What hair botox actually is
Hair botox is an intensive restorative treatment. It deeply nourishes dry or damaged hair and improves softness, shine, manageability and smoothness — without a smoothing chemical, and without compromising the hair’s natural movement. The name is marketing; there is no botulinum in it. What it is, practically, is a concentrated fill-and-condition service for hair that has been through something.
That distinction matters because botox gets sold online as "keratin lite". It is not. Keratin relaxes the texture and cuts frizz; hair botox feeds the fibre. If your hair is fragile, porous or over-lightened and you want it to feel healthy again while still curling and waving the way it always did, this is the service.
Hair botox vs keratin vs a gloss
These are the three treatments guests most often confuse, and the prices differ for a reason. Hair Botox ($350) restores: it fills and conditions damaged strands, improving softness and shine, and generally holds two to four months as the fillers slowly rinse out. Lasio Keratin ($450) smooths: it significantly reduces frizz, improves manageability and shortens styling time, and typically holds three to five months. A Gloss ($95) is color-adjacent: it tones, neutralises unwanted warmth and adds mirror shine, but it does not change the texture or repair the fibre.
The short version: damaged and dull, book botox. Frizzy and slow to style, book keratin. Color just needs a lift, book a gloss. Plenty of guests book botox and a gloss together, because the two are doing different jobs.
Who it is for — and who should book keratin instead
Hair botox suits hair that is dry, brittle, porous or over-processed: repeated lightening, hot tools, a summer of sun and salt, or simply a texture that has stopped holding moisture. It also suits anyone who wants smoother, glossier hair for an event without committing to a treatment that changes how their hair behaves.
Book keratin instead if the problem is frizz and time — if your hair expands in humidity and takes forty minutes to dry, restoration will make it softer but it will not make it behave. And if the hair is genuinely healthy and the color is the only thing that looks tired, a gloss is the cheaper, better answer. Every treatment at Red Market opens with a complimentary consultation, and we will tell you when you do not need the more expensive one.
What the appointment looks like
It starts with a consultation: what your hair has been through, how you wear it, and what you actually want the result to look like. From there the treatment is applied in sections and worked through the hair, then rinsed and finished — you leave with the result visible in the chair, not a week later.
Because botox adds no smoothing chemical, there is no waiting window afterwards the way there is with keratin. The usual aftercare is the boring part that decides how long it lasts: a sulphate-free shampoo, a mask once a week, and a clarifying treatment such as Malibu C ($56) every few months if you live with hard water. New York water carries the minerals that dull a treatment fastest.
Pairing it with color
Hair botox is commonly booked alongside color, and the order matters. On lightened hair we will often run a Metal Detox ($65) before the color so the lightener lifts evenly, then finish with botox to put the condition back. That sequence is why color clients at Red Market tend to leave with hair that feels better than it did before the appointment rather than worse.
If you are not sure which of the three you need, describe your hair in the booking notes and we will tell you before you arrive.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How much is hair botox in NYC?
A Hair Botox Treatment at Red Market is $350. For comparison: Lasio Keratin is $450, a Gloss is $95, Metal Detox is $65 and a Malibu C clarifying treatment is $56. The salon is at 13 East 13th Street, Floor 2, New York, NY 10003.
Is hair botox the same as a keratin treatment?
No. Hair botox is a restorative treatment — it fills and conditions damaged hair, improving softness, shine and manageability without changing its shape. Keratin is a smoothing treatment: it relaxes frizz and shortens styling time. Botox generally holds two to four months; keratin three to five.
Does hair botox straighten your hair?
No. It contains no smoothing chemical and is designed to leave the hair’s natural movement intact. Curls stay curls and waves stay waves — the hair simply feels softer, shinier and easier to manage. If you want the texture relaxed, that is a keratin treatment.
How long does hair botox last?
Generally two to four months, as the fillers gradually rinse out. Sulphate-free shampoo, washing two to three times a week, and a clarifying treatment every few months if you have hard water will push it toward the longer end.
Can I have hair botox and color in the same appointment?
Yes, and they are often booked together. On lightened hair we usually run a Metal Detox first so the color lifts evenly, then finish with botox to restore condition. Your colorist will sequence both and tell you if they should be spaced apart instead.
Is hair botox safe on very damaged or fine hair?
That is precisely the hair it is designed for — it adds no smoothing chemical and does not alter the structure. Fine hair gets the shine and softness without weight, and over-processed hair gets the condition back. A consultation confirms it is the right service for your hair before anything is applied.