Part 3 - The Complete Guide to Professional Hair Treatments

Part 3 — Finding The Right Treatment For Your Hair

Part 1 helped us understand your hair. Click to read.

Part 2 took us through the treatments. Click to read.

Now let's put the two together.

By now, you probably have a better idea of what the different treatments are designed to do.

But there's a good chance you're still thinking:

"That's all very well... but what should I actually get?"

Fair question. So rather than give you another long list, let's look at some of the situations we come across most often.

🤔 Start With the Problem, Not the Treatment

Before you choose a treatment, ask yourself one simple question:

What bothers me most about my hair right now?

Not six months ago.

Not what your friend had last week.

Right now.

Because your hair can change quite a lot. Let's say your hair has always been a little frizzy, but you've recently had it coloured. The priority may have changed. Or perhaps you've spent months repairing your hair and now it's in much better condition, but you still want easier styling.

The answer isn't necessarily the same treatment you had last time. So here's a simple place to start.

💧 "My hair is dry, rough and dull."

If your biggest complaint is dryness, lack of softness or hair that feels rough to the touch, look towards moisture and hydration first.

Treatments such as SP Intense Hydrating, Moroccan Oil Treatment and Redken Moisture Infusion may be appropriate depending on the condition of your hair. A quicker Schwarzkopf Express Spa can also be useful when you're looking for a shorter conditioning treatment.

If your hair is both dry and damaged, though, moisture may not be the whole answer.

Think: 💧 Hydrate first, then assess whether the hair also needs strengthening or repair.

💪 "My hair feels weak or breaks easily."

If you're noticing breakage, excessive stretching when wet or hair that simply doesn't feel as strong as it used to, it's worth looking at strengthening and repair.

This is particularly relevant if you've been colouring, lightening or heat styling regularly.

Depending on the condition, options such as Nashi Filler Therapy, Olaplex Pro Treatment or Redken Acidic Bond Repair may come into the conversation.

The important word here is condition. We wouldn't automatically recommend the strongest-sounding treatment just because your hair is breaking. Sometimes the hair needs a combination of care, and sometimes it needs a little time.

Think: 💪 Strengthen, then repair where necessary.

✨ "My hair is healthy enough. I just want less frizz."

This is a very different situation.

If your hair isn't particularly damaged but you're tired of puffiness, flyaways and fighting with your hair every morning, you're probably looking more towards smoothing and manageability.

This is where treatments such as Smoothing, Keratin, Kera Smooth and Nanoplastia come into consideration.

But these treatments aren't interchangeable. There's a big difference between wanting:

"I want my hair to be less frizzy."

and:

"I want my hair to be straight."

The first is about manageability. The second is a much bigger change to the hair's shape. That distinction is worth discussing with your stylist before you book.

Think: ✨ Decide on the finish you actually want first.

🛡️ "I've coloured or bleached my hair and it feels damaged."

This is where we'd slow down a little.

If your hair has been lightened or chemically treated and is now feeling brittle, porous or fragile, your first instinct might be to make it smooth.

But repair may need to come first.

Olaplex Pro Treatment and Redken Acidic Bond Repair are among the repair-focused options on our menu.

And once the hair is in better condition, you can start thinking about other goals such as smoothing or additional conditioning.

There's no prize for getting every treatment at once.

Think: 🛡️ Repair the foundation before chasing the finish.

🌱 "My scalp is oily, flaky, itchy or just doesn't feel right."

If your scalp is bothering you, don't automatically treat the lengths of your hair and hope the problem disappears.

Start with the scalp.

Our scalp-focused options include SP Anti-Dandruff Treatment, SP Hair Loss Treatment, Aveda Organic Scalp Ritual and Aveda Botanical Ritual.

And if you're experiencing significant or persistent hair loss, we'd always recommend looking into the underlying cause rather than relying on a salon treatment alone.

Think: 🌱 Start where the hair starts.

🔄 Can You Combine Treatments?

Yes—but more isn't necessarily better.

This is another area where clients sometimes get caught up in the menu.

