You’ve heard of Botox for your skin but now the trend is targeting hair. Although no botulism is used in hair Botox, it is a treatment that strengthens every strand of hair with protein and nutrients, making your tresses younger and healthier.
In the same way that skin ages with time, so does hair! Age aside, hair also undergoes many damaging experiences, such as chemical hair treatments and the use of styling tools, that it sometimes needs to be replenished. During hair Botox, your hair is washed and then a youthful serum is applied to your hair. It contains ingredients such as vitamins and collagen to strengthen your locks. Some hair Botox treatments even contain caviar oil and amino acids.
Since hair is stronger without showing any signs of damage or frizz for a few weeks after treatment, Botox makes it easier to style your hair with fewer tools because your tresses are much more manageable. This is good news because by heat-styling your hair so much you damage the keratin protein in it and also zap moisture which prevents nutrients from keeping free radicals at bay.
Formaldehyde-Free
One of the most important benefits of hair Botox is that it doesn’t contain any formaldehyde as in the case of keratin treatments. This chemical is dangerous to the body, being listed as a carcinogen, and can lead to dizziness as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, lungs and skin. The more you expose yourself to its noxious fumes, the more dangerous it is.
Although there is no formaldehyde in hair Botox, hair treatments and products tend to have chemicals in them, especially if they’re not organic. Added to this, although some brands claim to offer hair straightening treatments and products that have little to no formaldehyde, sometimes these claims are not true.
So, before taking the Botox route, consider DIY natural methods of keeping your hair frizz-free and healthy. These include:
1. Coconut Oil
Take some coconut oil and run it through your hair with your fingers. This helps to get rid of frizz and it doesn’t leave your hair feeling greasy. But don’t apply it to your roots as this can lead to oiliness. You can also use coconut oil to give your hair extra shine.
2. Fenugreek Seeds
These seeds have high amounts of protein to allow hair to grow stronger. They also contain lecithin, a lipid ingredient that brings nutrition to hair, preventing it from getting dry and brittle. Soak these seeds in water so that you make a paste. Make its effects extra nourishing by first applying coconut oil to your scalp and hair length, then putting the fenugreek paste all over your scalp and hair. Sit with it for about an hour before washing it off.
3. Argan Oil
This oil is becoming very popular in skin and hair treatments and it really does work well to make your hair shinier and smoother. A good tip is to apply no more than two drops of it to your wet hair (a little really does go a long way and you don’t want your hair to be oily!) before washing it with your regular shampoo and conditioner. Be sure to choose organic argan oil brands as there are versions out there that contain chemicals.
Image credit: chika_milan / Dollar Photo Club
