Are you keratin curious? All your questions answered below!

Do you want smooth, frizz-free hair but your blowouts never last? Do you wear your curls out and about and want less frizz inside the hot humid New York City days? A Keratin Treatment could be the answer to your hair dreams! Read on to learn how a Lasio Keratin Treatment could support your hair health and styling. 

What is keratin? What is a keratin treatment and what does it do?

Keratin is a protein which helps to form the outer layer of skin (epidermis), hair and nails.  This protein is naturally occurring in the body. A Keratin Treatment uses this protein by infusing keratin into a chemical process that eliminates frizz, reduces curl, strengthens damaged hair, and adds shine. 

At Union Beauty, we work with Lasio Professional Keratin Treatments due to their quality, safety, and versatility. Lasio develops formulas with strength, shine, and revitalization in mind. Unlike other brands which use a silicone base, Lasio offers a water-based formula, allowing the treatment to be lightweight. The treatments are heat activated: blow drying steeps the hair in keratin and then flat-ironing seals the cuticle layer. All formulas boast of frizz elimination, 60-90% curl reduction, and simplified blow drying. 

Curious about how these treatments work compared to other salon straightening services?  Unlike chemical relaxers or perms, Lasio’s formulas do not break disulfide bonds. These bonds are what give our hair structure, strength and texture. Lasio’s treatments will not change your curl pattern permanently, nor will they make your hair stick-straight and lifeless. Thanks to advanced technology, these treatments maintain the integrity of your hair. All Lasio formulas wash out evenly, allowing the hair to subtly come back to its original texture, which we love because you won’t notice where the treatment “grows out”.

Also, clinical research has found these treatments to be safe. Though some of Lasio’s formulas use minimal amounts of formaldehyde as a curl reducer, there is no potential harm from chemical off-gassing.  Here at Union Beauty, we have installed Aerovex Air Purifiers in an effort to create the best possible air quality for our guests and stylists. These purifiers are specifically made for salons, eliminating 99.99% of harmful salon contaminants, VOCs, and chemical fumes, including technology to remove formaldehyde.

Why do we recommend keratin treatments, and who would they benefit? 

Are you someone who struggles with frizz even after spending time blowing out your hair? Do you prefer to blowout your curly hair during the winter months and are challenged by manageability? Do you dread humid weather because your hair might look like a tornado (no offense to tornado hair, we respect all fashion choices)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, a keratin could be supportive and beneficial for you.

Everyone’s hair has idiosyncrasies in texture and pattern. For those of us with more textured hair, most of the time our curl pattern has variation– kinkier on top side of our head or looser curls underneath. Cowlicks also present challenges by directing our hair in swirls. Keratin Treatments can be applied in these areas to encourage uniformity in texture and greater manageability with styling.  

One thing to keep in mind: we do not recommend treatments for those who swim regularly. Yes, Keratin Treatments are fantastic for the summer months, especially for us New Yorkers trying to combat humidity. However, for frequent swimmers, this will wash the keratin out of your hair faster, rendering the treatment ineffective. 

What formulas do you carry?

We carry all four of Lasio’s formulas. Each provides a different benefit depending on your needs and hair type/texture and can be combined based on our recommendation or your particular curl pattern: 

One Day Formula reduces 90% of curl and eliminates nearly all frizz. We use this formula on folks who want a treatment once a year (probably during the warmer months) to support their styling and increase the speed of their blowdrys. One Day formula is lightweight, ideal for oily-prone hair. This treatment lasts up to 4 months, depending on how often you wash your hair.

Color Pro is a fantastic option for people with color treated hair looking for UV protection. This treatment reduces 90% of curl and most frizz. Color Pro has a special formula which allows simultaneous nutrient absorption and UV blockage, benefiting those who get a lot of sun exposure. The color molecules also remain intact in this formula, promoting color longevity. We recommend Color Pro on clients whose color services involve bleach, color correcting, or vivids. This treatment lasts up to 4 months, depending on how often you wash your hair.

Mocha Silk Treatment is all about moisture! This treatment reduces 90% of curl and the majority of frizz. With cacao oil as the conditioning agent, this formula provides intense hydration. We recommend Mocha Silk for people with thick, coarse, curly, or kinky hair who want to achieve easier blowdrys/ straightening styles. Compared to the other formulas, Mocha Silk contains the most moisture and straightening properties out of all four formulas. This treatment lasts up to 4 months, depending on how often you wash your hair.

Lastly, Keratin Tropic is a formaldehyde-free formula, reducing 60% of curls while still eliminating frizz. In place of formaldehyde, Tropic uses a cosmetic preservative. We recommend this formula for folks who have thin or fine hair, or for those who want to stretch their curls rather than straighten them. This formula offers an option for people who want to avoid formaldehyde. Tropic lasts up to 3 months depending on your washing regiment.  

Is it possible to do a partial keratin? Or combine formulas?

Yes! Prior to your appointment, we offer a complimentary consultation where your stylist will recommend the plan they believe is best for your hair and tailor the formula appropriately. This might mean the stylist will “cocktail” formulas– selecting specific formulas for different sections of your hair depending on how your texture varies.

We also offer partial keratins. Perhaps you only need support with one part of your hair. Or you are a client with cowlicks, bangs or short hair, and a partial keratin will help you achieve your styling goals. 

How can you best maintain your keratin treatment?

When you leave the salon after a keratin treatment, your maintenance begins. The main things to avoid in the hours after your treatment: tucking your hair behind the ears and using hair ties. Leave your freshly treated hair alone! Any dents left created by tucking or tying will remain in the hair, counteracting the function of the treatment. 

We recommend washing your hair within 24-hours of getting your service. There is no benefit to leaving the keratin on longer, and the hair will be at more risk of protein-overdose, resulting in dry and brittle hair.

Keratin Treatments are heat activated. In order to enjoy the benefits of frizz-free, smooth hair, you must add heat. This means blow-drying, diffusing, or flat-ironing is necessary when styling to get the most benefit. 

Which leads us to our last point—the correct home care for your treated hair is essential to maintain your look. We recommend Lasio Hypersilk Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner. Hypersilk is sodium chloride free, color safe, and has a low pH which will encourage the longevity of the keratin treatment. In addition and perhaps most significantly, Hypersilk is infused with hydrolyzed keratin, meaning Lasio has formulated shampoo and conditioner with the correct balance of keratin to support your treatment. 

A fun fact about the R+Co products you may already have as part of your home care routine: the entire R+Co line is designed to not reverse any chemical service you’ve received. What’s more, healthy hair will style better in the long term, so if you add Lasio Keratin to your routine, beautiful results will follow.

Note: there are many hair products on the market that are keratin-infused, advertising hair strength and shine. However, not all products are alike, and many are not formulated for Keratin Treatments specifically.  This means the hair is much more at risk of becoming over-proteinized, leading to dryness or breakage. For the absolute best results, we recommend investing in the proper homecare regiment.

If you think a keratin treatment might benefit you, call the salon! We would be happy to book you a complimentary consultation with Jill, Lawrence, or Jon.