What Is Hair Botox?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
What Exactly Is Hair Botox?
How Does Hair Botox Work?
How Much Does Hair Botox Treatment Cost?
What Is The Treatment Like?
How Is It Different From Keratin Treatment Or Brazilian Blowout?
From keratin treatments to scalp treatments, to hair glossing treatments and more, the amount of various pampering appointments you can book for your hair is truly endless. Hair botox is a new, trending treatment that's making its way across salons nationwide, and for good reason—it's a serious rejuvenation treatment for a lackluster mane. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about hair botox.
What Exactly Is Hair Botox?
There are two types of "hair botox" on the market—one is a treatment for your hair strands, and the other, often referred to as "blotox," is done in a dermatologist's office, where a botulinum toxin is injected into sections of the scalp to decrease the amount of sweat that the scalp produces and decrease the frequency with which you'll need to wash your hair. Since "hair botox" is more often referred to as the treatment done on your actual hair strands, we'll be referring to the first treatment throughout this article.
When you think of botox, you think of smooth skin—hair botox delivers a similar experience by filling in the hair cuticle's damaged sections, reducing frizz and creating a smooth surface. "Having the cuticles restored helps achieve that healthy shine that reflects light effortlessly, giving the hair a healthier, younger appearance," explains Holly Dear, a hairstylist and founder of House of Dear Haircare and House of Dear Hair Salon in Dallas, Texas.
How Does Hair Botox Work?
According to Dear, hair botox hasn't been named correctly, since it doesn't actually contain botulinum toxin and it doesn't relax the hair. "A hair botox treatment acts as a filler, and if I was to liken it to a face treatment, it honestly should be called Juvederm for the hair," explains Dear. "The treatment infuses the hair with intense hydrations while replacing/filling in the lost cuticle layers, creating a protective barrier, coating the hair shaft in essence, gluing the cuticle layers down, and temporarily filling in/replacing lost cuticles." Basically, a hair botox treatment is deep conditioning that works at restoring the hair to its youthful beauty.
How Much Does Hair Botox Treatment Cost?
The cost of a hair botox treatment could range anywhere from $150-300, depending on hair length, texture, and where you live. "With this type of service, you want an expert performing the treatment," explains Dear. "Challenges like over-applying proteins or misusing heat for sealing the treatment can cause the hair to become brittle and negate the treatment's benefits."
What Is The Treatment Like?
Your appointment will begin with your stylist assessing what kind of treatment is needed for your hair type. The stylist will massage the deep conditioning product into your hair and let it sit for anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes. They may choose to have you sit under a dryer, steam, or red light for deeper penetration.
How Is It Different From Keratin Treatment Or Brazilian Blowout?
A Brazilian blowout, also known as a keratin treatment, uses formaldehyde or other chemicals to smooth and relax your locks. Keratin treatments can last longer than hair botox—up to six months as opposed to two to four months—but if you're not looking to straighten your hair and want to avoid harsh chemicals, hair botox is a gentler approach to smoothing and restoring your hair.
Think of hair botox treatments like an intensive hair mask: the experience is more luxurious, like you have put your hair through a spa service versus a chemical treatment. "A botox hair treatment will not change the hair's texture per se, but will help control frizz due to the cuticle support," says Dear. "It is a brilliant service that I think anyone with longer hair past their shoulders should experience once a year."
