Smoothologie 101
Whether you're preparing for your first appointment, looking for aftercare advice, or simply curious about how keratin works — start by asking. Every answer we give in the salon lives here.
Start here
Kaylie explains how Smoothologie 101 is organized and how to find what you're looking for — about a minute, and it'll save you ten.
A little preparation goes a long way. Read these before your visit so you know how to arrive, what to avoid, how much time to reserve, and how to set your treatment up for the best possible outcome.
Preparing correctly helps your appointment run smoothly and gives your Smoothologist the best starting point for evaluating and treating your hair.
Yes. Clean hair allows us to see your natural texture, evaluate your starting point, and apply the treatment without working through unnecessary buildup.
Yes. Please arrive with your hair thoroughly detangled from ends to roots. Excessive tangling can reduce the time available for your actual smoothing service.
No. We do not perform keratin treatments over extensions of any kind, or over adhesive, residue, thread, or buildup left behind after removal.
Wear comfortable clothing that you would not be devastated to stain. We work carefully, but smoothing formulas may be tinted and accidental transfer is always possible.
You do not need to bring much, but a few personal items can make a longer appointment more comfortable and help you use the time however you prefer.
We're on 30th — but 30th is rarely where you'll find a spot. Drive right past us, circle the block, and look on Myrtle. There's almost always something open.
Your first visit is part consultation, part treatment, and entirely about your hair. Plan for around three hours, and try not to schedule anything you'd hate to be late for.
Understanding what a keratin treatment can — and can't — do is one of the best ways to set realistic expectations. Every treatment is customized to your hair, your goals, and your lifestyle.
A keratin treatment is a temporary smoothing service designed to reduce frizz, shorten styling time, and make your hair easier to style. It is not a permanent straightener.
No. Relaxers permanently change the structure of the hair. Keratin treatments temporarily smooth the hair while preserving much more of its natural movement.
[Needs your words. Tell me how you answer this in the salon and I'll write it — I won't draft comparisons to another company's product myself.]
No. We use Keratin Revolution, a formaldehyde-free system. We used to work with formaldehyde-based formulas and moved away from them on purpose, because we could get the results we wanted without them.
Because doing one thing properly beats doing everything adequately. Every stylist here works the same system on the same kind of hair every day, which is how the results stay consistent.
That depends on your curl pattern and the level of smoothing you choose. Every treatment is customized around your goals.
Longevity varies depending on your hair, your routine, your shampoo, and how often you wash your hair.
No. Keratin smooths the outside of the hair rather than permanently restructuring it, so repeat treatments don't accumulate as damage the way repeated bleach or relaxers can. Most of our clients settle into a rhythm of three or four a year.
Less frizz usually means less volume, but that doesn't mean your hair will become flat. Styling techniques still create beautiful movement.
Keratin improves the appearance and feel of damaged hair, but it does not permanently repair structural damage.
Every head of hair is different. Your previous chemical history, density, porosity, curl pattern, and goals all influence your final result.
If you're looking for smoother, easier-to-style hair with less frizz and less daily effort, a customized keratin treatment may be an excellent fit.
Your hair's chemical history plays a huge role in how we customize your treatment. Whether you color, bleach, straighten, or have had previous keratin treatments, understanding the timing and compatibility of these services helps us achieve the safest and most beautiful results possible.
In most cases, yes. The timing depends on the type of color service you're receiving and the results you're hoping to achieve.
We recommend completing your lightening service before your keratin treatment whenever possible. Bleaching over a fresh keratin treatment can shorten its longevity.
Absolutely. Many of our clients receive ongoing maintenance treatments. We'll simply customize your service based on what is already on your hair.
Sometimes, but every situation is different. Your previous chemical history is one of the most important parts of your consultation.
Yes. Root touch-ups and darker color services are generally fine after your first wash.
That's actually very common. We consider every part of your hair history when designing your treatment.
No two formulas are exactly alike. We adjust application, processing, and heat based on your individual hair history.
That's okay. Many clients aren't sure. We'll ask questions, evaluate your hair, and make recommendations based on what we see.
When you schedule your keratin treatment can have a big impact on your experience and your results. Whether you're planning around vacations, weddings, workouts, color appointments, or special events, these will help you choose the best timing for your service.
The best time depends on your schedule. We recommend choosing a date when you can properly care for your treatment during the first few days.
Yes. Many clients schedule before traveling so their hair is easier to style in humidity, heat, and unfamiliar climates.
We generally recommend scheduling your treatment a few weeks before your wedding so your hair has settled naturally and you're comfortable with your routine before the big day.
Yes. We recommend completing your workouts beforehand so you can avoid heavy sweating immediately after your treatment.
Color timing depends on the service. We generally recommend bleaching 2–4 weeks before your keratin treatment, while darker color and root touch-ups are often best after your first wash.
Yes — but wait until after your first wash. Chlorine and salt water can gradually shorten the life of your treatment.
