The holiday season is officially upon us, the mad crunch to squeeze in shopping sprees, holiday parties, end-of-year-bulge-battling workouts, and the last 2023 beauty treatments. We typically think of keratin and other smoothing treatments as tailor-made for summer but it’s during the holiday season when we need salon-quality blowouts in under 30 minutes several times a week for all that yuletide cheer.
The old-school, defrizzing, formaldehyde-laden versions require professional application if only because it’s impossible to keep one’s eyes open as the tortuous eye-burning chemicals penetrate hair cuticles, for up to $800 per salon visit. Cheers to advances in beauty technology – the new smoothing formulations are less toxic, formaldehyde-free, user-friendly, and designed for home application. The 3-Step UNITE Silky:Smooth System from salon mainstay UNITE is as easy and quick as a typical shampoo, condition, and style routine, with the added benefit that it delivers salon-smooth benefits for weeks, without laborious styling and excess heat.
The first step in RE:UNITE Silky System is the cleanse. The Smooth Active Wash, a sodium chloride and sulfate-free formulation, is designed to cleanse, reset, rebalance, and protect hair. It removes build-up, nourishes and primes the hair for the next step with a layer of cuticle-smoothing actives. While still in the shower, an application of SILKY:SMOOTH Hydrating Complex delivers a heat-activated polymer that helps create a protective shield to repel humidity & fight frizz, as well as a cocktail of plant cells and vegetable fats to further moisturize and strengthen all hair types. After leaving in the hair for a few minutes, a thorough rinse of the conditioner, and it’s time for the final cuticle-sealing step of the treatment. To clean, still damp, towel-dried hair apply RE:UNITE Silky:Smooth Heat Activator generously and evenly. The heat-activated leave-in treatment, locks in moisture, seals out frizz, and protects against UV and thermal damage. Like the Smooth Active Wash & Hydrator, the Activator is jasmine-scented, a welcome change from the cleaning-product or eggy smell of earlier generation keratin treatments.
Keratin Treatment addicts, like yours truly, already know the next steps for smoother locks. After a quick pass of the blow dryer to remove excess moisture, divide hair into manageable sections. With a round brush and blow dryer or even a hot styling brush or iron, smooth the section until dry. You’ll notice a bit of steam coming off the hair. No need to fret, it’s a sign the RE:UNITE Silky:Smooth Heat Activator is being absorbed deep in the hair cuticle for a protective, humidity-repelling seal. In between washes, a quick blow dry or pass of a heat tool will reactivate the treatment for sleek, smooth hair in a fraction of the time and money of a professional blowout package. In an hour, even my ends, cowlick, and baby hairs were sleek and shiny.
To maximize the benefits of the treatment, it’s essential to use sodium chloride-free products, like ones from UNITE’s best-selling 7Seconds line of shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in. Although also free of sulfates, 7Seconds Shampoo gives a thorough, hydrating cleanse for all hair types, and is safe for extensions. Depending on hair texture and thirst, the 7Seconds Conditioner and Masque deliver additional shine and moisture with a blend of shea butter and rice protein. As a textured, highlighted girl, I like to alternate between conditioner and masque. For styling, a few, light spritzes of the 7Seconds Detangler, UNITE’s award-winning, perennial best-seller, are all you need. Even without a detangling brush, locks are smooth and ready for drying. A drop or two of U Oil, the argan oil-based, jasmine-scented best-seller, finishes and streamlines wash day for silky, shiny, party and IG-worthy hair.
