It sound BKT is a better method than other treatments. I have straightened my hair by Japanese straightening, but the result is not my desired. The stylist is inexperienced, but luckily my hair were not be damaged. :)
I'll try the BKT next time!
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I think you're going to get better results than me because your hair has been bleached. The more damaged the hair, the better the results. That's because the damaged cuticle is open and can drink in more keratin. That's why they leave the clarifying shampoo on virgin hair, to open the cuticle.
You might want to talk to your stylist about putting deposit-only color in your hair before the BKT. If you don't like your color, before the BKT would be the time to color, because the BKT seals the color in the hair.
My hair was super thick, frizzy and curly when I was young. I'm very gray now, and I have lost most of the curl. My hair is still very thick, wavy, frizzy and long.
I didn't wear a mask or ear protectors. I had a mask available, but I just didn't feel I needed it. I still recommend you wear a mask. I had a fan going. The BKT solution fumes didn't bother me at all. Dye and straight perm solution are much stronger smelling. Just don't stick your nose in the bottle and take a big wiff like I did! Don't pay more for formaldehyde free BKT, because all BKTs have some form of formaldehyde. When you get concerned about formaldehyde I'll post some info.
What you get from the BKT companies is:
1. Solution (some companies sell you 2 products that you mix)
2. Clarifying pre-shampoo
3. Maintenance shampoo and conditioner
You can buy everything in a kit, but I saved money buying seperately. I only used 1/2 oz. of pre-shampoo, so instead of $78 for 32 oz. of pre-shampoo, I bought 4 oz. for $15. 32 oz. of solution is enough for 10 treatments and costs $262. Or you can buy 4 oz. of solution and 4 oz. of pre-shampoo for $45. They will send you a DVD or instructions if you ask them to. Most shampoo has sodium chloride which will break down the keratin, so buy the maintenance shampoo & conditioner if it's not too pricy to see if you like it. Millcreek Keratin shampoo & conditioner costs only $5 for 16 oz. on the internet, and I think you can buy it at health food stores. I haven't tried it yet, but Millcreek was rated as a top shampoo & conditioner for BKT.
TS-2 flat iron with heat gloves came free with $40 purchase of lousy Infusion Keratin Replenisher. The deal is over, but here's the website:
"I am thinking of having this professionally done first, then will save for doing home treatments.".........That's exactly what I did, and it's the smart thing to do. My stylist had two products: Coppola formaldehyde-free BKT and 4-Hair BKT. She recommended 4-Hair because they both have formaldehyde, and with 4-Hair you are able to wash your hair right away and not wait 3 days.
4-Hair will ask you what your cosmetologist license number is, so if you don't have a license you can either ask a friend to order it or buy another product that doesn't require a license. I have noticed that more and more BKTs are being sold without a license. I think that's mainly because you can't damage your hair and because Liquid Keratin at-home BKT is being sold without a license at stores like Ulta. It's ironic that Liquid Keratin is the only BKT I've heard that can damage your hair.
You can't order straight up at this website. You have to email or call, and they will send a price list. The Red Label is the stuff: http://www.4hair.org/
"I'm soooo anxious about this, I so want it to work. My hair is big, fluffy, frizzy, curly (in front, more wavy in back) I just hope this works on me. Also it's processed with box bleach."....... Lets find out which product will work best on your hair. 4-Hair might not work as good as others because you can wash your hair right away. A product made to stay and react in your hair for 3 days might iron out the curls better. Thicker hair has more product on it and creates more fumes, so make sure your stylist goes over each section at least 10 times and until all the fumes dissipate. It's good to dye your hair right before the BKT, because the BKT will help seal the color in and make it last longer.
Your stylist should take $100 off the price because it's your first time getting a BKT. Don't be shy, and ask for a price reduction. It's a lot easier getting this pricy treatment done knowing that in the future you will be able to do it yourself for under $30, but don't tell your stylist that!
And if after you have the BKT done you find that there is still too much curl in your hair, then you might want to get Japanese thermo-ionic straightening and do the BKT right after. I have a license, but I leave Jap. Thermoionic straightening, bleaching and perming to the stylists who specialize and have years of experience, because you can really damage the hair. If you live near Los Angeles or Atlanta I can recommend a good stylist to do the Jap. Thermoionic straightening for about $300.
Congrats on your home treatment! Thank you for the information.
Just a few questions if thats ok?
Is your hair normally curly/frizzy or what is the texture of your hair normally?
Did you use mask and ear protectors?
Did you get everything you needed in one kit or did you have to buy everything individually on the internet?
