Review of the nanoplasty frizzy hair treatment (and how to improve heat damage to your hair)

If your hair has become drier, frizzier and more unruly in midlife then you are not alone, for many of us, menopause (and perimenopause) can bring a significant change in hair texture and we begin to rely on our hair straighteners a little too much - but heat styling can make things worse, they really are not good for our hair!  I have 'kinky' hair, neither straight nor curly, and for many years I kept it short as it was easier to style.  But when my daughter was born I had this desire to go long again (it was a girly thing) and as hair straighteners were slowly improving (but were expensive) I felt confident I could learn to style it.  That was 25 years ago and I remember being very excited when I got my first GHDs although I've since moved over to Cloud Nine (more on that later). 

Last year Joe Price Stylist in Marlow invited me to his salon to experience 'hair botox' which is a deep-conditioning formaldehyde free salon treatment designed to repair damaged, frizzy or brittle. hair by filling in the gaps in the hair shaft.  I loved it!  It restores shine and moisture without harsh chemicals.

But then it got better and Joe invited me back to try his new treatment - nanoplasty, a smoothing treatment designed to reduce frizz and make hair more manageable, so you don't have to use your hair straighteners every day.

I'm sharing my thoughts on nanoplasty (4 months after my first treatment) and some practical tips for improving heat damage and protecting your hair.

Tia at Joe Price Stylist blow dried my hair for my recent photoshoot

My earrings are from a selection at Queen Mee Accessories - 10% off with FAB10

What heat damage from straighteners actually does to your hair

Hair straighteners work by using high heat to temporarily change the shape of your hair, but over time repeated heat can rough up the outer layer (the cuticle) which is what then creates that straw like feeling.  Common signs of heat damage are:

Dry and dull hair.
Frizz that appears instantly after drying.
Ends that snap or split easily.
Loss of natural waves - curls go limp or uneven.
Hair that feels rough and out of condition.

And the more damaged the hair becomes, the more we reach for the straighteners to fix it!  We are stuck in a never ending loop!  This is definitely me - or was!

Never straighten your hair twice in one day!

Joe explained to me that straightening hair twice in one day (without a fresh wash in between) is really bad because it causes cumulative heat damage which leads to even more extreme dehydration, split ends and breakage.  Applying high heat repeatedly within hours destroys the cuticle, strips natural moisture and is even more likely to cause permanent damage - that never ending loop!

Why midlife and menopause can make frizz worse

Hair changes around menopause are incredibly common and many women notice:

Their hair feels coarse and more wiry.
It's drier especially through the length.
Frizz increases even in hair that used to behave!
Hair feels more porous, it soaks up product but still feels dry.

There are lots of reasons this can happen (lack of or reducing oestrogen for example) but if your hair is already drier and more fragile, daily straightening can be harder on it than it used to be.

What is nanoplasty (and what does it do)?

Nanoplasty is a smoothing treatment designed to reduce frizz, soften the hair and make it more manageable. The main lifestyle win is that it can cut down how often you need straighteners, which is exactly what I was looking for.  There is no down time, you are in the salon for 2-3 hours but when you leave you are ready to go, and can wash your hair the next day.

Nanoplasty aims to:

Smooth the cuticles so. hair looks sleeker and shinier.
Reduce frizz and make hair easier to style.
Help hair to site better even if you air dry or blow dry.

You won't get dead straight hair but it will be smoother, softer and more manageable.  And this is exactly the result I got ... ​

My nanoplasty review and what changed for me

The biggest difference is that I do not need to straighten my hair every day, it is such an improvement, my hair is much more manageable.  I can wash it, and blow dry it with my Dyson Hair Dryer and a good styling brush and that is it, I do not need to get my hair straighteners out.  My new routine is that I only straighten my hair if I am going out for an event or social occasion where my hair needs to look and stay groomed but on a daily basis, at home and running errands, I don't bother and nothing terrible has happened, my hair still looks great.

I also noticed that frizz has reduced significantly, I can go out on a damp or rainy day and still feel presentable!

My hair feels softer and maybe has more shine, but it just looks and feels healthier and thicker.

It means that I spend less time getting ready, I can wash and style my hair and get on with my day without the additional five minutes of straightening.

