KERATIN SALON/DIRECT— Keratin Salon Direct (KSD) smoothing treatments are transformational, long-lasting and safe treatments that bring hair to its ideal, most beautiful condition without damaging or dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, which can be found in other straightening or smoothing products.
KSD treatments will reduce frizz and deliver straighter, smoother, stronger, healthier looking, more manageable, and exquisitely beautiful hair and will last for months.
Our SMOOTH product, which requires the use of a flat iron, delivers straighter results than our FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS product. Many users of our SMOOTH product prefer it to Brazilian salon keratin treatments. The primary difference between our two treatments is that FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS does not require the use of a flat iron and SMOOTH yields a straighter result.
Our FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS treatment is designed to reduce frizz and deliver softer, smoother, more manageable hair that lasts for months WITHOUT the use of a flat iron. It will not give the straighter results of a Brazilian keratin treatment which requires a flat iron and strong chemicals, like formaldehyde.
It’s a matter of preference as both products deliver great results, just different. If you like to use a flat iron, SMOOTH is your best choice as it gives a straighter result, but you still have unlimited styling options and are not locked into any one style.
Yes. Regular salon smoothing treatment clients who have used KSD report great results with respect to reducing frizz and curl that lasts for months. There is nothing quite like a professional stylist doing a treatment in a salon, but many of our regular users switched to KSD SMOOTH when the salons were closed during COVID but have decided to continue with KSD as their treatment of choice. It is about 75% less expensive than a salon treatment and very convenient.
KSD treatments are perfect to eliminate frizz and provide smoother, straighter and more manageable hair that will last for months.
KSD products are transformational and will reduce frizz, curl and wave. Like any professional smoothing system, the amount of curl or wave that is reduced depends on the hair type and texture. If you do NOT want to reduce any curl or waves, KSD is not the right treatment for you. If you are not sure, do the treatment on a small section at the nape of your neck to test the results.
As with any professional hair product, KSD is not for everyone. Hair that is extremely dry, damaged, heavily bleached, very delicate or has extensive split ends should consider appropriate moisturizing treatments and hair trims to bring the hair back to health before using KSD or any other professional service.
You can do a KSD Keratin Smoothing Treatment as soon as you wish. However, many of these traditional keratin smoothing treatments (Brazilians) may have damaged your hair. If you are currently experiencing breakage or feel your hair is extremely dry, damaged, heavily bleached, very delicate or has extensive split ends, you should consider appropriate moisturizing treatments and hair trims to bring the hair back to health before using KSD or any other professional treatment.
Yes, as long as you have enough.
Yes. Stylists who used KSD or provided it for their clients during the period their salons were closed reported excellent results and that they want to continue to offer KSD as an option for their clients who are not yet comfortable spending hours in a salon for a traditional keratin smoothing treatment. Stylists and clients have both reported that they prefer it to the harsh chemicals of many salon smoothing treatments.
KSD will last for months if you follow the directions for your hair type and texture. Like salon keratin smoothing treatments (sometimes referred to as “Brazilians”) the amount of time KSD will last varies by hair type, hair texture, and maintenance routine.
No. The results of KSD are much more like a salon keratin smoothing treatment and is safe to do at home without formaldehyde and the associated risks. It is not a lye relaxer or no-lye relaxer, and it is not a Japanese straightener – both of which SHOULD be done by a licensed stylist as they require close attention — and will not deliver identical results. Japanese Straighteners deliver pin straight hair and use Ammonium Thioglycolate as the active ingredient (pH of between 9 and 9.6 which is Alkaline). Many relaxers use sodium hydroxide (lye) as the active ingredient (pH of between 12 and 14 which is even more Alkaline) to deliver pin straight hair. After a Japanese Straightener or Lye or No-Lye Relaxer, many find it difficult to curl hair or get volume in the hair. KSD works differently. It has a pH similar to a lemon and allows many styling options after the treatment including but not limited to curling/bending hair and volume blow dries.
No. KSD gives you the hair you want without harsh chemicals like lye (sodium hydroxide), no-lye (guanidine carbonate) or ammonium thioglycolate that can damage your skin or your scalp. It contains no formaldehyde or aldehydes of any type. It is safe, easy and you can do it yourself at home.
KERATIN SALON/DIRECT’s proprietary formulations are comprised of a combination of safe and effective ingredients that have been used for many years in hair care and in the food industry, including keratin and a proprietary blend of nutrients, conditioners, vitamins, and botanicals. KSD penetrates through the cuticle of the hair and gently modifies the bonds, while it is delivering its nutrients deeply into the hair strand delivering soft, smooth, manageable, lustrous hair.
