Hair Botox vs Keratin: Which Treatment is Best for Your Hair?
If you dream of smooth, shiny, frizz-free hair, you’ve probably researched all kinds of different treatments. Two of the most popular are hair botox and keratin. Both of them are types of popular and effective hair care treatments that promise sleek, healthy hair with reduced frizz, but they both work in very different ways.
To help you decide which one fits your goals, Nastya Bonds, owner of It's Beauty salons in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, shares her insights on both of these treatments from over a decade in the beauty industry.
It’s Beauty offers professional solutions that are safe for all hair types and designed for UAE humidity and heat, with UV protection. Here’s everything you need to know about these two professional treatments before you choose between them!
What Is Hair Botox?
The name might be similar, but hair botox has absolutely nothing to do with the botox injections you’re likely familiar with. It’s actually a deeply nourishing, rejuvenating formula that repairs your dry and damaged strands of hair from the inside out, rather than the other way around. It’s like a higher-end version of a protein treatment, with the ability to restore the natural shine and softness you’re looking for.
Key Benefits and How It Works
Hair botox repairs hair damage and broken hair fibers through a mixture of different ingredients. It is infused with collagen & caviar oil, keratin protein, and vitamins. The hair botox fills in the damaged sections of your hair’s cuticles. The result of these ingredients being placed right in the gaps and cracks of your hair shaft is a smoother and silkier hair, which becomes much stronger without changing its natural texture.
The key benefits of hair botox include:
Chemical free
Deep hair repair for brittle strands of hair
Restoration of moisture lock
Improved hair nourishment
Reduced frizz caused by the humidity of the weather in the UAE
Extra volume and shine, without losing natural curls
Hair botox works by coating each strand of hair. Over time, this restores it, rather than restructures it. This avoids the side effect of your hair becoming straight, instead leaving it soft and full of life.
What Is a Keratin Smoothing Treatment?
If you want hair straightening and long-lasting smoothness, your answer may be keratin treatment. Often called a Brazilian blow dry, it’s a hair-smoothing treatment that infuses keratin protein right into your hair. It is then sealed with heat, creating a glossy finish.
How It Straightens and Smooths Hair
During keratin smoothing treatment, the stylist applies liquid keratin to your hair. They then seal it using a flat iron. The heat from the iron has the effect of locking the keratin protein to the cuticle. This smooths out frizz and curls, making your hair not only straight but also giving it that beautiful, shiny look.
The effect of the treatment is instant. As soon as it is complete, you will have much smoother hair, with an intense frizz control perfect for UAE humidity. This long-lasting result not only lasts during everyday wear, but can also withstand heat styling.
Main Differences Between Hair Botox and Keratin
Both hair botox and keratin treatment make your hair look and feel much healthier, but they are very different treatments with very different effects.
Ingredients and Results
Feature
Hair Botox
Keratin Treatment
Ingredients
Collagen, caviar oil, vitamins, keratin protein (no chemicals)
Keratin protein, amino acids, and heat-activated smoothing agents
Results
Soft, shiny hair with volume and natural movement
Hair straightening with a sleek, smooth and frizz-free look
Longevity
2–3 months
Up to 6 months
Best for
Dry, dull, or damaged hair needing nourishment
Curly, frizzy, or unruly hair needing control
Frizz Control
Moderate, natural
Strong, long-lasting
Ideal Hair Types for Each
Choose hair botox if you have dry or thin hair that needs nourishment. Choose keratin treatment if your hair is thick, frizzy, or curly. This will give you a straight look that will last for months and months. To get healthy hair, either will do the job.
Both treatments are perfectly suitable for this with color-treated hair, but hair botox is gentler and more focused on restoration, while keratin treatment is a more transformative procedure focused on the manageability of more difficult types of hair.
Safety and Formaldehyde-Free Options
At It’s Beauty hair salon, safety is always the top priority. If you’ve been treating your hair for a long time, you’ll know that traditional keratin treatments for a Brazilian blow dry contain formaldehyde. That is now a thing of the past! Modern formulas, including those at our salon, are completely formaldehyde-free and safe for all types of hair. In fact, our formulas are totally chemical-free, ensuring no harsh fumes or irritation, with guaranteed healthy hair.
