Hair Botox vs Keratin Smoothing: Which Is Right for You?
SallyHairdressing & Beauty
Published
Hair botox vs keratin smoothing is a fair question, because both calm frizz and neither is a chemical straightener. Hair botox is a deep conditioning service that fills weak areas inside the hair and keeps your natural movement. Keratin smoothing coats and seals the cuticle, so it relaxes texture more noticeably and cuts your styling time.
In short: choose hair botox to make your hair feel better, and keratin smoothing to make it behave differently.
What is the difference between hair botox and keratin smoothing?
The difference is what each treatment does to the hair. Hair botox works from the inside, filling worn patches with proteins, vitamins and amino acids so strands feel stronger and look glossier. Keratin smoothing works on the surface, sealing the cuticle so curl and frizz relax and the hair dries straighter.
Neither one involves injections, and neither is a chemical straightener. Hair botox simply borrows the name because it plumps and smooths. Keratin smoothing, sometimes called a Brazilian blowdry, is the stronger of the two when your main problem is texture rather than condition.
Both are suitable for coloured, highlighted and previously treated hair, and both sit within our smoothing and straightening treatments at the salon in Taunton.
| Hair botox | Keratin smoothing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Deep conditions and fills weak areas | Seals the cuticle and relaxes texture |
| Effect on curl | Softens frizz, keeps natural movement | Noticeably straighter, easier to blow-dry |
| Best for | Dry, brittle, dull or colour-treated hair | Thick, curly or frizz-prone hair |
| How long results last | Two to four months | Three to four months |
| Appointment length | The shorter of the two | The longer of the two |
Hair botox vs keratin smoothing: which should you choose?
Choose hair botox if your hair feels rough, dry or brittle and you want it healthier looking without losing its shape. Choose keratin smoothing if frizz and styling time are the real problem and you would happily trade some natural volume for hair that behaves.
A useful way to decide is to ask what annoys you on a bad hair day. If the answer is how your hair feels when you run your fingers through it, hair botox is the better fit. If the answer is how long you spend with a dryer and straighteners before you leave the house, keratin smoothing will give you back more time.
Hair that is very curly will not come out poker straight from either treatment. Keratin smoothing softens curl into a looser, smoother wave that is far easier to manage, and your stylist will be honest at the consultation about how much change your texture will allow.
In short: hair botox is a condition treatment with a smoothing side effect. Keratin smoothing is a texture treatment with a conditioning side effect.
What happens after each treatment?
Aftercare is where the two part company. Hair botox needs no waiting period, so you can wash and style as normal with a gentle, sulphate free shampoo. Keratin smoothing needs a settling period of a few days before the first wash, with the hair left loose rather than clipped or tied.
Both treatments fade gently rather than growing out with a line, which is one of the reasons clients across Somerset tend to rebook them two or three times a year rather than feeling tied to a strict schedule.
With either one, sulphate free products and a heat protector make the difference between results that last a couple of months and results that last the full stretch. If you are weighing up a third option, our guide to chemical straightening and keratin smoothing covers the permanent route.
Worth knowing: if you are colouring as well, book the colour first. Your stylist will sequence the two visits so the smoothing treatment seals the colour in rather than lifting it.
Frequently asked questions
Does hair botox remove frizz?
It reduces frizz rather than removing it. Hair botox smooths the cuticle by filling the gaps that cause roughness, so hair looks glossier and behaves better in damp weather. If frizz is severe or your hair is naturally very curly, keratin smoothing will give you a bigger change.
Does hair botox straighten hair?
No. Hair botox is not a straightening service and it will not change your curl pattern. It makes hair softer, smoother and quicker to dry while keeping its natural movement. If you want your hair to sit noticeably straighter without a chemical straightener, keratin smoothing is the treatment to ask about.
What are the downsides of hair botox?
The main one is that it is a conditioning treatment, so it does not deliver the dramatic change some people expect from the name. It also fades gradually, which means repeat visits to keep the effect. For hair that is in good condition but hard to style, the money is better spent on smoothing.
Which is better for curly hair, hair botox or keratin?
Keratin smoothing, in general. Curly hair tends to want less bulk and easier styling, and sealing the cuticle delivers that. Hair botox suits curls that are dry or damaged and still wanted as curls. Many people with curly hair alternate between the two depending on condition.
Which lasts longer, hair botox or keratin smoothing?
Keratin smoothing usually lasts a little longer, around three to four months against two to four for hair botox. Hair type, how often you wash and whether you use sulphate free products matter more than the treatment you pick. Gentle aftercare is what keeps either one looking fresh.
Not sure which one you need?
Bring the question to a consultation and we will look at your hair, listen to what frustrates you about it and tell you honestly which treatment will help. You will find us on Galmington Road in Taunton, with clients travelling to us from across Somerset.
Book online · Call 01823 325700
Browse our smoothing and straightening services, or read more about hair botox at Honeys
