Living in Singapore means battling the relentless humidity – we’re talking 95 percent RH here! – which can turn your silky, smooth hair into a frizzy nightmare. That’s why many top salons offer a range of hair straightening, anti-frizz and keratin treatments that can work wonders.
Like degrees of psychosis, crazy hair exists on a spectrum. Milder cases will benefit from gentler, less invasive treatments. The thicker, wilder and woollier your hair diagnosis, the stronger the stuff required to do the job! So, once again, we sent out our review gang – each with uniquely different hair – to try some top hair straightening and anti-frizz treatments. And here they are!
The Expat Hair Studio | Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment (NKST)
I’ve always wanted to be a glossy-haired beauty strolling about Singapore, instead of a frizzy Sweaty Betty. But I have naturally wavy hair that is extremely hard to manage in this climate. What’s more, I love my early morning gym sessions before work, and I don’t have time to tame my mane.
I’ve been a client of The Expat Hair Studio for many years, and stylist Kat is a friend. I have tried many anti-frizz treatments, but when Kat and Andrew suggested NKST and explained how it worked, I knew I was in good hands.
My appointment started with a cappuccino before graduating to wine, cheese and biscuits, a welcome treat. Kat worked wonders on my colour before Andrew started the treatment. His head-massage skills are genius!
The entire keratin treatment took around two-and-a-half hours, and the results should last for three months. They recommend you avoid washing your hair or swimming for the first three days, and not have any chemical hair service such as colour for two weeks.
The result was phenomenal! My hair felt soft and looked smooth and glossy, while my highlights and colour still looked great.
Curious to see if I could maintain the results, I found over the next few weeks that the treatment had dramatically reduced blow-drying time and effort, while my hair still looked soft and smooth. The final judgment? This Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment was a massive hit. My thanks to both Kat and Andrew at Expat Hair.
– Joanne Shaw
Cost: $250 to $350
422 Joo Chiat Road | 6444 7929 | WhatsApp 8028 6588
expathairstudio.com
Chez Vous Hair Salon (Flagship) | Liquid Hair Treatment
Chez Vous has truly elevated the hair-care game with its Liquid Hair Treatment. As someone who is always seeking to tame frizzy hair, I can confidently say that this treatment has exceeded my expectations. This is no easy feat, especially after years of chemical treatments and heat styling that have left my hair parched and frazzled.
The anti-frizz Liquid Hair Treatment – I went with the Supreme version, which lasts up to six months – worked its magic, repairing my hair from within using advanced oil-based bond repairing actives. The result? Hair that feels soft, smooth and silky. To my relief, the treatment didn’t alter my hair colour at all. Instead, it simply enhanced the vibrancy and shine, leaving me with hair that looked healthier than ever.
The wonderful salon and the expert touch of the stylist who applied the treatment only added to the experience. This was my first time visiting the flagship Chez Vous salon, beside Takashimaya, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The stylist not only worked wonders with the liquid formula, but he also gave me a trim that smoothed out any unevenness from previous haircuts. This gave my hair a polished look that perfectly complemented its new shine. The Liquid Hair Treatment at Chez Vous will definitely be part of my hair care regime moving forward. And, since the treatment lasts between four to six months, it will be just the right amount of time between salon visits.
Now, after two weeks, with my hair shining, smooth and easy to manage, I find myself saving precious time in the mornings. A simple wash-and-quick-dry routine is all it takes to look and feel my best! The stylist recommended blow-drying my hair, but this weekend, I opted to let it air dry naturally, and I could not be happier with the results. This isn’t just a treatment – it’s a rejuvenating experience tailored for someone who values both their looks and their time. Thank you, Chez Vous, for helping me reclaim my confidence in my hair.
– Jennifer Compton
Cost: Advanced from $255; Supreme from $395
#05-05 Ngee Ann City Podium, 391 Orchard Road
6732 9388 | chezvoushair.com
Chez Vous: Private Space | Nanoplasty
I like my curls, but not when they turn unruly and frizzy in the humidity of Singapore! Honestly, I much prefer the hassle-free, glassy straight tresses that look gorgeous even after a long day out. However, I absolutely dread the damage that comes with smoothing treatments (I still shudder from the hair fall I experienced after my re-bonding experience a decade ago!)
That’s why when I heard of the Nanoplasty treatment, I had to give it a try. It’s the latest anti-frizz treatment with no harsh chemicals, using only the cleanest top-of-the-line ingredients to achieve the desired result. I chose Chez Vous: Private Space for my treatment, and the whole experience was amazing as it feels more like a spa than a salon. Upon arrival, I was ushered into my private pod where I was presented with a selection of room fragrances to choose from. Next, I was given an iPad with a drinks menu to start me off while waiting for my treatment to begin.
