According to Google Trends, the term hair Botox is currently being searched more than ever before – but what exactly is it?
The traditional Botox that stylists and clients may be familiar with involves the injecting of botulinum toxin into the skin, typically the face, reducing or eliminating fine lines and wrinkles. Hair Botox, however, does not involve injections or botulinum toxin. Hair Botox is a deep conditioning treatment that coats the hair with fillers to repair damaged hair fibres to make the hair appear healthier and thicker – therefore the name derives from the filling and smoothing effect, similar to Botox injections. The treatment can also help with split ends and hair that's been damaged by heat styling, hair colouring, or UV rays. Tom Smith, hair health and trends expert tells us: “As far as the term hair Botox goes, I think it can be good on a surface level because people understand that a Botox of the face is going to reduce texture, reduce wrinkles and smooth things. Now, those of us in the beauty industry probably understand that neuromodulators, of which Botox is the most popular, is doing that by paralyzing the muscle to some degree. This is not relevant at all in hair so from a technical point of view, the term is inaccurate but from a buzzword, clickbait point of view, it's a really easy way for clients to understand what it's going do for their hair in terms they understand.”
Tom goes on to explain that hair Botox is part of a a bigger category of treatments that improve the cosmetic appearance of hair health, for example, smoothing frizz, relaxing texture and improving shine in a semi-permanent way that lasts for a period of months, depending on the brand. “There is a use for it,” says Tom, adding: “I use texture management products (not those described as hair Botox) but I rarely do a full head. I quite often do treatment areas. So, if someone's fuzzy around the hairline, or if they're really curly underneath and straighter at the front, I tend to use it to bring harmony into the overall hair.”
What Happens During The Hair Botox Treatment?
Since there are no injections involved hair Botox treatment doesn’t happen at a clinic but as it is still a niche treatment it is not available at most salons. During the treatment, a stylist will wash the client’s hair to remove excess residue before applying the treatment for about 30–45 minutes. The treatment includes a filler ingredient such as keratin, collagen, caviar oil, or vitamins B5 and E to fill in damaged or thin spots within the hair. Other ingredients that might be included are hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, green tea, or chamomile. These ingredients can help with hydration, texture, frizz, and styling.
After applying the treatment, the stylist will wash it out – overall the treatment usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the length of the client’s hair and the hair type. Hair Botox results are semi-permanent and can last two to four months.
“Personally, I'm not a fan of simplifying science to the point that it becomes inaccurate, so I would not use the term hair Botox,” says Tom. “I'd rather use my platform to educate and get people to understand exactly how it's working and what it does,” he explains, adding that the term hair Botox is useful for opening up the conversation to clients, but the most important thing is that the hair stylist is informed about what hair Botox is doing.
