Hair smoothening vs hair botox vs a hair spa
Three treatments that get confused for each other constantly, because all three leave hair looking smoother — but they work in genuinely different ways, on different problems.
Before you read this
This is general information about how these three treatments differ, not a description of any particular salon's exact formulation or process. Hair smoothening and a hair spa are both on The Bloom's published service list; which treatment is right for your hair is worth discussing at a consultation, which is what the close of this article is for.
Hair smoothening
Smoothening is a chemical treatment that alters the internal structure of the hair to relax its natural texture, reducing frizz and cutting down on daily styling time. It is a longer appointment — several hours is typical for most hair lengths — and it is a semi-permanent change: it grows out rather than washes out, and it is not usually reversed with a single wash. Because it changes hair structure, it is generally not recommended on already-damaged, chemically treated or bleached hair without an honest conversation first about what the hair can currently take.
Hair botox
Despite the name, hair botox has nothing to do with the injectable treatment — it is a deep conditioning mask, usually rich in keratin, collagen and vitamins, applied to fill and coat the hair shaft rather than chemically restructure it. It smooths and adds shine and is generally considered gentler than smoothening, which is why it is often recommended for damaged or coloured hair that a full chemical smoothening treatment would not tolerate well. It is not permanent in the way smoothening is — results typically fade over a number of weeks as the coating washes out, rather than growing out with the hair.
Hair spa
A hair spa is the shortest and gentlest of the three: a deep conditioning and scalp treatment, generally involving a mask, a scalp massage and steam, aimed at nourishing hair and scalp rather than changing hair structure or coating it for weeks at a time. It is the treatment most people can have regularly without any of the "how damaged is my hair right now" questions the other two raise, and it is often recommended as ongoing maintenance between smoothening or colour appointments rather than as an alternative to either.
So which one do you actually need?
As a general rule: reach for smoothening if the goal is a long-lasting, structural change to frizz and texture and your hair can currently handle a chemical process; reach for a keratin or "botox" style mask if your hair is damaged, coloured, or you want a gentler, temporary boost in shine and manageability; and reach for a hair spa as regular upkeep, whatever else you are or are not doing to your hair. The honest answer for your specific hair is exactly what a consultation before booking is for.