They say messy hair, don’t care, but we’d still love to tame frizzy, unruly locks as much as we possibly can. Especially, on mornings that are all about that hustle-bustle — sparing out minutes for styling can seem to be a lot more demanding than it is. Enter hair smoothing treatments, they’ve been all the rage in recent times. Unlike permanent straightening, such treatments work like a long-term hair care fix, to keep all that unmanageability at bay, and retain a smoother, softer and tamed finish across your mane. The two most popular running candidates? Cysteine and hair botox. Often used interchangeably, both hair smoothing treatments are actually different — from the way they’re executed on your hair to the longevity and post-care requirements. If you’ve been contemplating getting either, we’ve chalked out a guide on what each hair smoothing treatment entails so you can choose the best option for yourself.
What is cysteine?
Have you ever been recommended a “protein treatment” by your hairstylist to tame the unruliness of your hair? Cysteine falls under that bucket. “Cysteine is a form of hair protein that works with existing proteins in the hair to soften curls and waves,” says Megha Pilwalkar, Creative Stylist at Looks Salon, Powai. Think of the cysteine hair treatment as a catalyst that supports the natural keratin in your hair to augment smoothness and evenness in your mane overall. “Cysteine gives a natural look. It reduces the visibility of waves in your hair by 30 to 40 percent by making use of hydrolyzed wheat protein,” adds Pilwalkar.
What is hair botox treatment?
Don’t let the word ‘botox’ mislead you; hair botox is anything but similar to botox for skin. “Hair botox is a deep conditioning treatment for the hair that revitalises your locks, and makes the hair softer and healthier while retaining the original texture of your hair,” begins Pilwalkar. “However, when opting for a hair botox treatment, you must be prepared to don straight hair as the treatment gives a 70 to 90 percent straighter look than before for the first couple of weeks.” The hair expert also informs that this treatment is completely free of formaldehyde.
Hair botox vs cysteine
The execution of both hair smoothing treatments is similar. The first step is a hair wash, the second step includes the application of the concentration (of your preferred treatment), followed by a round of ironing your hair and then washing it out. The only difference? The cysteine concentration needs to be left in your hair for at least 24 hours before washing it out. Similarly, the post-treatment maintenance is also not too varied — switch to sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners and minimise indulgence in activities that can make you sweat profusely. “Avoid using oil as that can lead the treatment to strip away faster; it’s best to avoid salty and chlorine water and use specific shampoos recommended to preserve the treatment,” says Pilwalkar. “It is recommended to use a shampoo from the same brand as the protein treatment to ensure the technology matches.” While hair botox lasts anywhere between 2-4 months, the effects of a cysteine treatment can go up to six months.
Lastly, colour services can’t be done on cysteine-treated hair, but it can be done in the case of hair botox, apprises Pilwalkar. “The common part is that in case of both of these treatments, permanent straightening or smoothening can’t be performed for the next one to two years.”
