Here's what really happens when you try a keratin treatment on afro hair
PRODUCT:
KeraStraight Ultimate Treatment and Booster
THE HYPE:
KeraStraight Ultimate Treatment is a Keratin Treatment (also known as a Brazilian blow dry) that has been designed specifically for people with afro/frizzy hair types and focusses on smoothing, straightening, and simultaneously repairing hair, with results reportedly lasting up to 4 months.
Is also doesn’t have harsh chemicals like relaxer, so you don’t get extreme straightening.
REVIEWER:
Bandi Manzini
BEAUTY BIO:
The thickest, knottiest, most unmanageable afro hair that you could ever imagine. My hair is both the bane and joy of my life. The joyful bit: I have a LOT of it, it's thick and can withstand literally anything that’s done to it. The frustration: it's prone to knotting and tangling, which makes any sort of treatment that involves combing/detangling feel like a punishment.
Like most black women, I stopped relaxing my hair almost 10 years ago due to the damaging (and painful) effects it has on our hair and scalps. The ‘mode du jour’ for most back women now is to either wear our hair in natural styles (braids, twists, afros etc) or in a protective style under wigs or in weaves.
A Keratin treatment is something that many black women are fearful of as they may not know how it works, how it’s different from relaxers and have a general feeling that it will thin out and damage your hair - volume is errrythang, dont you know!
KERATIN TREATMENT FOR AFRO HAIR REVIEW
I arrived at the stunning Trevor Sorbie Salon in Covent Garden and was immediately attended to by the lovely and knowledgable head stylist Ben, who, having a similar hair type to mine, was able to quickly quash my concerns about the treatment. He explained that because of the type of hair I have (i.e. kinky afro) my treatment would require a few more steps.
The process started with a pre-treatment cleanser (KeraStraight’s own brand), and this was left in for 10 minutes to allow for it to really penetrate the hair. After this was washed out, Ben got ready for the main course - the actual KeraStraight itself.
The KeraStraight solution was applied in small sections to my hair until all the hair on my head was generously coated. It tingled a little bit (nothing unbearable) and I suspect this may have been partly due to my scalp being tender from removing my hair extensions earlier that day.
This was left to marinate on my head for 45 minutes before a rinse. Ben then followed this up with moisture lock that he left on my hair for a further five minutes. I noticed at this point that my hair was already looking different. Although still afro, it was definitely in a looser, more malleable coil (and that’s was even before Ben began blow drying).
The blow dry was painstaking work, with Ben drying each part of my hair in sections using the Easy Comb by KeraStraight, which painlessly separated my stubborn, knotty strands and allowed the straighteners to glide over each section effortlessly. That comb is a GODSEND.
It was incredible to see just how straight my hair became and at the end of the treatment I had pretty much poker straight hair.
Curly girls assemble, this is your ultimate hair guide.
FINAL VERDICT
Seeing my hair not in its usual knotty, big old afro state felt refreshing, I did lose a lot of my volume, though, which I guess is the inevitable sacrifice I had to make as a trade off. Being a big hair girl, it did feel a bit flat to me and remind me of when I used to relax my hair texture wise. However a few weeks after my treatment, more of the kink and texture of my own hair is back - albeit very subtly - and I’m pleased about that as it doesn’t look as shiny pressed and poker straight as it did immediately after the treatment.
I have noticed that along my hairline where not so much solution was applied during treatment, there is definitely a kinkier texture compared to the rest of my head. I haven’t applied the booster treatment as yet as I wanted to give my hair a bit of a break, but I am excited to try it out.
I’m not sure my hair will necessarily make it to 4 months in this same condition as it grows really quickly, with my roots inevitably growing to their natural kinkier texture.
However, The KeraStraight treatment itself didn’t feel as brutal as relaxer treatments, and I felt assured by the fact that there were many steps to the process that were mostly for protective purposes.
Am I glad that I did it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
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Bella Hadid always looks sleek and chic when wearing her hair poker straight.
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Rita Ora never seems to get it wrong with her hair. This sleek style looks simply stunning with her perfect makeup.
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Getty ImagesPenelope Cruz rocked gorgeous sleek glossy locks at the London premiere for Zoolander 2. She combined the look with gold smoky eyes and nude-hued lips.
Getty ImagesActress Brie Larson has clearly been taking tips from the SS16 catwalks, where straight, almost glass-like locks were big news. We love this simple sleek style, complete with a centre parting and slight slicked-back feel.
