In the quest for ultimate salon smoothness, in the battle against humidity, Vogue’s editors put the new spate of at-home hair straighteners to the test. From (formaldehyde-free) keratin treatments to simple styling spritzes, here’s the final word on what fought frizz and cut down styling time—and how long the results lasted.
TREATMENT: KeratinPerfect Smoothing Duo, $65, sephora.com
CLAIM: Transforms damaged texture, repairs weak keratin bonds. A protective seal locks in moisture while repelling humidity, UV rays, and pollution for up to 30 days.
THE REVIEW: “After coating my whole head in KeratinPerfect formula, I waited ten minutes and then blow-dried and flat-ironed, which is supposed to seal in the treatment. My hair looked shinier and felt smoother. I wanted silky-smooth hair without having to straighten with a flat iron, which I definitely got, but my scalp felt a little itchy and my hair slightly weighed down. It looked great for three days and now I would say it’s 75 percent back to its original wavy state.”
TREATMENT: Keratin Complex Instant Keratin Repair System, $61, keratincomplex.com
CLAIM: Treatment duo smoothes hair by infusing keratin protein deep inside the cuticle.
THE REVIEW: “Last fall I tried a professional keratin treatment and I was hoping for similar results with Keratin Complex. I’m usually suspicious of serums—I hate my hair to look or feel sticky. I applied the Replenisher and then the Intense Rx serum before blow-drying and noticed that each strand had a nice shine. Even the ends of my hair got a boost (I’m in desperate need of a trim, but haven’t gotten around to it!). While it wasn’t the ultra-polished finish of the salon-grade solution, it certainly was a great DIY pick-me-up for in-between.”
TREATMENT: John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight, $10, johnfrieda.com
CLAIM: Polymers with keratin protein wrap around each strand of hair, maintaining straight styles for up to three days (or until next shampoo).
THE REVIEW: “I applied about fifteen pumps of the formula to damp hair and used a comb to work it through the strands. After I blow-dried as usual and flat-ironed, my hair felt very soft and stayed this way for 48 hours, which was remarkable because I was outside during most of that time in 80–90 degree heat. The next time I washed my hair, without even blow-drying, I could still see the effects of the product I used two days prior—no frizz and a lot less wave. It accelerated my morning straightening process and held up impressively,”
TREATMENT: Living Proof Straight, $29, livingproof.com
CLAIM: Patented molecules block humidity—and repel dirt—while gently relaxing natural waves.
THE REVIEW: “Aside from my aversion to the strong smell, this product is amazing. I sprayed it on dry hair to banish the dreaded ponytail crease, and after a quick comb-through and blow-dry, it worked.The next day I sprayed it on wet hair before combing, blow-drying, and styling, and that also made a huge difference. My hair lay almost as straight as it does after using a flat iron—and no flyaways!”
TREATMENT: Simply Smooth Touch of Keratin, $50, americanculturehair.com
CLAIM: Acts as a “filler,” restoring hair’s natural keratin without removing volume. Results last up to 30 days.
THE REVIEW: “It’s been about three months since my last relaxer, so I was due for a retouch. I sprayed the product onto dry hair and then flat-ironed. Even my non-relaxed roots were perfectly smooth and survived several days of intense humidity. The product lasted for about three days, but once I washed my hair it was only slightly easier to blow-dry (without using the product again). I think this product is exceptional for an instant boost between professional straightening treatments.”