Our proprietary formulations include keratin, Abaco Neem Oil, amino acids, wheat germ oil, jojoba seed oil, Vitamins C, E, and B6 in addition to other vitamins and botanical extracts.
Keratin is the primary protein in hair.
SMOOTH formula: Water (Aqua), Glyoxyloyl Carbocysteine, Glyoxyloyl Keratin, Amino Acids, Propylene Glycol, Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Polyethylene Oxide, Shea Butter Cetyl Esters, Melia Azadirachta (Abaco Neem) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Cocoyl Collagen, Amino Acids, Cocoyl Sarcosine, Wheat Germ Acid, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat), Germ Oil, Polysorbate 20, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Simmondsia, Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed, Glycosaminoglycans, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, PEG-16 Macadamia, Glycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Soytrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-8, Polyquaternium-47, Polyquaternium-67, Xanthan, Gum, Quaternium-87, Fragrance (Parfum)
FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS formula: Water (Aqua), Glyoxyloyl Carbocysteine, Glyoxyloyl Keratin Amino Acids, Propylene Glycol, Dipalmitoylethyl Dimonium Chloride, Polyethylene Oxide, Shea Butter Cetyl Esters, Melia Azadirachta (Abaco Neem) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Wheat Germ Acid, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Cocoyl Collagen Amino Acids, Cocoyl Sarcosine, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, PEG-16 Macadamia Glycerides, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Methyl Gluceth-10, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Amodimethicone, Trideceth-12, Soytrimonium Chloride, Polyquarternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-8, Polyquaternium-47, Polyquaternium-67, Xanthan Gum, Quaternium-87, Fragrance (Parfum)
We are a team that has developed products that you know and love and find in the finest salons in the world from Beverly Hills to New York, from London to Paris. We make products for the top salon brands. We developed KSD to allow salon clients to have the beautiful manageable hair that they love, while the salons were shut down during Covid. Our clients love it so much, many prefer our treatments to salon visits.
No.
No. Follow the instructions. They are simple and require no special tools.
Yes. There are no strong chemicals, but gloves are recommended and are included.
Yes. One of the top testing labs in the United States performed the HPLC test on KSD and found no detectable formaldehyde.
Like with any professional treatment, it is not recommended. The treatment could temporarily tarnish jewelry.
Yes. We developed KSD so you can easily use it in your home without a stylist or professional tools or ventilation.
No comparison. If you have used some of these treatments, you know the strong odor and the results. Most carbocysteine products wash out very quickly, sometimes in just weeks. KSD delivers reduced frizz, straighter, smoother, stronger, healthier looking, more manageable, and exquisitely beautiful hair and will last for months.
The GOOD NEWS is that the odor will go away and is generally only noticed when the hair is wet. Depending on one’s hair type and texture, some people experience a lingering odor, but it will go away as you continue to wash your hair. This could be a result of NOT having rinsed enough when you did the treatment before you did the blow dry. If you did not get your hair 100% dry before you flat ironed when you did the treatment, that could also have caused this to occur.
No. KSD is gently modifying the bonds with a pH similar to a lemon — which is gentle.
No. KSD is not a relaxer, and it is not a reverse perm. It is a new and different technology. KSD gently modifies and restructures the disulfide bonds in the hair to soften the overall shape of the curl. Lye relaxers use sodium hydroxide with a pH of 12-14. There are “no-lye” relaxers which use guanidine carbonate, with a pH of 9-11. Japanese straighteners use ammonium thioglycolate with a pH of 9 to 9.6. These products are strongly alkaline, and a neutralizer must be used. If the process is not timed correctly, these alkaline products can quickly destroy the hair. KSD is not alkaline at all. It does not contain sodium hydroxide, guanidine carbonate or ammonium thioglycolate.
KERATIN SALON/DIRECT — KSD is different. It was developed as a salon smoothing system that can be done at home during the Covid-19 crisis. We are a next-generation smoothing system that uses the latest advances in science, along with only the finest ingredients, to create products that deliver the results salon clients demand from a keratin smoothing treatment, safely and effectively. And, because KSD works from the inside out in modifying the overall shape of the curl, our results last for months.
Yes. KSD uses a revolutionary pH system with similar acidity to a lemon to open the cuticle to allow the infusion of a proprietary blend of keratin, botanical extracts, and vitamins to enter through the cuticle to the cortex.
