‘I’m getting my hair frozen this week’ was not a sentence I ever imagined announcing to the GH office – nor one that would’ve meant anything to me before I discovered hair cryotherapy. Yet this sub-zero salon treatment is set to become the next big thing in hair, particularly for women who’ve noticed their strands becoming drier and thinner with age.
Hair cryotherapy, or Hair.TOXX to give the treatment its official name, uses a tool that resembles a standard pair of straighteners. Look closer, however, and you’ll see ice forming on the ceramic plates (which are most definitely not heated).
Naturally, the promise of glossier hair piqued my interest. As someone with fine, yet frizz-prone strands, I’ve long dreamed of light-reflecting locks, but despite countless hair oils and shine sprays under my belt, I’d yet to strike gold.
I knew I was in good hands the moment I stepped into Haug London Haus, passing a fellow beauty lover who glided by with swishy, mirror-like strands, the handiwork of the frosty treatment.
How does Hair.TOXX actually work?
Robe at the ready, I settled into the salon chair, where I was greeted by Katie Collins, cryotherapy specialist and colour expert at Haug London Haus. With the icy plates in my peripheral vision, my first question was inevitable: ‘how does this actually work?’
As Katie explains, ‘Hair.TOXX works by using natural ingredients to shield the hair against natural and chemical damage as well as recovering damaged hair cuticle fibres. The sub-zero temperature of the cold tool contracts the cuticle to seal the treatment into the hair’s cortex to repair and rehydrate.’
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The ‘treatment’ in question is a bespoke mix of products, tailored to your hair concerns, and balanced for scalp health. As Katie tells me, each product features an impressive blend of natural actives including antioxidant-rich açaí berries, mineral-packed glacial water, hydrating hyaluronic acid, restorative avocado butter and protective propolis.
Once the products have been applied, the minus-16° icy tongs glide over wet hair, sealing those ingredients in for maximum impact. It’s almost like the cold-shot on your hairdryer taken to the next level. And no – in case you were curious, you won’t feel a thing (not even a chilly scalp!)
Better yet, the results are instantaneous.‘You don’t have any waiting time,’ Katie says. ‘It’s rinsed off and the hair is blow-dried and styled.’
What are the key benefits?
As Katie puts it, ‘the shine is just incredible!’ But there are deeper benefits beyond the instant glossy effect. ‘It will also restore internal structure, improve hydration and elasticity, even porosity, and protect against environmental stressors.’
This makes it particularly effective for mature women, since the menopause can affect the texture, dryness and density of hair. As Katie explains, ‘by improving the overall integrity of the hair and providing nutrients and antioxidants, it can prevent dullness and will give you the appearance of shinier, fuller and more manageable hair.’
‘It definitely helps with thinning hair, thanks to bodifying agents such as hydrolyzed wheat protein and hyaluronic acid, which are contained in the Protective Mask, Revitalizing Serum and the Snow Mask,’ – all of which are part of the Hair.TOXX product lineup.
Will it change my hair texture?
As someone who enjoys wearing their hair curled, the super-straight shape of my hair initially raised alarm bells. Katie was quick to reassure me. ‘The flat-iron shape has nothing to do with straightening the hair, it’s purely ergonomic’, she says. ‘In fact, because the treatment repairs without changing the hair’s structure, it’s a game-changer for strengthening and hydrating curls, removing frizz without affecting their natural pattern.’
The verdict
After my hair underwent sub-zero temperatures, followed by a blowdry, I swiped back and forth between my before-and-after shots in bewilderment. I hadn’t quite realised how lifeless and dull my hair had looked before until I saw the glossy, light-catching finish of the results. Not a strand of frizz in sight.
In fact, I found myself admiring my new, mirror-like lengths in disbelief that my own hair could look like this, and that it wasn’t, somehow, an impressively convincing wig.
Safe to say, I left the salon proudly swishing my hair as I walked. Not only did it look fantastic, it felt it too. It felt lighter, smoother and far easier to run my fingers through.
Days later, the magic was still going strong. As someone who wears heatless curls most days, I found my hair held its shape for far longer than usual, which was a miracle, given my curls typically drop within minutes.
So, yes – it’s safe to say I’ll be sad when the icy magic eventually wears off (and will promptly be booking a second session in). Luckily, with each treatment you also take home two full-size products to help prolong the results between visits.
A Hair.TOXX session at Haug London Haus costs £140, book here.
