Treatments
Five treatments, explained properly
One straightens, one rebuilds, the rest sit in between. Which one is right depends on your hair, what has been done to it before, and what you want from it. That is decided at the consultation, not from a menu.
Sleek and glossy
Keratin smoothing
Tops up the keratin your hair is built from, closes the cuticle and leaves the hair smooth, glossy and quicker to dry. Less frizz, less time with the dryer.
- Best for
- Wavy and lightly damaged hair that wants a glass-like finish rather than poker-straight.
- Lasts
- 3 to 6 months
- Aftercare
- You can wash your hair straight away, no 48-hour wait. Sulphate-free shampoo from then on.
- Not sure it suits you?
- Want it properly straight, and for longer? That is nanoplastia, if your hair is healthy and has never been lightened. If it has been bleached, collagen straightening drops the curl and smooths it instead. Pregnant or breastfeeding? I do not use keratin then; the pregnancy question below explains why.
Before and after
Keratin smoothing
Long, dry and dull to smooth and glossy
Keratin smoothing
Highlighted blonde, dry and wavy to smooth and straight
Stronger than keratin, and it works on lightened hair
Collagen straightening
Smooths harder than keratin, though it does not go as far as nanoplastia. It is not a straightening product in the way nanoplastia is, but it drops the curl a long way and takes the frizz out, and it is the treatment I reach for when hair has been lightened.
- Best for
- Any hair type, and especially hair that has been bleached, highlighted or balayaged and wants to be smoother, calmer and easier to manage.
- Lasts
- 3 to 6 months, occasionally up to 9 with very good home care
- Aftercare
- You can wash your hair straight away. Sulphate-free shampoo from then on.
- Not sure it suits you?
- Want it properly straight and long-lasting? That is nanoplastia, but only on healthy hair that has never been lightened. If what your hair needs most is condition and repair, hair botox is the better choice. Pregnant or breastfeeding? I do not use collagen straightening then; the pregnancy question below explains why.
Before and after
Collagen straightening
Bleached blonde, frizz gone, smoothed without more damage
Lasting straightening
Nanoplastia
A formaldehyde-free straightening treatment based on acids and amino acids. Restructures the hair so it sits straight, with natural movement and shine. It often lifts the colour by one to three tones, which most clients love, but you should know before you book.
- Best for
- Healthy, curly or coily hair that has never been bleached and wants a proper, long-lasting straight result.
- Lasts
- 3 to 9 months
- Aftercare
- You can wash your hair straight away. Sulphate-free shampoo, and UV protection in strong sun.
- Not sure it suits you?
- Bleached, highlighted or lightened hair never gets nanoplastia, no exceptions. If yours has been lightened, collagen straightening drops the curl a long way and smooths it, and hair botox brings the condition back. Neither straightens the way nanoplastia does, and I will tell you that honestly before we start.
Before and after
Nanoplastia
Thick, frizzy hair to straight and glossy
Nanoplastia
Tight afro-textured hair, straightened and left with shine
Nanoplastia
Dense, tightly curled hair to sleek and straight
Nanoplastia
Thick, curly hair to straight and glossy
Deep rebuild
Hair botox
A deep protein rebuild for damaged, bleached or porous hair. Cysteine, argan oil and collagen are sealed into the hair for softness and shine. Curls stay curly, they just look and feel far better. No injections, no botulinum toxin, nothing medical about it, just the name the trade uses.
- Best for
- All hair types, especially bleached, highlighted or heat-damaged hair. The fume-free option.
- Lasts
- 2 to 4 months
- Aftercare
- You can wash your hair straight away. Heat protection before styling keeps the repair in place.
- Not sure it suits you?
- Want the curl dropped and the hair smoother, not only repaired? Collagen straightening works on every hair type, lightened hair included. Pregnant or breastfeeding? I do not use hair botox then; the pregnancy question below explains why.
Before and after
Hair botox
Split, tired lengths rebuilt and shining (no injections, no botulinum toxin)
Smoothing plus repair
Bioplastia
Rebuilding with light smoothing, based on keratin, jojoba oil and tamarind. A little of both rather than a full straightening service.
- Best for
- Wavy, dry or lightly damaged hair that wants condition back and a softer wave.
- Lasts
- 2 to 4 months
- Aftercare
- You can wash your hair straight away. Gentle products and no rough towel-drying keep it looking its best.
- Not sure it suits you?
- Want it sleek and glossy rather than repaired? That is keratin. Hair more damaged, bleached or porous? Hair botox is the deeper rebuild. Pregnant or breastfeeding? I do not use bioplastia then; the pregnancy question below explains why.
Before and after
Bioplastia
Dry, frizzy lengths rebuilt and smoothed
Rule
The one rule that never bends
Nanoplastia does not go on bleached hair. If your hair has been lightened and you ask for it, I will say no and explain why. That is not the end of the conversation: collagen straightening is made for lightened hair and drops the curl a long way, even though it is not a straightening product in the way nanoplastia is, and hair botox is there if the hair needs rebuilding more than straightening.
Before any of them
If your scalp is red, irritated or broken, or you know you react to an ingredient in the product, we do not go ahead. Hair that snaps when stretched is not ready for any of these treatments yet: it needs rebuilding first, and we rebook in six weeks.
Questions
Before you book
How long does it last?
Keratin smoothing 3 to 6 months, collagen straightening 3 to 6 months and occasionally up to 9 where the home care is very good, nanoplastia 3 to 9 months, hair botox and bioplastia 2 to 4 months. Aftercare decides a lot of that, which is why you go home with it in writing.
Can I have a treatment while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Nanoplastia is the one treatment my supplier officially lists as suitable during pregnancy. It is sold as organic straightening and contains no formaldehyde or its derivatives. Keratin smoothing, collagen straightening and hair botox contain none of those either. For those three and for bioplastia the manufacturer does not state one way or the other, so I do not put them on a client who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Whichever way we go, the final decision is yours together with your midwife or GP, not mine.
What should I do after the treatment?
Every treatment I do rinses out the same day, so there is no walking around for 48 hours with the product still in your hair and no waiting to wash it. Keratin, collagen straightening, nanoplastia, hair botox, bioplastia: you can wash straight away. All of them: sulphate-free shampoo from then on. You get the full card in writing.
Not sure which one?
Send a photo of your hair on WhatsApp and tell me what you want from it. I will tell you what I think before you book.