Keratin Smoothing at Kohort Studio, Bhave Keratin Specialists, Richmond Melbourne

Safer-formula keratin smoothing that tames frizz, cuts styling time and holds through a Melbourne summer.

What Is Keratin Smoothing?

Keratin smoothing is a semi-permanent in-salon treatment that reshapes the hair's outer cuticle so it sits flatter, behaves better in humidity, and requires far less styling effort to look polished. It is not a permanent relaxer, it is not a Japanese straightener, and it does not remove curl pattern entirely. What it does is soften and smooth the hair's natural texture so frizz is dramatically reduced, blow-dry time is halved, and the hair holds a sleek finish without a daily round-brush and GHD marathon.

The active ingredient is keratin protein, the same protein that hair is naturally built from. The treatment infuses keratin and conditioning agents into the hair shaft, and heat from a flat iron seals those actives into the cuticle. Over the next three to five months, as the treatment gradually washes out, the hair returns to its natural texture without a harsh line of demarcation. You do not have to grow it out. You simply let it fade.

The single biggest question clients ask about keratin in Melbourne is about formaldehyde. This is a fair question. Old-school Brazilian blowout formulas relied on formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives to create the bond, and they produced strong fumes and compromised air quality in salons. Modern professional keratin systems have moved on substantially. At Kohort we use Bhave, an Australian-owned professional keratin system that uses a safer, lower-emission formula designed for modern salon environments. Bhave is not a zero-chemistry product. No smoothing treatment can claim that. But it is a considered, well-formulated system that prioritises the wellbeing of our stylists and our guests, and delivers a genuinely polished result.

Keratin smoothing is different to nanoplasty, which is a separate service at Kohort offered by Elodie. Nanoplasty is the true formaldehyde-free smoothing option, using nano-particle amino acid technology rather than keratin sealing. For clients who want the smoothing result with no formaldehyde chemistry whatsoever, nanoplasty is the pathway. For clients who want the classic keratin finish with the Bhave safer formula, this is the page for you.

Frizz, humidity resistance, manageability and shine are the four outcomes clients come in for. You keep your natural wave or curl, you simply gain control over it. Hair dries smoother on its own, holds a blow-dry longer, and sits down in sticky Melbourne summer weather instead of fluffing up the moment you step outside.

How KOHORT Approaches Keratin Smoothing

Keratin smoothing at Kohort is treated as a properly consulted chemical service, not a quick add-on. Your stylist will want to see your hair dry, look at its condition, check colour history, and ask how you usually wear it before recommending a keratin approach. This is not a one-size service. Fine hair, coarse hair, bleached hair, box-dyed hair and chemically treated hair all behave differently under keratin and call for different pacing.

We run all keratin services with the Bhave Keratin Smoothing System. Bhave was chosen deliberately. It is an Australian professional haircare brand with a strong track record in salons across Melbourne and Sydney, and its smoothing system is built around a safer-formula keratin chemistry that suits modern salon ventilation and client expectations. The system delivers a strong smoothing result without the acrid fumes of older Brazilian treatments.

Before any keratin work begins, your stylist will often recommend a L'Oréal Metal Detox pre-treatment if there is any box dye, mineral build-up or previous chemical history in the hair. Metal Detox neutralises metal particles inside the cortex that can interfere with chemical services. From $45, it is inexpensive insurance against uneven processing. For clients with significant colour or porosity history, Olaplex Chelating Treatment from $50 is the heavier detox option, particularly for anyone who swims regularly or has bore water at home.

Through the keratin service, bond support is built in. K18 Molecular Repair from $50 or Olaplex Bonding Treatment from $50 can be added to protect the internal bond structure while the cuticle is being reshaped. For clients with previously lightened or coloured hair, we strongly recommend one of these add-ons. Skipping bond support on compromised hair is one of the fastest routes to brittleness three weeks after a treatment.

The application itself is methodical. Hair is washed with a clarifying shampoo to strip back product residue, then Bhave keratin is applied section by section, combed through to distribute evenly, and allowed to absorb. After processing, hair is blow-dried smooth and flat-ironed in fine sections to seal the keratin into the cuticle. The flat-ironing is the slowest and most important stage. This is where your stylist's experience shows, because under-ironing leaves the treatment patchy and over-ironing damages the cuticle.

