Keratin Treatment Support Thread

[Br*nzeb*mbsh~ll]

No prob, Lilikoi~
I've been using ayurveda since I decided to transition, well, about 6 months into it. I stopped because I wasn't sure if it would work with bkt. Sheba and others reassured me that it would, so I was read-to-go.

I pick up my powders locally. I mixed all of the 'veda powders into one container and take about 2 tblspns and mix into a salt-free conditioner of choice. (I used a conditioner with salt and it really stripped my hair!) I'll add a little amla and coconut oil into the mix and leave it in overnight. I'll rinse with conditioner or sulfate-free shampoo, if needed.

As a leave-in, I'll go with plain brewed coffee, followed by fenugreek rinse (boiled water with a tspn of fenugreek powder). That's it. Very simple. If you need more info, pm me.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

This thread helped me to decide today no more relaxer fore me. I guess you can say I’m transitioning. Especially with Dream hair at my disposal! That stuff got my hair so straight I didn’t know what was going on, I got confused!

I have an entire Mizani Butter Blend kit (huge bottles used once) with both a regular and a mild relaxer to sell soon.

 

[lilikoi]

WOW!! Thanks for all the pics. I am in awe over the after pictures. It looks like a different head, and I can definitely see your swang.

What kind of camera are you using? What's the setting? Those closeup shots are awesome.

Sorry, I forgot to reply!

I used a Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP, it was on Auto focus for all pics. I used the macro setting (little flower icon) for the close up pics. It's a bottom of the line Canon (currently $102 on Amazon) I got in a hurry to replace my older Canon, which broke right before a trip.

This one is OK but sluggish (takes a few second to recover after a flash pic) and sometimes takes blurry pics on auto-focus (irritating). But the quality of the pics when it does work is fantastic! I'm on the market for a faster, smarter Canon (I LOVE Canon!). Still researching, though...

 

[sheba1]

That's true. I looked up a bunch of ingredients and the synonyms for formaldehyde and it is missing from their ingredients. I wonder if they mention it separately from the ingredients on the bottle, like this:

The ingredients are as follows:
aqua, cetyl, alcohol, cetrimonium chloride, hydrolyzed, collagen, hydrolized keratin, poliquaternium 7, dimethicone, mineral oil, fragrance, mica, citric acid, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethiconol, theobroma cacao (cocao extract), methyichloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone and ci16140, ci42090, ci16255

Dream Hair Keratin Therapy contains only 0.02% formaline

http://www.salonhive.com/keratin-dream-hair-kit.html

It's kinda hard to tell until I get the bottle myself.

0.02%?? Are you sure? That would legally make Dreamhair a formaldehyde "free" product.

 

[Muse]

0.02%?? Are you sure? That would legally make Dreamhair a formaldehyde "free" product.

That's the percent I copied and pasted from the link. It's 2%, they are wrong. It would be absolutely perfect if it was only 0.02% and still did this good of a job on our heads.

 

[beana]

I got caught in the rain today without an umbrella afterwork... my hair did not poof, it did not tangle (like it usually does), it kinda just layed there
I just combed it out and was pleasantly surprised, 100% problem free and smooth.

If i could only get past the breakage i get immediately after BKT and these frays (not all over just here and there), i would continue to use this. At this point, im gearing up for my 4th treatment (in about 6-7 weeks) because my hair has been so well behaved since my first wash. I prefer Dream Hair over Softliss by a miliion %, my hair NEVER felt this good with softliss. I'm happy i decided to give Dream Hair a go, because i like how its working for me now

 

[Muse]

I got caught in the rain today without an umbrella afterwork... my hair did not poof, it did not tangle (like it usually does), it kinda just layed there
I just combed it out and was pleasantly surprised, 100% problem free and smooth.

If i could only get past the breakage i get immediately after BKT and these frays (not all over just here and there), i would continue to use this. At this point, im gearing up for my 4th treatment (in about 6-7 weeks) because my hair has been so well behaved since my first wash. I prefer Dream Hair over Softliss by a miliion %, my hair NEVER felt this good with softliss. I'm happy i decided to give Dream Hair a go, because i like how its working for me now

Beana,

Were you using Softliss exclusively before Dream Hair? I wonder if using Dream Hair will stop the breakage going forward. Could be a brand issue perhaps?

 

[Muse]

Last night I washed for the 1st time after my 2nd Dream Hair treatment and it DOES get better with each treatment! I used Elucence clarifying shampoo only because that stuff is so good on my scalp but it's sulfate/sodium chloride free and is pH balanced for hair. I used Matrix Sleek Look conditioner. It was even easier this time to wash my hair in one bunch rather than in sections like I had to do before these treatments. I got no tangles! A little less than normal shedding (for me) and minimal breakage. I expect to get breakage until I cut off the last little bit of heat damaged/relaxed ends which I will do with the next treatment. I now have a very soft wave and spiral curls in some spots. I do have some more resistant areas in the back and on the sides but I hope they will be resolved with the next 1-2 treatments. The rest of my hair is .

