Does At Home Keratin Treatment For Black Natural Hair Work?

In one word, yes.

An at home keratin treatment for black hair can help transform kinky, curly, or wavy hair into shiny, straight, and sleek hair.

For others, it helps relax the hair a bit, leaving behind a natural wave.

Either way, it looks and feels much healthier!

If your hair has already been relaxed or dyed, you can still take advantage of a keratin treatment for African American hair.

In fact, a home keratin treatment on your hair is a great way to transition from relaxed to natural hair.

However, you should not administer this type of treatment if you plan on getting braids or extensions in the near future.

Keratin Treatment vs Relaxer

Not sure what the difference is between a keratin treatment for natural hair and a relaxer? The end result is basically the same.

No matter the treatment, you’re looking for sleeker, smoother, and straighter hair.

But the two treatments reach these results in different ways. Relaxers usually have a few tough ingredients, like sodium hydroxide.

The problem with this is that African American hair is usually on the drier side.

These harsh chemicals can dry hair out even more, leading to damage and hair breakage, especially when not applied properly.

A keratin treatment adds keratin, a protein, to hair. Keratin is naturally found in all types of hair, so it’s not an invasive ingredient.

But keratin treatments rely on the use of a carcinogen called formaldehyde.

An at home keratin treatment for black hair can lead to irritated eyes and even lung damage, but this is rare.

However, for this reason it’s always important to administer a keratin treatment in an area with proper ventilation.

Because of the higher risk for damage associated with relaxers, a keratin treatment for natural hair is usually recommended.

Keratin Treatment On 4c Hair

Should you even bother trying a keratin treatment on 4C hair? Absolutely!

I did, and the results were great. After my treatment, I noticed that my hair-drying time drastically decreased.

It was also easier to detangle. My frizz seemed to disappear overnight. With time, I learned to completely forget about frizz.

The cost was a little more than I wanted, which is why I do my own keratin treatment for African American hair at home now.

But only do this if you fully understand the treatment, or you could end up seriously damaging your hair.

At Home Keratin Treatment For Black Without Formaldehyde

Probably the biggest concern about at home keratin treatment for black hair is the use of formaldehyde in the kits.

You’ve probably noticed formaldehyde-free kits on the shelf, but let me warn you that there really is no such thing as a formaldehyde-free keratin treatment for natural hair.

The packaging for ‘formaldehyde-free’ keratin treatments is accurate, which is why they can make this claim.

These at home keratin treatment for black hair don’t include straight formaldehyde.

But they do contain ingredients that can release formaldehyde when mixed or heated.

Look for methanol, formalin, or methylene glycol in the ingredients.

Without the addition of formaldehyde, a keratin treatment for African American hair will never give you longstanding, frizz-free results.

Yes, formaldehyde can be dangerous, but only in large quantities and poorly ventilated areas.

In my experience, as long as you follow the directions and complete your treatment in a well-ventilated room of your home (make sure you can get to an even better ventilated area in case you misjudge the strength of formaldehyde), you should be okay.

How to Do a Keratin Treatment on Natural Hair

Ready to do your own keratin treatment at home for African American hair? First, you’ll need to gather a few things:

● Keratin supplement (usually a 2.3 ounce bottle is enough)

● Shampoo

● Gloves

● Hair dryer

● Flat iron

● Comb

● Towels

1. Begin by shampooing your hair. You want to remove all the dirt and buildup.

Otherwise, your keratin won’t adhere correctly. Make sure you shampoo both your hair and scalp.

Rinse well and repeat once for straight hair, twice for curly hair. Skip the conditioner.

2. Now it’s time to apply the keratin. Begin by towel drying your hair.

Don’t dry it completely just yet. Shake the keratin before applying it. Start applying the keratin at the tips and work your way towards the scalp.

Rub the keratin into your hair gently as you move. Don’t let the keratin get on your scalp or skin.

3. Once the keratin has been applied, use your fingers to comb through your hair.

You can also use a comb, but this can be difficult. The important thing is to ensure that the keratin is evenly applied to every part of each strand and that your hair is as straight as possible.

This can be the hardest part of the treatment. Once you’ve combed through your hair, let the treatment sit for about half an hour.

Then use your hair dryer to completely dry your hair, using your fingers or a comb to again brush through it, keeping hair as straight as possible.

4. Now for the last labor-intensive part of the treatment. Heat up your flat iron and begin dividing your hair into small sections.

Run the flat iron over each section gently to seal the keratin into your strands.

Don’t rush this part. You want to make sure each strand is being evenly hit by the heat.

5. For the next 48 hours, do not wash or condition your hair. Don’t let your hair get wet at all.

Don’t pull your hair behind your ears or style it at all. Keep it as straight as possible.

This is a crucial step and also a bit annoying. Do your best to keep your hair as undisturbed as possible.

6. After 48 hours, shampoo and condition as normal. Use a hair dryer to completely dry your hair. It might not remain perfectly straight, but it should be smooth and shiny.

Keratin Treatment on Natural Hair, Before and After

Before completing a keratin treatment for natural hair, my curl pattern was obnoxiously tight.

My hair looked rough and frizzy. Even on days where I spent plenty of time trying to style my hair, it always looked like a mess.

But after a keratin treatment at home, my curl pattern is looser. My hair is smoother and it’s so much easier to style. My hair also dries faster than it ever used to.

Overall, a keratin treatment for African American hair is a great way to relax hair.

It’s semi-permanent, so while your results should last several months, you don’t have to worry about letting the treatment grow out.

A Brazilian keratin treatment for black hair is something you should definitely consider if you spend your days being frustrated with your natural hair instead of enjoying it.