What types of hair smoothing treatment are there?
There are four kinds: conditioning treatments that smooth without straightening, smoothing treatments that straighten while strengthening, heat-only styling and chemical straighteners.
- Conditioning and smoothing without straightening: hair botox.
- Smoothing that straightens and strengthens: the keratin treatment (BIO keratin), the Brazilian blowout and nanoplasty.
- Heat-only styling until the next wash: silk press.
- Chemical straighteners (Japanese straightening, rebonding, relaxers): not offered at kruLA.
How do the smoothing methods work?
Smoothing treatments coat and smooth the hair and are set with heat, a silk press stretches the hair with tension and heat, and chemical straighteners change the hair's internal bonds.
That is why a silk press returns to your texture after a wash, smoothing fades gradually, and chemical straightening is described as permanent on the length that was treated.
Which smoothing method suits my hair?
Thick hair and tight coils call for nanoplasty, hair you want smooth with its root volume kept suits keratin, hair you want straight and strengthened suits the Brazilian blowout, light waves and frizz suit hair botox, and straight-for-now suits a silk press.
The keratin treatment at kruLA, BIO keratin, is described as keeping natural volume at the root. Prices and session lengths for each are on the prices page.
How safe are hair smoothing treatments?
Safety depends on the match between the treatment and your hair and scalp, and on a trained specialist applying the product.
Ask for the product name and its ingredient list, tell the specialist what has been done to your hair and any scalp sensitivity, and ask what to expect afterwards. If you notice a reaction, contact the studio and see a doctor if it is severe. For hair loss, the American Academy of Dermatology has a guide: AAD: hair loss.
How do I choose a smoothing method?
Start with the consultation: it is $0 and takes 20 min, and a specialist looks at your hair and scalp, picks the treatment and gives you a quote.
See the consultation page or go straight to all services.
Smoothing methods and safety FAQ
What is the least damaging way to straighten hair?
There is no single answer: a silk press uses only heat, hair botox smooths and conditions without straightening tight curls, and keratin and nanoplasty use a product set with heat. What suits you depends on your hair and scalp, and the kruLA consultation ($0) decides.
What is the healthiest hair straightening treatment available today?
There is no single healthiest option; it depends on your hair, your scalp and the product. At kruLA the specialist checks your hair first, and the consultation ($0) picks between keratin, hair botox and nanoplasty.
What is the safest hair straightening?
Safety depends on the product, your hair, your scalp and a trained specialist, not a method's name. Ask any salon for the product name and its safety data sheet.
Do smoothing treatment damage hair?
They can on fragile hair, since heat and chemicals both stress the strand, which is why the hair is assessed first. A repair step can come before smoothing.
Are smoothing treatment bad for hair?
Not by definition: they are bad for hair that is already fragile or treated wrongly. A trained specialist checks the hair first and picks a treatment that suits it.
Is hair smoothing treatment safe?
It depends on the product, your hair and your scalp and on a trained specialist applying it. Ask for the product name and safety data sheet and tell the specialist about sensitivities.
How are hair smoothing products regulated?
Cosmetic products in the United States fall under federal rules, and salons follow state board rules. Ask the salon for the product name and safety data sheet.
Why don't more salons have systems for safe smoothing treatments?
Safe smoothing needs a trained specialist, a known product, and a check of the hair and scalp first. kruLA names its product (Brazilian Blowout), measures thickness before the treatment and prints the price and session time.
Does smoothing product contain sulfates parabens petrolatum?
The ingredient list is on the product label, and the safety data sheet lists what the product contains. Ask the specialist for both before the treatment.
What is the healthiest hair straightening method?
There is no single healthiest method; it depends on your hair. A silk press uses only heat, and smoothing treatments use a product set with heat. Ask about your hair at the consultation.
Does hair straightening treatment damage hair?
It can on fragile hair, since heat and chemicals stress the strand, which is why the hair is assessed first. A trained specialist picks a treatment that suits it.
Do it yourself hair straightening treatment?
Smoothing products are made for trained hands, since timing, heat and the hair's condition decide the result. A salon visit is the usual route; at kruLA the consultation ($0) comes first.
Rebonding vs smoothing: what is the difference?
Rebonding is a chemical straightening that kruLA does not offer; smoothing treatments such as keratin, hair botox and nanoplasty coat and smooth the hair and are set with heat. Keratin is $220 to $550 at kruLA.
What is the difference between a Dominican blowout and a keratin treatment?
A Dominican blowout is a wash, blow-dry and flat-iron style, a heat style that returns with the next wash; a keratin treatment is a smoothing treatment that holds through washing. kruLA does keratin from $200.
What is the difference between keratin and a protein hair treatment?
A protein treatment fills weak spots to strengthen the strand, and keratin is a smoothing service that coats the hair and sets it with heat. kruLA's keratin is $220 to $550.