Keratin smoothing in Hamburg
Keratin works differently from a chemical permanent straightening. It lays itself around the hair and makes it more supple. Frizzy hair calms down, blow-drying goes faster. Here in Hamburg-Hammerbrook you have three ways to go: keratin smoothing for hair that stays smoother for months, the keratin treatment as pure care, and Olaplex for hair stressed by bleaching. We take the time beforehand to work out what suits your hair. What the consultation appointment costs is in the price list.
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What actually happens during keratin smoothing
First your hair is washed with a deep-cleansing shampoo so that the cuticle is ready to take the product up. Then the keratin goes strand by strand into towel-dried hair and is left to soak in for 20 to 45 minutes. After that it is blow-dried and sealed strand by strand with the flat iron at around 200 to 230 degrees. Depending on hair length we allow two to three hours, so 120, 150 or 180 minutes. You will usually see a difference right after the appointment; how clear it turns out depends on your hair structure. Not every head of hair comes out poker straight.
How long the result lasts
We reckon with up to three months, and that is what our price list says as well. The result washes out slowly, so there is no hard edge at the roots the way there is after a perm. How long it holds with you depends on hair structure and care. Anyone who washes daily is back at the start sooner than someone who washes twice a week. Chlorinated water, salt water, the sauna and sport with a lot of sweat shorten the time. Frequently tying the hair up while it is wet also works against the result.
The first three days play their part
For the first 72 hours the hair stays down and unwashed. No braid, no clip, no hair tie, because every kink can set. Tucking it behind your ear is also better left alone. From day four you wash with a shampoo without sulphates and without sodium chloride, ideally only every two to three days. Sulphates rinse the keratin out faster than anything else. Before blow-drying or straightening, heat protection belongs in the hair.
Keratin treatment and Olaplex are something else
The keratin treatment is care, not smoothing. Depending on hair length it takes 45 to 75 minutes, gives shine and suppleness and holds for a few washes. Olaplex works on a different principle and contains the ingredient Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. According to the manufacturer it acts on the sulphur bonds in the hair that break open during bleaching and colouring. The Olaplex step itself takes about 30 to 60 minutes. With us you book the Olaplex full treatment with washing, treatment and styling, and we allow 75 minutes for that. Olaplex does not make hair straight.
Formaldehyde, limits and when we advise against it
Back in 2010 the food safety authority in Baden-Wuerttemberg found imported smoothing products containing 1.7 to 1.8 percent free formaldehyde, and the Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung (the German federal institute for risk assessment) rated this as harmful to health. Since May 2019 free formaldehyde has been banned in cosmetic products in the EU (Annex II, number 1577). We use only products declared free of formaldehyde and show you before the appointment what we work with. Sealing produces fumes, which is why we ventilate. In the case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, asthma or a known allergy we advise against it, and with an irritated scalp we postpone. On the matter itself: in its opinion No. 045/2010 of 17 November 2010, the Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung states that "in the European Union formaldehyde is not approved as an active substance in hair straightening products" (translation from the German; the original German wording is authoritative). If someone offers you a smoothing treatment that lasts considerably longer than what is described here, ask about the product and about the safety data sheet.
Results from the studio
Real clients, published with their consent.
Prices
- Keratin smoothing 2 h from 110 €
- Keratin treatment 45 min from 70 €
- Olaplex full treatment 1 h 15 min 90 €
All prices include VAT. For the current version, see the price list.
Frequently asked
What does keratin smoothing cost?
The price depends on hair length and hair thickness and is in our price list, as is what the consultation appointment costs. A short look at your hair says more than any assessment from a distance, so we look at it before the appointment. That does not commit you to a booking.
Does it hurt?
The treatment stays on the hair, and as a rule it does not hurt. The flat iron comes close to the roots and gets noticeably warm there. Straightening produces fumes that can irritate the eyes and airways, which is why we ventilate. If your scalp tingles or burns or your eyes water, say so immediately and we will stop. The more demanding part is the long sit of two to three hours.
Can you see the difference straight away?
Usually yes, the hair is already smoother when you leave the studio. How clear the difference turns out depends on how frizzy your hair was before. How it feels in everyday life you notice after the first wash on day four. We are happy to take a before-and-after photo, but only with your consent.
How often can I have it done?
Most clients come two to three times a year. What is refreshed is mainly the regrown roots; the old lengths rarely need a second round. We put colouring before the smoothing, or at least two weeks after it. In between, a keratin treatment keeps the hair supple.
Does it work on bleached hair too?
In most cases yes. Bleached hair is often more porous and takes keratin up well. We look at the structure beforehand. If the hair is badly damaged, we do an Olaplex build-up first and the smoothing at a second appointment. With brittle hair we honestly advise against it.
Where are you and who does the treatment?
We are at Spaldingstrasse 68 in Hamburg-Hammerbrook, around 500 metres from the U1 stop Hauptbahnhof Sued and less than 50 metres from the Repsoldstrasse bus stop. We are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00. In the hair area you will find master hairdresser Charlina, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Uemit. We will tell you in advance who is taking your appointment.
What clients ask next
- Highlights in Hamburg – Highlights, balayage and toning in the hair salon at The Aesthetic House in Hamburg-Hammerbrook.
- Balayage in Hamburg – Balayage in Hamburg-Mitte: soft transitions and a grown-out root without a hard line.
Where to find us
The Aesthetic House, Spaldingstraße 68, 20097 Hamburg-Mitte — a few minutes from the main station. Appointments by arrangement, by phone or online.