A keratin treatment in Oklahoma City can be especially helpful during late summer when the combination of heat and humidity makes your hair feel like it takes twice as long to style.
But when I talk to my clients about keratin, I am not only thinking about getting rid of frizz or making the hair straighter. I am thinking about how much easier their hair could be to manage every day.
If you are spending a lot of time blow drying, smoothing, flat ironing and then touching everything up again because of the humidity, keratin may completely change your styling routine.
Oklahoma Humidity Can Make Hair Feel Like a Full Time Job
August in Oklahoma can be tough on hair.
You can spend time getting everything smooth in the morning, walk outside and feel like your hair immediately starts changing.
For someone with naturally wavy, curly, coarse or frizz prone hair, that can mean a lot of extra styling.
And sometimes we respond by adding even more heat.
Another pass with the blow dryer. Another pass with the flat iron. More time with the curling iron trying to put the shape back into the hair.
That is one of the reasons I like talking about keratin this time of year.
The question is not just, “Can we make my hair smoother?”
I also want to know, “Can we make your hair easier for you to take care of?”
Keratin Does Not Have to Mean Flat, Straight Hair
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions I hear about keratin treatments.
Some women hear “keratin” and immediately picture extremely straight, flat hair without movement.
That is not necessarily the goal.
I still want your hair to feel like your hair.
Depending on your natural texture and what you want from the treatment, the goal may be to soften the frizz, make the texture more manageable and create a smoother result while still allowing you to style your hair with movement and body.
That conversation is important because not everyone wants the same result.
One client may want as much smoothing as possible.
Another may love her natural movement but want to spend less time fighting frizz.
Those are two very different goals.
The Benefit I Love Is Easier Styling
This is where I think people sometimes underestimate the value of a keratin treatment.
When the hair is smoother and more manageable, it can take less work to get the finished look you want.
Keratin treatments can also affect how the hair responds to moisture. For some clients, that means the hair does not hold onto as much water and can be noticeably easier and faster to dry.
Think about what that can mean during your normal week.
If your hair dries faster, you spend less time under a hot blow dryer.
If it is easier to smooth, you may not need to go over the same areas repeatedly with a flat iron.
If it behaves better in humidity, you may not have to restyle it every time you go outside.
That is why I look at keratin as more than a smoothing treatment.
It can simplify your routine.
Less Styling Time Can Also Mean Less Heat
I am realistic about hot tools.
I am not going to tell someone who loves her blowout, curling iron or flat iron that she can never use heat again.
Instead, I would rather find ways to help her get the look she wants without unnecessarily working the hair over and over.
If a keratin treatment allows you to dry your hair faster and get it smooth with less effort, you may naturally reduce the amount of heat your hair experiences during the week.
That can be especially valuable for someone who also colors or lightens her hair.
We want your hair to look beautiful today, but I am always thinking about what we can do to help keep it looking and feeling beautiful months from now too.
Keratin Can Be Part of a Summer Hair Recovery Plan
Late summer is also when I start seeing hair that simply feels tired.
We have Oklahoma heat and humidity, but there may also have been vacations, swimming, sun exposure, more frequent washing and months of styling.
By August, some clients tell me their hair feels dry, frizzy or harder to control than it did earlier in the year.
That is why I do not look at keratin as an isolated service.
I want to look at the condition of your hair, your color, your texture, what you do at home and what you want your hair to look like going into fall.
Sometimes smoothing and improving manageability is exactly what we need.
Other times, conditioning the hair or making another change should come first.
What About Curly or Wavy Hair?
Having curls or waves does not automatically mean you need to get rid of them.
Some women love their natural texture. What they do not love is the frizz, drying time or amount of effort it takes to make that texture manageable.
That is an important distinction.
Before recommending a keratin treatment, I want to know what you like about your hair as well as what frustrates you.
Do you want to preserve some of your wave?
Are you trying to make blow drying easier?
Is humidity your biggest problem?
Do you want a smoother finish?
How often are you using hot tools now?
The treatment should fit the result you want rather than forcing every client into the same finished look.
What About Color Treated Hair?
This is where planning becomes especially important.
Many of my clients have dimensional color, highlights, blonde or other color services, so I am always looking at how treatments work together.
I want to consider the current condition of the hair, your color plan and the timing of your services.
If we are also transitioning your color for fall, those services should be planned together.
Beautiful color and healthy looking, manageable hair should complement each other.
Your Home Routine Still Matters
A keratin treatment can make your hair easier to manage, but what you do at home still matters.
The shampoo, conditioner and styling products you use can affect how your hair feels and how well you maintain the result.
Thermal protection is also important if you continue using a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron.
I particularly like products that help us work smarter with heat rather than simply adding more products to the hair.
If we can protect the hair, make drying easier and reduce unnecessary heat exposure, that supports the same reason we considered keratin in the first place. Schedule a Hair Consultation Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a keratin treatment completely straighten your hair?
Not necessarily. The result depends on your hair, its natural texture, the treatment and what you want to accomplish. For many clients, the goal is smoother, more manageable hair rather than completely straight hair.
Does keratin help with frizz from humidity?
Frizz control is one of the primary reasons many people consider keratin treatments. For clients who struggle with Oklahoma humidity, improving manageability can make a noticeable difference in their daily styling routine.
Can keratin make my hair dry faster?
Many clients find that their hair becomes easier and faster to blow dry after a smoothing treatment. How much of a difference you experience depends on your hair type, density and condition.
Can I still curl my hair after a keratin treatment?
A smoothing treatment does not necessarily mean giving up movement or styled curls. This is something we discuss beforehand because I want to understand how you normally wear your hair and the result you want.
Is keratin good for color treated hair?
Keratin treatments can be used with many types of color treated hair, but the condition of the hair and timing of services matter. I prefer to look at your overall color and hair plan rather than treating each service separately.
How long does a keratin treatment last?
Results vary depending on the treatment, your hair, how frequently you wash it and the products you use at home. Your home care can make an important difference in maintaining the result.
Hair That Takes Less Work
For me, one of the best compliments after a keratin treatment is not simply, “My hair is so straight.”
It is:
“My hair is so much easier to do.”
That is the real lifestyle benefit.
Less time fighting frizz. Less time drying. Less time repeatedly going over the hair with hot tools. And more mornings when your hair simply does what you want it to do.
If late summer humidity has you spending too much time trying to control your hair, a keratin treatment may be worth discussing.
We can look at your texture, condition, color and daily routine and decide whether smoothing should be part of your plan going into fall.