I felt brave so I tried my very first rollerset to stretch out my roots and normally I could tell this would not work for my natural hair but when I took them out my hair was smooth! Today it looks like I flat ironed my hair. All I used was Lacio leave in and that's it! I also air dried in the rollers because my plan is to only use heat when I apply the treatment. I am so happy with my hair now, my confidence is through the roof! I love the fact that I can do this myself whenever I want. This treatment has however made me see how many single strand knots that I have. I am going to get them cut and hopefully going forward that will be it for me and SSKs.

One concern I do have are my roots. Since this treatment is not suppose to touch the scalp the hair close to the roots does not get covered or protected. When I flat iron that hair gets heat applied to it. Right now it's fine but I don't know about continued use. Maybe I should not do this monthly and give the hair at the roots a chance to grow out so that they are further from the scalp and can get the treatment applied. What do you monthly appliers think?

 

[beana]

Beana,

Were you using Softliss exclusively before Dream Hair? I wonder if using Dream Hair will stop the breakage going forward. Could be a brand issue perhaps?

Hi Muse,
I used softliss for my first 2 treatments, my first treatment went well, and the 2nd w/ softliss didn't go so well.

I used Dream Hair for my 3rd (latest) treatment but experienced a lot breakage up until i washed and conditioned my hair. I was almost completely turned off and thought BKT didn't work for my hair in general (i thought i was going to have another softliss breakage experience). I have decided to do another Dream Hair treatment, and this time i will wash it out within 48 hours since my hair seems to "correct" itself afterwards. since washing and DCing, i have noticed that i lose less hair during daily combing, my hair doesn't go crazy in the rain, and my 3b/c patch in the back doesnt shrink and snap off as easy anymore.

I am hoping that washing sooner after applying the BKT will help remedy that inital breakage i experience.

PS I know Dream Hair is a one day formula, but i honestly don't think i have it in me to do my hair again that same day lol. i'll have to wait at least until the next morning to do anything.

 

[sheba1]

^^^ If breakage is an issue in between application and wash I think you should wash immediately after treatment, DC and then protective style until you have time to style. Maybe a bun?

I'm glad you're feeling better about BKT. Maybe you should do an update post in the BKT pros and cons thread and share what's worked to alleviate some of the issues you had stated.

 

[sheba1]

Hey there, Muse, I think that's a really good idea. After I had the initial results I wanted with my hair, I saw no need to BKT any more than once every 2 months or more. It was over 4 months before I BKT'd my leave out hair for my sew in.

I that you can experience the death of those SSKs... they were doing a number on my hair, as well.

I don't recommend it for anyone else, but I get all of my hair protected with the BKT when I apply. Right up to the ruht, as my Grandmom would say. lol

 

[Muse]

Hey there, Muse, I think that's a really good idea. After I had the initial results I wanted with my hair, I saw no need to BKT any more than once every 2 months or more. It was over 4 months before I BKT'd my leave out hair for my sew in.

I that you can experience the death of those SSKs... they were doing a number on my hair, as well.

I don't recommend it for anyone else, but I get all of my hair protected with the BKT when I apply. Right up to the ruht, as my Grandmom would say. lol

I keep freaking out thinking this feeling won't last longer than a week, lol. I also am starting to revisit poos, cons, and leave ins that didn't work for me before and they are just lovely now! I kinda wish I didn't give away that big bag of products to the Salvation Army now, oh well.

 

[Muse]

Hi Muse,
I used softliss for my first 2 treatments, my first treatment went well, and the 2nd w/ softliss didn't go so well.

I used Dream Hair for my 3rd (latest) treatment but experienced a lot breakage up until i washed and conditioned my hair. I was almost completely turned off and thought BKT didn't work for my hair in general (i thought i was going to have another softliss breakage experience). I have decided to do another Dream Hair treatment, and this time i will wash it out within 48 hours since my hair seems to "correct" itself afterwards. since washing and DCing, i have noticed that i lose less hair during daily combing, my hair doesn't go crazy in the rain, and my 3b/c patch in the back doesnt shrink and snap off as easy anymore.

I am hoping that washing sooner after applying the BKT will help remedy that inital breakage i experience.

PS I know Dream Hair is a one day formula, but i honestly don't think i have it in me to do my hair again that same day lol. i'll have to wait at least until the next morning to do anything.

This is a good observation, Beana. I will remember this if I start to get increased breakage, rinse out sooner.

