals your stylist is using. So, make sure you go to a professional to make sure the chemicals are applied to your hair properly. They need to be left on for an appropriate amount of time to avoid unnecessary damage.

Do Keratin Treatments Work for Men With Curly Hair?

Yes, keratin treatment works on men’s curly hair, too! Men’s hair is no different than women’s and the follicle can receive the same level of Keratin protein. It will also have the same effects and become smoother and less frizzy. Keratin treatment is perfect for anyone who is interested, and the same goes for Keratin-infused products, as well.