Keratin treatment – the complete guide: what it is, how it works and who it suits

Keratin treatment is the treatment our clients ask about most – and also the one that's most misunderstood. It doesn't straighten your hair permanently, it isn't a chemical perm in reverse, and it doesn't change the structure of your hair. It replenishes something your hair already has.

What a keratin treatment actually does

The hair strand is made up mostly of keratin, a protein that gets worn away by colouring, bleaching, heat, sun and everyday handling. When keratin levels drop, the surface becomes uneven, the hair strand absorbs moisture from the air, and you get frizz and static. A keratin treatment puts keratin back into the hair strand and seals it in with heat from a flat iron. The result is a smoother surface that reflects light better – meaning more shine, less frizz and much less styling time in the morning.

The effect lasts three to six months depending on lifestyle, care and how closely the aftercare advice is followed, and it fades gradually. Your hair never suddenly reverts to how it was, which is one of the biggest advantages compared with chemical straightening.

How the treatment works

The treatment always starts with a deep cleanse using Cocochoco Clarifying Shampoo, which lifts away product build-up and opens the cuticle. The hair is then blow-dried completely, the keratin is applied section by section and sealed in with a titanium flat iron. The whole process takes between two and four hours depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

The first 72 hours are crucial. During that time your hair shouldn't be washed, tied up or clipped back, because the keratin is still setting in the hair strand.

Who is it for?

Keratin treatment suits dry, frizzy, coloured, bleached, curly and coarse hair. It also works on fine hair, but that requires a milder formula and lower heat. In practice no hair type is ruled out – but there are different formulas for different needs, and that's where most people make the wrong choice.

At home or in the salon?

We offer both. In the salon we do the whole treatment for you in Stockholm and Uppsala, and you can book a keratin treatment here. If you'd rather do it at home, we sell the same professional Cocochoco products we use ourselves, including Cocochoco Professional Original. You'll find the full process in our guide to keratin treatment at home.

This autumn we're publishing a new article every week here on the blog, covering everything from choosing a formula and aftercare to making your treatment last as long as possible.