If you’ve noticed your hair becoming drier, frizzier or just a little more difficult to manage in your 40s, you’re definitely not imagining things. Could hair botox be the answer to your prayers?
I’ll always laugh at teenage Lucy ironing her hair on an ironing board to get it poker straight. My hair has never been curly – and never been straight either. Just that awkward lioness hair that looks a little bit wild in the morning until you run the straighteners over it – or the iron, in my case. My mum used to go mad. And too right.
Things haven’t changed too much either. Thirty years later, I still love having straight, glossy hair. I just don’t iron it with an actual iron anymore. Instead, I’ve discovered something called Hair Botox. Think smoother, shinier hair, less frizz and, hopefully, a lot less time sitting in front of the mirror.
Why our hair changes as we get older
As we get older, our bodies change, our skin changes – oh, and our hair can change, too. And while we might expect the odd silver hair to appear, changes in texture, thickness and manageability can come as more of a surprise.
“Our hair changes quite significantly as we get older, and hormones have a huge part to play, particularly during perimenopause and menopause,” explains Edward James, Celebrity Hairdresser and founder of Edward James Salons.
“Oestrogen helps support the hair’s natural growth cycle, so as levels fluctuate and decline, we can notice changes in thickness, texture and overall condition. Hair can become finer, growth can slow down, and some women even notice thinning, particularly around the hairline and crown.”
But hormones aren’t the only culprit. Genetics, stress, nutrition and years of colouring and heat styling can all influence how our hair looks and feels.
And apparently, we shouldn’t expect our hair to behave exactly as it did in our twenties.
“I think one of the biggest mistakes women make is continuing to use the same products and styling techniques they’ve used for years, yet their hair has completely different needs,” says James.
“We spend so much time looking after our skin, fitness and nutrition, but often forget that our hair needs attention too, particularly as we get older,” adds James.
And for many of us, our hair is a big part of our identity. After all, a bad hair day really can put a dampener on your whole day.
How does Hair Botox work?
First things first. Despite the name, Hair Botox doesn’t involve needles or actual Botox.
Instead, it’s an intensive conditioning and smoothing treatment designed to make hair feel softer, look glossier and become easier to manage.
“Depending on the formulation we decide for your hair type, this treatment contains ingredients such as proteins, keratin derivatives, amino acids, vitamins and nourishing oils which help smooth the hair’s outer cuticle and improve the appearance of damaged or porous hair,” explains James.
“By helping to smooth the cuticle, light can then reflect off the hair much more evenly, giving it that beautiful glossy finish,” adds James. “It also reduces frizz and makes hair feel softer, silkier and much easier to style.”
And unlike some straightening treatments, the aim isn’t necessarily to leave you with poker-straight, flat hair, but to improve its condition and make it easier to manage.
“It’s about improving condition, controlling frizz and maintaining natural movement and volume,” says James.
Can smoother hair really make you look younger?
According to James, it can.
“We naturally associate glossy, full-looking hair with youth, whereas hair that’s dry, dull or frizzy can often make us look a little more tired.”
And a lot of that comes down to how light reflects off the hair.
“When hair is smooth and well-conditioned, it reflects light beautifully, giving it that lovely sense of health and vitality.”
But James is also keen to point out that looking after our hair as we get older isn’t about trying to turn back the clock.
“For me, it’s about making your hair look and feel its absolute best, whatever your age. We’re not trying to recreate the hairstyle you had at twenty-five,” says James. After all, if we’re prepared to adapt our skincare as we get older, why shouldn’t we give our hair the same attention?
Hair Botox – my verdict
It’s a great feeling walking out of the hairdressers with that smug salon swish, but the real test (and dread) always comes when you have to do your hair yourself. And I’m happy to report that the treatment lives up to its time-saving and hair-transforming promise.
Firstly, Hair Botox makes me look like I have far better hair-styling skills than I actually do. My drying time is halved, while a quick run-through with my straighteners makes me look like I’ve just stepped out of the hairdressers. This is particularly refreshing considering how often I train – and have to restyle my hair as a result.
My hair looks and feels so much healthier, with a lovely glossy finish. It also stays far smoother overnight and falls into place with minimal effort. Perfect for busy mornings and getting ready for a night out – festive season is just around the corner, after all.
But the big question is, would I have it done again? Absolutely. The treatment isn’t cheap – prices start from £147 – but for me, the results are so worth it. I’m not washing my hair as often, I’m not tying it back as much, and I’m definitely not reaching for the straighteners nearly as much either. So, if frizz and an increasingly difficult-to-manage hair texture are your biggest bugbears, this treatment could make hair-wash day a whole lot easier.
Three products I’m using to help tame the frizz
While Hair Botox can last up to three months, here are three products I’ll still be using to keep my hair manageable, glossy and sleek for as long as possible.
1. A silk pillowcase
Who knew your pillowcase could make a difference to your hair? Silk’s naturally smooth surface creates less friction as you toss and turn at night, which can help reduce tangles and breakage. Mulberry silk, like this Laud Sleep pillowcase, £39.99, is particularly smooth and feels lovely against your skin, too. Anything that helps me wake up with fewer tangles and less frizz gets my vote.
2. A hydrating hair mask
If your hair is prone to dryness and frizz, a deeply hydrating hair mask, like Masque Me, £24.95, can help improve its condition and appearance. That’s because conditioning ingredients help smooth the hair cuticle, leaving it feeling softer, shinier and easier to manage. I like to use this once a week, leaving it on for a good half hour or so to really soak in.
3. A heat-protection spray
Still reaching for the straighteners? Me too. A heat-protection spray is a must before styling to help limit heat damage, and I love celebrity hair and scalp expert Gustav Fouche‘s new Hottie Heat Protector, £32. It’s a lightweight, heat-activated mist that promises protection against styling temperatures up to 230°C, while helping to smooth frizz, boost shine and make detangling easier – all in one spritz (or two).
