The three big smoothing treatments of 2026, compared.
Keratin vs hair botox vs nanoplasty
Hair botox repairs and adds shine. Keratin and nanoplasty smooth and tame frizz for months. The right choice depends on whether your main problem is damage or frizz — here is how to tell, with honest numbers on how long each lasts.
By Yasmin, founder of Nero Hair · Updated 22 September 2026
The short answer
Botox repairs. Keratin and nanoplasty smooth.
Hair botox is a deep-conditioning treatment. It fills in damaged areas of the hair with proteins and oils, so hair looks shinier and feels softer — but it does not straighten or permanently smooth. Results last around 4–8 weeks.
Keratin treatment and nanoplasty both smooth the hair and remove frizz for months, not weeks. "Nanoplasty" is newer branding for formaldehyde-free, amino-acid smoothing — in practice it sits very close to a modern formaldehyde-free keratin treatment.
So: if your hair is dry and damaged but not frizzy, botox is enough. If frizz, puffiness or humidity is the problem, you want a smoothing treatment — keratin or nanoplasty.
Hair botox lasts
4–8 weeks
Keratin (QIQI) lasts
Up to 5 months
Nanoplasty lasts
3–6 months
Best for frizz
Keratin / nanoplasty
Side by side
How the three treatments compare.
| Hair botox | Keratin treatment | Nanoplasty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Conditions and repairs the cuticle | Smooths and removes frizz | Smooths and removes frizz |
| Straightens hair? | No | Smooths — how straight depends on formula and hair type | Smooths — similar to keratin |
| How long it lasts | 4–8 weeks | Up to 5 months (QIQI), 12–16 weeks (Nanokeratin) | Typically 3–6 months |
| Formaldehyde | Usually none | Depends on brand — everything we sell is formaldehyde-free | Sold as formaldehyde-free |
| Typical UK salon price | £80–£200 | £150–£400 | £150–£400 |
| At home? | Yes, subtle results | Yes — from £129 with QIQI | Yes — same formaldehyde-free technology |
| Best for | Dry, damaged, dull hair | Frizzy, puffy, humidity-prone hair | Frizz, plus anyone avoiding aldehydes |
Hair botox
Choose botox if your hair is damaged, not frizzy.
Despite the name, hair botox contains no botulinum toxin. It is a protein-rich conditioning treatment that fills gaps in damaged hair fibres, leaving hair glossier and softer.
Because it works mostly on the surface, it washes out fastest of the three — usually within 4–8 weeks. That makes it a good choice for occasional repair, or for hair that is too fragile for a smoothing treatment right now.
What it will not do is control frizz for long, or change how hair behaves in humidity. If that is what you are after, botox will feel underwhelming.
Keratin & nanoplasty
Choose keratin or nanoplasty if frizz is the problem.
Smoothing treatments work inside the hair, not just on the surface. They are sealed in with heat from a flat iron, which is why results survive dozens of washes.
The old worry with keratin was formaldehyde. Modern professional formulas — including QIQI Hair Controller and Nanokeratin System — are formaldehyde-free, which is exactly the selling point nanoplasty is built on. The difference between a formaldehyde-free keratin treatment and a nanoplasty treatment is now mostly branding.
The real differences are between individual products: how straight they leave hair, how long they last, and which hair types they are formulated for. That is why QIQI makes separate formulas for thick & coarse, wavy & curly, and thin & delicate hair.
Quick decision guide
Which one should you book — or buy?
Frizzy, puffy or humidity-prone hair
Keratin or nanoplasty. QIQI Hair Controller lasts up to 5 months and comes in three formulas for different hair types.
Dry, dull or damaged — but not frizzy
Hair botox or a deep-conditioning masque. You do not need a smoothing treatment.
Bleached or heavily coloured hair
A gentle smoothing formula made for processed hair, such as QIQI Thin & Delicate or Nanokeratin Replenish.
Afro or tightly coiled hair
A formula made for coarse textures, such as QIQI Thick & Coarse or Nanokeratin Refortify.
You want natural movement, not poker-straight
QIQI Wavy & Curly — it reduces frizz and defines your pattern, or can be flat-ironed for a sleek finish.
What we recommend
Formaldehyde-free smoothing, at home.
QIQI Hair Controller gives you the months-long results of a salon smoothing treatment at home — formaldehyde-free, with a formula matched to your hair type.
From £129 · 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 →
From £129 · 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.
Shop now →
Sold out — back soon
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.
Get notified →Common questions
Keratin, botox & nanoplasty — FAQ
Which is better: keratin, botox or nanoplasty?
It depends on your hair. Hair botox is better for dry, damaged hair that needs repair and shine. Keratin treatment and nanoplasty are better for frizz, because they smooth hair for months rather than weeks. Between keratin and nanoplasty, a formaldehyde-free keratin treatment and a nanoplasty treatment work in a very similar way.
Is nanoplasty better than keratin?
Not automatically. Nanoplasty is marketed as a formaldehyde-free, amino-acid treatment, but modern professional keratin treatments such as QIQI Hair Controller and Nanokeratin System are formaldehyde-free too. Compare the specific product — its formula, how long it lasts and which hair types it suits — rather than the label.
Does hair botox straighten hair?
No. Hair botox is a conditioning treatment. It can make hair look smoother and shinier because the cuticle is better hydrated, but it does not straighten hair or control frizz long-term. Results typically last 4–8 weeks.
Which lasts longest?
Keratin treatment and nanoplasty last longest — typically 3–6 months. QIQI Hair Controller lasts up to 5 months and Nanokeratin System 12–16 weeks, depending on hair type and aftercare. Hair botox lasts 4–8 weeks.
Can you have hair botox and keratin together?
You do not need both. A smoothing treatment already improves shine and softness, and a sulphate-free deep-conditioning masque between treatments does the conditioning job that botox would. If you want both, wait at least 2 weeks between them.
Which is safest?
Hair botox is the gentlest because it only conditions. For smoothing, choose a formaldehyde-free formula — every treatment Nero Hair sells is formaldehyde-free and aldehyde-free, with no harmful fumes during application.
Free UK delivery over £80
Months of smooth hair. Done at home.
Formaldehyde-free professional treatments and sulphate-free aftercare. Dispatched next working day. UK delivery 1–3 working days.