Hair Botox: Effectiveness and Common Misconceptions

Every day, our hair faces a series of challenges, from excessive brushing to heat exposure to repeated friction from clothing and pollution. These factors leave it sensitised and damaged over time, resulting in dull, fragile and devitalised lengths. However, we have some good news for you: hair botox is an intensive, long lasting solution to restore its natural shine. This innovative treatment can help revive vitality, strengthen hair and protect it against future damage.

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What is Hair Botox?

Note: Do not confuse this with botulinum toxin used in cosmetic surgery for the skin or androgenetic alopecia (1).

It should also not be confused with Brazilian straightening, which focuses solely on the use of keratin to straighten hair.

Hair Botox aims to deeply nourish the hair while reducing the appearance of frizz.

It consists of: 

  • Keratin, a protein naturally present in hair that is essential for strengthening the hair shaft (2),

  • Hyaluronic acid, which fills the interior of the hair shaft and hydrates the exterior (3),

  • Silk protein, which softens, nourishes, and rebuilds,

  • Seaweed protein, which provides moisture and hydration.

The Benefits of Hair Botox

  • Reduces frizz: hair botox is an ideal solution for anyone wanting smooth, frizz free hair. It makes styling easier by leaving hair more manageable.

  • Deep hydration: the hydrating ingredients in hair botox formulas are essential for restoring moisture to the hair, particularly if it is naturally dry or damaged. Hair regains softness and suppleness as a result.

  • Strengthens hair: thanks to the keratin, proteins and vitamins included in the treatment, the structure of your hair is reinforced. This makes it more resistant to future damage, which is especially beneficial if you frequently use heat styling tools or regularly subject your hair to chemical treatments.

  • Repairs damage: hair botox is a valuable ally in restoring the health of your hair, working deep within the fibre to repair it.

  • Rejuvenates appearance: after a hair botox treatment, hair looks visibly healthier, shinier, and more youthful.

Does It Straighten the Hair?

Hair botox does not achieve full straightening in the way relaxing treatments do, but the results are significant when it comes to controlling frizz. After treatment, hair becomes less unruly and more manageable, appearing slightly smoother. It won't radically transform curly hair into perfectly straight hair, but it can be an excellent option for caring for your hair while enjoying a smoother texture.

A Word From the Trichologist

"Hair botox is a deep treatment: it nourishes and repairs the fibre using active ingredients such as keratin and hyaluronic acid, which strengthens the hair without altering its natural structure.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, keratin particles were shown to restore and strengthen the hair fibre, with up to 40% improvement in mechanical resistance observed. (4)

Treating damaged hair with low molecular weight hyaluronic acid allows it to penetrate the cortex, increase internal hydration and strengthen the mechanical resistance of the fibre. (5)

My advice as a Trichologist: How can you preserve the effects of hair Botox on your hair?

To effectively prolong the effects of hair botox, you can finish your shampoo with a rinse using mineral water rich in silica, which coats the fibre, enhances shine and protects hair against the effects of limescale."


Dr. Dalila Belmokhtar @dalilahairscience, Doctor of Pharmacy & Trichologist

Hair Botox Treatment, Who Is It For?

For those of you who don’t know how to get your shiny hair back, we have good news: hair botox is here to help. This treatment is particularly suitable for damaged, dull, dry and frizzy hair, working deep within the hair to repair damage caused by various external aggressors. As such, it is recommended for women and men whose hair has been weakened by repeated colouring, straightening or bleaching, as well as for those who regularly blow-dry their hair or use heated straighteners.

One of the key benefits of hair botox is that it is not limited to a single hair type. It can add body to fine hair and play an essential role in rebuilding severely damaged hair, which will become less elastic following the treatment.

When to Get a Hair Botox at the Hairdresser?

First of all, when your hair is dull or difficult to detangle, it’s a clear sign that your mane needs a boost to regain its health.

After a holiday spent between sun and swimming pool, hair botox can also be an excellent option for removing chlorine residue and revitalising your hair. In addition, ahead of the summer season, considering a hair botox treatment can help coat the hair fibre, protecting it from the effects of the sun and seawater.

Finally, before winter arrives, when cold, frost and humidity tend to damage hair, considering a hair botox treatment can be an excellent preventative measure to maintain healthy hair through the colder months.

In short, this versatile treatment can be adapted to different situations throughout the year.

How Much Does a Keratin Botox Treatment Cost?

The cost of a hair botox treatment can vary depending on several factors, notably geographic region and the length of your hair. Generally, you can expect to spend between €100 and €400 for a hair botox session at a hairdressing salon. However, there are also products available on the market for at home hair botox, which can be more affordable. Aroma-Zone offers a "rescue" elixir for damaged hair, a repairing treatment that gives your hair a second chance, restoring its beauty without having to cut it.

Which Aroma-Zone Products Should You Use for a Botox Effect on Hair?

Plant-Based Keratin Active for Damaged and Brittle Hair - Aroma Zone

Silk Proteins for Hair Smoothing - Aroma-Zone

How to Do a Professional Hair Botox?

Applying hair botox is a meticulous process performed in a hair salon. It involves several steps:

  1. Start by washing the hair to prepare it for the treatment. 

  2. A second shampoo is applied. This shampoo has a specific pH that helps slightly open the hair cuticles. This allows the hair Botox to penetrate the hair shaft more easily.

  3. The active ingredients of the hair Botox are applied strand by strand along the length of the hair. This process is often performed by hand, followed by a massage to ensure even distribution of the ingredients.

  4. A fine-toothed comb is used to seal the active ingredients into the hair, ensuring greater treatment effectiveness.

  5. The hair professional lets the treatment sit under gentle, diffused heat, allowing the hair botox ingredients to penetrate deeply and repair the hair shaft.

How to Care for Your Hair Afterwards?

After receiving a hair botox treatment, it is essential to adopt an appropriate care routine to preserve the benefits of the treatment. In the first 24 to 48 hours following the treatment, it is strongly recommended to avoid using heat styling tools such as hair dryers and straighteners. This waiting period allows the hair botox ingredients to fully penetrate the hair shaft without risking irreversible damage from heat. You may, however, tie your hair back to keep it in place without subjecting it to excessive heat.

Additionally, it is important to note that it is best to avoid colouring your hair immediately after a botox treatment. It is recommended to wait at least two weeks before scheduling a colouring appointment. The heat associated with colouring can have adverse effects on recently treated hair. In general, take a gentle approach to hair care after a hair botox treatment, avoiding excessive heat and adhering to the recommended waiting period for other hair treatments.

Is Hair Botox Effective?

Hair botox lasts between 8 and 12 weeks. The benefits of this treatment are often noticeable even beyond this period. To maintain healthy hair and preserve the revitalising effects, it is recommended to repeat the treatment every 3 months. This frequency helps to continue strengthening and caring for your hair, protecting it against external aggressors while maintaining its vitality and shine. However, frequency may vary depending on your hair type and specific needs.

Spotlight on our Writer: Lauréna Valette

Lauréna is a journalist specialising in lifestyle, wellness and psychology. Between writing articles, she travels around the world, discovering what it has to teach us.

Bibliography

1

Cysteine or Hair Botox: Which One to Choose?

Sarita Sanke, Emedihealth

2

What do we need to know about hair straightening?

George, N. M., & Potlapati, A., International Journal of Research

3

Why Is My Hair So Thin and Static?

HTIGR Of - hairbrushy.com