Oiling your hair after a keratin treatment helps to retain smoothness and makes styling easy. It also helps to strengthen the hair strands minimizing breakage. However, oiling should be done strategically to ensure it does not interfere with the effectiveness of the keratin treatment. So, when should you apply oil after a keratin treatment?
How Many Days to Wait Before Applying Oil After a Keratin Treatment?
You should wait at least 7 days before applying oil to your hair after a keratin treatment. Wait 7 days before applying anti-frizz oil and up to 15 days for heavier oils such as argan oil, coconut oil, and olive oil.
The waiting period provides ample time for the treatment to fully absorb into the hair. During this time, you should also minimize manipulating the hair. Keep the hair loose and avoid exposing it to water.
Different Types of Oils and When to Apply Them After Keratin Treatment
Anti-Frizz Oil
Anti-frizz oil prevents the hair from tangling and keeps it looking fuller. Wait at least 7 days before applying anti-frizz oil to your keratin-treated hair. It is light and can be used daily to keep your hair smooth.
Argan Oil
Argan oil has highly potent strengthening and reconstructive properties that protect your hair and prevent it from drying out. As such, some hair stylists use it to mix keratin treatments to enable your hair to withstand harsh chemicals and high heat.
It is a great oil to use after a keratin treatment if your hair feels fragile and weak. It is best used on the hair strands and edges but can also be applied sparingly onto your scalp.
Allow at least 10 days after the keratin treatment before applying argan oil to your hair. Since it is denser than anti-frizz oil, it is best used once a week, preferably a day before wash day. Alternatively, add a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner when washing your hair.
Coconut Oil
Like argan oil, you should wait at least 15 days before applying coconut oil to your hair. Coconut oil is heavy and can make your hair sticky and stiff, requiring regular wash cycles. Yet, one of the top maintenance measures for keratin-treated hair is minimizing the number of washes to prevent the keratin protein from clearing from the hair too soon.
When used sparingly, coconut oil moisturizes your hair and keeps it shiny. It is a great option if you have thin, dry, and frizzy hair. Coconut oil can also help prevent your hair from drying out if you spend too much time under the sun or frequently swim in chlorinated water.
However, if you have thick, long hair that is naturally greasy, it is best to avoid applying coconut oil as it will make your hair greasier and heavy. Instead, if you are keen on the benefits of coconut oil, use a shampoo, conditioner, or serum that contains the ingredients.
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil can help to prevent hair from falling after a keratin treatment. It also moisturizes hair and adds shine. Since it is light, you can apply it 7-10 days after the keratin treatment.
You can apply a few drops of rosemary essential oil directly on your hair or infuse it in argan oil, anti-frizz oil, hair serum, conditioner, or shampoo.
Olive Oil
Naturally-derived olive oil is safe for use on keratin-treated hair. It helps to smoothen out the hair shafts preventing tangling and breakage. It also adds moisture and makes your hair look more voluminous.
It is lighter than coconut oil, so if used sparingly, it does not make your hair greasy and heavy. You can apply it 10-15 days after a keratin treatment. It is best used one to two times per week.
The number of days to wait before applying oil on keratin-treated hair depends on the type of oil. For lighter oils such as anti-frizz oil and rosemary essential oil, wait for 7 days.
Wait 10 days for medium-density oils such as argan and olive oil and up to 15 days for heavier oils such as coconut oil.