zalim

Aveda has introduced its own spin on the popular keratin smoothing treatments. I have done keratin 5 times and am looking for a safer alternative now.

Has anyone done the Aveda treatment? I hear the cost is comparable to the other treatments. They also have two versions apparently: a temporary (last up to 2 months) and a permanent version, though I know nothing about either one.

Z

Cupcake

I was reading about them both today. I have not had an Aveda treatment. The retexturizing Aveda one is similar to Japanese/Thermal reconditioning though.

Aveda's temporary version is similar to Ojon's Super Sleek and Bumble and Bumble's Concen-Straight. They all use Sodium Sulfites for a temporary, smooth effect. What type of results as are you looking for?

Sent from my SGH-T959V using CurlTalk App

zalim

Hi,

Thanks for replying. That's good info to have. Didn't realize the Aveda permanent system is modelled after the Japanese hair straightener. (Do you know if the Aveda one can be applied so that the hair retains some waviness?)

My goal is to loosen my naturally 3c curls into a wave and to even out the two-texture hair I've been left with after a botched keratin job 6 months ago. I refuse to go back to keratin treatments because the formaldehyde cancer risk is too high.

annearchy

I went for a consultation for this at a salon in Jersey City and they talked me into Coppola Keratin instead. They said my hair, 3b and fine would be super flat with little volume as opposed to keratin, and the roots growing in would be much more noticeable.

Typically this costs more than keratin but will have to be retouched every 6 months vs keratin which might have to be touched up every 3 months.

I'm happy with my 1st Coppola Keratin treatment. My hair is very different now, but not straight which is what I expected. I did my first wash but I ended up doing it late at night then sleeping on it so it looked kinda bad in the morning.
When I wash it next time I'm going to let it air dry with no product and see what the results are.

zalim

Hi Ann,

Doesn't the Coppola one have formaldehyde? That's why it works so well, I think ... ?

Cupcake

Yeah, I'm WAAAAYYY over the formeldahyde treatments. I still have like 30 ounces or so of the QOD MAX and I will not use it after I found out it was 4% formeldahyde (even they said it was only 0.02%).

Anyhoo, I would contact AVeda to see if they can customize the treatment.

Have you tried QOD Max ORGANIQ (Not the formeldahyde version)? It is a great treatment for managing curly hair and there's no formeldahyde or fumes. My allergies don't go haywire with that treatment.

It gives great humidity resistance, styling flexibility between curly and straight (without reversion) and a reduction in bulk and frizz. I wash only once or twice a week so it last a good 16 weeks or so. You will probably love this treatment.

Cupcake

It does. I won't use Coppola for that reason.

zalim

Never heard of this... what is it? Where can I find it? Is it a do-it-yourself treatment? If there's no formaldehyde, what makes it work - that is, what loosens the curl and reduces the frizz? I am excited to find out more about this product.

Zal

Cupcake

Zalim,

You can do this treatment yourself. There are a few treatments out now that are considered "Cystine" smoothing treatments.

They penetrate the cuticle and strengthen the cortex of the hair and help elongate the curl pattern, with the heat of your flatiron, to temporarily loosen the curl *without* breaking the bonds in your hair. There are some new brands you can use that are marketed to ethnic women.

Here are the brands:

Arosci Intensive Restructuring Foam or Serum.

The Foam is for ladies that natural that are transitioning that love to wear their hair straight. The serum is for ladies that prefer to wear their hair curly but have less bulk and frizz. You can order a sample from the website:

NEW!! AROSCI Intensive Restructuring System at AROSCI Hair Products - Tri-Zoned Care for Multi-Textured Hair

Design Essentials

This system is similar to Arosci. It lasts for up to 12 weeks and one formula is for transitioning and other for curly styles. You can order at Payne Beauty Supply online.

Strengthening Therapy Transitioning Mousse | Design Essentials

Design Essential Strengthening Therapy Transitioning Mousse 8oz

Essastions Naked Thermal Assuage:

Similar to the product above.
essations.com

Purchase a kit here:
Naked

I have done the Arosci treatment and the Qod Max Organiq (3x for Organiq) and I love the cystine treatments. I've been doing my own treatments since April 2009 and I've used the formeldahyde based treatments, aldahyde treatments, sulfite based treatments and cyestine treatments. Cystine is my favorite.

I do have some reservations about QOD Max Organiq though because their initial treatment QOD MAX was supposed to have only .02% formeldahyde and it had like 3% or 4%. So it's hard to get the truth from them. Anyhoo, these treatments are all the rave now. Oh, Chi Enviro is cystine based as well.

zalim

Wow, I had no idea there was a new generation of straighteners. This is all so informative - and overwhelming at the same time! The fact that QOD said 0.02% formaldehyde but actually had more like 4% is concerning for sure. Does the Organiq version have an ingredients list?

Cupcake

Composition: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium
Chloride, Paraffinum Liquidum, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (And) Methicone (And) Polyquaternium-10 (And) Carbocysteine, Polyquaternium7, Hidrolized Keratin, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein (And) Sodium Benzoate, Theobroma Cacao(Cocoa), Extract Parfum, Cetrimonium Chloride, Bht, Methylchloroisothiazolinona (And)Methylisothiazolinone, Ci 77400.

i4gots

I just had the smooth infusion treatment Sat. hoping it would tame my curls or straightn them out a bit. I got the okay to wash my hair Wed. but waited till Thurs. night. I blow dried with the round bruch after towle drying & using the smooth infusion cream. Did not work. If I had air dried, I would have had my springy curls back, but since I blow dried I look like Gilda Radner this morning. I'm also walking around smelling like sulfur.
Though I will say it is easier to brush & a bit softer.
Hope this helps.

Debbiemesel

Just got the smooth infusion treatment. Was same price as Brazilian Blowout. Tiny bit of humidity, and hair is poofed up worse than before the treatment! What a waste of $300! Will definitely go back to the keratin treatment ASAP!