Which is better: Brazilian keratin treatment or relaxer?

[Kiadodie]

For those who have tried both, which one left hair more healthy? I'm asking because I am texturized and my hair dresser keeps trying to get me to do the keratin treatment telling me it is better for my hair and will leave my hair more healthier.

Any opinions? I'd appreciate it

 

[Napp]

Italiano, It depends on what you are looking for.

I know the BKT will leave previously relaxed hair straight with little or no curl. i like it better than a relaxer and i find i have less breakage with one than with a relaxer. I personally would not trust a stylist to apply it for me. They usually use too high heat and a rough technique. Also unless you do your research before hand on the formula going to be used you might get an unpredicatble result. I don't trust the drugstore brands either....they are more hit than miss.

You might be interested in a non keratin smoothing treatment/ amino acid smoothing treatment. these are less aggressive than a traditional bkt but still give a loosened curl that will revert. this kind did not affect my texlaxed curl pattern. I found that they weren't effective enough for me but others may like them for a temporary change of pace.

Id say just stick with a relaxer unless you are thinking of going natural. Then you might want to revisit trying a keratin treatment.

 

[femmedusiecle]

Lol sounds like the hairdresser I just went to.

 

[tapioca_pudding]

Napp, which treatment do/did you use?

I got the Global Keratin treatment two weeks ago, at a salon. I love the results (I'm natural) because working out every day and having to cowash/detangle daily was killing my ends. I didn't like the "roughness" that took place while she was using the treatment, but I do really love the results. I was thinking of buying the treatment and doing it at home the next go round.

 

[Napp]

tapioca_pudding I have used quite a few formulas. the most recent was QOD max organiq. It is ok but it doesn't really give the results i really want. I am taking a break right now from treatments because I don't feel like i really need them. I may revisit in the summer time.

I am cautious about what treatments i use as well because i like for my hair to revert back to curly after disuse. So far it has reverted every time except once. that time i already knew it was going to happen so i did it on a small section.

Which global keratin formula did you use? (light , regular, super) I would wait to see how my hair reacted and if my hair curled back before i went and bought a bottle of formula. Especially since that one is quite expensive.

if you do decide to self apply remember to avoid your scalp(depending on formula) and you don't need many passes at very high heat. I have gotten good results at 2 passes with as low as 340 degrees.

 

[Channy31]

bump

 

[Dak]

I've been doing BK treatments for a while, my hair is in much better shape than when I relaxed. I just went 1 1/2 years w/o a cut, my ends were a bit ragged, I needed 2 inches trimmed off last week after my haircut, had my hair been relaxed, it would have broken off to my shoulders and been a mess. I'm not sure I would put a BKT over a texturizer though, seems like I've read of some bad experiences layering treatments like that.

 

[naturalmanenyc]

I would say a Brazilian Keratin Treatment aka BKT for a few reasons:

If you are natural, you can keep your curls with a BKT.
It washes out eventually and you'd have to cut out a relaxer.
You get relaxer like results.
If you do it yourself or with a friend, the BKT does not require 450 degrees or 10 passes.
It coats the hair and makes detangling easier (for me at least).

I prefer Rejuvenol although I have used Lasio and Marcia Teixeira chocolate.

 

[DarlingNiki1977]

I'm considering a keratin treatment in a few months, but i just got a relaxer this past Friday. Can the treatment go on top of my relaxer? Will that be a problem?

 

[sweetnlow06]

I can say for me the relaxer is better. I had a BKT once and when the stylist first did it my hair was silkly smooth. I was a few months post relaxer because I wanted to grow out the relaxer. My hair thinned out a lot after the BKT, so I went back to texlaxing and now my hair has thickened up again.

 

[LexiDior]

Be careful with BKT ladies. Ive heard so many stories of hair falling out and hair loosing texture. Do your research and make sure the hair dresser does a strain test to make sure your hair can handle it.

 

[Dak]

I do the BK treatments myself, it takes a lot of time and patience, you can't do it fast, but it's not rocket science either, just follow the directions and you will be fine.

DarlingNiki1977, I would be very careful putting a BKT on top of a relaxer. I dye my hair, when I put the BKT on top of newly colored hair, it changes the color a bit, lightening it. It will interact with whatever you have on there.

If I were you, I would buy a kit and do a small test run someplace along the back, then wait a few weeks to a month, see how your hair reacts.