Rex FeaturesGwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth loves a good straight style, and when it looks like this, who can blame her?! The star rocked her sleek locks at an event in New York.
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She has the shiniest hair in celebs-ville and styles her long bob with a classic centre-parting and the ends blown under. It's a preppy, glossy look that's timelessly on-the-money.
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Kate's expertly blow-dried bob looks set and yet remains soft, touchable and healthy-looking. The secret is in the products. Try prepping towel-dried hair with Schwarzkopf Professional Silhouette Setting Lotion before your blowdry.
Splash NewsRita Ora
Rita livens up a poker straight style with a rainbow hair dye job.
Getty ImagesMila Kunis
We're used to seeing Mila with a more textured natural look but this super glossy, poker straight style steps it up a gear.
Getty ImagesKristen Stewart
In true K-Stew style, the actress punks up her look by texturising the roots and adopting a swept back volumised style. Get out your back-combing brush and hairspray to follow suit.
PA PhotosScarlett Johansson
If we're being honest we prefer Scar-Jo as a blonde, but that doesn't stop us envying these seriously shiny brunette locks.
PA PhotosKim Sears
If you possess naturally straight hair then you are the envy of curly-haired girls everywhere (although it works the other way too, you know). Mrs Murray's mane merely requires a little heat protector spray and a rough blowdry to achieve this relaxed straight style.
Getty ImagesBehati Prinsloo
The model's centre-parted seventies style is so on trend, and the graduated colour makes it even more desirable. The look is proof that straight doesn't always mean severe and Behati's look is pure hippy chic.
Getty ImagesMargot Robbie
Miss Robbie's platinum blonde long bob has been given the side-sweep treatment for a sleek look that incidentally looks amazing with a red lip.
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The singer is a veritable smorgasbord when it comes to her hairstyle history. The straightening irons were set to work on this slick two-tone look.
PA PhotosSandra Bullock
Another actress who usually adopts a more matte look with her styles, the star switched it up with this glossy super-straight look. To keep volume at the roots like Sandra, blowdry the hair with a volumising product (we like MOP's Lemongrass Lift Spray), before only using straightening irons at the ends of the hair, as well as on the fringe if required.
PA PhotosCaroline Flack
The versatile Miss Flack opts to iron out her natural waves when trialing a chocolate-hued bob.
Getty ImagesKiernan Shipka
Kiernan goes for a similar look with a side-swept short style, but it appears softer thanks to the addition of a little volume at the roots. Bumble and Bumble's Pret-a-Powder is great for this.
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Michelle's fine, straight hair is suited to an exaggerated side parting; it adds a little height at the roots and stops the style falling flat.
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Kylie opts for ironed-out tresses to show off her latest look: sultry sea nymph.
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Miss Hathaway fashions her straight hair into a heavily pomaded pixie crop. To copy the look, try Kerastase's Short Mania to keep every strand in place; just go easy on the amount, you're looking for gloss not gloop.
Getty ImagesDuchess of Cambridge
The royals of previous generations may have opted for heavily stylised coiffures, but the Duchess of Cambridge prefers a bouncy girl-next-door* blowdry for her consistently frizz-free tresses.
*A girl-next-door with an exceptionally good hairdresser.
Getty ImagesDaisy Lowe
The model is a modern day siren, showing off tresses like spun silk with a relaxed down 'do.
Getty ImagesDiane Kruger
Our style crush keeps her hair matte and texturised, thus adding body to her straight long bob.
Getty ImagesJaime King
Take follow actress Jaime King's lead and tuck centre-parted sleek tresses behind your ears. We love this look.
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Avoid poker straight locks if you want more movement in your hair. A relaxed blow-dry like Miss Jones', with a little product worked through the ends, results in a softer look that's no less glamorous.
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Miss Alba may have a natural curl to her hair but she's frequently sporting a super sleek glossy look.
Sofia Vergara
Super long and super luscious has become the Modern Family actress' signature style.
Getty ImagesGwen Stefani
Despite years of bleaching and styling her hair, the No Doubt singer's locks are shiny and healthy when they should be frazzled and lacklustre: damage that's even more noticeable on straight hair. Ensure your mane remains in tip top condition by using a heat protector spray while styling. We like Kerastase Fluidissime spray.
