Wow...ladies, I have just been through a terrible hair ordeal, and the BKT basically saved my strands. All I can think is THANK GOD I have this keratin treatment on my hair, or else I'd probably be bald-headed right now.
I just got back from paying my old stylist to take out my weave cornrows from another stylist. My hair was completely matted...I had dreadlocks.She had to apply some force to get the locs out, and we both agreed that my pre-BKT hair would not have survived the process. It was too thin and fragile, and I would've basically lost all my hair.
My old stylist was marveling at how much thicker my strands are as a result of BKT, how my edges are starting to fill in, and how much healthier my hair is in general from this treatment. She was so impressed that she's now going to look into doing keratin treatments in her salon.
So, an update: next Wednesday, it will have been two months since I got the BKT! Time really flies.
My ends were really damaged from the flat iron portion of the treatment, so I had to chop off quite a bit.I was really depressed to see my hair noticeably shorter, but I just did a mini length check, and it's been growing nicely! I'm pretty pleased with my progress.
I didn't really know what to do with my newly straight hair, so I took to rollersetting and flat ironing. It was a big adjustment, since I'm used to wetting my hair daily and co-washing frequently. Going for 7-10 days without washing was torture. As the new growth started to appear, it was hard to keep it manageable without wetting my hair, so I've been bunning a lot (wearing a sleek mini chignon with a straight bang). The sleek chignon was cute at first, but it got old quickly, LOL.I don't like feeling trapped into wearing my hair back everyday.
My original plan was to weave it up, but I came down with shingles (on my neck), so the idea of sitting for a weave or braids was out of the question.
The BKT allowed me to finally learn how to heat style my own hair, and I've been doing a pretty good job! I bought a 100% solid ceramic iron (Hana Elite), and it's made a big difference in my results. I've been learning as I go, and I finally have my routine down pat. I feel confident that I could apply my next BKT at home.
For me, being a natural didn't offer the versatility that I had hoped for. Because I have fine, heat-sensitive hair, I wasn't able to get my hair pressed without damage--I always ended up having to chop off all my progress due to straight ends. BKT is allowing me to have the versatility that I'd dreamed of...as the treatment wears off, my little curlies are coming back, and I can now do a WnG. With the knowledge I have now, I think I'll be able to tweak my subsequent BKT treatments for even better results.
Final thoughts: This has been a huge learning experience for me...this is the first time I've worn my own hair out in 15 years. I hate that I've used so much heat over the past 2 months, but I'm also glad that I learned how to be responsible with it, and I picked up new skills that allow me to be more confident about being a DIY'er.
I'm learning a lot, and I think it will just continue to get better.
ETA: Oh yeah, I hennaed before my BKT, and will continue to do that. The keratin treatment sealed in the henna, and the color is brilliant.
What makes you want to try Rejuvenol? I bought a relaxer today, but I'd much rather BKT; I just can't decide which to try next. I haven't done anything since November. My bff said she'd order the Global for me if that's what I want but I just don't know!
I am about to wash and steam now
They are on the way. It will only be a one post pic, since I have posted a couple of step by step pics, in the past. I did it Thursday night into Friday morning. And since I worked the last three nights....anywhoo, I will take and post them now. And please no dance offs
I'd like to think we're a little more mature over here in the BKT thread! Can't wait to see the pics!
True, true. I am going to take more pics because, I think this is my ultimate BKT. I just washed, and I am about to DC with steam. Well, this is the first time that my hair is practically straight wet. My hair always seem to maintain it curls/coils wet post BKT. Well with Marcia T, my hair is about 75% straight veruses about 25% straight with other BKT. I will take wet pics after I rinsed my DC, find a wet post BKT to show comparison. And I will do it tonight because I am in awe. I wonder how straight it would airdry being down? Stay tuned...
ETA: Actually after I finished, I realized that my hair is basically the same. I think my BKT had worn off more than I thought. Here are post wash pics anyway, nekkid, no product.
it's so long!"
