Reaction To Keratin Treatment - Eyes Wide Shut
Thanks to everyone who posted. After reading, I feel an obligation to share my story for those who are considering this procedure. I am biracial (Asian and African-American) with thick, curly hair. The hairstylist told me I was a perfect candidate for this all-natural keratin treatment that would leave my hair frizz-free, shiny and healthier than before. He said it was formaldehyde-free and would improve the condition of my hair.
After waiting 4 days during the curing process (my eyes did burn throughout the application and heat and now I know why) I washed and flat ironed my hair and felt so-so about the results. I went back to the stylist to have my hair cut and after he flat-ironed it with high heat, I was able to see a noticeable smoothness and silkiness.
I religiously used the SunPure products (sulfate free) he sold me to extend the life (14 - 16 weeks) of the keratin treatment. The first few washes, I lost an incredible amount of hair, but I am used to seeing a lot of hair in my comb in the shower. My hair is so thick that it doesn't normally bother me. But this amount was excessive - a full handful of hair from the root.
My hair was very tangled and stiff when wet but I thought that maybe it was supposed to be like that because of the new products. I was told that when I wanted to wear my hair curly, it would have a nice wavy frizz-free texture instead of the almost spiral curls I naturally have. Not so - when I let my hair air-dry, it was hard and crunchy.
When I wore it straight, my shed hair would coat the floor when I brushed it after flat-ironing. My husband was aghast at the amount of hair on the bathroom floor everyday.
In retrospect, after reading these stories, I know why my eyes burned, why my scalp continues to be tender and why I am able to see my scalp now in the front where I used to not be able to.
What I don't know is:
(1) why I trusted a stylist who I never used before to put a product on my hair that I didn't know much about;
(2) why I paid an extra $100 because my hair is so thick and halfway down my back;
(3) why I was online looking at Ulta's keratin special and thinking about doing it again.
So thank you to all that have shared their stories and hopefully mine has helped someone else.
I will NOT be doing the keratin treatment again - the benefits did not outweigh the negative side effects. I am on my way now to the store to get biotin, l-lysine, Nioxin and Nexxus.
I am not telling anyone reading this not to get it, but just know what you are getting into before you do and be prepared that you may not get the results you were told. Be willing to deal with the possible side effects of this CHEMICAL treatment. Your stylist may or may not tell you. After all, they may be caring for your hair, but they are still sales people. Ask LOTS of questions. I wish I had.
I wish I had read these comments before I did it.
Good luck!
I had the treatment done and my scalp started burning right away! I have straight color treated hair and was told that the keratin treatment was more like a deep conditioning treatment. I don't use styling tools or even blow dry my hair and now it looks like I have a permanent flat iron look with very damaged ends in some areas.
I am a black American with coarse hair. I was told about the keratin treatment by my hairdresser, who is Dominican. She told me that as soon as two weeks after my relaxer, I could get the treatment done. I live in Orlando, Florida and exercise regularly, having more manageable hair would be ideal. 
I have an afro texture hair (4B)and i usually go to my hair stylist just to blow dry and flat iron my hair,1 or 2 time a year. 
I'm 14 years old I live in Hawaii. Which means All I ever see are Filipino girls with straight hair, or Japanese girls with straight hair, or white girls with straight hair, Hawaiians with straight hair, need i go on?
Do your research and if a patch test is possible first do that. I did a Keratin Treatment and don't know the name. I had great results. Then I heard of the Brazilian Blowout. So I just had to try that. My hair too fried. I just flat iron it and put a bit of serum. The sad part is I would most likely do it again. Just because it is still faster getting ready in the morning and all the hard work doesn't go to waste after sweating or humidity or moisture in the air. I do feel I have less hair but don't see clumps coming out like some have mentioned. But honestly am scared to try for a third time. I do wish I would have checked this out like I did today before I even did it the first time. Then I most likely wouldn't have ever done it. Now I'm hooked! :(
You can't do anything about the risk for long term side effects like cancer and I hope no one ever and never experience it. For sensitivity and possible hair loss or other reactions: Do ask your stylists for patch test (skin test) no matter how many times you tried it. Formaldehyde and formalin from BKT are allergen and cause allergy. You may never had any allergy before but each time you use it you increase the chance to develop sensitivity. Just ask for skin or patch test ON EVERY TREATMENT and not only your first time. Inconvenient... I know, but either that or take the risk!
I had the BKT done about 3 weeks again, I used RG Amazon brand. I haven't had any hair loss. I washed it 24 hours after and I made sure that the product did not saturate my hair.I love my hair it is frizz-free and I still have body. But with all these comments I am not having this treatment done again, it is not worth. African- American women have been using no-lye relaxer for years and the reaction are not this terrible. I will not risk losing my hair.