 

[Dove56]

I say BKT hands down. Actually my fav treatment is QOD Max Organiq. I am transitioning back to 100% natural after damage from hair color but next year I will probably go back to QOD Organiq and apply once a year.

I haven't done a treatment in almost a year but I did them consistently myself for about 3.5 years.

 

[BlackHairDiva]

I do the BK treatments myself, it takes a lot of time and patience, you can't do it fast, but it's not rocket science either, just follow the directions and you will be fine.

@DarlingNiki1977, I would be very careful putting a BKT on top of a relaxer. I dye my hair, when I put the BKT on top of newly colored hair, it changes the color a bit, lightening it. It will interact with whatever you have on there.

If I were you, I would buy a kit and do a small test run someplace along the back, then wait a few weeks to a month, see how your hair reacts.

I've done bkt alone on my hair. I love it but when it gets humid I always have some spots that curls back. I have been doing my BKT on top of my relaxer for a little over 1 year. The brand that I use gives instructions about applying the BKT on relax hair. When applying bkt to relax hair you have to apply a much lower amount of heat. I apply like 320 max on stubborn spots.

The reason why I do bkt on top of the relaxer, I feel that it restores the protein back in the hair and my hair is much stronger and I love how it retains lenght. I love the movement that I have in my hair and I love how my hair looks too. I prefer having straight hair.

I also dye my hair. I contacted the company that makes bkt brand that I use and they told me that I should use an Ammonia free dye. What I use is Olia by Garnier. If I have to do a touch up, i get that done and wait 10 days before using heat on the hair. Then, I do my BKT and about 1 or 2 week later I do my Coloring with Olia. I had no issues with hair changing color.

* I used ot be natural and strictly straighten my hair with BKT. I did that for like 2 to 3 years and now for a little over a year, I've been relaxed and I put a BKT on top of my relaxer.

 

[Dak]

Thanks, BlackHairDiva, it's good to hear that the BKTs work well over relaxers.

I'm not using an ammonia based dye, I use a brand called Robert Craig. i probably should have added that I don't mind the color change, just that it does happen. It actually brings a very slight silvery color and tones down the red.

 

[CarefreeinChicago]

I just popped in to say BKT ruined my hair and changed the texture. I had it done at a salon and I would not suggest anyone use them. This is one band wagon I wish I had never jumped on. I know everyone's hair is different and this was MY experience.

 

[tapioca_pudding]

I did the Marcia Teirexa (sp?) treatment about two weeks ago at home. I followed the instructions since it was my first time doing a home treatment. Next time I know what to tweak, etc. The results were cool, I let it "marinate" lol for 4 days, then cowashed. I haven't actually shampoo'd yet but I will tonight. My hair isn't as straight as when I got to Global treatment at the salon (Napp - I know I'm late in responding, but I don't know which strength she used actually) but that's okay because I can still detangle quickly and my hair dries fast.

I'm someone who wasn't looking to maintain my curls necessarily, because it doesn't particularly fit into my active lifestyle. BUT I did maintain a bit of curl this go round, which was fine. I have enough of the MT left for maybe 2 or 3 more treatments, then I'll try another brand just to compare.

But I am very very pleased with my BKT, and it has really helped me retain length and keep my hair strong. You just have to make a decision based on what your overall desires are for your hair.

 

[Kiadodie]

Thanks for the replies ladies. I'm scheduled for my first BKT in 2 weeks at the salon. IT's expensive but I really want to try it. I'll let you guys know how it goes. It looks like mixed reviews and it just depends on each person on the outcome. I hope it works for me.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

Italiano

I BKT'd my own hair several times 3 years ago with excellent results. My hair was much stronger with it and I retained every inch I grew. I was 5 months post-relaxer and wasn't sure if I wanted to transition to natural. I used the BKT a few times, until I decided I'd never relax again. Unfortunately, my curl didn't come all the way back to my new growth (the natural hair), but it did strengthen my relaxed hair.

When I cut the remaining relaxed hair after 3 1/2 years, I also had to cut an additional 3" of the BKT'd natural hair - it never did revert completely - even after all those years! I've heard that the treatment is more likely to be permanent when used on type 3 hair, while type 4 hair will usually revert.

Good luck on your treatment and be sure to update with pics!

 

[Dak]

I think the determining factor for success is heat. The instructions will tell you to use a flat iron at 400 then do a few passes at that temp. For me, I don't go that high, more like 375/380.

I hope you're happy with your BKT, Italiano, your hair is beautiful in your avatar.