As I relaxed with my mocha cappuccino and soothing music, the super friendly salon director J-Lim came to explain how the treatment works and even customised it as per my request (to leave my hair ends softer and not as slick as the rest of my hair). The package includes a blissful head spa along with warm eye moxibustion therapy to lull you into a state of bliss.
The complete experience lasted about three and a half hours, which goes by quickly with the constant flow of drinks and an amazing high tea menu. The staff took care of my comfort at every step, with a pillow to rest my arms, Netflix to watch a movie, and a pot of tea to go with high tea cakes.
It’s been a week since the treatment, and I am extremely happy with the result. My hair is now frizz-free, shiny straight with a touch of natural curls at the bottom. What I love the most is how extremely low maintenance my hair is. Hair damage? None so far compared to what I experienced with re bonding. In my honest opinion, Nanoplasty is really the best hair straightening and smoothing treatment without damage worries, and Chez Vous is the place for the experience!
– Akta Chopra
Cost: $395 to $695
#08-01 Ngee Ann City Tower B, 391B Orchard Road
6235 0345 | chezvoushair.com
Be Salon | Anti-frizz Waterfall Treatment
Having enjoyed a summer in Europe and loved how my frizzy hair behaved in that mild climate, coming back to Singapore was a bit of a shock for my hair. The frizz was back, and I needed a solution. So, I decided to give the anti-frizz hair straightening treatment Waterfall Treatment at Be Salon a shot. They mix keratin with cocoa butter, coconut nucifera oil, and amino acids to work their magic on unruly hair.
In my ongoing battle with frizz, I’ve tried various keratin hair straightening treatments. Knowing that combining keratin with regular colouring can be tricky, I am always careful about the strength of the treatment. Be Salon offers two options, and I went for the milder one. I like keeping my natural waves and bounce instead of having super straight hair. The process started with a clarifying shampoo, then the solution is applied section by section. After a 30-minute wait, there’s rinsing, blow-drying, and careful flat-ironing strand by strand.
In just over two hours, my hair went from frizzy to super sleek and smooth. I was advised not to wash my hair for two days to let the treatment work. Even though I wasn’t a fan of the flat-ironed look for a couple of days, I knew my volume and natural bounce would come back after a good wash. And they did! After that, styling my hair was a breeze. The frizz stayed away – even in the humidity. Now, I’m enjoying good hair days, and I love that this fantastic look will last for a solid two to three months. Thank you, Be Salon, for saving me from the frizz struggle!
– Karin Galley
Cost: $225 to $345
#02-19 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard
#03-20 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road
6893 3667 | besalon.style
U Hair Hair Salon | Hair Rescue Treatment
While I hate my frizzy hair in Singapore, I also want to take good care of it. Years of bleaching and colouring have left my hair quite damaged. I have split ends and lots of breakage from treatments to colour, smooth and straighten my hair.
Often when my hair is straightened, it looks amazing coming out of the salon, but then after a wash and dry at home, it becomes too flat, looking lank and lifeless! This award-winning anti-frizz Hair Rescue Treatment from U Hair is different – the focus is to repair and protect, with the smoothness being a pleasant side effect. It’s also suitable for all hair textures, even for bleached and heavily damaged hair.
I had an initial consultation with the stylist, Jason, then my hair was washed using organic argan oil shampoo. The head massage was one of the best I have experienced! Then, Jason applied the Hair Rescue Cream in sections to my hair and simply blow-dried it to warm it up to penetrate the hair shaft. This intensive treatment contains plenty of active proteins, collagen and hydrolysed keratin to boost moisture and elasticity while repairing hair strands. Straightening tongs sealed it all in and smoothed it all down. It looked fantastic, but then Jason did one final wash and treatment at the sink, which helps to keep it smoother longer. I mentioned how I don’t like when straightening makes my hair lank, so he did not apply it all the way to the scalp.
A great thing about this process is you can colour immediately before or afterwards without concerns. He recommended not washing hair in hot water to lengthen the effectiveness of the keratin treatment to two to three months. Using a mask after washing would also help.
I have now washed my hair twice since the treatment (in lukewarm water; sadly I cannot do cold!) and my hair feels so silky smooth but still with body. My hair is fine, so I can definitely feel that it is a bit thicker with the argan oil coating. This is definitely a protective treatment I would like to continue because I am not going to stop colouring my hair any time soon!
Special offer! Quote “Expat Living” to try the Hair RescueTreatment at the special first-trial price of $168.
