"To my frizzy, thin or damaged hair clients
that dream of easy hair styling mornings
and silky, shiny manes..."
Okay, so what the hell is botox for hair and keratin? I'm going to break down all options with a little educational detour. Keratin is a structural protein found in our hair, skin, and nails. It's also commonly found in styling products to help strengthen hair. Keratin treatments are a semi-permanent hair straightening, thickening, smoothing and frizz reducing treatment designed for someone that wants to reduce styling/blow-drying time, prevent further hair damage or having a thicker fuller looking shinier hair.
There is a lot of misinformation out there regarding keratin treatments and some products are put under this umbrella term but don't even contain keratin as an active ingredient. Originally a keratin treatment contained formaldehyde (carcinogenic and dangerous for your health) and is still used in some salons, unfortunately hair industry hasn't banned it in Australia (it is banned in some other countries like Canada). This is why educating yourself on what is out there is important. Do your homework before agreeing to a treatment at a salon or purchasing a product from the store. Check ingredients and understand what you’re getting into before you do it. Or ask me ;)
The new services on the market positioning as keratin treatment or botox for hair are based on keratin mainly derived from animals. The product that I use is the latest generation bioactive keratin that is derived and extracted from pure New Zealand sheep's wool, 100% natural and vegan, bioactive keratin makes sure those mane-boosting proteins and amino acids are kept intact (unlike most hair care products - which use hydrolyzed keratin, an ingredient extracted from animal hooves and ears - yuck!). The results of the service vary based on your hair type and desired result. It is different to a permanent hair straightening and lasts up to 6 month.
So what's the difference between keratin and botox for hair? Keratin is concentrated on achieving straightening/smoothing curl and reducing frizz (with various results based on application and hair type) whereas botox for hair is designed from someone that has a lot of split ends, dry and rough hair that snaps off, colour or heat damage and achieves thicker, shinier hair that's easy to manage. Best way to find out what suits you best is to consult your trusted hairdresser. It is also important to know that a hairstylist providing the service has undergone proper training in keratin and hair botox application and understands how the product works as it can be a make or break.
Below are the before and afters of my client as an example of what to expect from the service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A KERATIN SERVICE
A A reduction in frizz, manageable and easy to style hair in a fraction of the time. Results vary according to hair type.
Q WILL MY HAIR GO STRAIGHT?
A All hair types differ. Keratin smoothing is designed to make hair easier and quicker to manage. Some may be able to "wash & go" and others will have to apply some heat (e.g. hairdryer) to activate and achieve a smoother result.
Q HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO A PERMANENT STRAIGHTENING?
A Keratin therapy is heat activated and does not permanently change the internal structure of the hair. It washes out slowly over time and conquers the frizz by smoothing out the hair cuticle making hair more manageable and quicker to dry.
Q HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
A Up to 6 months depending on hair type and maintenance regime.
Q HOW CAN I ACHIEVE LONG-LASTING RESULTS?
A To help keep the mood smooth and bouncy, we recommend using keratin friendly hair care range of shampoos, conditioners and styling products specifically formulated to help prolong the lifespan - now who wouldn't want that?
Q CAN I HAVE THIS SERVICE PERFORMED WHILE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?
A While there are no known adverse side effects, pregnant women and nursing mums should consult a physician prior to any type of treatment.
Q WHEN CAN I COLOUR MY HAIR?
A We recommend that any lightening services (especially a full or half head of highlights) be applied BEFORE your keratin smoothing service. Bleach will strip out the keratin and negate the results. You can have a few scattered highlights or foil root touch-ups AFTER. All tinting, toning or semi-permanent colouring is recommended AFTER your keratin smoothing service.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments below or via my instagram @kateryna_hairstylist