True, true. I am going to take more pics because, I think this is my ultimate BKT. I just washed, and I am about to DC with steam. Well, this is the first time that my hair is practically straight wet. My hair always seem to maintain it curls/coils wet post BKT. Well with Marcia T, my hair is about 75% straight veruses about 25% straight with other BKT. I will take wet pics after I rinsed my DC, find a wet post BKT to show comparison. And I will do it tonight because I am in awe. I wonder how straight it would airdry being down? Stay tuned...
ETA: Actually after I finished, I realized that my hair is basically the same. I think my BKT had worn off more than I thought. Here are post wash pics anyway, nekkid, no product.
You're very welcome. The Marcia Advanced wore off right on schedule, and I'm pleased about that. It was actually pretty cool to experience straight hair again for a few weeks, then go back to kinky.
I just ordered more Marcia Teixeira Advanced. I had a good experience using henna before my BKT. In the week between the henna and the BKT, I did 3 steam treatments using either caramel treatment or moisture-rich DCs...so I got my moisture/protein balance back on track, and my porosity and elasticity were on point before the keratin was applied to my hair.
The MTA fumes had tears streaming down my face. But after the first wash, my roots were still kinky...the DH had only knocked out maybe 40-50% of the kink. Marcia Teixeira took out about 85-90% of the kink in the first treatment. (This could also be due to user error...my MT treatment was done at a salon, while I did the DH at home.)
Last week, I did my second BKT, using the DH sample I bought from Fab a few months ago. My sample was 2 ounces, and I used maybe 2/3 of it. I think I might've used too little product, I'm not sure--I didn't fully saturate my hair, but the product was covering all the strands like a light coating of conditioner.
Here are my thoughts on the differences between Dre@mh@air and Marcia Teixeira Advanced:
--MT Advanced is MUCH stronger than DH. My hair did not come out nearly as straight as it did with MTA.
--DH did not have as many fumes at MT Advanced. I did my hair in my living room, while my husband watched TV, and neither of us was bothered by any fumes.
--DH gives a much nicer immediate result. The flat iron glided easily over my hair, and my hair looked and felt like silk after ironing. With MT Advanced, my hair looked dull, stiff, and ugly while the product was in. I left the DH in for 3 days and was actually sad to wash it out, while I left the MTA in overnight and couldn't wait to get that mess out of my hair.
--My roots looked very straight after flat ironing with DH, and I was super-pleased with myself.
--With both treatments, my hair was noticeably thicker, more manageable, shinier, and smoother.
I got a sew-in installed immediately after rinsing the DH, but I left out a small horseshoe in the front. I just ordered some more Marcia Teixeira Advanced, and I am going to have my stylist apply it to the horseshoe next week. Since my weave is straight hair (Extensions Plus Silky Relaxed), I want my leave-out to be as straight as possible. My stylist pressed the leave-out, and I have flat ironed it once in the past week...and so far, the DH is doing a great job at keeping my hair straight and shiny.
My stylist is learning about BKT right now, and she's going to apply the Marcia Advanced for me next week. Any Los Angeles ladies who are interested in having their BKT applied at a reasonable price, PM me. I trust my stylist completely, and she said she is interested in offering BKT at her salon for far less than the standard $300-400 price.
Thank you, cutenss! Beautiful results. How long have you been BKT'ing? What was your starting length? Your goal length? Sorry 'bout all the questions.
Hair texture definitely determines the outcome. I think the strand density does too. My mom's hair is 4a but it is EXTREMELY fine and her new growth got bone straight after one treatment (OK Keratin). Right now I am really loving QOD MAX they are technically formaledhyde -free 0.02% but it has gotten my hair as straight as 2% formula.
True, true. I am going to take more pics because, I think this is my ultimate BKT. I just washed, and I am about to DC with steam. Well, this is the first time that my hair is practically straight wet. My hair always seem to maintain it curls/coils wet post BKT. Well with Marcia T, my hair is about 75% straight veruses about 25% straight with other BKT. I will take wet pics after I rinsed my DC, find a wet post BKT to show comparison. And I will do it tonight because I am in awe. I wonder how straight it would airdry being down? Stay tuned...
ETA: Actually after I finished, I realized that my hair is basically the same. I think my BKT had worn off more than I thought. Here are post wash pics anyway, nekkid, no product.