– Danielle Rossetti
Cost: $428 for medium length hair
• #02-20 Jurong Point Shopping Centre, 1 Jurong West Central 2
• 7 Pasir Ris Central, #B1-15B (opening soon)
WhatsApp 9088 5305 | uhair.com.sg
IG & TikTok: @uhairsg | FB: sguhair
The Hair Lounge | Collagen Repair Treatment
My hair is naturally coarse and thick, so I’ve always had to blow-dry – and sometimes straighten – it before leaving the house. Over time, all that heat combined with bleaching and dyeing has taken its toll. It’s rendered my hair a dry, frizzy mop, especially at the ends! So when I heard about The Hair Lounge’s Collagen Repair Treatment, which is gentler and milder than keratin treatments and focuses on repairing and replenishing, I couldn’t dash to the Holland V salon fast enough.
After a consultation with my hairdresser Joseph, it was clear that my frizzy hair needed some love. The hair straightening and smoothing treatment began with a luxurious wash using Oribe shampoo and conditioner that included a lovely massage on my scalp and neck. Then, a leave-in recombinant protein serum was applied to every section of my hair. This powerful protein treatment not only strengthens hair but also helps eliminate breakage and split ends.
With hair wrapped in a bun, off under the heater I went. Over the next 15 minutes, the rich serum worked its way deep into my hair as I sipped my tea and relaxed in the comfy, light-drenched salon. No rinsing needed here. My hair was then blow-dried and flat-ironed (skipping the roots) to tame the cuticles and seal in the product.
The results were so impressive I almost couldn’t believe that was my real hair! It had never been so shiny, soft and silky smooth. I thought the leave-in formula would leave a greasy feel but not at all. My hair’s natural bounce and volume returned after a wash the following day. I’ve even been able to air-dry my hair now after washes with no unruly frizz in sight. The shine and smoothness will last a few months (shorter for those who swim or exercise a lot) and it’s been a game changer for my hair routine.
– Cherry Lai
Cost: $250
277A Holland Avenue
6610 7394 | thehairlounge.sg
Salon de Edmund | Anti-frizz Multifunctional Keratin Treatment
Salon de Edmund is located on a quiet street behind Upper Thomson MRT and is easy to find. I was welcomed by a warm smile from Huey at the reception, and a lovely bright interior.
As someone who never uses a hairdryer, and normally relies heavily on leave-in styling products and the renowned finger twist, I braved the elements and headed out au naturel in an attempt to show the salon what they were dealing with.
I wasn’t sure what was in store, never having had a keratin treatment before for fear of my frizzy hair becoming poker straight. So this treatment piqued my interest as it claims to be multifunctional for straight or curly hair. I do love my waves, just not the version battling with humidity!
After a cleansing hair wash and full blow-dry, the keratin treatment was applied. To my relief, the one used at Salon de Edmund is free of any formaldehyde and harsh chemicals. With calming green tea in hand, all I could do was hope that the ‘K’ in keratin translated to ‘kindness’ and all would go to plan!
After 35 minutes, a rinse and a rough dry, I could immediately see an unfamiliar, welcomed smoothness to my locks. After a final full hair wash and style, I was very pleased with the result. You could even say I was blown away! My hair still has body and subtle waves but is much more manageable, and I can finally reconnect with my hairdryer. I would definitely recommend those with natural curls to take the plunge with this multifunctional keratin treatment, which lasts about three months. Thank you, Salon de Edmund.
– Jayne Firth
Cost: $289 to $359 (add $40 for very long hair)
93 Soo Chow Walk, #01-01
salondeedmund.com
The Sloane Salon | Silky shiny hair and hair-straightening keratin treatment
I am coming to terms with my frizzy hair as I get older, but when I’m shown the back of my head, it’s quite a shock. I have some straight hair on top, but underneath is almost crimped, and the constant colouring has made it dull and lifeless.
Jordan Kwan is London-born and worked at Elizabeth Arden and Selfridges before moving to Hong Kong. He is now in Singapore and has just opened The Sloane Salon at the DUO Galleria.
For my Keratin Treatment ($285), he first washes my hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove other product, and to allow the keratin to penetrate and coat the hair strands. The (Goldwell) Keratin is applied section by section; I sit for 25 minutes under a steamer and then it’s rinsed and done.
After blow-drying, he uses a flatiron to seal in the product. I don’t want it super flat and lank looking, so he only lightly treats the roots. He also gives an inward curl at the ends for some additional body and movement. Remember, because the keratin coats the hair strands, it’s better to get any colour or highlights done before doing the treatment as it penetrates the hair more easily.
I’ve had frizzy hair treatments before but never one that’s so shiny – my hair is super soft and really gleams in the light. No more bird’s nest at the back – at least for three to four months!
(Check out The Sloane Salon on Instagram or Facebook for short reels of gorgeous silky hair after these treatments!)
– Danielle Rossetti
The Sloane Salon
#01-20 DUO Galleria Singapore, 7 Fraser Street
6909 8042 | jordan@thesloanesalon.com
This article first appeared in the May 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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