18 Best Keratin Hair Products: What To Use and When

If your hair lives on the wild, frizzy end and you want to avoid daily styling (even with the best hair straightener within reach), you’ve probably looked into keratin treatments to rein in curls.

In-salon versions exist, and while they work well, they often run into the hundreds and eat up an afternoon. You can also try top at-home keratin options that give comparable smoothing for much less.

We spent hours reviewing top-rated at-home keratin treatments, weighing formula type, how easy they are to apply, and real-world results. After speaking with a professional stylist and comparing dozens, we narrowed it down to these choices.

Key Takeaways

• Keratin-infused treatments smooth hair, reduce frizz, add shine, and can ease detangling.

• At-home options provide affordable smoothing benefits, though results vary and curls typically remain.

• Some formulas are heat-activated, while others are leave-ins or masks targeting damage and frizz.

• Selection criteria include avoiding formaldehyde, built-in heat protection, and strengthening and moisturizing attributes.

What to Look for in a Keratin Treatment: Key Criteria

No Formaldehyde: Some stronger at-home treatments modeled after salon versions may contain formaldehyde; that’s why we advise avoiding them and choosing formulas without it.

Built-In Heat Protection: You’ll likely be blow-drying, so keratin products that double as a heat protectant are a smart pick.

Strengthening and Moisturizing Attributes: Keratin is naturally fortifying and hydrating, but those with dry or damaged hair may want added ingredients such as camelina oil, collagen, and elastin.

Vitamins

One note up front: keratin drives the performance of Vitamin Hair Cosmetics’ hair serum, yet the results also come from supporting ingredients. The blend includes biotin, collagen, castor oil, and coconut oil. Thanks to this mix, the Keratin Serum works across hair types—colored, fine, straight, wavy, curly, and very thick.

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience

Whenever leave-in keratin comes up, K18 usually leads the discussion. Creating hair "that feels like new" is one of its headline claims. The vegan, color-safe formula helps seal damaged cuticles over several uses.

While this boosts shine and offers frizz-control benefits often linked to salon keratin, it won’t make hair naturally straight. If you have curls, you’ll keep them—they’ll simply feel softer, smoother, and healthier.

Davines

This highly rated hair oil helps mend the cuticle from within. A tightly sealed cuticle keeps excess water out, which means less frizz. That’s hard to argue with. After a few spritzes of this fresh-scented serum-oil blend, your hair dries stronger, smoother, and shinier.

It's A 10

If the mere thought of detangling stresses you out, reach for this styling spray with hydrolyzed keratin. The brand built its name on strengthening formulas that make hair feel easier to manage. Mist it throughout, then your wide-tooth comb should glide through without turning your arms into a workout.

COSRX

Korean beauty brand CosRX is known for viral skincare, and this—its debut in haircare—looks ready to follow. Part of the Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Collection, the rinse-out mask uses PEPTIDE-132, a patented, low-molecular-weight peptide developed to "restore damaged hair from within."

OGX

Add this conditioner to your routine and expect fewer split ends, less frizz, and stronger strands that don’t snap at a brush. Keratin teams up with argan oil in the formula to help repair and fortify. There’s also a matching shampoo if you want the set.

Keranique

This spray uses a keratin amino complex to nourish, strengthen, and protect while adding volume. It can lift roots and help hair feel thicker and fuller—even if you’re working with a thin, fine texture. The frizz control stands out, and the lightweight feel is a plus, though a few users find it slightly sticky.

GK Hair

Set aside time for one of the more potent at-home options. Begin on clean hair, then use the included application brush to carefully coat half-inch sections from root to tip.

Leave it on for up to an hour based on your texture, then blow dry and flat-iron for sleek protection. The brand’s keratin-based juvexin blend can keep hair smooth for three to five months.

Gussi Hair

One of my long-time friends recently came in for her balayage and the restored health of her hair blew me away—it was so much stronger and shinier than usual. I was totally shocked when she told me this was all from Gussi’s At-home Keratin Treatment!

