Let’s face it: Salon keratin treatments are expensive and time-consuming, often taking hours to get that perfectly straight look. That’s where at-home keratin treatments come in—they’re quicker and much easier on your wallet while still softening your hair and taming frizz. Plus, there are plenty of great options to choose from.
Vogue’s Top At-Home Keratin Treatments
– Best for Sleek Hair: Answr At-Home Keratin Treatment Kit, $70
– Best Serum: Virtue Damage Reverse Serum, $60
– Best for All Hair Types: Gussi At-Home Keratin Treatment Kit, $65
– Best Customizable: GK Hair The Best Smoothing Keratin Treatment, $175
In This Story
– Do At-Home Keratin Treatments Really Work?
– What’s the Difference Between At-Home and Salon Keratin Treatments?
– How to Prepare for an At-Home Keratin Treatment
– Meet the Experts
Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Dimitris Giannetos tells Vogue, “At-home keratin treatments come in a few forms—there are full kits that work like salon treatments with smoothing formulas and heat-sealing steps, daily serums, deep-conditioning masks with keratin to soften hair, and shampoos and conditioners that help keep hair smooth over time.”
Below, we’ve rounded up the best at-home keratin treatments to transform your hair without leaving your bathroom.
### Best for Sleek Hair: Answr At-Home Keratin Treatment Kit
Price: $70 at Nordstrom
Why We Love It: This kit includes a spray-on keratin treatment plus a shampoo and conditioner. Made with 100% vegan keratin, it smooths the hair cuticle for softness and shine. The shampoo and conditioner help maintain frizz-free results for up to three months.
Key Ingredients: Keratin amino acids, grape fruit extract
More to Know: Free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, and alcohol; vegan and cruelty-free.
How to Use: Spray onto clean, dry hair and leave for 60 minutes. Rinse, blow-dry, and straighten to seal in the treatment. Use the included shampoo and conditioner to extend results. Repeat every two months.
### Best for All Hair Types: Gussi At-Home Keratin Treatment Kit
Price: $65 at Amazon
Why We Love It: This easy-to-use treatment takes just one hour and works for all hair types—even curls. It strengthens hair with keratin and peptides while smoothing frizz with plant-based proteins and oils. Results last up to four weeks, and it’s formaldehyde-free.
Key Ingredients: Glyoxyloyl keratin amino acids, castor oil, aloe vera, pea extract
More to Know: Formaldehyde-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free.
How to Use: Wash hair twice with the priming shampoo, apply the treatment, leave for 30 minutes, rinse, dry, and flat-iron. Curly hair can rinse immediately after straightening to restore bounce. Wait five washes before applying if you have color-treated hair.
### Best Serum: Virtue Damage Reverse Serum
Price: $60 at BlueMercury
Why We Love It: This lightweight serum repairs damage and smooths frizz with keratin and other nourishing ingredients. Perfect for daily use to maintain healthy, shiny hair.
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Virtue Serum
This serum features Virtue’s patented vegan keratin protein, which helps replenish lost keratin and repair damaged hair follicles. Peptides and tremella mushroom extract act as a hyaluronic acid alternative to hydrate and strengthen strands while improving elasticity. The best part? No complicated steps—just apply it like any other post-shower styling product.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, tremella mushroom polysaccharide
More to Know: Color-safe, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free
How to Use: Apply 2-3 pumps to clean, damp hair from mid-length to ends.
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Best Hair Mask: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
Unlike a full keratin treatment, this deep conditioning mask revives damaged hair weekly with keratin, soy protein, vitamins E and A, and amino acids. No heat styling required—just smoother, softer results.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba seed oil, citric acid, sweet almond oil
More to Know: Paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, gluten-free, vegan, color-safe
How to Use: After shampooing, apply to damp hair from roots to ends. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
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Best for a Quick Touch-Up: Oribe Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment
Revive fading keratin results with this rinse, which adds shine to all hair types. Plant-based humectants lock in moisture while watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss extracts protect against sun damage.
Key Ingredients: Watermelon, lychee, edelweiss flower, polymer blend
More to Know: Sulfate-free, cruelty-free, keratin-safe
How to Use: After shampooing, apply from mid-length to ends (or after conditioner for very dry hair). Leave on for 1 minute, then rinse.
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Best for Keratin Upkeep: K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
This bond-repairing mask uses biotech peptides to fix damage from bleach, color, and heat. Hair emerges stronger, smoother, and bouncier.
Key Ingredients: K18 Peptide, hydrolyzed wheat protein
More to Know: Vegan, color-safe, cruelty-free
How to Use: Apply to damp hair post-shower. Wait 4 minutes before styling.
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Best for Quick Shine: Davines Keratin Sealer Spray
A finishing spray that boosts shine and seals the cuticle to prevent split ends, thanks to vegetable keratin and rice protein. Instantly softer, shinier hair.
Key Ingredients: Hydrogenated farnese, hydrolyzed rice protein
How to Use: Apply to towel-dried hair, comb through, then style as usual.
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Best Customizable: GK Hair Smoothing Keratin Treatment
This heavy-duty treatment includes a precision brush for easy application…
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Juvexin Formula Stars
A plant-based protein blend made from quinoa and peas, designed to strengthen and repair damaged hair. Enriched with natural oils and plant seed extracts, it smooths texture and fights frizz. Adjust the treatment time to achieve your desired look—from lightly defined waves to sleek, straight hair.