I hear you on not washing out immediately! I was sooooo tired after doing it. Both times I kept it in for 4 days because I didn't even want to run a comb through my hair after all that. I think I will start washing out after 2 days though because after 4 I start to look helmet head-ish anyway. Thanks for sharing!

 

[pet]

So, I haven't done BKT treatments in a while. I'm really liking the results everyone is getting from Dreamhair! I have done two BKT treatments with QOD Gold, and the first one went great, but starting two weeks after the second treatment I have been experiencing a huge amount of shedding. This shedding started back an August, and even though it's getting better now, my hair is still not back to normal. I'm thinking since my hair wasn't use to QOD that that was the reaction. I'm really itching to try Dreamhair, but I do not want to make the problem worse. Has anyone experienced either major breakage or shedding after using BKT treatments? Have you completely given up on the idea?

 

[Love Always]

Has anyone tried Lasio or Global? if anyone has tried either of the two can you share your experience with them.

 

[MarieB]

I waited 2 days on the wash-out with Dreamhair because I, too, was way too tired to even want to deal with it the first night. Then I got called in to work unexpectedly the next day, so I had to wait until I got home. Dreamhair is sooo much better than Softliss, IMO. I almost wish I had never spent the money on Softliss to begin with, but at least it gave me the opportunity to practice my BKT technique. I used to be so-so, but now I'm practically a ninja of the flatiron..!

 

[MarieB]

Has anyone tried Lasio or Global? if anyone has tried either of the two can you share your experience with them.

Nisha, I haven't tried the Lasio, but I did the Global in October, I think (so many BKT's, I can hardly keep track), and I liked it. I tried the Dreamhair about 6 weeks later because I got a good deal on it, and wanted to compare. The Global was pretty good, but the Dreamhair made my hair feel silkier and lighter. With the Global, my hair felt pretty coated before the first wash, but then I might have been a little heavy-handed. I did like the end result, but, like many others have already stated, I liked the Dreamhair better. HTH.

 

[lilikoi]

This is driving me crazy: Why do you have to wait even a day (let alone 4!) to wash your hair after a BKT? (!)

I've searched high and low and can't find a logical, scientific justification for this. There are so many misconceptions about BKT: What it does; How it does it; Which ingredients/processes do what, etc. I have a pretty solid understanding of the process along with a few nagging doubts (will save these for a different post). I understand the need to apply high heat, the role of the formaldehyde (forms keratin crosslinks, also can polymerize at high heat and coat the hair, makes the treatment last) and the no sodium chloride/chlorine afterwards (will break the protein crosslinks facilitated by the formaldehyde and heat). But I don't see the logic of waiting any longer than it takes to cool the hair before you can wash. I mean, the reaction took place, the reagents are dry (heck-they're actually baked onto the hair), nothing's going on! The fact that some of these treatments are washed within an hour of flatironing reinforces my suspicion that the long wait is just a self-perpetuating myth.

So, please, if anyone finds a technical explanation for this (none of that ambiguous "treatment needs to set" baloney) I'd love to hear it!!!

 

[sheba1]

You don't have to, Lilikoi, you can wash immediately after application with Softliss, Dreamhair and the new OK Keratin formula.

Here's a vid of the regular salon app with Softliss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHu3p9Gva8E

I've been washing same day, if I want with Global with no problems and it's not even a same day wash formula. No biggie.

 

[lilikoi]

You don't have to, Lilikoi, you can wash immediately after application with Softliss, Dreamhair and the new OK Keratin formula.

Here's a vid of the regular salon app with Softliss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHu3p9Gva8E

I've been washing same day, if I want with Global with no problems and it's not even a same day wash formula. No biggie.

Thanks for the reply, Sheba1.

It just bothers me that there are literally thousands of google hits telling people to wait to wash and Zero references explaining why. But, anyway, it's good to know the rule doesn't apply to Dream Hair (even though my ebay instructions said to wait 2 days...).

 

[chesmi]

You ladies are getting me *so* excited. I can not wait to do this.

Lilikoi - Can't say it enough, you're hair looks f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! Thanks for the blow-by-blow photo shoot.

My reasoning for the use of a relaxer was to mainly prevent sweetback of my roots. With BKT I'm hoping to rid myself of the lye, but currently I use a curling iron to straighten my hair and get the roots bone straignt. I have never used a flat iron, does it really get close enough to the roots?

 

[sheba1]

^^^ I can't wait for you to try either, Chesmi! Your hair is

Some people need a mini flat iron to get close enough to the root for them. I just use my regular size one, but if the flat iron doesn't get close enough for you, I think you can go back over that area with your curling iron. Sort of like using the root straightening tool that Brittany used to use when applying her BKT.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

My BKT update:

I did a pre-poo while working out with JOICO Reconstructor ... it has Sodium Chloride in it but it didn't seem to cause any reversion issues for me.

