Vibrant and Smooth: Highlights and Keratin Treatments
- Sue DeGraw

- Oct 27
- 3 min read
When it comes to achieving hair that is both vibrant and smooth, two treatments often come to mind: highlights and keratin treatments. These hair care techniques can transform your look, adding dimension, shine, and manageability. Understanding how each works and how they complement each other can help you make the best choices for your hair care routine.
Understanding Highlight and Keratin Benefits
Highlights are a popular way to add brightness and depth to your hair. By lightening specific strands, highlights create a multi-dimensional effect that enhances your natural color or adds a new tone. This technique can brighten your face and give your hair a sun-kissed look.
Keratin treatments, on the other hand, focus on smoothing and strengthening hair. Keratin is a protein naturally found in hair, and these treatments replenish lost keratin, reducing frizz and making hair more manageable. The result is silky, shiny hair that is easier to style and maintain.
Together, highlights and keratin treatments offer a powerful combination. Highlights add vibrancy and dimension, while keratin treatments ensure your hair remains smooth and healthy-looking. This synergy is why many people seek both services to achieve their ideal hair.

How Highlights Enhance Your Hair’s Appearance
Highlights work by selectively lightening strands of hair. This technique can be customized to suit your style, whether you want subtle, natural-looking highlights or bold, dramatic streaks. Here are some key points about highlights:
Types of highlights: Foil highlights, balayage, and babylights are popular methods. Each offers a different effect, from precise lines to soft, blended color.
Color choices: You can choose shades close to your natural color for a subtle effect or go lighter for a more noticeable change.
Maintenance: Highlights require regular touch-ups to keep the color fresh and prevent roots from showing.
Highlights can also add texture and volume to your hair by creating contrast between light and dark strands. This makes your hair look fuller and more dynamic.
Which Comes First, Keratin or Hair Color?
A common question is whether to get a keratin treatment before or after coloring your hair. The answer depends on your hair goals and condition.
If you want to highlight first: It’s usually best to apply highlights before the keratin treatment. Coloring can open the hair cuticle, and applying keratin afterward helps seal and protect the hair, locking in moisture and color.
If you want to keratin first: Some stylists recommend doing the keratin treatment first if your hair is very frizzy or damaged. This can create a smooth base for coloring, but you should wait a few days after the treatment before applying color to avoid interference.
Professional advice: Always consult with your stylist to determine the best order based on your hair type and the products used.
Proper sequencing ensures your hair stays healthy and your color looks vibrant for longer.

Tips for Maintaining Highlighted and Keratin-Treated Hair
To keep your hair looking its best after highlights and keratin treatments, follow these practical tips:
Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner: Sulfates can strip color and keratin from your hair, so opt for gentle, color-safe products.
Limit heat styling: Excessive heat can damage hair and fade color. Use heat protectants and try air-drying when possible.
Avoid chlorine and saltwater: These can dry out hair and affect both color and keratin. Wear a swim cap or rinse hair immediately after swimming.
Schedule regular touch-ups: Highlights need refreshing every 6-8 weeks, and keratin treatments typically last 3-4 months.
Deep condition weekly: Use a hydrating mask to nourish your hair and maintain softness.
By following these steps, you can extend the life of your treatments and enjoy vibrant, smooth hair every day.
Exploring the Link Between Highlight and Keratin Treatments
If you want to see real examples of how these treatments work together, check out this highlight and keratin gallery. It showcases stunning transformations that combine the brightness of highlights with the sleekness of keratin treatments.
This combination is ideal for anyone looking to refresh their look with color while improving hair texture and health. Whether you have curly, wavy, or straight hair, these treatments can be tailored to your needs.
Embracing Your New Hair Journey
Choosing to enhance your hair with highlights and keratin treatments is a step toward more vibrant, manageable hair. With the right care and professional guidance, you can enjoy the benefits of both treatments without compromising hair health.
Remember, the key to success is understanding how these treatments work together and maintaining your hair properly. This approach will help you achieve a look that is both eye-catching and smooth, making every day a good hair day.


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