You have just walked out of Circles of Hair with a QiQi Hair Controller or keratin relaxing treatment and you want the smooth, frizz-free result to last. The aftercare decisions you make in the first hours, days and weeks determine whether the treatment delivers its full three-to-five-month benefit or fades faster than expected. Perth’s humidity, tap water, sun and pool time make the right routine even more important.
At Circles of Hair we treat aftercare as part of the service, not an afterthought. Your stylist gives you specific instructions on the day because the chemistry that just happened inside your hair needs the right environment to set and stay effective. This guide turns those instructions into clear daily habits so you can wash, style and live normally without undoing the work.
Immediate Post-Treatment Window
QiQi Hair Controller has no downtime. You can wash your hair as soon as ten minutes after the service finishes. You can tie it up, clip it back, wear a ponytail or braid, work out, swim or colour the same day. The treatment is designed to let you return to normal life immediately.
Keratin relaxing carries slightly stricter instructions in the first 48-72 hours. Your stylist will tell you exactly what applies to your hair on the day. Most clients find the first wash is the only real restriction, after which the rules relax quickly.
In both cases the first few days are when the bonds inside the hair are still settling. Avoid anything that pulls or creases the hair while it is wet or freshly styled. Let it air-dry or blow-dry straight the first time you style it after the appointment. This simple step helps the new texture lock in evenly.
Washing Routine That Protects Results
Wash less often than you did before the treatment. Two to three times a week is ideal for most people. Every extra wash shortens the life of the smoothing effect because it gradually removes the active ingredients that keep frizz at bay.
Use a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. The QiQi Smooth Service range or any salon-quality sulfate-free formula designed for treated hair works best. Sulfates strip the cuticle and speed up the return of frizz, especially in Perth’s hard water.
When you do wash, keep the water lukewarm rather than hot. Hot water opens the cuticle and can make the hair feel rough again sooner. Rinse thoroughly so no product residue remains, then apply a leave-in or light serum if your hair feels dry at the ends.
QiQi clients can shampoo and condition the same day they have the treatment. The treatment is resistant to chlorine and saltwater, so a swim in the pool or ocean will not ruin the result. Still rinse your hair after swimming to remove salt or chemicals and follow with your regular aftercare products.
Styling Without Restrictions
One of the biggest advantages of QiQi is the complete lack of styling restrictions. You can use any tool or product you like from day one. Straighten, curl, add waves or simply air-dry , the texture stays smooth and manageable.
For keratin relaxing the first 48 hours are more important. Your stylist will usually ask you to keep the hair straight and untouched while it sets. After that window you can style normally, but the result is designed to loosen the curl pattern rather than deliver a glass-smooth finish, so your daily routine will feel lighter than before the service.
Use heat protectant whenever you reach for tools. Even though the treatment reduces frizz, heat still affects the cuticle over time. A light serum or cream applied to damp hair before blow-drying helps the style last longer between washes.
Products and Home Maintenance
The right home products extend the life of any smoothing treatment. Circles of Hair stocks the QiQi aftercare range because it was formulated to work with the service. The shampoo and conditioner maintain the bond-softening effect without stripping the active ingredients.
A weekly or fortnightly mask keeps the hair supple. Choose one designed for colour-treated or chemically treated hair. Apply it mid-lengths to ends and leave it for the recommended time before rinsing.
Dry shampoo becomes your best friend between washes. It absorbs oil at the roots without wetting the hair, so you can go longer between shampoos while the treatment stays intact.
If you notice the hair starting to feel dry or the ends splitting earlier than usual, book a moisture or bond-repair treatment at your next colour or cut appointment. These quick add-ons keep the hair healthy so the smoothing result continues to look its best.
Perth-Specific Factors to Watch
Humidity is the number one reason Perth clients book smoothing treatments. QiQi is built to handle it. The treatment resists humidity because it reshapes the texture rather than simply coating the hair. You will still notice some movement on very humid days, but the frizz that used to appear within minutes should stay away.
Perth tap water contains metals that can affect colour and treated hair. If your colour has been fading quickly or turning brassy, mention it at your next appointment. A Metal Detox or Kérastase Première treatment before colour can help, and the same logic applies to keeping smoothing results looking fresh.
Sun and pool time are part of Perth life. QiQi is resistant to both, but UV and chlorine still dry the hair over a full summer. A hat or leave-in UV protectant helps. Rinse after every swim and follow with conditioner.
How Long the Result Actually Lasts
QiQi and keratin relaxing typically deliver three to five months of noticeable improvement. The effect softens gradually rather than stopping at a hard line, so you will not wake up one morning with completely different hair. Most clients book their next smoothing appointment when they start to feel the texture returning, usually around the four-month mark.
How long it lasts for you depends on your hair’s natural texture, how often you wash, the products you use and how much heat or chemical processing you do between appointments. Fine hair or very curly hair may see a slightly shorter window. Coarse or previously relaxed hair often holds the result longer.
Your stylist can give you a realistic expectation based on a strand test and your hair history at the appointment. That conversation is the most accurate guide you will get.
When to Book Your Next Appointment
Book your refresh when the hair starts to feel unmanageable again or when you notice frizz returning in the areas that mattered most to you. You do not need to wait until the result has completely disappeared. Many clients book every four months to stay ahead of the curve, especially before summer or a big event.
If you are happy with how the hair is behaving at the three-month mark, you can stretch it. The treatment will not damage your hair if you leave it longer; it simply becomes less effective over time.
Keep the Result You Paid For
A smoothing treatment is an investment in time as well as money. The aftercare habits you build in the first week become automatic and protect that investment for months. Wash less, use the right products, style freely (especially with QiQi) and protect the hair from the elements that Perth throws at it.
Your stylist at Circles of Hair is always happy to answer questions about your specific hair and the exact treatment you received. Bring any concerns to your next appointment and we will adjust the routine so the result keeps working for you.
Book your next QiQi or keratin relaxing appointment online . We look forward to seeing the difference consistent aftercare makes for your hair.
Contact us before the first wash if the aftercare is still unclear.