Grace is our lead keratin smoothing stylist. Her third-year apprentice training at Biba and Billie Jean Hair included extensive smoothing work, and at Kohort she has built a loyal book of keratin clients who rebook every three to four months. Billie also takes keratin smoothing appointments for her existing clients, particularly those pairing it with her creative colour work.

After the flat-iron seal, hair is typically styled straight and smooth for the rest of the day. You can rinse after twenty-four to forty-eight hours depending on the stylist's protocol, and from that point the keratin settles into the cuticle properly. Finishing products matter. Your stylist will talk you through a sulphate-free home routine that extends the treatment, including Kérastase Discipline or Bhave's own post-care range, and a lightweight Davines Liquid Luster gloss for shine refresh between washes.

Who Performs Keratin Smoothing at KOHORT

Grace, Keratin Smoothing Specialist

Grace is Kohort's go-to stylist for Bhave keratin smoothing. Trained as a third-year apprentice at Biba and Billie Jean Hair, she developed a specialist interest in smoothing services early and has refined her flat-iron seal technique to deliver consistent, long-lasting results. Clients book Grace for keratin on everything from fine wavy hair that frizzes in humidity through to dense, coarse hair that blows out to three times its resting volume. Her consultation style is practical and unhurried, and she will tell you honestly if keratin is the right fit for your hair or if another service would serve you better. Grace offers accessible pricing on foundational keratin services, making her a particularly good first-time option. Book with Grace.

Billie, Creative Keratin for Existing Colour Clients

With thirty years of colour experience, Billie takes keratin smoothing appointments for her existing clients, particularly those pairing keratin with her creative colour work. Her keratin approach is tailored for clients who want to keep the integrity of previously coloured hair while adding manageability and frizz control. Because Billie's book is primarily colour-led, keratin with her is typically booked as part of a combined colour-and-smoothing service. Currently welcoming existing clients only for new keratin bookings. Book with Billie.

If you are not sure which stylist to book for keratin smoothing, email salon@kohort.com.au with a photo of your hair and a description of what you are trying to solve, and we will match you to the right chair.

Keratin Smoothing Process, What to Expect

1. Consultation

Your stylist looks at your hair dry, asks about colour history, chemical history, how you usually style, and what specific outcomes you want from smoothing. Expect a discussion about formaldehyde, Bhave's safer formula, and how keratin differs from nanoplasty. A realistic expectation is set for how smooth your hair will be after treatment.

2. Clarifying Wash

Hair is shampooed with a clarifying shampoo, often twice, to strip product residue and open the cuticle for optimal keratin absorption. This is non-negotiable. Product build-up blocks the treatment.

3. Pre-Treatment Protection

Optional L'Oréal Metal Detox or Olaplex Chelating Treatment if colour history calls for it. Optional K18 or Olaplex Bonding if the hair is previously lightened or compromised.

4. Bhave Keratin Application

Keratin is applied in fine sections from roots to ends, combed through carefully, and allowed to absorb over the recommended processing time. Your stylist monitors the saturation closely.

5. Blow Dry

Hair is blow-dried smooth and flat using a round brush and nozzle concentrator, removing all moisture from every strand.

6. Flat Iron Seal

The slowest and most important stage. Hair is flat-ironed in fine sections at the correct temperature to seal the keratin into the cuticle. Expect forty-five minutes to ninety minutes of ironing depending on hair length and density.

7. Style and Home Care Brief

Hair is styled straight and smooth. Your stylist talks you through the first forty-eight hours, sulphate-free home care, and how to maintain the treatment across the next three to five months.

Keratin Smoothing Pricing at KOHORT

Bhave keratin smoothing at Kohort starts from $250 as per our treatment menu. That base price covers shorter, finer hair. Mid-length to long hair is quoted higher to reflect the additional product and application time, and thick, dense or coarse hair carries a further adjustment. Most keratin services at Kohort land between $350 and $550 depending on length, density and any colour or bond pre-treatments required.

Add-ons are priced separately and we will walk you through what is recommended based on your hair. L'Oréal Metal Detox from $45. Olaplex Chelating Treatment from $50. K18 Molecular Repair from $50. Olaplex Bonding Treatment from $50. Kérastase Fusio Dose finishing ritual at $50 for shine. Davines Liquid Luster at $25 for a lighter gloss refresh.

