We updated this article in February 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.
If you’re looking to achieve smoother, sleeker, frizz-free strands, you’ll definitely need to add an at-home keratin hair treatment to your haircare routine. The best keratin treatments for at home will help repair damage, enhance shine, and smooth flyaways. Plus, they come at much more affordable price points than taking a trip to the salon.
“Keratin treatments are designed to temporarily smooth the hair by infusing keratin into porous strands to deliver frizz-free, shiny, healthy-looking hair. The treatments are less damaging than relaxers, which chemically break the hair bonds and reseal the now weaker shaft in a straight formation with heat,” explains Jessie Cheung M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Cheung Aesthetics & Wellness.
Meet the Experts: Jessie Cheung M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Cheung Aesthetics & Wellness and Sarah Ludd, professional hairstylist and session stylist at Kevin Murphy.
Popular for their strengthening abilities, keratin treatments are commonly used to address various hair concerns. Looking to smooth out your curls? You can use a keratin treatment for that. Want to repair damaged strands? Turn to a keratin treatment for help. “Protein is an essential building block for the hair, especially when treating fragile, damaged strands,” says Sarah Ludd, professional hairstylist and session stylist at Kevin Murphy. “Hair is mainly composed of keratin protein, while there are many different effective vegetable-based proteins we could use, keratin is an effective tool in rebuilding the hair strand to deliver strong, healthy hair.”
Our top picks
It’s important to note that if you’re looking for extreme, long-lasting results, a pro salon visit is in order. However, at-home keratin treatments (in the form of hair masks, shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and more) will certainly maintain the shine between appointments. Below are our expert-approved picks.