I'm booked in for my second treatment in late March which will be about 4 months after my first treatment and I feel I am about ready for it now, a nanoplasty treatment can last for 4 to 8 months depending on hair type, how often you wash your hair etc.  As I am a daily washer, I was expecting around 4 months.  

Having nanoplasty has really helped me break the 'straighteners every day' habit without feeling my hair is messy.

Who is nanoplasty best for (and when you should be cautious)

If like me you have dry, frizzy hair that can be hard to manage, or you've noticed that menopause texture change, or you rely too much on straighteners (also me - my regular hairdresser was always commenting on the damage I was causing by over-straightening).

But if you have very fine hair and worry about losing volume or you have recently bleached your hair, or have a lot of breakage then be cautious.

I noticed that my highlights were brighter for the first few weeks after the treatment as nanoplasty does create a temporary lightening effect.  Tia (who did my treatment) explained this to me in advance.  And my hair was also a little flatter initially until I felt the treatment had settled nicely into my hair.  If you have a special occasion I'd recommend getting nanoplasty 3-4 weeks in advance.

A good stylist will talk you through whether you’re a suitable candidate, and what results are realistic for your hair type.

Left to right: my favourite hair styling tools, my Cloud Nine hair straighteners and the day after my first nanoplasty hair treatment

How to improve heat damage to your hair

Even with a smoothing treatment, your hair will be much happier with less heat and creating a simple repair routine will make a big difference.  Here are a few easy, actionable steps to try:

Turn down the temperature - most of us straighten at a higher heat that needed.  It is one of the reasons I swapped to Cloud Nine, they have different temperature settings, aim for the lowest that works for your hair and try to do less high-heat passes, aim for one or two gentler passes.  My new Cloud Nine The Original Iron has a vibrating option called the Revive mode that reduces friction, prevents snagging and distributes heat evenly for less damage.

Always use a heat protectant - they reduce moisture loss and help protect the hair from direct heat, use it on damp hair before blow-drying.  I am currently using Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment and it is excellent.

Upgrade your shampoo and conditioner - especially if your hair feels dry in midlife, look for a hydrating or moisture repair formula and ingredients like ceramides, oils, glycerin, amino acids or bond building technology.  If you do have nanoplasty you also need to make sure your shampoo and conditioner is sulphate free.  I am currently using Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Super Hydrating Combo.

Add in an extra treatment every week - so either a deep conditioning mask or a bond building repair treatment or a protein/moisture balance mask.

Keep regular hair appointments - heat damage shows at the ends so regular trims can stop split ends getting worse.  I see my hairdresser every 5 weeks for a cut and colour and if my hair is showing signs of damage we cut the ends off (even if I have to go shorter).  It always looks healthier and thicker.

Change how you dry your hair - a smoother blow dry reduces hair straightening, so make sure yours is 100% dry before moving onto straighteners, use a brush that gives tension without pulling (I recommend a Wet Brush Pro Detangler and then Kent make excellent hair brushes for styling and finally switch to cold for a last blast, this will enhance hair health, shine and manageability.  Alternatively a blast of cold water in the shower after washing will also help seal the hair cuticle after heat or cleansing has opened it.

My recommended salon in Marlow

If you are near to Marlow then I really do recommend Joe Price Stylist, Joe specialises in bespoke hair treatments from his private salon at the back of Marlow High Street, he works alongside his very able assistant Tia who has done my treatments and blow drys to a very high standard.  They are both so lovely and super-friendly and I always enjoy my visits to see Joe and Tia.  Book in a consultation first and they will assess your hair condition and advise on the best treatments, colour, cuts and aftercare.  

Nanoplasty really helped get my hair back to good condition, it felt like a reset, a chance to reduce the damage from years of over hair straightening and has meant less effort, less heat and less frizz, my hair is so much easier to manage.

And if you are trying to deal with heat damage then don't panic, with a few simple changes, you hair can start to feel and look better again.​  

Love from
Michelle xx


Disclaimer: my first nanoplasty treatment was gifted to me by Joe Price Stylist, this blog post contains affiliate links.

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Outfit details:
Red trousers (now in sale)
Polka dot blouse (prev season) similar here
Animal print clutch bag (very old) similar here
Gold chain belt
Snake print ankle boots
​Red drop earrings - 10% off with FAB10
​Glasses by Ahlem from CBTR Opticians, Beaconsfield
Hair styled by Tia at Joe Price Stylist, Marlow