Keratin vs. K18: What This Austin Hair Colorist Has Learned After 500+ Treatments Downtown

After spending the last decade coloring hair at Ārdeō Color Studio in Downtown Austin, I've worked with every texture imaginable. From pin-straight strands that won't hold a curl to tight coils that expand the second they hit Austin's humidity. The two questions I get asked most at our Downtown salon are "Lauren, what's the deal with keratin treatments?" and "Is K18 really worth it?"

Keratin Treatments in Austin's Climate

I've done about 300 keratin treatments here in Austin, and let me tell you, our humidity is no joke. Just last week, a client from Westlake (we'll call her Sarah) literally cried when she saw her hair after her first keratin treatment. She'd been fighting Austin frizz with a flat iron every morning for 20 years. After the treatment? She air-dried her hair in August humidity and it looked salon-perfect.

The treatment takes about 3 hours at our Downtown Austin salon. Yes, you need to keep your hair dry for 72 hours (I always warn clients about those surprise Texas thunderstorms!). But when your hair stays smooth through Austin's 100-degree summers for 3 to 4 months? Totally worth it.

I've noticed my Austin clients especially love keratin before:

• ACL Festival season (October humidity is real)
• Summer lake trips to Travis or Buchanan
• Those Houston business trips where humidity hits different

K18 at Ārdeō: The Austin Color Game-Changer

When K18 launched, I tested it on my own bleach-damaged hair first (occupational hazard at a color studio). Now I use it in 75% of my lightening services at Ārdeō.

Here's what matters for Austin hair: our hard water already makes hair more prone to damage. Add in pool chlorine from Barton Springs, lake water from weekend trips, and that Texas sun? Your hair needs serious help. K18 actually repairs the internal structure, not just the surface.

Yesterday I took a client from Cedar Park from dark brown to platinum blonde. Her hair felt healthier leaving our Downtown studio than when she arrived. The treatment takes 4 minutes, no heat needed. Perfect for busy Austin professionals who can't spend all day in a salon chair.

Which Treatment Do Austin Clients Actually Need?

After years at Ārdeō Color Studio, here's my honest take:

Get keratin if you:

• Check Austin's humidity percentage every morning
• Spend weekends on Lake Travis or Lake Austin
• Work downtown and walk outside between buildings
• Travel between Austin and Houston regularly
• Want to cut your morning routine before that MoPac commute

Choose K18 if you:

• Swim at Barton Springs or Deep Eddy Pool regularly
• Have damage from Austin's hard water
• Love changing your color seasonally
• Notice breakage from our intense summer sun
• Want healthier hair for your next color appointment at Ārdeō

Real Talk from Downtown Austin

Can you do both? Absolutely. Many of my Ārdeō clients get K18 between keratin appointments. Think of keratin as your humidity shield and K18 as your hair's personal trainer.

Austin-specific tip: I recommend K18 treatments right before summer (May) and after pool season (September). For keratin, my Austin clients love getting it in April before humidity peaks and again in October before the holidays.

The Ārdeō Difference

Working at a specialized color studio in Downtown Austin means I see hair that's been through everything. From chlorine damage at Barton Springs to sun bleaching from days on the greenbelt. I've helped clients from Tarrytown to Mueller, from South Congress to the Domain.

The best part about working at Ārdeō? We focus exclusively on color and chemical services, so we really know how these treatments interact with colored hair. Whether you're maintaining your blonde through Austin summers or protecting your fashion colors from fading, we've got you covered.

Book Your Treatment in Downtown Austin

Ready to beat Austin humidity or repair that summer damage? Come see me at Ārdeō Color Studio in Downtown Austin. We're easy to find (and there's actually parking nearby, miracle of miracles).

I'll make you laugh, probably mention the weather at least three times (it's an Austin thing), and definitely give you the best hair of your life using whichever treatment works for your Austin lifestyle.

Because whether you're heading to a conference downtown, a wedding in Dripping Springs, or just trying to look good for your Zoom calls from home, your hair should work with your Austin life, not against it.