The kit claims results that last around six weeks and suits every hair type, though it won’t erase curls—expect a looser pattern.

Virtue

Even if your hair has never touched dye or chemicals, it still benefits from occasional TLC. This hair mask provides that care. I noticed a shower cap kept the product from drying out too fast.

Every product in Virtue’s line features Alpha Keratin 60ku, a protein that’s identical to the keratin that makes up 90 percent of your hair. While the mask offers intense hydration, it also fills and smooths damaged spots. You’re left with softer hair that’s easier to manage.

Novex

This at-home keratin mask is an Amazon standout, boasting more than 1,200 five-star reviews for its fast, effective results. The key to its success? It uses liquid keratin to shore up weak strands, so hair looks stronger, straighter, and shinier after one session. Because it reduces volume and alters curl pattern, it often suits tighter curls better than loose waves.

Keratin Complex

Hydrolyzed keratin shows up second on the label of this effective leave-in cream, alongside strengthening proteins such as soy and wheat. It cuts down your blow-dry time and helps you go longer between sessions.

Unlike heavy, heat-activated treatments, this simple cream is easy to reuse and takes seconds to apply. It won’t break bonds for pin-straight results, but you’ll see smoother, shinier hair each time.

Paul Mitchell

This intensive treatment from Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi line is formulated with KeraTriplex and Awapuhi extract to repair damage, leaving you with your softest, shiniest, and most moisturized hair yet.

The invigorating scent of ginger tea and florals is borderline addictive. While it works wonders at boosting shine, you’ll still want an everyday frizz helper—the mask is designed for once-per-week use.

TRESemmé

In this drugstore find, keratin pairs with marula oil (a plant oil rich in hydrating amino acids and antioxidants). The serum absorbs quickly without grease and gives a blowout-level gloss. Another bonus: it helps cut static for up to 48 hours. The tradeoff is that the formula contains silicones, which can build up on hair and leave it dry and dull.

Kérastase

If you want ongoing keratin benefits, choose this daily conditioner that blends amino acids, keratin, and ceramides (lipids that strengthen and help with moisture retention).

It reinforces hair fibers to help fend off breakage and split ends while increasing shine and softness. It works well on super straight or super curly hair, though it may weigh down finer strands.

Rene Furterer

Experts recommend this one, especially for damaged hair. It’s meant for the ends specifically, helping strengthen the most fragile parts and ward off split ends. Credit a combo of plant-based keratin and camelina oil, an omega 3-rich nourisher that also coats strands to protect from heat styling. The only gripe: we wish the bottle were a bit bigger.

Color Wow

Curly and wavy hair types tend to pick up more static than straight hair because natural oils don’t travel as easily along coils. This product creates a protective coating on hair, helping to resist humidity that triggers static while sealing in moisture and shine (and strength, too).

This acts as a mini keratin treatment and lasts for three to four washes. Note that the formula is heat-activated, so you will need a blow dryer.

Schwarzkopf

Like heat styling, coloring your hair can contribute to the breakdown of your natural keratin. That’s why this permanent DIY dye, offered in 30 shades, is infused with hydrolyzed keratin to help counter those effects from the outset.

To lock in extra moisture, use the pre-color serum and follow your dye packet with the accompanying conditioning treatment.

Choose Safe Keratin Care Today With Keyoma

Treat keratin-infused products as a smoothing and strengthening tool you use with intent. Choose leave-ins or masks you can keep up with, avoid formaldehyde, and favor formulas that include heat protection and supportive moisturizers.

Apply sparingly to mid-lengths and ends, let protein share the load with emollients, and stay consistent so cuticles stay sealed instead of stiff. To lock in light hydration and add slip during a brief scalp massage, finish with Keyoma’s Batana Oil with Rosemary as your daily scalp and length oil so the routine stays comfortable and effective.