My Keratin Hair Treatment Follow-Up: Washing, Results, and Hair Care After Treatment
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After my $40 keratin hair treatment in Cambodia, I went back to the salon for the hair wash and follow-up treatment. This is my full experience after the first session, including how my hair felt, what was done, and whether I would go back again.
The Hair Wash Appointment Experience
Thank God-it was over.
I started feeling frustrated sitting through such a long keratin hair treatment session, as it was the longest hair procedure I’ve ever experienced. I’ve had keratin treatments before for as low as $30, so compared to that, this session felt significantly longer and more intense.
When I returned to the salon for my follow-up wash, the first thing I noticed was that my hair still didn’t feel completely clean. It honestly felt like there were still some chemicals or product residue left in my hair.
Then, the stylist applied what I believe was a hair mask and used heat and steam to treat it. After that, my hair was washed again.
At that point, I started to understand why she didn’t double-wash my hair during the first session. But even after everything, I still didn’t feel like my hair was fully clean.
Why I Didn’t Say Anything
You might wonder why I didn’t speak up.
The truth is, I’m very shy. I also assumed the stylist knew what she was doing, so I just went along with the process and trusted it would be fine.
My Hair After the Keratin Treatment
Right now, I’m still unsure about the results.
My main concern is whether my hair will actually become:
Smooth
Shiny
Straight
But not stiff or overly processed
So far, I’m not completely convinced by what I’m seeing. However, I also understand that I paid a very low price, so I can’t expect premium results.
I wouldn’t be upset if the treatment didn’t last long, but I would be worried if my hair started falling out or became damaged.
Time, Process, and Hair Health Concerns
The entire follow-up process took around two hours.
A large portion of that time was spent re-straightening my hair, which made me slightly concerned about heat damage. Repeated heat exposure is not always ideal for hair health, especially after chemical treatments.
Even though I’m glad everything is finally done, I can’t help but question whether so much heat styling was necessary.
Salon Recommendation and My Decision
The stylist recommended that I return every month for maintenance hair treatments.
However, I’m not sure if I will continue going back regularly. I want to see how my hair behaves first over the next few weeks before making that decision.
Keratin Hair Care: What Shampoo I Use
After a keratin treatment, it’s very important to use the right shampoo.
The recommended products are:
Sulfate-free shampoo
Sodium chloride-free shampoo
These help maintain the smoothness and longevity of the keratin treatment.
For my aftercare, I use OGX shampoo, which is a drugstore brand, but it works well enough for maintaining treated hair.
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Final Thoughts
This is not my first keratin treatment, but it is definitely the longest and most intense one I’ve ever had.
Now, I’m just waiting to see how my hair turns out over the next few days—whether it stays smooth and straight or not. For now, I’m simply relieved that the process is over.
From a “needs vs wants” perspective, I needed a simple, safe hair treatment that didn’t take hours. What I wanted was straight, smooth hair at a low price. In reality, the experience landed somewhere in between—long, uncomfortable, but affordable.
If I had to give one recommendation, it would be to choose a reputable salon in Cambodia where prices are already more affordable than in many other countries, and make sure the environment is comfortable, ideally with air conditioning to make long treatments easier to handle.
Update after one week: My hair is still wavy and slightly frizzy, and the treatment does not seem to have worked. I told the hairstylist, and she said that this rarely ever happens. I do not know what is wrong with my hair, but I still feel like I can smell the chemicals even after a week.
I also wonder why it did not work. I still need to straighten my hair when I go out. Although the top layer is flatter and straighter, the bottom and ends of my hair are still wavy.
I have seen other people’s before-and-after photos, and the treatment worked for them, even though they also went to fairly affordable salons. I just do not understand why my results are different.
According to online reports, it says the uneven straighten and frizzly hair is because of uneven application. Well, that says it. I stick to my recommendation of going to a decent priced salon.