If you want a precise quote before booking, email salon@kohort.com.au with a clear photo of your hair in natural light and a brief description of your goal, and we will come back with a firm number. For clients with complex colour history, we recommend a fifteen-minute in-salon consultation before booking a full keratin service.

Aftercare for Keratin Smoothing

Aftercare decides whether your keratin smoothing lasts three months or five. The rules are simple and worth following.

Do not wash your hair for forty-eight hours after the treatment. This includes sweat washes, shower rinses, and getting caught in Melbourne rain. The keratin needs time to fully settle into the cuticle.

Do not tie your hair up or pin it back for the first forty-eight hours. Crease lines in keratin-treated hair can set in the cuticle and be difficult to brush out.

Use a sulphate-free, sodium-chloride-free shampoo and conditioner only. Sulphates and sodium chloride strip keratin out of the cuticle. We sell Kérastase Discipline, Bhave's own aftercare range and Davines Love Smoothing on our retail shelf, all of which are safe for keratin-treated hair.

Wash less. Two to three times a week is ideal. Every wash gradually releases keratin, and the less frequently you wash, the longer the treatment holds.

Use a leave-in smoothing serum after every wash. A pea-sized amount of Kérastase Discipline Oleo Relax or Bhave's smoothing oil, distributed through mid-lengths and ends, keeps the cuticle sealed and the finish polished.

Heat protect before any hot tool. Flat-irons, curling wands and hot rollers are all fine on keratin-treated hair, but a heat protectant is essential to prevent the cuticle from degrading.

Avoid chlorinated pools and salt water for the first two weeks. After that, wet hair with tap water and apply a leave-in conditioner before swimming. Rinse immediately after.

Book a Kérastase Fusio Dose Ritual at $50 or a Davines Liquid Luster at $25 between keratin treatments for a shine refresh. A mid-cycle gloss at around the eight to ten week mark can extend a keratin service closer to five months.

Who Keratin Smoothing Is Ideal For

You will love keratin smoothing at Kohort if your hair frizzes in humidity, takes too long to style, and you want a manageable daily finish without a daily GHD session. It suits wavy, curly and coarse hair that you want to soften rather than remove. It also suits anyone with fine, soft frizz that ruins a blow-dry at the first sign of Melbourne weather.

It is a particularly strong fit for clients who travel, commute by bike or tram, work long corporate days, or simply want to cut styling time from forty minutes to ten. Keratin is popular with South Yarra finance clients, Cremorne tech workers, and hospitality staff across Richmond and Melbourne CBD who want hair that survives a double shift.

Keratin may not be the right service if your hair is very tightly coiled and you want to keep all your curl pattern intact, if you have heavily bleached hair with significant breakage, or if you want a fully formaldehyde-free smoothing result. For the formaldehyde-free option, book a nanoplasty consultation with Elodie. For heavily damaged hair, we may recommend three to six weeks of bond-rebuilding treatments before booking keratin.

Keratin Smoothing for Clients Across Inner Melbourne

Our keratin book pulls from every inner Melbourne suburb. Richmond locals walk in from Bridge Road and Swan Street, with Cremorne tech workers from the REA, SEEK and MYOB offices booking Friday afternoon keratin slots to smooth out the work week. Burnley riverside clients and East Melbourne professionals book keratin to cut commute-day frizz down to nothing.

From south of the river, South Yarra clients cross Punt Road for Bhave keratin, particularly those spending time on Chapel Street in fashion, retail and hospitality where hair is on display daily. Toorak clients book keratin as part of their Spring Racing Carnival preparation, pairing smoothing with balayage maintenance in the weeks before Melbourne Cup. Prahran and Windsor guests come in for keratin that tames frizz without flattening the creative edge they style into their cuts.

From the north, Fitzroy, Fitzroy North and Collingwood clients book keratin for warmer-month frizz control, particularly those with dense wavy or curly hair that fluffs in summer humidity. Clifton Hill and Abbotsford clients request keratin as part of a broader health-forward hair plan that also includes bond-building and scalp treatments. Northcote and Fairfield clients are among our most loyal keratin repeat bookers, often returning every four months like clockwork. Carlton and Carlton North clients, particularly those with long thick brunette hair, use keratin to cut daily styling time in half.

