Smooth, Silky Hair in 72 Hours
Thankfully, and obnoxiously, depending on the day, I was born with a thick head of hair. No matter how many clumps I wipe out of the shower, sweep from the bathroom floor and vacuum from the rug, my head will never run out of hair, knock on wood. Fantastic news! The not so fantastic news is the maintenance thick hair requires washing, blowing dry and flat ironing. Throw in occasional color treatments and out comes a dry, often frizzy ‘do. Summers are particularly brutal when my hair cowers under Atlanta’s thick humidity, refusing to cooperate.
Tired of relinquishing defeat to my obstinate locks, I determined to try Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by COPPOLA, the increasingly popular treatment that infuses a keratin compound (keratin is a natural ingredient in hair) into hair’s cuticles to eliminate frizz. Basically, the treatment applies more keratin to the hair that what it naturally produces.
Yearning for glorious, swaying hair that mesmerizes men, I scheduled an appointment with Cayla Roberts at Bob Steele Salon. Cayla started by washing my hair with Keratin Detoxifying Shampoo and blow drying it thoroughly. Then, she applied the keratin product, wrapped my head in a plastic cap and let it process at room temperature for 20 minutes. She finished by drying the hair and flat ironing it strand by strand – this step took longer than the others combined because she flat ironed every strand of hair several times. Three hours after I walked in, I left the salon feeling like a changed woman; a woman with gloriously straight locks.
But, before I left, Cayla instructed the following: do not wash hair for 72 hours; do not push hair behind ears; do not put hair in a ponytail or use clips. In other words, don’t touch it. She also scheduled a complimentary follow-up visit to wash the hair and ensure the service worked correctly. Clients leave with clean, slick hair and a complimentary bottle of Keratin Shampoo.
I won’t lie: I looked like a gremlin by the third day of hair quarantine, my greasy hair practically stuck to my head; however, the results are completely worth the inconvenience of leaving my hair alone for so long. No more frizz; no more laborious flat iron sessions. My silky hair appears longer because it straightens more easily. Finally, it cooperates! The best part is that I spend half the time styling it. In fact, if I was a patient blow dryer, I could get away without using the flat iron. I’ll get there.
The service cost varies by salon, but typically ranges from $300 to $500, and results last three to five months. Many salons, including Bob Steele, now offer the Express Blow-out, which is a lighter keratin treatment. The process involves a shorter in-salon procedure and hair can be washed the same day. Results last up to six weeks.
Go big or go small. Either way, a keratin treatment is worth the effort for smoother, silkier, frizz-free hair that guys will itch to run their fingers through.
Photos courtesy of Keratin Complex
