Keratin Treatment ยท Walnut Creek, CA
Calm the frizz and cut down your styling time
A keratin treatment is a smoothing service that uses a protein blend to smooth the hair, reduce frizz and add shine for weeks. It suits guests with frizzy, puffy or hard-to-manage hair who want easier, sleeker styling day to day. Urban Loxx Salon & Day Spa in Walnut Creek offers both a full Keratin Treatment and a lighter Express Keratin.
What can a keratin treatment change about your hair?
Frizz happens when the outer layer of the hair lifts and lets moisture from the air in, so strands swell and stand apart. A keratin treatment lays a protein blend over the hair and seals it in, helping that outer layer lie flat. The result is hair that feels smoother, looks shinier and behaves better in damp weather.
The biggest change most guests notice is time. Blow-drying gets faster, a flat iron glides through with fewer passes, and some people find they can air-dry on days they never could before. Hair stays manageable for weeks, then gradually returns to its natural texture.
Keratin softens and smooths, but it is not the same as a relaxer. Curly hair usually keeps some of its shape, with looser, more polished curls and far less frizz. Wavy and straight hair that puffs up tends to look the most dramatically different.
We offer two levels. The full Keratin Treatment is for guests who want the strongest smoothing. Express Keratin is a lighter option for guests who want to try smoothing or need a softer result, and your stylist can help you choose.
How your keratin appointment unfolds
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Talk through your goals
Your stylist asks how you wear your hair now and how you want it to behave. Do you want soft waves with less frizz, or sleek and straight? They also check for recent color or lightening. This conversation decides whether the full Keratin Treatment or Express Keratin fits you better.
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A clarifying shampoo
Your hair is washed with a shampoo that removes oil, product and buildup. This step matters more than it sounds, because the protein blend bonds most evenly to hair that is truly clean. Your hair is then dried, since keratin is applied to dry hair rather than wet.
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Section by section application
Your stylist works in small sections, painting the keratin blend from close to the root through to the ends and combing it through evenly. Thick or long hair takes longer to cover well. Once every section is coated, the treatment is left to set before the next step.
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Seal with heat
Your hair is blow-dried and then flat ironed in thin sections to seal the treatment in. This is where the smooth, glassy finish comes from. Your stylist will explain when you can wash, what products to use and what to avoid so your results last. Ready? Book Now.
More about Keratin Treatment
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Helping your keratin results last
Aftercare makes a real difference to how long smoothing holds. Follow your stylist's instructions about the first wash, since the timing can vary. After that, switch to a shampoo without sulfates, which is gentler on smoothing treatments and on color.
Chlorine and salt water can wear results down faster, so rinse your hair with clean water after swimming. You can still use heat, and you will likely need less of it. Most guests find the smoothness fades gradually rather than all at once. Many rebook when frizz starts creeping back. How soon that happens depends on your hair type, how often you wash and how much time you spend in water or humidity.
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Keratin vs. Brazilian Blowout vs. Sweet Smoothing
All three are smoothing services that reduce frizz and add shine, and they differ in formula, feel and how long results typically last. A keratin treatment is a strong choice when you want a noticeable drop in frizz and faster styling. The Brazilian Blowout is a well-known smoothing system aimed at frizz and shine, often chosen by guests who like a softer, natural-moving finish.
The Sweet Smoothing Treatment leaves hair sleek, soft and manageable, with results the salon states last about 3 months. Each formula works differently on different hair. Rather than picking by name, describe your hair and goals to your stylist, who can recommend the one most likely to give you the result you want.
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Before you book your keratin visit
If you plan to color your hair, talk to your stylist about the order. Many stylists prefer to color first, then smooth, so the color sets before the hair is sealed. Come to your appointment with clean hair with no styling product if you can, and set aside a relaxed stretch of your day, since smoothing is a detailed service.
Smoothing treatments use professional products and heat, so if you are pregnant or have a sensitive scalp, check with your doctor first. New guests can fill out our new guest form. Then pick a stylist from our team. For both the Keratin Treatment and Express Keratin, current pricing is on our Service Menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Keratin Treatment and Express Keratin?
The full Keratin Treatment is our stronger smoothing option, for guests who want the most frizz control and the longest-lasting result. Express Keratin is a lighter service. It suits guests who want to try smoothing for the first time, have finer hair that does not need as much, or want a softer change. Your stylist can recommend one.
Will a keratin treatment make my curly hair straight?
Usually not completely. Keratin is designed to smooth and reduce frizz rather than permanently straighten. Curly hair often comes out looser and more defined, and much easier to blow straight if you want. If you love your curls but hate the frizz, tell your stylist so they can tailor the application to keep some movement.
Can I color my hair after a keratin treatment?
You can, but timing matters. Many stylists suggest coloring before a keratin treatment, or waiting a while after, so the color and the smoothing both look their strongest. Coloring over freshly sealed hair can affect how the color takes. Tell your stylist about any color plans when you book so they can space the services well.
Does a keratin treatment really save time on styling?
For most guests, yes. Smoother hair dries faster and needs fewer passes with a brush or flat iron, so morning routines often shrink noticeably. Some people with frizz-prone hair find they can air-dry and still look polished. How much time you save depends on your texture and how you like to wear your hair.
Can I go swimming after a keratin treatment?
Yes, once your stylist says your hair is ready to get wet. Chlorine and salt water can shorten how long smoothing lasts, so wet your hair with clean water before you swim, consider a swim cap for laps, and rinse soon after. A shampoo without sulfates afterward helps protect your results.
Is keratin a good choice for thick hair?
Thick, frizz-prone hair is often where keratin shows the biggest difference. It can make dense hair feel lighter, look sleeker and dry much faster. The application takes more care because there is more hair to coat evenly, so mention your hair's thickness and length when you book so we can plan the visit properly.
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