Safe Treatment for All Hair Types
We carefully select all of our products. This means that they are totally safe for all heads, even for sensitive scalps. Our stylists use professional salon products designed for long-lasting smoothness without any irritation or hair damage, even for curly hair and fine hair. They manage every step to prevent any issues and ensure the cuticle remains sealed and strong.
All our professional stylists are properly trained, and treatments take place in a controlled environment. This ensures high-quality, long-lasting results every single time.
How Long Do the Results Last?
Hair botox typically lasts between 2 and 3 months, depending on your type of hair and how strictly you stick to a good aftercare routine. It gradually washes out over this time, as your hair naturally regenerates.
Types of keratin treatment, such as the Brazilian blow dry, can last much longer, up to around 6 months. Again, this relies on proper maintenance and constant care, and depends on how often you wash and heat-style your hair.
Professional Salon Treatment vs At-Home Maintenance
The longevity of both hair botox and keratin treatment depends mostly on your aftercare routine and how you look after yourself. If you try to do the treatment yourself at home, the effect will not last nearly as long.
DIY and store-bought products can be good, but the effect is much more temporary. They rarely deliver the true long-lasting results you’d see at a salon, such as shiny hair with strong frizz control and moisture lock.
However, if you get the treatment done by a professional, it is likely that your results will last much longer. At It’s Beauty hair salon, your stylist will apply a salon-grade formula that will penetrate deeper and do hair repair much better than anything you can do at home. Our products are designed to seal the cuticle effectively, which is hard to do at home.
Aftercare Tips to Prolong Results
The process towards frizz-free, smooth hair doesn’t end when you leave our salon. With the correct hair care routine, your shiny hair will last for much longer. You can stay vibrant and glossy for many months.
Use Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Deep Conditioning Masks
Follow this list of easy aftercare tips and enjoy your new hair care treatment for much longer:
Wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate can strip the treatment.
Avoid heat styling within the first few days of your treatment. After 72 hours, go ahead.
Apply deep conditioning or moisture masks regularly. Once a week is recommended.
Where possible, do not expose your hair to chlorine or saltwater.
Use UV and humidity protection sprays when in the UAE.
Use a silk pillowcase to reduce friction while sleeping.
Contact your It’s Beauty professional stylist for a regular touch-up!
By following these simple but effective steps, your hair will stay smoother and shinier for months after your treatment.
It’s Beauty Expert Recommendation
At It’sBeauty, we have experts who know hair. They know that every head is unique, and the right choice depends on your personal goals and lifestyle, as well as the properties of your hair, like texture. Come in for a consultation, and we will assess your hair condition and recommend the correct treatment to enhance its beauty and strength.
Which Option Fits Your Hair Goals
Choose hair botox if your hair feels brittle or tired. It’s a great option for color-treated and overprocessed strands. Your lifeless hair will become soft and healthy, and gain natural movement and bounce.
If you’re fighting daily frizz or regularly spend time in humid weather, choose keratin treatment. With a Brazilian blow dry, you’ll get smooth hair, which is much easier to style and maintain.
Whichever option you choose, our specialists at It’sBeauty will personalize your experience to your hair and your own preferences, using our premium products that are safe for all types, to guarantee radiant, salon-quality results.
Are you ready to transform your hair? Book an appointment today at It's Beauty and our team of highly-trained experts will help you achieve the smooth and frizz-free look you’ve always desired.
FAQ
What’s the difference between hair botox and keratin treatment?
Both treatments give you healthy hair, but hair botox is more focused on repairing and nourishing each strand, while keratin gives you a straight look with a sleek finish.
Is hair botox safe for all hair types?
Absolutely. Our professional-grade formulas are formaldehyde-free and chemical-free, and can treat all types of hair and sensitive scalps with no risk.
How long do the results of keratin and hair botox last?
Hair botox lasts for up to three months, while keratin smoothing treatment can last up to six months with appropriate aftercare.
Is hair botox or keratin best for me?
Choose hair botox for nourishment, and keratin for straight, smooth hair. If you’re not sure, visit our salon and get a professional opinion from one of our experts!