No. There may be a slight odor during the treatment but that is normal. It gives off no fumes. In some cases, not all, there may be a slight smell in the hair after the treatment, but this disappears after a few washes. To minimize this, be sure that the hair is rinsed as per the instructions and thoroughly dried before flat ironing. Even though this will disappear after the first few washes, it can be minimized or eliminated if the hair is thoroughly blown dry.
Although KSD delivers remarkably similar results to many salon treatments, it does not make the hair so flat that you cannot put a bend in the hair with a flat iron or curling iron.
Unlike most smoothing treatments, with KSD the hair can be washed immediately and there are no restrictions to exercising, wearing ponytails or clips. Any styling products may be used immediately.
Although KSD contains no formaldehyde or other carcinogens or dangerous chemicals, it is the Company’s policy not to recommend any products to pregnant women or children. If you are pregnant and elect to use the product or if you elect to use it on children, check with your physician first.
Great!
As with any professional hair product, KSD is not for everyone. Like any keratin smoothing treatment, the amount of curl or wave that is reduced depends on the hair type and texture. If you do NOT want to reduce any curl or waves, KSD is not the right treatment for you. If you are not sure, do the treatment on a small section at the nape of your neck to test the results. Hair that is extremely dry, damaged, heavily bleached, very delicate or has extensive split ends should consider appropriate moisturizing treatments and hair trims to bring the hair back to health before using KSD or any other professional treatment.
Yes, KSD works great on African American and/or resistant hair. KSD will reduce frizz and deliver straighter, smoother, stronger, healthier looking, more manageable, and exquisitely beautiful hair and will last for months. It is not a lye or no-lye relaxer and it is not a Japanese straightener and will not deliver identical results.
It is important that all the hair is completely coated, especially the ends which tend to be the driest and most porous.
No and No. Follow the instructions to make sure you get the best results. Unnecessarily increasing heat can damage hair. Excessive heat may also activate unwanted lifting of color.
Yes, if they are human hair. Avoid the bond if you elect to flat iron.
There is nothing in the product itself to turn the hair yellow or orange, but blonde or white hair — either bleached or unbleached — has been known to turn yellow or orange for a variety of reasons. This could occur during the treatment and it may be outside your control. Causes could include type of color or treatments that are already in your hair, type of water, medication—even an aspirin can affect hair color!
If you elect to use a flat iron (not required with FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS) another thing that can cause a problem is a flat iron that is too hot for delicate white or blonde hair. That is why the directions recommend starting at the lowest temperature on your flat iron. Remember the goal is to get the hair silky. It is simply a matter of adjusting the temperature only to the point where the hair gets easily silky. It is not necessary to do a lot of passes, generally no more than 3. If you elect to do the treatment again and if you should see the hair getting yellow or orange, STOP and turn the temperature down. DO NOT over flat iron the hair. Silky is the key word. Once it is silky there is no reason to continue to flat iron. If you should experience this issue, stylists with whom we discussed this question suggest that blue/violet-based shampoo can reduce/eliminate discoloration as can a toner.
Color or toner may be applied immediately after the treatment if your hair feels light and silky. Should your hair feel heavy or like it has extra residue after the treatment, simply wash your hair before you color it or apply a toner.
It is important to follow the directions, but if you are not exactly right on the timing, it will still work fine. A few minutes longer will not damage the hair but try to stick with the recommendations for the best results.
Because the pH is about the same as lemon juice you might notice some tingling if you have sensitive skin or have abrasions on your scalp. This is normal and will disappear completely once you rinse the hair.
As with all smoothing treatments, there is a potential to lift color. Whether or not any color is lifted and how much color is lifted is a function of the hair type and condition as well as the type of color and the temperature of the blow dryer and/or flat iron. If your hair has pink, blue, green, yellow or any other bright unnatural colors, there may be a greater tendency for lift.
It is best to color hair after the treatment. This eliminates any problem that may occur related to the lifting of color. If you color after treatment it can be done the same day or any time after. If you color BEFORE the treatment, like all smoothing treatments, some color may be lifted and highlights may be brighter.
Yes. If you prefer to simply air dry your hair at any time after the treatment, you can. For best results, use the KSD Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner and Styling Crème.
No. Many people prefer to air dry or just use a blow dryer. The only time to use a flat iron thereafter is when you want to…and if you don’t want to use a flat iron, you may elect to use FLAT IRON FREE EXPRESS.
If you are unsure about using this or any professional treatment, a strand test is always a good way to see if you will be happy with the results. If you elect to do a strand test and if you are not completely happy with the results, we will send you a full refund, no questions asked.
We manufacture and ship from Florida. Our manufacturing facility has been making products for some of the finest salon brands in the world for almost two decades.