How to keep the shine between treatments

A hair botox or a keratin treatment leaves your hair with an incredible shine on day one — but that effect doesn't have to fade within a week. The difference between a treatment that lasts and one that dies quickly is almost always the routine of the days that follow, not the product itself.

1. Space out your washes

Washing every day strips the natural oils and the protective film the treatment left behind. Try moving to 2-3 washes a week; in between, a little dry shampoo at the roots is enough to freshen up.

2. Warm water, never hot

Very hot water opens the hair cuticle and washes the shine away faster. Always finish your rinse with cold water: it closes the cuticle and seals in the treatment.

3. A natural bristle brush

A natural bristle brush carries the scalp's own oils down to the ends — something a plastic one doesn't do nearly as well. Brush gently, roots to ends, once a day.

4. Heat protectant, no exceptions

A flat iron or blow dryer without heat protectant is the fastest way to lose a treatment. Always apply it before any hot tool, even on "just a quick touch-up" days.

5. A drop of oil on the ends

Two or three times a week, a drop of argan oil on dry ends seals open cuticles and brings back shine without weighing the hair down. Start with very little and add more only if you need it.