"I'll have the repair treatment, the protein treatment, the moisture treatment and the smoothing treatment..."

We understand the enthusiasm. 😂

But your hair doesn't need a buffet. Some treatments complement each other beautifully. Others may be unnecessary at the same time, particularly if the hair is already stressed. This is why treatment combinations should be decided based on the condition of your hair and the result you're trying to achieve.

Sometimes the best plan is one treatment today and another a few weeks later.

💬 If You Remember One Thing...

Good hair care isn't about doing more. It's about doing what your hair needs, in the right order.

📅 How Often Should You Have a Hair Treatment?

There's no magic number.

Some people benefit from regular maintenance because they colour or heat-style their hair frequently. Others may only need an intensive treatment when their hair starts showing signs of dryness or damage.

Think of treatments as maintenance rather than a monthly obligation.

If your hair feels great, you don't necessarily need to keep adding treatments simply because it's been four weeks. And if your hair is struggling, waiting for your "usual appointment" isn't particularly helpful either.

Your hair will tell you more than the calendar will.

💬 If You Remember One Thing...

Don't treat the calendar. Treat the hair.

🪞 A Quick Hair Check Before You Book

Here's the simplest version of everything we've covered.

💧 Dry, rough, dull? Look towards: Moisture & Hydration

💪 Weak, stretchy or breaking? Look towards: Strength & Repair

🛡️ Chemically damaged or over-processed? Look towards: Repair & Bond Care

✨ Frizzy and difficult to manage? Look towards: Smoothing

🌱 Oily, flaky or irritated scalp? Look towards: Scalp Care

🎨 Coloured or lightened? Look at the condition first. Your hair may need moisture, strength, repair or a combination.

And if you're ticking several boxes? That's completely normal.

It simply means your hair needs a little more thought than a one-word answer.

💬 The Questions We Hear All the Time

"Can I have a Hair Spa if my hair is colored?"

Absolutely. The important thing is choosing a Hair Spa that suits the condition of your colored hair.

"Is Keratin the same as a Hair Spa?"

No. A Hair Spa is a broad category of conditioning and treatment services, while Keratin is a smoothing treatment designed around manageability and a smoother finish.

"If my hair is damaged, should I avoid smoothing treatments?"

Not necessarily—but the condition of the hair matters. If the hair is significantly compromised, repair may need to come first.

"Is expensive always better?"

Not when it comes to treatments. The most expensive treatment on the menu isn't automatically the best treatment for your hair.

"Can my stylist tell me what I actually need?"

That's exactly what a consultation is for.

You don't need to walk into the salon knowing the name of the treatment. Tell us what you're unhappy with, what you've done to your hair recently and what result you're hoping for.

We'll take it from there.

💬 If You Remember One Thing...

You don't need to walk into a salon knowing what treatment to ask for. You just need to know what you'd like your hair to feel and look like.

☕ One Final Thought

If you've made it through all three parts, you probably know more about professional hair treatments than you thought you would when you started.

But here's the thing we keep coming back to at GlamSquad:

There is no universally "best" hair treatment.

There is only the treatment that makes the most sense for your hair, at this particular point in time.

Your hair changes. Your lifestyle changes.

You colour it, grow it, cut it, straighten it, curl it, expose it to heat, take it on holidays and occasionally neglect it a little. We all do. So don't get too attached to one treatment just because it worked brilliantly six months ago.

Pay attention to what your hair is telling you now. And if you're still not sure, that's perfectly fine.

That's what a good consultation is for. Tell us what you're noticing. Tell us what you've done to your hair. Tell us what you want it to look like.

We'll help you work out the rest.

💬 If You Remember One Thing...

The best treatment isn't the one everyone is talking about. It's the one your hair actually needs.

🌟 And that's the complete guide.

Part 1: Understand your hair.
Part 2: Understand the treatments.
Part 3: Put the two together.

Hopefully, the next time you look at a salon menu, it feels a little less like a list of mysterious names and a little more like a set of choices you actually understand.

👉 Explore more Expert Guides from GlamSquad