WHAT IS IT?

The Brazilian keratin treatment is a semi-permanent, ultra conditioning hair coating enriched with Keratin. It is a fairly revolutionary way to tame frizz, add shine and restore health to abused hair. It is also great at helping to seal out humidity and dramatically decreasing styling time. It is not a relaxer. In most cases, if you want pin-straight hair, you will still need to use your flat-iron.

Will my hair become totally straight?

Brazilian Keratin Treatments remove about 20% of the curl or wave. It is not intended as a wash-and-go treatment, although many people get good results that way. If you desire perfectly pin-straight hair with no volume, you will probably want to blow dry or flat iron your hair to remove the remaining wave.  Our keratin treatments remove 90% of the frizz from the hair, and seal the cuticle shut, leaving the hair soft, shiny and luxurious.

• Drying time is significantly reduced
• Little or no flat ironing will be necessary
• You can still curl or scrunch your hair, but without frizz.
• Your hair can retain body or be blown perfectly straight.
• Results vary from person to person, based on their hair's curl intensity and coarseness.

Isn't this the same as hair relaxing?

No. It is an entirely different process. Relaxers are designed primarily to straighten curly hair. The keratin treatment is designed primarily to restore health to damaged or abused hair. The result is straight hair. However, if pin-straight hair is what you desire, you will probably still need to invest a small amount of time blow-drying or flat ironing your hair for that result.


How straight will it be?

Keratin treatments are not “straighteners" or "relaxers,” but they do reduce volume by 60-90%,  depending on the texture and condition. Fluffy, frizzy, wavy hair will become smooth and straight but with a natural look; curly hair will be relaxed to a flatter wave and very curly hair will drop to a softer ringlet. The hair may have a softer, flatter, frizz-free wave, but not be bone-straight when air dried.  Blow-out time and effort will be reduced to just a few minutes for a smooth, shiny finish that maintains healthy, natural body and bend. Some clients consider their hair "wash-and-go" after a keratin treatment.

How does keratin help?

At birth, the keratin level in the hair ranges from 70%-80%.  As we mature, and as we chemically alter our hair, the loss of keratin leads to a dull finish, frizz, coarseness and loss of shine.  By restoring and replenishing lost keratin to the hair, strands are again shiny, straight and frizz-free with a beautiful shine and increased manageability.

 

Why do I have to wait four days to wet it or wash it?

The first four days after the treatment are known as the forming stage. This is the time when the keratin has been sealed into the cuticle, but has not finished infusing. This is comparable to concrete drying. It is dry to the touch, but is still drying below the surface. Your long term results will depend greatly on the first four days after this treatment.


Do you offer a "one-day-wash" or "same-day-wash" keratin treatment?

We now offer a couple of same-day-wash keratin brands that have results comparable to our regular keratin formulas. These treatments have shown us an average duration of about 10 to 12 weeks in normal lifestyle tests. They should be a great alternative to our 4-day-wash treatments, for those of you that cannot wait that long to wash.


What about all of the talk about formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is all around us. We use it in the construction of our homes with plywood, particleboard, insulation, and laminate.  You can find it in paper towels, fabric softeners, cosmetics and paper money. Even apples, potatoes, cabbage and fish contain small amounts of formaldehyde. Our body produces formaldehyde. Many of the vaccines that we receive contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde makes the keratin treatment last. Many innovations have replaced formaldehyde with other solvents, however after further research, many times we find that the replacement is none other  than formaldehyde under another name. We take everyone's heath concerns seriously and recommend that you do your own research
. 
Below is an excerpt from the FDA website concerning formaldehyde in our vaccines:


Why is formaldehyde in some vaccines?
Formaldehyde has a long history of safe use in the manufacture of certain viral and bacterial vaccines. It is used to inactivate viruses so that they don’t cause disease (e.g., influenza virus to make influenza vaccine) and to detoxify bacterial toxins, such as the toxin used to make diphtheria vaccine. Formaldehyde is diluted during the vaccine manufacturing process, but residual quantities of formaldehyde may be found in some current vaccines. The average amount of formaldehyde to which a young infant could be exposed to at one time through vaccines is considered to be safe.
Formaldehyde is also produced naturally in the human body as a part of normal functions of the body to produce energy and build the basic materials needed for important life processes. This includes making amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins that the body needs.
Formaldehyde is also found in the environment and is present in different ways. It is used in building materials, as a preservative in labs and to produce many household products.
The body continuously processes formaldehyde, both from what it makes on its own and from what it has been exposed to in the environment. The amount of formaldehyde in a person’s body depends on their weight; babies have lower amounts than adults. Studies have shown that for a newborn of average weight of 6 -8 pounds, the amount of formaldehyde in their body is 50-70 times higher than the upper amount that they could receive from a single dose of a vaccine or from vaccines administered over time (1,2,3).
Excessive exposure to formaldehyde may cause cancer, but the latest research has shown that the highest risk is from the air when formaldehyde is inhaled from breathing, and occurs more frequently in people who routinely use formaldehyde in their jobs. There is no evidence linking cancer to infrequent exposure to tiny amounts of formaldehyde via injection as occurs with vaccines.


How does the keratin treatment compare to Japanese straightening?
       
