Brazilian keratin hair straightening treatments are a lush, lavish way to pamper your hair. But they aren’t a luxury most people can afford to get all the time.

Keratin treatments are not inexpensive. And they take a substantial time commitment to get done at the salon.

So what can you do to get the same type of great, straight-looking hair results when you don’t have the time or money for a keratin treatment?

Here are some ideas.

Get a Brazilian Blow Out

For less frizz and to reduce curls without spending hours in the salon chair, a quicker option is a Brazilian blow-out. It takes less than 40 minutes to get done, compared to the 4 to 5 hours you will spend at the salon for a keratin treatment.

And the results of a Brazilian blow out can last up to 12 weeks, especially if you perform daily maintenance and take steps to protect your hair from getting wet or bent.

Glycolic Acid Keratin Treatment

Another alternative to a full-blown keratin treatment is glycolic acid keratin treatments. While not every salon offers these, if you can find someplace that does you can get it done fast and more affordable than a keratin hair straightening treatment.

Glycolic acid keratin treatments also are good for your hair because the acids help smooth the cuticle layer of your hair follicles. And if you have curly hair, it gently loosens the texture.

Hair Products

There also are various hair products you can get that replicate the Brazilian keratin hair straightening treatment at a fraction of the cost and far more quickly. While these often can produce adequate short-term results, they aren’t going to give you the type of straight, luscious hair that lasts up to three months the way a keratin treatment will.

But it’s better than nothing and will do until you can get back to your salon for a full keratin treatment.