I try: Goldwell’s Kerasilk Keratin Treatment

I first tried a Keratin “smoothing” treatment on my hair years ago, when they first hit the salons in New Zealand as an alternative to chemical hair straightening. The early versions often had rather varying results, and when it was revealed that they too could potentially contain all manner of ‘nasties’ they soon went out of favour apart from with diehard fans. Since I first wrote about the process of infusing the hair with Keratin to give it a super shiny, just-out-of-the-salon look every day, it seems that literally thousands of practitioners have popped up. With seemingly every man and his colourist giving Keratin treatments a bash, some have been of dubious efficacy, effectively tarnishing the good name of the real thing

A few great alternatives started showing up not long after, but they required putting in some serious salon time, a factor that the time-poor amongst us weren’t always that keen on. I soon found out after one treatment that my time in the salon is only half the treatment's processing time, too. You weren’t able to get your hair wet or let any moisture into it for 72 hours as it could effect the ongoing process of the keratin “attaching itself” to your hair. This means no getting caught in the rain, washing your hair or gym workouts. Once the 72 hours are up you are free to wash and style your now spectacular hair however you desire though, and for many, the initial inconvenience was well worth it.

Anyway, fast-forward to 2014 and you have Goldwell’s Kerasilk Keratin Treatment on offer, which takes half the time (or more) of the original offerings and has the ability to last up to five months! You also leave with washed and blow dried hair, and are free to hit the spin class immediately if you are that way inclined. For many women I know, countless products are used in the time consuming process of blow drying, straightening and smoothing their locks post-wash and yet, the desired result stays unreachable. Despite spending substantial amounts of time, money and effort, long-lasting smooth, soft hair remains but a dream.

Goldwell’s Kerasilk is the first customizable, long-lasting Keratin Treatment Service too, as its two-component system means that it can be perfectly adjusted to every client’s hair and lifestyle needs. Regardless of whether your hair is frizzy and unmanageable or very curly, damaged and wavy, Kerasilk will get the perfect level of smoothness for you.

So how does it work then? The Goldwell KeraShape Technology, which includes glyoxylic acid and smoothing ingredients such as keratin and silk proteins, penetrates into the hair where it creates new keratin bonds and stabilises the new hair shape for up to five months. Kerasilk Keratin Treatment is also 100 per cent formaldehyde free (bonus!), with no emissions or offensive odours (double bonus!), meaning you won’t be reaching for the smelling salts while it processes. Due to the unique formulation, colour can also be applied at the time of the service too, cutting down your in-salon time even more. It’s not affected by sulfates - including salt water - either, so you can go forth and swim or use your favourite shampoo without worrying about it altering the end result.

When I went into Goldwell’s training space to have one myself I was amazing at how quick the whole process was, despite the fact that it was rather involved. My hair was washed, product applied, blow waved and ironed, and then after processing I had a good old wash and a wonderful dry all over again. The end result was silky smooth hair that has been an absolute joy to wash and wear, and the shine factor has been out of this world. Perfect hair everyday? Yup, it can be yours!