From the east, Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell, Balwyn and Hawthorn East clients book keratin for polished, long-lasting smoothness that suits corporate Boroondara life. Balwyn has a particularly strong Asian family clientele where keratin on long thick dark hair is a signature regular booking. St Kilda clients pair keratin with beach-friendly colour because beach air, chlorine, salt and sun are hard on any chemically smoothed hair. Melbourne CBD apartment-belt clients book keratin in their lunch break (well, a long lunch break) as the ultimate corporate-polished hair investment.

No matter which suburb you are coming from, Kohort is a short tram, train or drive from most of inner Melbourne. Tram 48 and 75 run along Bridge Road directly past the door, Richmond and Burnley stations are close by, and parking is available on the street and surrounding side streets.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keratin Smoothing at KOHORT

Is Bhave keratin formaldehyde-free?

Bhave is a safer-formula professional keratin system designed for modern salon environments. It is not a zero-chemistry product, but it is formulated with significantly lower emissions than older Brazilian blowout systems. If you want a fully formaldehyde-free smoothing option, book a nanoplasty consultation with Elodie instead.

How long does keratin smoothing last?

Three to five months for most clients, depending on how often you wash, your home care routine, and how aggressive your styling habits are. Clients who follow sulphate-free aftercare typically get closer to five months.

Will keratin make my hair completely straight?

No. Keratin smooths and relaxes your natural texture but does not remove curl pattern entirely. Your wave or curl will still be there, just softer, less frizzy and easier to manage. If you want permanent straightening, ask your stylist about Japanese straightening elsewhere.

Can I get keratin if my hair is coloured or bleached?

Usually yes, with a L'Oréal Metal Detox pre-treatment and often with K18 or Olaplex Bonding added through the service. Heavily bleached hair may need three to six weeks of bond-rebuilding before keratin is advisable.

How soon after colour can I get keratin?

We recommend waiting at least two weeks after a colour service before keratin, or booking colour and keratin together in one appointment where the colour happens first. Ask Grace at consultation.

How much does keratin smoothing cost at Kohort?

From $250 as per our treatment menu, with most services landing between $350 and $550 depending on hair length, density and any bond pre-treatments required. Exact pricing is confirmed at consultation.

How long does a keratin appointment take?

Two to four hours depending on hair length and density. The flat-iron seal stage is the longest part of the appointment.

Can I wash my hair the day of keratin?

No. You cannot wash your hair for at least forty-eight hours after the treatment. Plan your appointment for a day when you can leave hair untouched overnight.

Can I tie my hair up after keratin?

Not for the first forty-eight hours. After that, tie-ups are fine but try to use soft scrunchies and avoid tight ponytail marks.

Is keratin safe during pregnancy?

We recommend checking with your GP or obstetrician before any chemical service during pregnancy. Many clients choose to wait until after birth and breastfeeding to book keratin.

How often should I book keratin?

Every three to five months depending on your hair and how it releases the treatment. Many clients book two to three times a year.

Which stylist should I book for keratin smoothing?

Grace is our keratin smoothing specialist and takes new bookings. Billie is taking keratin bookings for her existing clients only. If unsure, email salon@kohort.com.au.

Where is Kohort and how do I get there?

234 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121. Burnley and East Richmond stations are eight to ten minutes walk. Tram 48 and 75 run along Bridge Road directly past the door. From South Yarra and Toorak, ten to fifteen minutes via Punt Road. From Fitzroy and Collingwood, ten minutes via Hoddle Street.

Is there parking near the salon?

Yes. Two-hour metered street parking on Bridge Road and free longer parking on residential side streets within a block or two.

Related Reads from the Kohort Blog

• Keratin vs Nanoplasty vs Brazilian Blowout
• Cezanne vs Bhave vs Nanoplasty
• Keratin Treatments: Are They Safe?
• K18 vs Olaplex vs Bond Shaper

Book Your Keratin Smoothing

KOHORT Studio · 234 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121

Phone: 0423 979 900

Email: salon@kohort.com.au

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, bookings by appointment.

Book directly with our keratin smoothing stylists:

• Book with Grace
• Book with Billie (existing clients only)