Smoothing, not straightening
Keratin gets lumped with Japanese straightening, but they are different things. A keratin treatment reduces frizz, improves manageability and shortens styling time while leaving the hair soft and silky — it does not iron the texture flat. That is the point: smooth hair that still moves and still looks like hair.
Red Market uses Lasio Keratin, a professional smoothing treatment that leaves the hair polished without compromising its natural movement. The result is a few months of easier mornings rather than a permanently straightened sheet.
Keratin vs hair botox vs a gloss
This is the comparison worth getting right. Keratin (Lasio Keratin, $450) is a smoothing treatment that significantly cuts frizz and styling time. Hair botox ($350) is a deep restorative treatment — no smoothing chemical, just nourishment that improves softness, shine and manageability. A gloss ($95) is color-adjacent: it tones and adds shine but does not change the texture.
If the goal is frizz and manageability, keratin. If the hair is damaged and needs repair with a side of softness, hair botox. If the color just needs refreshing, a gloss. A consultation sorts out which one — and it is complimentary.
Prep and aftercare
Hard-water minerals and product build-up sit on the hair and dull any treatment, which is why Red Market often books a Malibu C clarifying treatment ($56) or a Metal Detox ($65) first — lifting what is already on the hair so the smoothing treatment can actually take.
Every smoothing service begins with a consultation, and you will have the price before anything is applied.
Good to know
Frequently asked
How much is a keratin treatment in NYC?
A Lasio Keratin Treatment at Red Market is $450. Hair Botox is $350, 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.
What is the difference between keratin and hair botox?
Keratin ($450) is a smoothing treatment that cuts frizz and styling time while keeping the hair moving. Hair botox ($350) is a deep restorative treatment with no smoothing chemical — it nourishes and improves softness, shine and manageability. A gloss ($95) tones and shines but does not change texture.
Will a keratin treatment straighten my hair?
No. Keratin reduces frizz and improves manageability, but it does not iron the texture flat the way Japanese straightening does. You get smooth, polished hair that still moves and still looks like your hair.