Can I let you in on a secret? I was late to the whole keratin thing. Despite having slightly unruly, frizzy and unpredictable hair, it was only earlier this year that I succumbed to having my hair treated by the semi-permanent, salon-grade chemical process that infuses a natural protein (keratin) into your hair strands. And boy did it change my life.
But at over $500, it’s a pricey (and labour-intensive) investment that I can’t always justify. In the spirit of saving money, I recently decided to try the at-home keratin treatment ANSWR ($82; Adore Beauty). Could it replace my pricey thrice-yearly beloved Keratin treatment? Time would tell.
The ANSWR Treatment
Promising long-lasting smoothness and shine from the comfort of your own home, this first-of-its-kind product claims to be “simple, powerful and cost-effective”, with results lasting up to three months per application. I decided to test it around two and a half months after getting a keratin treatment in the salon. So while my hair was not its complete normal frizzy self, most of the treatment had worn off — and instead of thinking about booking back in, I set out to see if ANSWR was the answer.
Like regular keratin, ANSWR is made with an innovative form of vegan keratin derived from wheat and soy. It aims to re-align the hair capillaries for a naturally smooth and shiny finish that won’t damage the hair. Free of all the nasties like formaldehyde, sulphates, parabens, silicones and alcohol, it’s suitable for all hair types, but won’t repair damage caused by bleaching treatments, and when sealing hair with a straightener, colour fade on semi-permanent dye-treated hair can occur.
The Application Process
Unfortunately, as with regular keratin, in order to use it, it’s a bit of a process. First of all, you have to spray the treatment on to clean, dry hair until it’s fully saturated and then comb it through. After sitting with it on for one hour, rinse your hair thoroughly using only water, and make sure there is no remaining residue. Then, completely blow-dry your hair, take narrow (2cm) sections of hair and run over it with a straightening iron set at 180 degrees Celsius. This seals in the finish, and ANSWR recommends passing over each section of the hair six times.
Following the treatment, avoid washing your hair for 24 hours, and then use only sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner. Blow dry your hair after every wash to reactivate the keratin, and re-treat it with the product every two months for best results.
My Experience
Armed with the ANSWR product on a Friday evening with my kids in bed and husband firmly out of the house, I set about to improve my hair. Spraying the sticky and slightly sweet product all over my hair was a slightly odd experience, but having watched the hairdressers be meticulous about getting it everywhere, I wanted to make sure I left no piece of hair uncovered. Personally, I prefer to focus on the roots and mid-section, as that’s where I have a lot of post-partum fluff, but you can focus on the parts that are worst for you.
Once I’d managed to coat my whole hair (a process that took about 15-20 minutes), I started a timer on my phone and went to watch a bit of TV while I waited for it to work its magic. The next part is the most pain-staking of all. Once I’d waited the full hour, I rinsed my hair with water and set about blow drying it, before running over each and every single little strand with a straightener. Of course, once you’ve first applied the product and then straightened your hair, your hair feels a little sticky and strange. But by the time I washed my hair for the first time three days later, it felt silky smooth, straight and so much easier to blow dry. No mean feat when you’ve got hair as thick as mine.
The Verdict
I have been hugely impressed with the effects of the ANSWR keratin, and while it is time-consuming, it’s also money-saving and saves me so much time in the long run with my hair. Obviously, the brand recommends re-doing the process every two and a half to three months in order to best see the results. So I’ll have to see how I’m going in another two months before I repeat the process. I would whole-heartedly recommend this product to others with fluffy, unruly hair that needs a little TLC. $82 instead of $550 for perfect smooth hair? Who am I to argue.
