How to care for chemically treated hair

How to Care for Chemically Treated Hair: Keratin, Smoothing and Straightening

Keratin treatments, cysteine smoothing, straightening, perming and rebonding can transform how your hair looks and behaves. But every chemical service changes the hair's internal structure — so the care you give it afterwards decides how long the results last and how healthy your hair stays.

Quick answer: To care for chemically treated hair, follow your stylist's aftercare instructions, wash gently with lukewarm water, condition every wash, use a strengthening mask weekly, protect with a leave-in serum, keep heat low, avoid overlapping chemical services and trim regularly.

What Counts as a Chemical Treatment?

  • Keratin and cysteine smoothing treatments
  • Chemical straightening and rebonding
  • Perms and chemical curling
  • Permanent colour and bleaching
  • Relaxers

For colour and bleach specifically, see How to Care for Coloured Hair and How to Repair Bleached Hair.

How Chemical Treatments Affect Hair

Most chemical services work by breaking and reforming bonds inside the hair to change its shape or smoothness. This can leave the hair more porous and fragile, so it loses moisture easily, tangles more and is more prone to breakage — especially if services are repeated or overlapped.

How to Care for Chemically Treated Hair: Step by Step

1. Follow aftercare instructions

Your stylist may advise waiting a certain time before washing, tying or tucking hair behind your ears after a smoothing or straightening service. Follow their guidance exactly.

2. Wash gently

Use lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo. 700 Keratin & Kale Shampoo is designed for medium, thick, coarse, very frizzy, cysteine- or keratin-treated hair, helping repair, smooth and strengthen while cleansing gently.

3. Condition every wash

700 Keratin & Kale Conditioner is ultra-nourishing and moisturising for coarse, dry and very damaged hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

4. Mask weekly

The 700 Keratin & Kale Hair Mask is a fast, intensive mask for thick, highly damaged, chemically treated or coloured hair. Use it once or twice a week.

5. Protect and smooth

Apply 700 Keratin & Kale Hair Serum to damp or dry hair to smooth frizz and split ends and protect from heat and UV. For a light-hold, silky finish, 700 Keratin & Kale Silky Touch hydrates and controls flyaways.

6. Keep heat low

Smoothing treatments often mean you need less heat to style — take advantage of that. Keep tools on a low setting and always use a protector.

7. Avoid overlapping services

Applying chemicals repeatedly to already-treated lengths is one of the biggest causes of breakage. Ask your stylist to treat only new regrowth where possible, and space services out.

8. Trim regularly

Regular trims keep ends healthy and stop splits travelling up the strand.

Weekly Routine

  • Wash days: 700 Shampoo → 700 Conditioner → 700 Serum.
  • Once or twice a week: 700 Hair Mask in place of conditioner.
  • Styling: low heat, Silky Touch or serum to finish.

Common Mistakes

  • Washing too soon after a smoothing treatment
  • Using very hot water or harsh clarifying shampoos often
  • Skipping conditioner and masks
  • Stacking colour, bleach and smoothing on the same lengths
  • High heat every day

Aftercare by Treatment

Treatment Key aftercare
Keratin or smoothing Follow your stylist's first-wash and tying instructions; colour-safe, gentle products; avoid harsh clarifying
Cysteine Same as keratin; condition every wash; masks for treated hair
Permanent straightening Very gentle handling; minimal heat; frequent masks; regular trims
Colour Lukewarm water, colour-safe care, UV protection; see How to Make Hair Colour Last Longer
Bleach or highlights Toning and repair; see How to Repair Bleached Hair

The 700 Keratin & Kale Routine for Treated Hair

The 700 Keratin & Kale range is designed for keratin- and cysteine-treated hair:

  1. 700 Shampoo: colour-safe and free of SLS, SLES, parabens and sodium chloride
  2. 700 Conditioner: every wash, massaged in for 2–3 minutes
  3. 700 Hair Mask: 1–2 times a week, 30 seconds of massage
  4. 700 Hair Serum: on damp hair before drying, for smoothing and heat protection

For more detail, read 700 Keratin & Kale Complete Hair Care Routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make a keratin or smoothing treatment last longer?

Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle shampoo, condition every time, mask weekly and keep heat low. Follow your stylist's aftercare advice.

Can I colour chemically treated hair?

Often yes, but timing and order matter. Always discuss it with your stylist before booking another chemical service.

Why is my hair breaking after a treatment?

Breakage can come from over-processing, overlapping services or rough handling. See a stylist, and read Hair Fall vs Hair Breakage.

Is 700 Keratin & Kale suitable for treated hair?

Yes — the range is designed for medium, thick, coarse, very frizzy, cysteine- or keratin-treated hair.

How long should I wait between chemical treatments?

It depends on the services and your hair's condition. Ask your stylist, and avoid stacking several treatments close together.

Can I swim after a keratin treatment?

Wait until your stylist says it is safe. Afterwards, wet your hair with clean water and condition before swimming, and rinse straight after.

Find Your 700 Keratin & Kale Routine

Shop the complete 700 Keratin & Kale range and read our 700 Keratin & Kale Complete Hair Care Routine.

Related Guides

Shop: 700 Keratin & Kale Shampoo · 700 Keratin & Kale Hair Mask · 700 Keratin & Kale range

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