What Happens If You Wash Keratin Treatment Before 72 Hours?

It is a rule of thumb to wait at least 72 hours before washing your keratin-treated, but what happens if you wash keratin treatment before 72 hours?

You’re not the odd one out if you’re asking this question; this is something we all play around with, a rule we’re tempted to flout sometimes.

But by the end of this article, you’ll have always been convinced to wait 72 hours.

So…

Key Takeaways

• Premature Wash Risks: Washing hair before 72 hours post-keratin treatment risks disrupting protein adherence, potentially diminishing treatment benefits.
• Reduced Effectiveness: Early washing can lead to faster fading of the treatment, resulting in decreased hair smoothness and frizz control.
• Potential Damage: By washing prematurely, you might inadvertently cause more harm than good to the hair, as the keratin hasn’t fully bonded to the hair cuticles yet.

Why Do You Need To Wait 3 Days Before Washing Your Hair After Keratin Treatment?

You should wait 72 hours before washing your hair after keratin treatment to allow the hair products enough time to work accordingly and effectively.

The 72 hours rule is necessary to allow your hair to soak the keratin treatment properly without the possibility of the keratin being washed off.

Your keratin-treated hair will need up to 72 hours to reap the full benefits of keratin hair treatments.

One of the care recommendations is to keep your hair from moisture for the next three days after the Brazilian keratin treatment.

Keratin treatment is a chemical process involving a keratin complex and potent chemicals like formaldehyde and sodium hydroxide. (1)

Applying the keratin solution to your hair shaft will create a keratin coating on the outer layer of your keratin-treated hair.

It takes time for the hair cuticles to internalize the applied keratin solution fully.

Same-day wash keratin treatments are only possible with old keratin treatment products.

Applying excess water, hot water from steam showers, or even wet brushes with abrasive effects can interrupt the process.

Getting your hair wet after keratin hair treatments will wash keratin off your hydrated hair fiber, leaving your hair in a horrible state.

Yes, not only will the keratin be washed off, but your hair will be left in an unpleasant state.

Check out this cool video of the first wash after keratin treatment:

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6935983058508123397?lang=en-US&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instraight.com%2Fwhat-happens-if-you-wash-keratin-treatment-before-72-hours%2F

Let’s look at the consequences of washing your hair within 72 hours after a keratin treatment.

Consequences Of Washing Keratin Treatment Before 72 Hours

The following are the consequences if you wash your hair within 72 hours after a keratin treatment:

1. The Treatment Will Not Last Long

It takes time for the keratin treatment to get to the hair core. Washing your hair too early will wash the keratin from your hair.

The strong and straight hair you should get from keratin hair treatment will not last as the hair core failed to absorb the keratin well enough (2).

2. It Will Leave Your Hair Porous

Washing your keratin-treated hair too early will make your hair porous.

This is because you have not given the proper time for the keratin to seal the hair bonds properly after breaking them up.

This way, as you envisaged, you’ll have damaged rather than sleek and straighter hair. Also, rather than having your hair strands resilient, your hair will be weaker.

3. Your Hair Will Lose Its Glossiness

Keratin treatment is designed to make your hair shiny. Washing the keratin coating off will leave your hair dull.

4. Your Hair Will Be Uneven In Appearance

Your hair will lack uniformity as some parts will be composed of frizzy and curly hair while some will be composed of frizz-free hair.

However, if you accidentally pour water on your hair after a keratin treatment, ensure you blow-dry and use a flat iron to straighten it as soon as possible.

What Can You Do To Make Keratin Treatment Last Longer

The following is the list of rules and aftercare instructions to follow to make your Brazilian treatment last longer:

• Use Boar Bristle Brush: Don’t use brushes with hard bristles whenever your hair gets tangled. You should use a boar bristle brush instead.