Japanese straighteners use technology that is old, and almost obsolete. They looked very stiff and unnatural.They could not be done on hair which had been bleached, or heavily highlighted. Japanese straighteners used a chemical process to permanently straighten the hair like a relaxer. The process took about three or four hours to complete. The major problem was that new growth was immediately apparent, with obvious demarcation, but the hair was so weak from the chemical process, that overlapping previously treated pieces while retouching roots caused nightmarish breakage. We have always believed that this was an extremely damaging treatment. We have never performed even one Japanese straightening treatment.

What if my hair is already chemically treated or damaged 

This treatment actually gives the best results on damaged, porous hair.  You can think of it like this:  Imagine your hair is a road full of potholes and the keratin treatment is brand new blacktop pressed on with a steam roller;  all the potholes are filled and the road is like new!  This treatment restores your hair to become silky, shiny, and more manageable.

• Unlike Japanese straightening, our keratin treatment causes no damage because it adheres to the hair shaft, instead of penetrating it.
• This can safely be applied to bleached, highlighted, and color treated hair and will actually improve the condition of the hair.
• The more damaged your hair is to begin with , the more dramatic the results and the longer it will last.

What happens as it grows out?

In most cases, there is no line of demarcation as your hair grows out. Your natural curl is softened, not eliminated, thus significantly reducing drying & styling time. This treatment is gradually washed out of your hair at an average of 2-6 months. The fading-out process can be accelerated by simply changing to a clarifying shampoo.

 

Will I be able to curl my hair after the treatment?

Absolutely!  The hair won’t be stiff-straight like with permanent straighteners.  You can use a round brush for bounce and flips, or curling irons/hot rollers for more major styling.


What if I've already chemically straightened my hair?

This can be applied directly over any other form of hair straightening, including chemical relaxers and Japanese straighteners.

 

Can I color my hair?
You can color your hair before, even the same day, immediately prior tothe keratin service.  The color will be sealed in, leaving the hair vibrant and extending the life of the color. Otherwise, you can color your hair 3 weeks after your keratin service.


How much does it cost, and how long does it take?

On average, it takes about one to two hours, depending on the amount of clients being served at once. Thicker or longer hair takes a bit longer. The cost is $99, no matter how long, thick, or dense your hair is. Although many times we may loose money by keeping this price, we still keep our word, and that is how we have built our reputation.


How can you do this service so cheap? My stylist says that your product must not be that good!

We use ONLY THE BEST keratin products available at ANY price. We negotiate bulk pricing with our distributors and buy in high volume. Most salons go through a bottle of keratin in a 4 to 5 month period. We use an average of 3 bottles a week.  When you go to most salons, the technician splits the cost of the service with the salon. Here, in most cases, the owner of the salon is the technician.


 
Does your product contain formaldehyde or other aldehydes? 
 
We use a many different keratin brands with different levels of formaldehyde, depending on the objective. We use formaldehyde-free, low formaldehyde, and regular strength for course, super curly or very frizzy hair. We take your health concerns very seriously and do not wish to work in an unhealthy environment either. The products we use have a lower level of toxicity than permanent hair color. We have a ventilation system that meets or exceeds OSHA fresh air requirements.


Are keratin treatments safe while pregnant or nursing?

We take the health of you and your baby seriously. We don't suggest having a keratin treatment while pregnant or nursing.


How does it work?  Is it damaging?

The treatment fills in dry, cracked cuticles with keratin (the protein your hair is made of), while botanical extracts moisturize and soften the newly smooth cuticle. It does no additional damage to the hair. To the contrary, it actually improves the condition of the hair. The result is hair that is healthier, stronger, shinier and straighter than before, and virtually frizz-free!


What if I just want to try it, then go back to my natural curl?

After only one keratin treatment, your hair will slowly return to its natural state.  This may take anywhere from 8-20 weeks, depending on many factors. To accelerate the fading of your keratin treatment, you could increase the frequency of your shampooing and use a clarifying shampoo with sodium chloride.


How long does it last?

Results can vary based on product, hair texture and condition, but repeat clients have the treatment done every three months, on average.It is also important to follow aftercare instructions to prolong the life of your treatment. Repeating the treatment before it reverts completely will also increase longevity with each service. 



What should I use to wash my hair before my keratin treatment?

Contrary to popular belief, the shampoo that you use before your keratin treatment does not matter whatsoever. Over the past few years, Beauty By Ben has done extensive research, experimentation and "myth-busting" to test the limitations of many different treatments, both for our own experience, and for developmental feedback for manufacturers. We have discovered that the results are the same whether you use regular shampoo, clarifying shampoo, dish soap or even come with dirty hair.



How do I care for my hair after the treatment?

1.) Do not wet your hair for the first 4 days.
2.) Do not use elastic bands.
3.) If your hair gets wet or gets a crimp in it from sleeping in the first 4 days, simply pass a flat iron   through the area.
4.) Do not use any hair products for the first 4 days.
5.) Wait at least 3 weeks to receive any hair color service. For best results, color your hair BEFORE keratin.
6.) After the initial 4 days, you MUST use a shampoo and conditioner that is sodium and sulfate-free, no more than twice a week.