My mane is so frizzy the brushes have broken off – so I paid £390 for ‘hair botox’
As I drag a brush through my tangled hair, I suddenly hear a loud click.
“There goes another one,” I sigh, holding up the handle that is now completely detached from the brush.
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I’ve lost count of the number of brushes I’ve broken while trying to detangle my frizzy locks.
In short, they look exhausted and in most school photos I could be mistaken for Hagrid’s long lost daughter.
I got my first GHD flat iron at age nine and have never looked back. They were a revelation—and the answer to my prayers for smooth hair.
But after years of laying my wet locks on hot irons, the hairs around my hairline began to break and recede.
In my mid-twenties, I decided to give up hair care products and give my hair the heat-free vacation it so desperately needed. But the frizz came back with a vengeance.
When I was swiping through TikTok and came across a “life-changing” anti-frizz treatment, I quickly stopped mindlessly scrolling.
Meet hair botox.
No toxic stuff
For those with a needle phobia, don’t panic — there’s no need for any pricking or poking. Instead, the treatment is dyed through the hair, left on for an hour, and then rinsed out.
The glassy, silky results I’ve seen influencers show off are the reason the hashtag #hairbotox has been viewed 16.8 million times and count on the social media app.
But after years of laying my wet locks on hot irons, the hairs around my hairline began to break and recede.
With Google saying that ‘frizzy hair’ is being searched for more than ever, I was curious to see if this so-called miracle treatment could really be the solution to my hair problems.
I had already tried all the soothing creams and hydrating masks, but nothing helped.
But while my social media feed was filled with endless “before and after” videos of hair Botox, none of them explained what it actually was. So I turned to the experts.
“It contains nourishing ingredients like proteins and vitamins, but no botulinum toxin (also known as Botox),” a trichologist told me. [expert in hair and scalp woes] Hannah Gaboardi. “It’s a gentle, non-chemical, deep conditioning treatment that repairs and rejuvenates damaged hair, leaving it smoother, shinier and healthier-looking.”
The only connection to Botox is that it has the same smoothing effect on hair as the injections on the face.
But the lack of toxins sets it apart from other popular treatments, such as the Brazilian blow-dry, which contains formaldehyde, a chemical that has been linked to cancer risks.
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According to Hannah, it works by penetrating the hair shaft to fill in gaps and cracks in damaged hair, closing the cuticle and locking in moisture.
“This strengthens the hair, making the strands less susceptible to frizz caused by humidity and environmental factors,” she says. A few days later, I find myself in the luxurious ADEM salon in central London’s Belgravia.
For a £390 treatment (prices can go up to £600 depending on how Rapunzel-esque your hair length is), I was promised stronger locks with a mirror-like shine that would last up to six months.
“It’s better because it doesn’t affect your curl pattern and you can keep your natural waves, rather than just straightening your hair,” explains my hairstylist Piera Maggio.
“I recommend it to clients with all hair types.”
Piera had tried the treatment herself and I had never seen such shiny hair, so I had high expectations.
But trichologist Hannah warns that the procedure can loosen curls a bit, which may not be desirable for those who want to de-frizz but keep their curls. Still, the chance to de-frizz my wavy hair was a no-brainer to try it.
I immediately notice that it doesn’t burn my nostrils like some salon treatments, such as chemical hair removal treatments.
Piera doesn’t even wear gloves as she applies the miraculous substance, which smells subtly of shea butter, to my hair using a hair dye brush.
For a £390 treatment (prices can go up to £600 depending on how Rapunzel-esque your hair length is) I was promised up to six months of stronger locks with a mirror-like shine
Thicker and healthier
Leave it on for 45 minutes and then rinse it out (do not wash out).
My hair is then blow dried and straightened with a flat iron and I am ready to go. I am told I can even wash it that day if I want.
While straight locks aren’t my usual go-to for my round face, I’ve never seen my hair look so sleek and the shine is undeniable. In true British style, a downpour hits me as soon as I leave the salon and I’m happy to report that my locks haven’t gone frizzy like they usually do — a true testament to the current of hair botox.
The only downside? Even though I was told it wouldn’t affect my hair color, I noticed that my hair color was noticeably less vibrant and cherry red afterwards, meaning I had to book a color appointment sooner than planned.
But it does look thicker and healthier, even though Piera still had to work a bit after washing to loosen my locks so that the knots came loose a bit.
I was afraid that the heavy treatment would make my scalp damp and look like a oil smooth, but that wasn’t the case. I normally wash my hair twice a week, and now I notice that it doesn’t feel as fresh as it normally does on wash day.
Hannah warns that this may cause problems for some.
“It may not be ideal for very fine or thin hair, as it can weigh it down,” she explains. “It can also make oily hair look greasier and is less beneficial for healthy, unprocessed hair.”
Luckily, mine was bone dry and in need of a major overhaul.
Even my boyfriend commented on how much healthier my locks looked, which says a lot
I have heard that I can simply let my hair air dry instead of using heat to maximize results, which is different from many other treatments I have tried before.
As for aftercare, it’s very simple: I just apply a luxury mask once a week, such as TRESemme Lamellar Shine Mask, £8 at Boots.
“The more hydrated the hair is, the longer the results will last,” says Piera.
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Even my boyfriend commented that my locks looked much healthier, and that says a lot.
Do I have enough money to spend a significant portion of my rent on just my hair, up to three times a year? No.
Besides, I would miss my frizzy hair, in all its unkempt glory, once it was gone.
But I would spend a lot of money on this treatment if I ever go on vacation to a humid climate, or as a summer treatment to prevent frizzy hair emergencies.
Not only does it keep my hair in top condition, it also saves me a lot of money on hairbrushes.
REDUCING THE COST OF SILKY LOCKS
SALON Prices Too High? These Products Will Tame Your Locks For Much Less…
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L’Oreal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Leave-In Serum, £15.99: The more brittle your hair, the greater the chance of frizzy hair.
This restorative hair bond strengthener uses a nourishing blend of peptides to treat hair from within.
Expect stronger, shinier locks after just a few uses.
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Umberto Giannini Blow Out Anti-Frizzy Styling Cream, £9.95: Protects hair from frizz-causing heat damage up to 230C.
And hydrates the strands without weighing them down, so your hair doesn’t look limp and lifeless.
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Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil, £15: Without a doubt my all time favorite hair oil.
Not only does this smell good enough to eat, but it can also be used to smooth frizzy strands on dry hair or as a pre-wash oil treatment to truly soothe your senses. company.
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Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, £27: Approved by pop star Rihanna, this ultra-light spray gives your hair a raincoat effect that locks out moisture and locks in smoothness.
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Cecred Hydrating Shampoo, £28: This silicone-free, hyaluronic acid-packed shampoo from Beyoncé is the only shampoo I’ve used this summer to tame my dull locks.
It refreshes the scalp without stripping moisture from the ends.
