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Bump. Anyone?

I’ve been getting them since 2010. Back then they still had the formaldehyde and I’ll be honest, it was amazing. Now that it’s all formaldehyde free it just isn’t nearly as good, but for someone with frizzy hair it’s still amazing. I would pay extra for black market formaldehyde keratin treatment.

When I get it done, even though they now say you can was 24 hours later, I still try to wait at least 48, ideally the full 72. It just lasts way better that way.
The first week or so, depending on hair type, it will be pretty straight and flat. My hair is fine - you normally can’t tell because I do have a lot of body, but when it’s straightened like that it looks very flat and limp. Especially while you’re not washing the first few days, I do it on a Thursday so I can hunker down at home for 2-3 Days.

After a week or so of washing it starts to become more like your normal hair but better. A little straighter and very frizz free.

Beware of 2 things;
If you also color, coloring strips the keratin. They say to wait a week or 2 after keratin but really every time I’ve done keratin it doesn’t mater how long I’ve waited, my keratin gets stripped and my hair is significantly frizzier after color.

If you do the opposite and color before keratin, the keratin can change your color. It doesn’t matter how long you wait. I got highlights that were super subtle and was told it was fine to go get keratin later that week. I went and after my hair was a streaky mess. My highlights got lighter and almost oranger. I was not happy. Color is a new thing for my hair (New in last year) so I wasn’t prepared for the ways they don’t interact well with each other. I think I’ll stop with highlights and just get my grays done in a darker color so it only lightens slightly overall.

Also you MUST use sulfate free shampoo. Don’t assume if it’s color safe it’s sulfate free or if it’s high end it’s sulfate free. Fortunately there are many options these days (back in 2010 there weren’t). Moroccan Oil (the brand), AG, many of the Oribe, Biosilk, Pureology, It’s A 10, shu uemura are all ones I've used.

@T.H.O.U.: @SweetiePie: @HappyBaker: this is great feedback! We’ve moved to a hot and humid climate and my hair is freaking out. I have curly hair (between 2c and 3a), and it’s medium fine. I’ve had more or less the same haircut since 8th grade, so I’m super hesitant to do anything dramatic with it. Currently, I put it in a bun just about every day since I can’t deal with it, and I’m so jealous of all the ladies here with super sleek hair.

I have fine hair that is pretty curly naturally (different textures in different spots on my head) and it takes forever to air dry. I have been doing some form of Keratin 1-2x/year since 2009 and it is life-changing.
Currently I do the 24 hr version, I don't believe it's Formaldehyde free (so I didn't do it while pregnant). It's a time consuming and expensive process (3 hours and like $300), and my hair is SO straight/flat for a week or 2 afterwards which I don't love. But then after that, it is shiny and curly/wavy, then gets curlier, but manageable. Usually lasts 4 months if I use sulfate free shampoo.
I agree you should NOT do color after keratin, as it strips it, but I have had good experiences doing keratin after color (2 weeks after).

@Shantuck: I am SO EXCITED TO READ THIS! I have been wanting this forever but I didn't know anyone who has tried it and don't always trust online reviews. Even though I don't "know" you I feel like I "know" you better than a reviewer on sephora. I'm pregnant and have been so annoyed that I can't do keratin right now and have even considered just going before its too obvious that I'm pregnant and just not telling them! Because I'm sure once won't hurt anything. But, this could be amazing because its less than one treatment cost and could be used repeatedly!

@Shantuck: sold. I just bought t. I found it on a flash sale site for $90.

@justjules: Sorry I just saw this now. Well, here's the site. But, I'm kinda nervous now because I never got an email confirmation. So if you do it, do it at your own risk I guess. It did say 8 were left when I purchased and now it says 7. So maybe its just an error that I didn't get an email.

https://lowpricezzz.com/product/amika-polished-perfection-straightening-brush/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0abE_enD1gIVS5PtCh0BhgdXEAYYAiABEgK3GvD_BwE

@lamariniere: for the Brazilian keratin, that is the ONLY time I can let it air dry and feel ok with it. I never let it air dry and go out in public with my natural hair. Nope nope nope. But I do with the keratin.
Most days though I’ll still blow dry it and use a brush but only to help shape it a bit. I’m not sectioning it off and standing there forever. The time is cut down dramatically and it’s almost mindless. Nothing like blowing out my normal hair.
As far as humidity, it is perfection. In humidity with my normal hair I get the Monica Effect (Friends reference). When I get a keratin, for at least 2-3 months I am paranoid that it’s going to poof up but I am always giddy when I look in a mirror and see that it’s still perfectly smooth.

Def do a Brazilian over Japanese. The Japanese is very severe and more permanent/maintenance. BKT or blowout slowly fade and even when it’s fading your hair is still way better than without.

@SweetiePie: @lioneyes: it is so great to know that it stands up to humidity, since humidity is my enemy right now. I’m going to start looking researching salons now!

@lamariniere: I still couldn't air dry with keratin but I do think it cut down on my dry time because I didn't have to work as hard to get it smooth. I was able to rough dry without having to fuss with positioning my round brush.

@Shantuck: @justjules: update! I never got an order confirm for the Amika Perfectly Polished, but I just got a shipping notice with a tracking number! It will be here tomorrow!
But I think the flash sale is over. Bummer. But maybe keep an eye out for it again!

@Shantuck: This brush is amazing. Seriously.
It’s not a replacement for a keratin treatment because I imagine my hair will still frizz in humidity. But I just rough dried my hair yesterday and it was a puff ball mess. Then I took like 5 mins to go through it with the brush (my hair is pretty fine) and I was shocked at how well it even got the little baby hair curls around my face and ears. It looked like I got a blowout.

I’m dying to wash and go to bed with wet hair or air dry and then try it. But I didn’t have time to let it air dry yesterday.

Five stars for sure!!!

ETA: how quickly it heats up is incredible.
Only downside is I keep hitting the temp control buttons while I use it so maybe they could place them differently in the next iteration. But it’s definitely not a big enough deal to take away even a fraction of a star.

@Shantuck: So then my issue is a non issue! Awesome