An honest guide for the guests already in my chair for color — because smoothing is something I add to what we do, not a reason to start over.

Here's the truth about Florida and your hair: you can leave my chair with color that glows and a finish that's glass-smooth, and the walk to your car will still test it. The humidity here is relentless, and if you've spent years fighting frizz between appointments, you've probably wondered whether a smoothing treatment is worth adding. Often the answer is yes — but how you add it, and which one, matters more than most salons will tell you. So let me be straight with you, the way I would in the chair.

Smoothing is an add-on — not a reason to start over

I'm a color studio first. My focus is lived-in, low-maintenance color — brunette, copper, red, and Lived In Grey — and smoothing lives alongside that as something I add for guests I'm already coloring. If you're already a color guest, this is for you. If you're new and smoothing is what brought you here, I'd genuinely rather start with your color and get to know your hair first — then we can talk about whether smoothing belongs in your routine.

The one I reach for — Pure Brazilian Original

This is my most intensive smoothing treatment, and the reason I moved on from the Brazilian Blowout — I wanted something that genuinely improves the health of your hair, not just coats it. It's keratin-based, and it does two jobs at once: it smooths the hair and rebuilds it, filling the cuticle and laying down a protein layer along each strand, so your hair stays in better shape even as the treatment gradually wears off. It takes around 90 minutes, uses hydrolyzed Brazilian keratin, amino acids, and nourishing butters like cocoa seed, and it doesn't break your hair's bonds — it works with your hair. There's no downtime: you can wash it and tie it up the same day. Results average around four months and fade gently, with no harsh line.

And it's a smoothing treatment, not a straightener, so it respects your texture — very curly hair keeps defined, frizz-free curls, waves fall sleeker, and straight hair simply gains polish. Best of all for my guests: it works beautifully on colored hair. More porous, color-treated hair tends to drink it in, and your color often looks richer and glossier afterward.

Short on time? Pure Brazilian Express

Not every visit needs the full treatment. The Express is a light spray that adds about 10 minutes to a standard blow-dry — no processing, no downtime. It noticeably cuts frizz, speeds up drying, and leaves a smoother, glossier finish that lasts around four to eight washes before fading away cleanly. It's a lovely way to try smoothing before committing to the Original, or to look polished before a wedding, holiday, or photoshoot.

The honest part — smoothing and color have to be sequenced

This is where I'll tell you what a place selling a service often won't. Smoothing and color can't just be stacked on the same day without thought:

• I won't smooth within about a week of a fresh color service — your color needs to settle first.
• Pure Brazilian is the most forgiving around color, which is a big reason it's my pick for color guests. It works with your hair, doesn't disturb your natural structure, and colored hair takes it beautifully.
• I also keep excellent acid-based systems — Oway's botanical Hstraighten and Wella's SmoothFiller — for the right hair. But I'll be honest about why they aren't usually my first choice for a color guest: around permanent grey coverage they want roughly a week's breathing room, and the acid step can lift a little warmth or lighten your result slightly. When you've trusted me to land your Lived In Grey blend or your copper exactly right, I'd rather not gamble a half-shade. That's the honest reason Pure Brazilian usually wins here.

The other systems I keep — full detail

If you want to read about each in depth:

• Keratin Complex — my Keratin Complex options, including the 15-minute refresh and the bolder, formaldehyde-free straightening system.
• Oway Hstraighten — the clean, botanical, 87%-naturally-derived smoothing treatment.
• Wella SmoothFiller — the minimal-ingredient, demi-permanent "filler" that rebuilds the strand from the inside.

Getting the most out of it

A little prep goes a long way — here's how to get the most out of a color or smoothing appointment, and at home, the Wella Ultimate Smooth collection helps stretch your results between visits. All of it ties back to what I believe about the products I put on your hair — high-performing and responsible, never one at the cost of the other.

If you already color with me and you're curious, just mention it at your next visit. I'll look at your hair, your color schedule, and your goals, and tell you honestly whether smoothing is worth it for you.

— Dean Downing, Simply Colour