There isn't one perfect schedule. Most clients book when they begin noticing more styling time, increased frizz, or when their hair no longer feels as smooth as they'd like. Our happiest clients see us three to four times a year.
No problem. Let us know what's on your calendar during your consultation, and we'll help you create the best timing for your treatment and any other hair services.
Every head of hair is unique. Your natural texture, density, porosity, and hair history all influence how your keratin treatment is customized. Here's how different hair types respond to smoothing, and what you can realistically expect.
Yes. We customize every treatment based on your individual hair rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. That's why consultations are so important.
Straighter hair often experiences the greatest reduction in frizz, but also the greatest reduction in natural wave. We'll discuss how much wave you'd like to preserve.
Type 3 curls often become easier to detangle, easier to style, and significantly less affected by humidity while still maintaining their natural curl pattern, unless there is previous curl damage.
Our treatments are fully customizable for coily hair. Many clients choose smoothing that reduces frizz and styling time while maintaining as much of their natural curl pattern as possible.
Yes. Keratin treatments gradually wash out over time, allowing your natural texture to slowly return as the treatment fades.
Hair history, texture, density, porosity, previous chemical services, and your treatment goals all influence your final result. No two heads of hair respond exactly the same.
Absolutely. Many clients continue wearing their natural texture after treatment. The goal is to make your hair easier to style — not to take away your options.
That's exactly what your consultation is for. We'll discuss your goals, lifestyle, styling routine, and expectations before deciding how much smoothing is right for your hair.
Every appointment at Smoothed is customized, so pricing is based on the time, product, and level of customization your hair requires — not simply your hair type. Here's how our pricing works, who to book with, and how to choose the appointment that's right for you.
Every first-time appointment begins with a reserved appointment time. Final pricing reflects the amount of time and customization your service requires.
Hair length is only one factor. Density, texture, previous chemical services, and the amount of customization often have a much bigger impact on the service than length alone.
Every stylist at Smoothed follows the same smoothing system. Pricing reflects each stylist's experience level, while every appointment follows our customized consultation and application process.
Appointment length depends on your hair and the amount of customization required — usually two and a half to three and a half hours. We reserve enough time to provide your treatment without rushing the process.
Not everyone needs an individual consultation, but we're here to help if you have questions. We also provide educational resources to help you determine if a treatment is right for you.
Yes. All appointments are booked through our online booking system, where you can choose your stylist, appointment type, and available date.
Absolutely. If you're unsure where to start, we're happy to help you choose the correct appointment before booking.
No two heads of hair are the same. Your hair's texture, density, condition, goals, and chemical history all influence how we customize your treatment to achieve the best possible result.
Our policies protect your appointment time, make sure every client gets the attention they deserve, and let us provide the highest level of service possible. Knowing what to expect helps everything run smoothly — for you and for our team.
We reserve several hours specifically for your appointment. Because of that, late cancellations affect both your stylist and other clients waiting for appointments.
We don't believe in taking money from strangers who have never done business with us. That said, we do have a strict rebooking fee if you choose to miss your appointment.
To keep the space calm and comfortable for everyone, we generally ask clients to attend appointments on their own unless accommodations have been arranged in advance.
Some appointments may be photographed or filmed for educational or marketing purposes. If you're booking with Kaylie, camera participation is currently required. Team appointments do not require participation.
Yes. We love working with younger clients when they're good candidates for treatment and understand the aftercare requirements.
Please let us know as soon as possible. Depending on your arrival time and the day's schedule, we may need to shorten or reschedule your appointment. Clients arriving 20 or more minutes late will be rescheduled at our rebooking rates.
Our waivers make sure you understand your treatment, your aftercare responsibilities, and any factors that may affect your results.
Our policies aren't about making appointments more difficult — they're about creating the best possible experience for every client while respecting everyone's time.
Your treatment doesn't end when you leave the salon. Aftercare plays a major role in maintaining your results and getting the longest life out of your keratin treatment. These cover the most common questions, and the complete Aftercare guide goes deeper.
Leave your treatment in for at least 24 hours and no longer than 7 days unless your stylist gives you different instructions. All of the rules apply during that window.
We recommend sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to help maximize the longevity of your treatment.
Before your first wash, avoid additional heat. After your first wash, your styling routine depends on your hair type and goals.
We recommend avoiding any sweating until after your first wash whenever possible.
Yes — but wait until after your first wash. Chlorine and salt water can gradually shorten the longevity of your treatment.
Absolutely. Many clients continue wearing their natural curls after treatment. Your treatment is customized around your goals.
The best longevity comes from following your aftercare instructions consistently and using products that support your treatment.
Smoothologie 101 covers the essentials, but we've also built a dedicated Aftercare page with detailed guides, product recommendations, wash day routines, and more videos.
Nothing matched that one.
Try a shorter word — “bleach”, “curl”, “wash”. Or ask us directly and we'll answer it here.