Also known as a Brazilian blowout, a keratin treatment is a hair care treatment placed on your hair to help smooth out the frizz and texture you try to manage and give you sleeker, more straight hair. While you can get a keratin treatment at any time, your hair results will be best if you learn more about what a keratin smoothing treatment is and if one is necessary for you.

Use this guide to help you decide if you want to get a keratin treatment and to help you learn what you need to talk to your hairstylist about.

How versatile do you want your hair to be?

Do you want your hair to be curly one day and straight the next? If so, then a keratin smoothing treatment may be your best option over a full keratin treatment. A smoothing treatment helps reduce the frizz and makes your curls less tight and textured, but it doesn't completely straighten your hair. This allows you to have more freedom in straightening your hair one day and letting your hair's more natural texture shine the next.

How straight do you want your hair to be?

If you want your hair super straight and shiny, then ask your hairstylist for a regular keratin treatment or Brazilian blowout. The results can last a few months and actually help to improve your hair's overall health and shine, which is a benefit you can appreciate on top of straight hair.

If you only want to reduce the amount of frizz and buoyancy your hair has, then a keratin smoothing treatment may be best for you.

How long do you want your hair to stay straight?

If you want a more permanent way to keep your hair straight, then ask your hairstylist for a chemical relaxer, which is not the same as a keratin treatment but provides similar but longer-lasting results. However, you can also use keratin treatments to achieve longer-lasting straighter hair by going into the salon every few months to have a keratin treatment done.

To make your hair results last longer, have your hairstylist put in a nourishing and hydrating hair mask every few weeks or so or as your hair starts to lose a bit of its luster and shine. Your hairstylist will give you other bits of advice to help you keep your hair in beautiful condition, whether you try a full keratin treatment or opt for a keratin smoothing treatment for hair care and management.

To learn more, contact a resource that offers keratin treatments.