Comparison guide
Hair botox vs keratin treatment.
Hair botox lasts 4-8 weeks and conditions the surface. Keratin treatment lasts up to 5 months and changes the hair from inside the cortex. Same goal — very different results.
What it actually is
What is hair botox?
Hair botox has nothing to do with botulinum toxin. It is a deep-conditioning treatment that fills in gaps and damage in the hair fibre using a blend of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and oils. The name is pure marketing — borrowed from the idea of "filling in" wrinkles, applied to filling in damaged hair.
The treatment coats the outer cuticle layer of the hair shaft. It adds shine, reduces frizz, and makes hair feel softer and more manageable. It does not straighten hair. It does not change the internal bond structure. Think of it as a very intensive conditioner — similar to a protein mask, but applied with heat for better absorption.
Results typically last 4-8 weeks before washing out completely. At UK salons, a hair botox session costs between £80 and £200. You will need to repeat it every 1-2 months to maintain the effect.
Hair botox lasts
4-8 weeks
Keratin lasts
Up to 5 months
Botox salon cost
£80-£200
QIQI at home
~£40/treatment
Side by side
Hair botox vs keratin treatment.
Hair Botox
How it works
Coats the outer cuticle with proteins and oils. Surface-level conditioning.
Duration
4-8 weeks before washing out completely.
Straightening
No. Adds shine and softness but does not change curl pattern or structure.
Salon cost
£80-£200 per session. Needs repeating every 1-2 months.
Cost per month
£40-£200 depending on frequency.
Best for
Light damage repair, adding shine to already-manageable hair.
Keratin Treatment (QIQI)
How it works
Softens disulfide bonds in the hair cortex. Restructures hair under heat. Structural change.
Duration
Up to 5 months with sulphate-free aftercare.
Straightening
Yes. Smooths, reduces volume, and can fully straighten depending on formula and technique.
At-home cost
£119 per bottle = 3+ treatments. Roughly £40 per treatment.
Cost per month
£8-£10 per month of smooth hair.
Best for
Frizz elimination, smoothing, straightening, long-term manageability.
The maths
Why keratin treatment is better value.
Hair botox needs repeating every 4-8 weeks. At £80-£200 per salon session, that is £480-£2,400 per year to maintain results. And those results are cosmetic — the moment you stop, your hair goes back to exactly how it was.
A single QIQI Hair Controller bottle is £119 and gives you 3+ treatments. Each treatment lasts up to 5 months. That is roughly £40 per treatment, or about £8-£10 per month of smooth, frizz-free hair. Over 12 months, you spend £80-£120 total — versus £480+ for hair botox sessions that deliver less.
The difference is structural. Keratin treatment does not just coat the surface — it changes the bonds inside the hair cortex. The hair is physically smoother, less porous, and resistant to humidity. Hair botox cannot do that. It is conditioning, not restructuring.
12-month cost comparison
Hair botox (salon)
£480-£2,400/year
6-12 sessions at £80-£200 each
Keratin (salon)
£300-£800/year
2-3 sessions at £150-£400 each
QIQI at home
£80-£120/year
2-3 treatments from one £119 bottle
Honest advice
Which should you choose?
01
Choose hair botox if
Your hair is lightly damaged and you just want a temporary shine boost. You do not need frizz elimination or straightening — you want softer, shinier hair for a few weeks. You are happy repeating the treatment monthly.
02
Choose keratin if
You want lasting frizz control, smoothing, or straightening. You want to cut your styling time in half. You want results that last months, not weeks. You want structural change — not just surface conditioning.
03
Choose QIQI at home if
You want keratin treatment results without the salon price. QIQI Hair Controller is the same professional product UK salons use — at £40 per treatment instead of £150-£400. Apply it yourself in 2-3 hours. Results last up to 5 months.
Three formulas
QIQI Hair Controller.
Formaldehyde-free keratin treatment. Three formulas matched to different hair types. Each bottle gives you 3+ treatments — roughly £40 each. Results last up to 5 months. The same product UK salons charge £150-£400 to apply.