Key Ingredients: Quinoa protein, pea protein, glycerin
More Info: Paraben-free, vegan, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-free
How to Use:
1. Wash hair with a clarifying shampoo, then towel dry and brush thoroughly.
2. Using the included brush, apply the treatment in half-inch sections, starting at least a quarter inch from the scalp to avoid irritation.
3. Fully saturate each strand and leave on for 40–60 minutes.
4. Rinse and dry completely.
5. For best results, flat iron each section 2–4 times to seal in the treatment.
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Best for Sensitive Skin: Epres Bond Repair Treatment Starter Kit
Price: $50 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
This vegan treatment repairs damage instead of just masking it, working like a traditional mask without heaviness or buildup. It can also be used overnight to fix chemical, mechanical, and environmental damage.
Key Ingredients: Diethylhexyl maleate, oleyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, etearamidopropyl dimethylamine
More Info: Color-safe, vegan, cruelty-free, scalp-safe
How to Use:
1. Apply to dry, unwashed hair (works even with styling products).
2. Mix one concentrate vial with water in the spray bottle, shake well, and spray until hair is fully saturated.
3. Leave on for at least 10 minutes before washing, or sleep in it overnight.
4. Repeat 1–2 times per week.
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Best Blow-Dry Cream: Keratin Complex Infusion Keratin Replenisher
Price: $46 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
Perfect for blow-dry brush users, this keratin-infused cream fights frizz, adds shine, and provides heat protection. Rosemary leaf extract smooths strands, while hydrolyzed wheat protein shields against heat damage. Soy protein locks out humidity to prevent puffiness.
Key Ingredients: Soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, rosemary leaf extract
More Info: Sulfate-free, paraben-free, heat protectant
How to Use:
Apply to wet or dry hair from mid-lengths to ends before heat styling.
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Best for Beginners: CHI Keratin K-Trix 5 Smoothing Treatment
Price: $23 (originally $14, Amazon)
Why We Love It:
This thermally-activated serum locks in moisture for frizz-free styles lasting up to five days. Simple to use—just apply before blow-drying like any heat protectant.
Key Ingredients: Keratin amino acids, hydrolyzed silk, argan oil, jojoba oil, panthenol
More Info: Cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free
How to Use:
1. Apply a small amount to hair before blow-drying.
2. Style as usual, then finish with the CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Iron.
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Best on Amazon: Nutree Amazonliss Keratin Hair Treatment Set
Price: $39 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
Inspired by Brazilian Blowouts, this anti-frizz trio delivers results lasting up to 16 weeks. The set includes a clarifying shampoo, keratin treatment, and nourishing mask—all infused with hydrolyzed keratin and antioxidants.
(Note: The last sentence was cut off in the original text, so the rewrite stops here.)Smoothing Hair Treatment with Açaí and Cacao
This antioxidant-rich blend of açaí and cacao helps restore hydration, fight oxidative stress, and leave hair noticeably smoother and more manageable.
Key Ingredients:
– Açaí
– Cacao
More to Know:
– Cruelty-free
– Paraben-free
– Phthalate-free
– Vegan
How to Apply:
Each product in the set is numbered for easy use. Start with the anti-residue shampoo, lathering well before rinsing. Towel-dry your hair, then divide it into six even sections for uniform application. (Wearing gloves is recommended.)
When applying the keratin treatment, avoid the scalp by starting about an inch from the roots. Leave it on for 40 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. For best results, blow-dry and flat-iron your hair during this time to activate the formula. To maintain the effects, avoid washing your hair for at least 72 hours. For extra hydration between treatments, use the repair mask to keep strands smooth and nourished.
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### Do At-Home Keratin Treatments Really Work?
While at-home keratin treatments do work, they’re not as strong as salon treatments—so managing expectations is important.
“At-home keratin treatments won’t give you the pin-straight, glassy finish of a salon service,” says hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos. “But they’re great for smoothing frizz, softening texture, and adding shine. The results are more subtle and won’t last as long.”
“Since at-home treatments still improve hair’s condition, I recommend them as a maintenance step between professional services,” adds Kasper Heemskerk.
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### At-Home vs. Salon Keratin Treatments: What’s the Difference?
“The main differences are ingredient strength and application precision,” explains Heemskerk. “Salon treatments use high-performance formulas and controlled heat to restructure hair from within, delivering longer-lasting results. At-home versions are gentler, smoothing the hair’s surface rather than deeply altering its structure.”
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### How to Choose an At-Home Keratin Treatment
“Look for hydrolyzed keratin—it penetrates hair better,” advises Giannetos. “Avoid harsh sulfates, which can strip the treatment. Heat-activated formulas last longer, and added hydrators like argan oil help keep hair soft and shiny.”
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### How to Prep for an At-Home Keratin Treatment
Proper preparation ensures the best results.
– Cleanse first: Use a clarifying or gentle shampoo to remove buildup.
– Section hair: Divide into manageable parts for even application.
– Don’t overapply: Too much product can weigh hair down.
– Use heat: Blow-dry and flat-iron to lock in the treatment.
– Wait to wash: Avoid shampooing for 48–72 hours after application.
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### Meet the Experts
– Dimitris Giannetos – Celebrity hairstylist and colorist (clients include Gigi Hadid, Amal and George Clooney, and the Kardashians).
– Kasper Heemskerk – International education director & brand development manager for Balmain Hair.