Envy-inducing, beautiful straight hair -- we all want it. The problem is, how do we get it?
DILEMMA
Noreen and Ally don’t have the kind of hair that gets a lot of sympathy. It’s thick, slightly wavy and easy to maintain with only a modest arsenal of product. But don’t hate them—they insist they suffer too! “When it’s humid outside, our hair mushrooms, becomes frizzy and looses its shine,” laments Ally. To beat the hair blues, Noreen had a keratin treatment at her salon and Ally went DIY with the Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfection Smoothing Kit. Did these treatments deliver the straight goods? Read on.
PROFESSIONAL KERATIN TREATMENT
What it is “A keratin treatment works like this: Think of it as the hair equivalent of sealing your granite countertop,” explains my stylist, Victor Allen (victorallen.ca). “It smooths the surface and prevents frizz-producing moisture from getting in. It also repairs existing damage by depositing keratin, which is a protein, into the hair shaft. Once it’s sealed, the follicle is smooth: Your hair feels soft and the light bounces off of it, giving you amazing shine.”
The Treatment Victor washes my hair and then applies the keratin solution. Ten minutes later, he blow-dries it. Next, he flat-irons one small section at a time. (A temp of at least 450˚F is required to seal in the treatment.) “Now for the magic,” he says. “I’ll rinse your hair in cold water to seal the keratin, give you a quick blowdry and we’re done.” I’m skeptical—but 10 minutes later, my hair is silky soft and poker straight. Never mind the granite countertop analogy— this is Botox for hair!
Added Tip If you colour your hair, have it done before the treatment because nothing, including dye, can penetrate the keratin shield.
Timeline Treatment: Two to five hours. Lasts: Three to four months. (The sealant slowly breaks down, so you don’t get a before/after line as your hair grows.)
Benefits It usually takes 20 to 25 minutes to blow-dry my hair. Post-treatment: Five to 10 minutes.
Drawbacks “If your hair is not dyed and not very porous, it won’t work as well— it’s best for coloured or damaged hair,” explains Victor. “If your hair is fine, you’ll have less volume.” Even with my thick hair, I found it a little flat at first. But once I cut back on conditioner, the volume returned.
Cost $350 to $600 (depending on hair type and length).
Verdict My stylist warned me that the keratin treatment is addictive. He’s right—I’m hooked! - Noreen Flanagan
Read about the DIY treatment on the next page...