£119 · 150g
Hair Controller — Thick & Coarse
Formaldehyde-free permanent smoothing treatment for thick, coarse, and afro-textured hair. Softens disulfide bonds under heat for lasting frizz control — from defined curls to fully straight. QIQI Hair Controller results last up to 5 months.
Shop now →
£119 · 150g
Hair Controller — Wavy & Curly
Permanently reduces frizz and enhances natural pattern definition — or delivers a smooth, controlled finish. Designed specifically for wavy and curly hair. Formaldehyde-free. Lasts up to 5 months.
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£119 · 150g
Hair Controller — Thin & Delicate
Formaldehyde-free permanent smoothing for fine, colour-treated, or delicate hair. Eliminates frizz and reduces volume without over-processing. QIQI Hair Controller safe for bleached and highlighted hair. Results last up to 5 months.
Shop now →Not sure which formula? Take the 60-second hair quiz →
Skip the salon
The at-home advantage.
People searching for hair botox are looking for smooth, frizz-free, manageable hair. A keratin treatment delivers exactly that — and lasts 3-5 times longer. Doing it at home with QIQI Hair Controller means you get professional-grade results at a fraction of the cost.
A salon frizzy hair treatment costs £150-£400. A single hair botox session costs £80-£200 and lasts a few weeks. QIQI Hair Controller costs £119 for the bottle — and that bottle contains 3+ full treatments, each lasting up to 5 months. The maths is not close.
You need a hair dryer, a flat iron that reaches 230°C, and about 2-3 hours. Read the full at-home application guide — most people get salon-identical results on the first attempt.
Common questions
Hair botox — FAQ
What is hair botox?
Hair botox is a deep-conditioning treatment that fills in damaged or thinning hair fibres with proteins, vitamins, and oils. It does not contain botulinum toxin — the name is a marketing term. Hair botox coats and temporarily repairs the outer cuticle layer to add shine, reduce frizz, and improve manageability. It does not change the internal structure of the hair.
Is hair botox better than keratin treatment?
It depends on what you want. Hair botox is a conditioning treatment — it adds shine and softness but does not straighten or permanently smooth hair. Results last 4-8 weeks. A keratin treatment restructures the hair from inside the cortex, giving lasting smoothness and frizz elimination for up to 5 months. If you want real structural change, keratin treatment gives significantly better value and longer results.
How long does hair botox last?
Hair botox typically lasts 4-8 weeks, depending on your hair type and how often you wash. Because it is a surface-level conditioning treatment, it washes out faster than a keratin treatment, which bonds into the hair cortex and lasts up to 5 months.
Can you do hair botox at home?
Some hair botox products are available for home use, but results tend to be subtle and short-lived. If you are going to invest 2-3 hours in a treatment at home, a keratin treatment like QIQI Hair Controller gives results that last 3-5 times longer and actually changes the hair structure rather than just conditioning the surface.
Is hair botox safe?
Hair botox is generally safe — it is a conditioning treatment with no harsh chemicals. However, its safety is also its limitation: because it does not penetrate the hair cortex, the results are temporary. QIQI Hair Controller is a formaldehyde-free keratin treatment that is also safe to use at home, and delivers structural results that last months rather than weeks.
What is the difference between hair botox and keratin?
Hair botox is a deep conditioner that coats the outside of the hair shaft to temporarily reduce frizz and add shine. Keratin treatment works deeper — it softens the disulfide bonds in the hair cortex and restructures them under heat. The result is a semi-permanent change to the hair itself: smoother, less porous, and resistant to humidity. Keratin lasts 3-5 months versus 4-8 weeks for hair botox.
Longer results. Lower cost.
£40 per treatment. Up to 5 months.
Hair botox gives you weeks. QIQI Hair Controller gives you months. Same goal — smoother, frizz-free hair. One just lasts 3-5 times longer. Free UK delivery over £80.