Hair salon founder believes hair Botox is the ‘most damaging treatment' you can get done — we fact check

Indian Express

20-07-2025

From celebrities to influencers, the recent trend on Instagram seems to be flaunting poker straight hair — not just a symbol of chic elegance, but an easy solution to tame frizzy hair when you are on the go. And the path to help you achieve this is through a treatment known as hair Botox. In a recent social media reel, Vaishakhi Haria, founder of Splash Salon, Mumbai, went on a podcast and shared her two cents on this recent trend, and its damaging effects on hair health.
'A lot of people are going to hate me for saying this, and it's going to cause a lot of controversy, but I think the most damaging treatment right now is hair Botox, also known by the term 'nanoplastia.' Anything that will straighten your hair internally, and leaves it like that once is fine, twice done, still fine, but that's about it. This should not be done,' she said.
According to Haria, it became very famous because of the word Botox. 'People do Botox for their skin as it give you firmness and a youthful look. But because it is so cost-effective, people started doing this for their hair,' she shared, adding that without understanding its deeper technicalities, it is not possible to realise that it is not suitable for all types of hair.'
Dr Khushboo Jha, Chief Dermatologist- Consultant Metro Hospital and Founder of One Skin Clinic, Faridabad shared that hair Botox is indeed not an actual Botox, rather a deep conditioning hair treatment that uses keratin, collagen, vitamins such as Vitamin B5 and E, hyaluronic acid etc.
'The aim behind this is to fill the gaps in the hair shaft, smoothen your hair cuticles, decrease frizziness and enhance skin shine. Though it displays temporary effects that typically last somewhere between 2-4 months, it resembles a salon grade deep conditioning mask,' she explained.
'It is generally considered gentler than chemical straighteners, since it does not use formaldehyde like some keratin or Brazilian blowouts,' Dr Jha told indianexpress.com. However, she also listed out its risks and side-effects: Frequent use (more than 3–4 times/year) can lead to hair thinning, brittleness, dullness, or breakage. Some users report hairfall, weight‑loss of volume, or a 'poker straight' effect that flattens hair. Overloading fine or protein-sensitive hair can make it dry and brittle.
'Is it really damaging? Not in a universal sense—it's less harsh chemically than treatments like Brazilian blowouts or formaldehyde-based keratin, but can still damage or weaken hair if overused or improperly applied,' revealed the expert, adding that the rhetoric going around on Instagram claim is sensationalized. 'Properly used and spaced out, it can be nourishing—but misuse can lead to real issues,' she mentioned.
Dr Jha shared a couple alternatives for those looking to get similar effects to hair Botox without causing long term or permanent damage:
(1) Deep conditioning and protein treatments – bond-repair as well as hydrating masks can strengthen hair without flattening it. Example: weekly hair masks. They show gradual improvements but are comparatively safe.
(2) Keratin or taninoplasty treatments – Semi‑permanent smoothing of hair (3–6 months) is ok, but it may sometimes contain formaldehyde. Choose formaldehyde-free formulas, done by certified professionals.
(3) Hair spas – Salon-based deep treatments with massages, heat, and masks. These are less invasive.
(4) Clinical treatments for thinning of hair – PRP (platelet‑rich plasma): uses your own blood to stimulate growth. Even topical application of Minoxidil is approved by FDA for hair loss.