Most people know that when they have a keratin or lamination treatment done, they need to carefully maintain it in order to achieve the best and longest results. Most brands will advise to only use Sulphate Free products to maintain results, but that is often not enough.
Sulphates (primarily SLS – Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) are destructive to keratin/lamination treatments because of the strength/quality of the cleanser, which damages and breaks down the lamination layer of the hair, washing the treatment away more quickly. So, the products you need to use to maintain a treatment DO need to be sulphate-free (SF)! The problem is that sulphates themselves are cleansing agents, and foaming/lathering agents, so these need to be replaced in “sulphate free” products to ensure you are still washing the hair. This is why you may find SF aftercare does not foam or lather as well as regular products. (Tip: to ensure the hair is being fully cleansed with SF products, wash twice with shampoo focussing on the root and scalp area, adding a little water to the hair on the second wash to help the foaming action, and then condition only from ear-height down).
However, just because the sulphate cleansing agents have been replaced with sulphate-free cleansing agents, this does not mean that the new ingredients are fully compatible with your new treatment. The replacements may contain other ingredients (for example, excesses of salt or silicones) which can also damage the lamination. Plus, because not every brand of SF aftercare has been tested with our treatment, we cannot advocate for their efficacy in maintaining the lamination. Anecdotally, we know that some SF aftercare has been destructive towards the lamination – this is based on feedback from our clients, and our own personal experiences.
In the case of Cocochoco treatments, the prescribed aftercare is to only use Cocochoco’s own range of aftercare products, of which there are plenty of options (you can learn more about the variety in our Blog Post here). Cocochoco have formulated their aftercare range with a host of ingredients which compliment and support the treatment ingredients and lamination of the hair, as well as SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate) ensuring that you are fully washing the hair while also maintaining the results of the treatment. Our products are also highly concentrated, so only a small amount of product is actually needed to get great results.
It’s important to note that SLS and SLES are very different ingredients, with one being very destructive towards the treatments, and the other having undergone a process to remove the harmful ingredients. To learn more about the differences, you can check out our other Blog Post here.
Stylists: You need to prescribe Cocochoco’s aftercare range – it is not optional. This is the only way that you can be sure your clients are maintaining their treatment appropriately. If a client returns to you a month after their treatment, unhappy that their results are not lasting, you need to be sure that they are using Cocochoco’s products only – this is the only way that we will be able to help you troubleshoot their issue. If they are not using Cocochoco aftercare, then unfortunately we cannot offer much advice, as the maintenance is not being followed as prescribed.
Clients: You’ve just spent a lot of time and money to get an amazing smoothing treatment, so why not ensure you are getting the best and longest results from your treatment?! Using the Cocochoco aftercare range will help you to do just that. Our aftercare comes in a range of sizes, and there is sure to be one that matches your hair type. So, check out our Blog Post here to ensure you are using the product that is best for you!