 

[BlackHairDiva]

I did the Marcia Teirexa (sp?) treatment about two weeks ago at home. I followed the instructions since it was my first time doing a home treatment. Next time I know what to tweak, etc. The results were cool, I let it "marinate" lol for 4 days, then cowashed. I haven't actually shampoo'd yet but I will tonight. My hair isn't as straight as when I got to Global treatment at the salon (@Napp - I know I'm late in responding, but I don't know which strength she used actually) but that's okay because I can still detangle quickly and my hair dries fast.

I'm someone who wasn't looking to maintain my curls necessarily, because it doesn't particularly fit into my active lifestyle. BUT I did maintain a bit of curl this go round, which was fine. I have enough of the MT left for maybe 2 or 3 more treatments, then I'll try another brand just to compare.

But I am very very pleased with my BKT, and it has really helped me retain length and keep my hair strong. You just have to make a decision based on what your overall desires are for your hair.

Interesting to see how everyone's hair is different. The first brand I tried was Global and my hair was not that straight and it didnt retain moisture at all.

Yes with MT it was the opposite. Just ot let you know with MT, the serum works wonders. I do a deep conditioner and then apply MT, flat iron witht he serum. I also use the mini glide on the roots and then a regular flat iron. ont he fourth day, I pre poo with oil and deep condition. I always get impeccable results.

 

[Napp]

I just did a treatment and got great results. I only did 2 passes and flat ironed at 370. i would never trust a salon to do it personally. My curls didnt change much, they are just easier to define which I'm happy with.

 

[JaneBond007]

It's individual. Some people react to BKT and have hair thinning, others do not. Some people do not do well with lye/no-lye chemicals, others thrive. You can only know if you get the BKT and wait at least 8 months afterwards to compare the difference.

 

[Kiadodie]

UPDATE Re: Which is better: Brazilian keratin treatment or relaxer?

Hey girls, here is an update. I went to the salon and got the "Chocolate" BKT. OMG, it was painful and I"m not even sensitive.
First off, it is a high end “white” salon. So they are not familiar w/ black hair. OMG, I have a lot of hair so I had 3 people working on me AT THE SAME TIME pulling, tugging, flat ironing etc. It took a total of 3 hours from wash to finish.

I can see some breakage from the flat iron which I’m not happy about. She told me not to wash it for a week so I don’t know yet how it’ll be after I wash it etc, that will be the real test because my last texturizer was in Feb. I’m headed to the beach on Thurs. and when I get back I”ll wash it and let you guys know the pros and cons. I paid A LOT of money, it is VERY expensive ($500) . So the real verdict is going to be after I get my hair washed and rolled next week to see if it is as manageable and healthy. We shall see. See pic below.

 

[Kiadodie]

OK so I washed it out w/ a Keratin shampoo and OMG can you say straight and manageable . It feels like I got a full relaxer all thru my hair. It gets it super straight and when I put the conditioner in it just slipped thru the comb.

This thing works!!! Ill say one thing though, with the texturizer my hair was very thick and this makes my hair look "normal" if that makes any sense. I like the fact that now my hair will be much faster to do but I miss my hair thickness. Oh, the relaxer used to make my edges thinner but this does NOT do that at all. It just makes them super straight. I'll see how the condition of my hair is in about 3/4 months.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

Italiano

I'm glad it worked out so well for you! How did your curls look when wet?

 

[Kiadodie]

@Italiano

I'm glad it worked out so well for you! How did your curls look when wet?

sipp100 This is a pic of a wash and go. I didn't do anything to it.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

Italiano

Thanks for the pic!
Did they tell you your curl pattern would return, or will it remain straight? My DD#2 wants a BKT, but she doesn't want straight hair. She just wants her wash and go to hang a little longer. I'm on the fence about doing it because of my experience with permanently straight hair after BKTs in 2009.

 

[ChristmasCarol]

Napp

What brand of BKT did you use? DD#2 is also 4a, but her hair is medium/coarse. It can withstand high heat with no problems. Do you have fine hair? Looks like it from your siggy, but pics can be deceiving. She wants the results you have achieved - still curly, but more defined and only slightly elongated.

 

[LivingDoll]

I am thinking of transitioning DD from relaxers to BKT but I'm unsure of what to do. Her hair used to be extremely thick and healthy. It's still relatively healthy but her edges and perimeter are prone to breakage...it doesn't help that she likes to wear high buns/ponies with elastics/headbands around the perimeter. Those are probably causing the breakage.