My stylist, who I've been going to for years, raved about this product. She told me it would make my hair healthy and strong. I didn't even know it was supposed to be a straightener... 
Im so glad that i took the time out to research about these keratin treatments, because i have very soft, fine texture hair,(I'm African American) and just about a year ago I suffered hair loss just from the stylist pulling through my tangles rough, my hair was already having issues at the time because my main stylist at that time, I felt had stopped taking time with my hair and my hair seemed to get very thin, so I was suggested to another stylist, I knew of her already, but I explained to her what was going on with my hair already, and she ended up pulling my hair out, at the time my hair was mid-way my back, and she had my hair in a Big Ball sitting on her counter, not telling me that it was comin out so badly. 
These products are ban from most countries in EU, Brazil, Canada has hundreds sick. The shampoo has to be sulfate free cause it causes a reaction to the formaldehyde. The shampoos have been ban in most countries due to the over legal limit of formaldehyde. So each time you are shampooing for the following months after treatment you are being dosed again w formaldehyde. This is only a few years on the market with this stuff. What do you think the cancer centers will look like in another few years? Use you common sense. This is a multi million dollar business producing money for many entities everyday. The feds need to get this off the market. Its a killer. Write the f.d.a please! If you all ban together they will have to get this off the market! I got really sick from this stuff. I wrote f.d.a.
I am so glad that I came across this site. I scheduled an appointment for early March to get the PC Keratin treatment. There is no way I am getting this done now! I had a consultation today and was told that this treatment would only enhance my hair and not harm it in any way. From the sound of some these horror stories this is not true. 
I just canceled my appt. To have keratin done tomorrow. Like many of you who have posted, I have fine hair and even though I was assured by my stylist that this would add health to my hair, I decided against it. I had a really bad color experience two years ago and my hair is just now at the length I have waiting for it to be. 
You want to know what to use to get rid of a Keratin Treatment?
I had the BB done in Raleigh, NC by dominicans and my hair has been falling out like crazy. I had previously let my hair grow natural for two years so I had about 14 inches of length. 
I am African American and my salon applied the Brazilian products on my and I received so much positive attention. I noticed that when I comb or brush my hair long strands cover the floor. When I ask my stylist, she stated that my hair was just shedding. I continued to use visit the salon form several months. Then one day I washed my hair at home and was horrified at the hand full of hair loss when my hair was wet. I also notice bald spots thought out my head. I just learned that others are experiencing the same problem. I have always had a head full of long, healthy hair.
Hi all, sending thanks from Australia. My stylist is trying to sell me to do Keratin treatment and also told me the product contained only natural vitamins and minerals and each time we did it and the more we did it, it was a dose of vitamins for my hair. It sounded very appealing and I was going to book it for next week but I don't think I will now. 
I do know what you have all gone through and sympathize. My dermatologist says that hair can react months after this treatment. Mine started to fall out three months later, but now it is growing back, but at half an inch a month, it will take time. Yes I did use various pills and supplements but probably the hair would have grown back anyway after a few months. My scalp is still itchy even though it has been about a year since the treatment. Good luck everyone and I hope that you will start to see new growth soon!
I can't speak for others. I read many negative and positive reviews about this product before finally giving it a try. I also have several friends that got it done and had great things to say. About 4 months ago, I got the Coppola Keratin treatment done at a salon. The results were fantastic. I've always been a shedder, but I feel that with this treatment I actually lose LESS. Plus my hair feels healthier and stronger. About a month ago I decided to try the treatment on myself, to save money. I am so pleased I did. The results are actually better than the first time. My hair is smooth, silky, and frizz free. I went from having a frizzy poof ball to have smooth sleek hair. I haven't used a flat iron in 4 months. I feel awful that many people have had allergic reactions to this product, but I needed to contribute my 2 cents. This has been a miracle treatment for me. I've never loved my hair the way I do now. 
I too have seen extreme hair loss after the Keratin treatment. My stylist recommended it without telling me of any of the side effects, so I just did it. I would never have done this (paid $330) had I known that hair loss is very common. 
I think it was summer of 2010 that I started doing the keratin. I did about 8 "express treatments" (approx every 6-8 weeks) before I noticed hair loss. I started noticing hair loss about 6 months ago. I haven't had a treatment in about 6 months now, and I'm still losing hair, although I think it might have slowed down a bit. I'm taking hair vitamins that I got at the natural food store and it's definitely making my hair grow faster. My stylist swears the hair loss has nothing to do with the keratin. I just spent 2 1/2 years going through a nasty divorce, so she thinks it's from stress. After reading so many of these comments, I still think it's the keratin.
