The answer depends on your treatment.
How long after keratin can you wash your hair?
It depends on the type of treatment. QIQI Hair Controller is rinsed during the treatment and has no downtime — you can wash the same day. Leave-in treatments like Nanokeratin System stay in for 48 hours. Many traditional salon keratins ask for 72. Here is how to tell which applies to you, and how to wash so results last.
By Yasmin, founder of Nero Hair · Updated 22 September 2026
The short answer
Rinse-out: no wait. Leave-in: 48–72 hours.
Smoothing treatments come in two kinds. Rinse-out treatments like QIQI Hair Controller are processed with heat and then rinsed as part of the treatment — so there is no waiting period afterwards. QIQI states you can wash, work out, swim and even colour the same day.
Leave-in treatments stay on the hair after they are sealed with a flat iron, and need time before the first wash. With Nanokeratin System, leave the treatment in for at least 48 hours, then wash with your matching Nanokeratin shampoo. Many traditional salon keratins ask for 72 hours.
If you are not sure which kind you had, follow the instructions that came with your treatment, or ask your stylist.
QIQI Hair Controller
Same day
Nanokeratin System
48 hours
Traditional keratin
Often 72 hours
After that
2–3 washes a week
Leave-in treatments
If your treatment needs a waiting period.
Keep it dry
No showers without a cap, rain, swimming or heavy sweating until your waiting period is over. If hair gets damp, blow-dry it straight away on a cool setting.
No hair ties, clips or grips
Anything that bends the hair can leave a kink while a leave-in treatment is setting. Wear it loose.
Don’t tuck it behind your ears
Same reason — keep hair straight and down.
Sleep on silk
A silk or satin pillowcase reduces friction and kinks overnight.
If you wash too early
Washed a leave-in treatment too soon? Don’t panic.
If you washed a leave-in treatment before its waiting period was up, your hair is not ruined — the treatment has already partly set. You will most likely notice the results fade a little sooner than they would have.
Blow-dry and flat-iron as normal, use sulphate-free products from now on, and avoid washing again for a couple of days.
Every treatment
How to wash smoothed hair so it lasts.
Use sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner
Sulphates are the single biggest reason treatments fade early. Use Smooth Service Shampoo after QIQI, or your matching Nanokeratin shampoo after Nanokeratin.
Wash 2–3 times a week
Every wash shortens a treatment a little. Washing less often is the easiest way to make results last longer.
Lukewarm, not hot
Hot water lifts the cuticle. Lukewarm water is gentler on the treatment.
Skip clarifying shampoos
Deep-cleansing shampoos are designed to strip — save them for the day of your next treatment.
What we recommend
Sulphate-free aftercare.
Formulated to extend QIQI Hair Controller results — free from the sulphates that strip smoothing treatments.
From £18 · 75ml / 300ml / 1000ml
Smooth Service Shampoo
Sulfate-free keratin aftercare shampoo formulated to extend QIQI Hair Controller results. Deeply moisturising with 19 precision-selected ingredients. Prolongs smoothing treatment longevity by weeks. 95% felt nourished and smoother after one wash.
Shop now →
From £45 · 300ml
Hydration Fixation Conditioner
Sulfate-free keratin aftercare conditioner that detangles, hydrates, and locks in moisture. Extends the life of your QIQI Hair Controller treatment by weeks. 97% experienced hydrated, smoother hair after first use.
Shop now →
From £24 · 75g / 250g / 350g / 1kg
Super Soaker Smoothing Masque
Deep-conditioning keratin aftercare masque for intense hydration between smoothing treatments. Extends QIQI Hair Controller results. Smooths, strengthens, and locks in shine. 98% reported healthier-looking hair after weekly use.
Shop now →Common questions
Washing after keratin — FAQ
How long after a keratin treatment can I wash my hair?
It depends on the treatment. QIQI Hair Controller has no downtime — you can wash the same day. Nanokeratin System needs at least 48 hours before the first wash. Many traditional leave-in keratin treatments ask for 72 hours. Always follow the instructions for your specific treatment.
Can I wash my hair the same day as a QIQI treatment?
Yes. QIQI Hair Controller is rinsed as part of the treatment and QIQI states there is no downtime — you can wash, work out, swim and colour the same day. Use a sulphate-free shampoo to make results last.
Can I wash my hair 24 hours after keratin?
After QIQI Hair Controller, yes. After a leave-in treatment such as Nanokeratin, wait the full 48 hours — washing early will not ruin it, but results will usually fade sooner.
What happens if I wash my hair too soon after keratin?
With a leave-in treatment, it may not last as long as it should. Blow-dry and flat-iron as normal, switch to sulphate-free products, and avoid washing again for a couple of days.
What shampoo should I use after keratin treatment?
A sulphate-free shampoo. Sulphates strip smoothing treatments and are the main reason results fade early. After QIQI, use Smooth Service Shampoo; after Nanokeratin, use the matching Nanokeratin shampoo for your formula.
How often should I wash my hair after keratin?
2–3 times a week. Washing less often, with lukewarm water and sulphate-free products, makes your treatment last noticeably longer.
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Formaldehyde-free professional treatments and sulphate-free aftercare. Dispatched next working day. UK delivery 1–3 working days.