I am thinking of having this professionally done first, then will save for doing home treatments. If you have the links to all the materials you bought as well as the flat iron you used and where you got it, You'd be my new best friend :) :)
I'm soooo anxious about this, I so want it to work. My hair is big, fluffy, frizzy, curly (in front, more wavy in back) I just hope this works on me. Also it's processed with box bleach.
Any more information would be great.
Thanks again, your a lifesaver!
Sincerely,
Rainseed
Better hair, no therapy lol
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Your hair sounds perfect for BKT. I washed my hair and blow dried for the second time since the treatment, and my hair feels like silk and looks like the texture of Jennifer Aniston's hair. You'll love it. If it's humid where you live you will especially love BKT.
This is the best BKT instruction video on the internet. I bought the special comb used in the video, but I returned it because I found it was much easier to use my left hand with 2 heat gloves on instead. The heat gloves came with my flat iron, and I couldn't have tolerated the high heat without the gloves on my left hand.
I have lots more to post about BKT. Start with this video and you'll have a good understanding of what's involved.
I wash my hair about 2-3 times a week, and at 2.5 months I noticed my hair wasn't as shiny and soft as it was when I first did the BKT. The BKT I use doesn't straighten the hair. It makes the hair shiny, soft, less frizzy and much easier to blow dry. Really curly hair probably needs to be straightened before the treatment. I wouldn't recommend this for thin hair. I have thick, frizzy, wavy, dyed gray hair, so I'm a perfect candidate for BKT. Processed and damaged hair gets better results than virgin hair.
I did the BKT myself yesterday! It took 3 hours and was fairly easy to do. The cost for the product comes to about $25.00 per treatment. Special tools I needed: 400-450 deg. flat iron, 2 heat gloves on left hand, good brush for straightening and hair dye brush.
I found a BKT called Escova that you don't need a license to buy:
I converted British Pounds to US dollars and ml. to oz. You get about 16 oz. for $105. Please let me know if you decide to do it yourself. I have an instruction DVD and know some tricks to get a better result.
If your hair is super thick, long and curly and you're not good at flat ironing and blow drying hair straight, I would not attempt to do it yourself. Go to a beauty school and ask a student to do it for $150 at your house. BKT solution cannot damage hair like bleaching, perming and straightening products. Sorry I don't have before and after pictures.
I bought clip in hair extensions from Sallys today. I always wanted highlights, but I won't lighten and damage my hair. The carmel extensions look great in my brown hair.
I'll keep you up to date on how my do-it-yourself BKT is working out. Hopefully it will last 2.5 months. At $25.00 per treatment, I can do it every month if I want to! I know what it's like to be a hermit because of tragically difficult hair. There are great products now that can fix even the most difficult hair. It's just a matter of trying things until you find what works for you.
I'm happy to hear your bkt lasted 2.5 months. Was there still some benefit in the final third month or did it completely revert by the end of the third month?
How often do you was your hair. I read On http://www.naturallycurly.com/ forum by a poster that her hair lasted months, washing 1 x per week.
How did your home treatment turn out? Also, do you or could you share before and after pictures of your first treatment?
Again, thank you for the info. I will save every last dime for this treatment. 300/ ever three months is alot, but if it gets me out of the house, its worth it:)
Sincerely,
Rainseed
Better hair, no therapy lol
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My BKT lasted 2 1/2 months. I can't afford $350 every 3 months, so I will be doing it at home next week for the first time. I'll post the details.
There is no such thing as Formaldehyde Free BKT, so don't pay more $$$ for a formaldehyde free product. It's false advertising, and I'll post an important article about it here if you are interested.
With most BKTs you can't wash your hair for 4 days after treatment. The BKT I use allows you to wash your hair right away. Immediately after BKT my hair was poker straight with no body. After a couple washings my hair was shiny with body, less straight, easy and quick to blow dry. With the Japanese thermo ionic straightening I could never get the ends of my hair to curl under. With BKT I get more body and my hair easily holds a curl at the ends with a round brush.
Post any questions you may have, and I'll be happy to answer them.
I would love to hear about your results of the bkt. I am saving up to have this done. I will most likely be able to do this next month. I have had a lifetime nightmare with unruley hair. It's this, but soft, and fuzzy. I just had a counsoltation yesterday and was told I was a good canadate for the bkt. I am going to color myself before the treatment.
How long did your results last, are you still happy with them, can you share photos b/a?
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Rainseed
Better hair, no therapy lol
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BKT is a much better new way to smooth and straighten hair. Never again will I do Japanese thermo straightening.
BKT is a very new process in the U.S. My hair stylist travels the U.S. bringing BKT to places where it's not available yet.
When I first did Jap. thermo straightening 6 years ago I thought it was great, except my hair was dead straight. BKT can be done right after Jap. thermo straightening to repair the damage.
Please ask me about BKT before you consider Jap. Thermo straightening.
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