Color and Keratin: What You Need to Know About Timing Your Appointments

One of the most common questions we get at SMOOTHED is:

“When should I get my color done if I’m also getting a keratin treatment?”

It’s a great question—and the answer really depends on the type of color service you’re doing. Let’s break it all down so you can get the best results out of both your color and your keratin treatment.

If You’re Getting Highlights or Bleach:

Our formaldehyde-free keratin treatments work on the same level of the hair as your color, so timing is key.

Here’s our rule of thumb:

Wait at least two weeks after any bleach or highlight service before getting your keratin treatment.

Why? Because when your hair has just been freshly bleached, it’s in a fragile state. Applying high heat from a flat iron (which is required to seal in the keratin) could compromise the integrity of your hair.

So if you just got highlights yesterday—your hair’s not ready for keratin yet. Waiting a full two weeks gives your hair time to bounce back so we can safely apply the treatment, ensuring it lasts longer and penetrates deeply.

Pro tip:

If you get highlights every 6–8 weeks, schedule your keratin for two weeks after your color. Then, wait as long as possible into your keratin cycle before coloring again. This keeps your hair strong, smooth, and healthy between appointments.

If You’re Doing a Root Touch-Up or All-Over Color:

If you’re coloring your roots or refreshing an all-over shade—especially darker colors like browns, reds, or auburns—timing still matters, but in a different way.

Our formaldehyde-free keratin treatments can sometimes lighten artificial color by about one shade. So if you apply color before your treatment, you may notice slight fading.

That’s why we recommend:

Do your keratin first, then wait 7–10 days before doing your color.

This gives the keratin time to settle and your cuticle time to open back up, allowing the color to absorb properly. Coloring too soon after your treatment won’t damage your hair—it just might not take as well, or fade faster than usual.

But don’t stress:

If you absolutely have to color right after your keratin, go ahead. Nothing bad will happen. It’s simply a matter of ideal timing for the best, most vibrant results.