I had very little shedding. The shedding that I am having is at the line of demarcation between my textlaxed and natural hair. FYI. I'll just have to keep a check on that as I transition.

ETA: I totally have the body back in my hair now after my two good protein reconstructor treatments. My strands are plump and they are not so silky. I didn't needd silky, I have that naturally!! I need weight and body. I think I'm going to have to do roots only BKTs for a while. The JOICO did not cause any reversion in my textlaxed ends. They are just stick straight.

I may be the only person who did not get the results they wanted from Dreamhair. If you have slightly course hair and want silky light hair, Dreamhair is it.

 

[Sui Topi]

Hey everyone, I posted my results using DreamHair on my color treated, otherwise natural hair.

http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=423580

 

[me-T]

If you have slightly course hair and want silky light hair, Dreamhair is it.

you ain't never lied lol!

 

[chesmi]

Thank you Sheba!:Blush2: I seriously need a professional cut with *some* kind of style

Ok, I just learned sumpin and this is most likely why it seems like my most recent touch-up didn't take. At Dr. Syed's site he mentions that relaxers have a shelf life of about 1 to 1 and a half year. If that's the case the relaxer I used is definitely a year old (probably older) and was probably no good. Yep, I do have breakage but it's normal breakage for when my hair is in this (need some serious tlc), state.

With that said, should I retouch the touch-up and do some serious protein reconstruction with keratin wash and condish before BKT?

Or

For a month, do some serious protein reconstruction with keratin wash and condish, then BKT?

:scratchch

 

[Muse]

I washed my hair this morn with Elucence clarifying poo and Redken Heavy Cream and my hair is so SOFT and MOISTURIZED. Sadly I just realized that my natural hair is SUPER porous. This is why my hair would start out so moisturized after using any DC, con, leave in, etc. and as soon as it's dry it's hard, crunchy and really dry. Tried ACV and porosity control, as well as protein reconstructors such as K-pak. This (really porous hair) of course leads to brittle hair which leads to breakage and no good length retention. I would love to be able to reach my goal w/o having to use BKT (as much as I love it) but how can I when my hair is naturally this porous?

So I know there is a lot of talk about this being the best for color treated/relaxed hair but I think the naturals with porous hair who have tried every protein/moisturizer under the sun could really benefit from BKT because this stuff actually holds it all in the hair strands. Even sealing with oil didn't keep it in for me. I mean it, my hair is porous!! Well not anymore .

BTW Sheba, have you seen Brittany's fotki lately? She added 2 new pics. Her hair has grown so much! I believe this is gonna help get me to where I wanna go. I can't wait to have my own "From NL to BSL" thread, lol!

 

[Natural Glow]

So...I just did my Dream Hair BKT and I am IN LOVE. Dream hair is like 100x's better than Softliss. I'm almost mad I even ever bought Softliss. No matter how much I used, my hair always felt coated and heavy with Softliss but with DreamHair it is so light and soft I don't even want to wash it. I'll post some pics in a min.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

I washed my hair this morn with Elucence clarifying poo and Redken Heavy Cream and my hair is so SOFT and MOISTURIZED. Sadly I just realized that my natural hair is SUPER porous. This is why my hair would start out so moisturized after using any DC, con, leave in, etc. and as soon as it's dry it's hard, crunchy and really dry. Tried ACV and porosity control, as well as protein reconstructors such as K-pak. This (really porous hair) of course leads to brittle hair which leads to breakage and no good length retention. I would love to be able to reach my goal w/o having to use BKT (as much as I love it) but how can I when my hair is naturally this porous?

So I know there is a lot of talk about this being the best for color treated/relaxed hair but I think the naturals with porous hair who have tried every protein/moisturizer under the sun could really benefit from BKT because this stuff actually holds it all in the hair strands. Even sealing with oil didn't keep it in for me. I mean it, my hair is porous!! Well not anymore .

BTW Sheba, have you seen Brittany's fotki lately? She added 2 new pics. Her hair has grown so much! I believe this is gonna help get me to where I wanna go. I can't wait to have my own "From NL to BSL" thread, lol!

Try putting porous and fine together, and then you have my hair. So now you know why I love the BKT!

 

[cutenss]

I'm a 3c/4a and Dreamhair hasn't permanently altered my curl pattern at all. Mind you, I've only used it twice, but check w/Cutenss. I believe she still has all her curls as well. I have some pics in a thread I started back in October. I'll find it and bump.

I have not done a BKT since October 1st-ish. My hair, I feel is 75-80% reverted back. I never did loose my curl pattern, and I was using nono BKT products. That was those with sodium chloride. I can post pics if needed.