What is hair botox and how does it work?

“It’s almost like a silky coating over the hair giving you shiny bouncy locks.”

Our hair has been through a lot lately. From slicking it back into gelled buns to bedazzling it with one of those viral stamp tools (not to mention all of the chunky highlights), this year has been one of hair exploration. For some of us, all of the tugging and treating may have sucked the life out of our luscious locks. 

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This is where hair botox, a newly popularised way to rejuvenate tired hair, comes in. The treatment has been raising some eyebrows, evoking images of painful needles in the skull, but the process is really nothing like the cosmetic procedure it takes its name from. And if your hair’s feeling lacklustre, it might be just what you need. 

What is hair botox?

Essentially, hair botox is a deep conditioning treatment that ‘fills’ the hair and seals the hair follicle, giving it extra body and a glossy shine. Irada, a hairdresser at the Royals Clinic in Sydney, was actually in the middle of doing a hair botox treatment when I caught up with her. 

“Hair botox is designed to repair hair fibres and split ends and nourish the hair with vitamins,” she says. “It’s almost like a silky coating over the hair giving you shiny bouncy locks,” she says.

Although there is a specific brand with a product called ‘hair botox’, the term is more of a marketing trick than a precise definition. What’s in the specific solution can vary from one salon to another, but the nutrient-rich elixir commonly includes vitamin E, vitamin B5, argan oil, collagen, caviar oil (très gourmet) and glyoxylic acid. 

The process typically takes from one to four hours in the chair and will set you back anywhere from $100 to $350, but the results are pretty transformative. It’s suitable for all types but works best to help fix frizzy, ultra-fine, dyed and damaged hair. 

At Royals Clinic, they start with a consultation to learn about the client’s hair goals. After a good deep cleaning shampoo to remove any excess dirt or grime, the hair is dried to 70 per cent and left with the product on for an hour and a half. Then heat is added to help set the solution. The salon also offers a heat-free ‘cold botox’ treatment that has short-lasting results.

Why try hair botox?

The customer in Irada’s chair while we chatted said she was interested in the treatment because she was having “FOMO” after her friend had started getting it done. A serious colouring job from blonde to brown had left her friend’s hair looking dull, and two rounds of hair botox left her with “amazing results”.

Yasmin, the salon manager at Pierre Haddad Hair Management in Sydney, says that although their salon has been offering the treatment for over five years, they have really been gaining steam lately.

She believes their newfound popularity is a result of it being a softer, non-chemical alternative to other intensive treatments. “It helps heal their hair, so think of it like an intensive treatment that seals the outside of your hair cuticle so any split ends or flyaways are all sealed down,” she explains.

Clients are looking for more natural treatments, but also more natural-looking hair as opposed to the pin-straight results from a keratin treatment. Hair botox smooths, strengthens and relaxes hair without significantly altering its natural texture, so it’s a good choice for curly people as well. 

“I think a lot of people, possibly during COVID have had a lot of time to research new products rather than sticking to the older styles. But also Keratin has been around for a very, very long time – it is your stronger product [and] it makes your hair straighter. But people are[n’t] necessarily looking for straightness anymore. They’re looking for health and they’re looking for shine,” says Yasmin.

When it’s all finished, the treatment should last anywhere from six weeks to four months, depending on how often you go swimming and wash your hair. It might be time to join the botox trend and book yourself an appointment. 

For more on hair botox, head here.