Keratin vs smoothening: which suits your hair

Before you read this

This is general information about hair treatments, written to help you ask the right questions before you book. It is not a substitute for a consultation, and a stylist looking at your actual hair will always give you a more useful answer than an article can.

What keratin treatment generally does

Keratin treatment works a protein-based formula into the hair shaft, which generally reduces frizz, adds shine and makes hair easier to style with a blow-dryer or straightener afterwards. It does not usually make curly hair completely straight — it tends to soften the curl pattern and cut down on frizz, which for a lot of people is the actual goal rather than pin-straight hair.

Reviewers at Glamazon Unisex Salon By Isha describe exactly this outcome — frizzy, dry hair coming out smoother and easier to manage — which is why it is the treatment named most often on the salon's Google profile.

What a smoothening treatment generally does

"Smoothening" is used as an umbrella term for a range of treatments that generally go further than keratin toward straightening the hair, softening or loosening the natural curl or wave pattern more noticeably. Results vary a great deal by hair type, and by exactly which product and technique a salon uses, which is why "smoothening" on its own does not commit you to one specific outcome the way a named treatment brand might.

How the choice is generally made

In general terms, keratin tends to suit hair that is frizzy or dry but not necessarily very curly — the goal is smoother, shinier, more manageable hair that still looks and behaves like your own. A smoothening treatment tends to be the better fit when the frizz comes with a strong natural curl or wave you want noticeably loosened, not just tamed.

Hair texture, how it was previously coloured or treated, and how much time you can give to daily styling all affect which is the better choice for a particular head of hair — which is exactly the kind of thing worth discussing before you book rather than guessing from an article.

How long either one generally lasts

Both treatments are chemical services that grow out along with your hair rather than washing out — in general terms, results are commonly described as lasting for a period of months rather than weeks, fading gradually as new, untreated hair grows in at the roots. Exactly how long depends on hair growth rate, how the hair is washed and styled afterwards, and which specific product was used.

One honest caveat

Neither treatment is risk-free on hair that has already been heavily coloured, bleached or chemically treated recently — combining chemical services too close together is generally where damage happens. If your hair has had recent colour or another chemical service, it is worth saying so before any keratin or smoothening appointment, so the salon can judge whether it is the right time.

Ask, and book

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Read: making a keratin treatment last