• Avoid styling your hair as much as possible: One of the care recommendations for your hair after a keratin hair treatment is to avoid styling it as much as possible, especially in the first two weeks. Avoid using hair bands (including soft hair bands) and hair clips, or put your hair in a bun or ponytail.
• Avoid towel-drying your hair: Regular towels have a high absorbent ability that can be too strong for your keratin-treated hair. I recommend the use of a microfibre towel. You can check out Microfiber Towel Handy for your keratin-treated hair.
• For proper hair maintenance after a keratin hair treatment, avoid using heavy hair oils: They often form a redundant layer over the hair as they can’t get into the hair core after the keratin treatment must have sealed moisture into your hair strands and formed a permanent keratin coating over your hair.
• Avoid excessive touching of your hair: This will help keep your hair clean, as excessive touching will end up rubbing dirt and oils on your hair without you knowing. This dirt and oils will reduce how long your keratin treatment will last.

• Use fewer hair styling products: If you have to use styling products, ensure they are mild hair care products.
• Avoid using heat-styling tools such as curling irons and flat irons.
• Washing your hair less: Even after waiting three days before washing your hair, you’ll now need to practice washing your hair less frequently per week.
• Avoid any activity that can cause indentations, e.g., tucking hair behind ears or engaging in tough workouts.
• I recommend the use of a silk pillow after a keratin hair treatment.
• Practice using keratin mist spray to increase your hair volume.
• To prevent dry hair and sustain the glossiness of your colored hair, I recommend using sulfate-free shampoo.

For additional tips on how to make your keratin treatment last longer, you can watch this video:

Shampoo To Use After 72 Hours Of Keratin

It is best to talk to your hairstylist for shampoo recommendations after a keratin hair treatment.

This is because using the same line of products for your hair chemical treatments is advisable.

For at-home keratin hair treatment, opt for a deep conditioning mask, keratin serum, pre-treatment clarifying shampoo, keratin-enriched shampoo, and sulfate-free shampoo.

Ensure your aftercare shampoo is free of salts like sodium chloride, sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium Laureth sulfate, and harsh chemicals like formaldehyde, which can harm hair with long-term exposure. (3)

According to research, formaldehyde exposure can cause skin and hair dermal allergies (4).

Here is a list of five recommended shampoos that you can use 72 hours after a keratin hair treatment:

1. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo is suitable for any hair type 72 hours after a keratin hair treatment.

It can remove oil residues and other residues that can cause bad hair days. To reap the full benefit of this shampoo treatment, you shouldn’t use it more than once a week.

2. Aveeno Pure Renewal Shampoo

This shampoo is also suitable for every hair type, especially color-treated hair.

It helps to balance your hair’s natural moisture while utilizing sulfate-free technology to cleanse your hair.

3. Videri Peppermint & Tea Tree Shampoo

This is another sulfate-free shampoo suitable for colored hair that is keratin-treated. It is formulated with ingredients that can cleanse and hydrate hair and dry the scalp.

It also contains rosehip seed oil and vitamin C, which help to nourish the scalp.

4. LuxeOrganic Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo

This product is an excellent combination of Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. It is sodium chloride and sulfate-free.

If you get unruly hair after applying the shampoo, the conditioner will fix it all, giving you smooth hair.

5. OGX Brazilian Keratin Smooth Shampoo

OGX Brazilian Keratin Smooth Shampoo is formulated with nourishing ingredients such as cocoa butter, avocado, and coconut oil and will make your hair shiny and moisturized after use.

For those curious about the duration and effectiveness of these treatments, I suggest you check out my article “How Long Does Keratin Treatment Last.”

And if you’re confused about the “Difference between Protein and Keratin Treatment,” I’ve covered you in another piece. Both are worth a read!

FAQs

Conclusion

Now you know what happens if you wash keratin before 72 hours!

I’m sure if you were thinking about breaking the 72-hour no moisture rule before now, you’ll find that that’s not the best choice to make.

Keep this rule to heart, and you’ll always have your hair shiny, straight, and glossy!

Resources

• 1. Gavazzoni Dias MF. Hair cosmetics: An overview. International Journal of Trichology. 2015;7(1):2. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.153450
• 2. Bondi CAM, Marks JL, Wroblewski LB, Raatikainen HS, Lenox SR, Gebhardt KE. Human and Environmental Toxicity of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Evidence for Safe Use in Household Cleaning Products. Environmental Health Insights. 2015;9:EHI.S31765. doi:10.4137/ehi.s31765