2-for-1 Treatment at Lockonego

Considering how pale I am, I have some seriously Afro hair, and I’ve been battling it for years.  The day GHDs came onto the market was the day my life really began (and other hyperboles). 

So it seemed that I was a good choice to try out a keratin treatment at the Lockonego salon on the King’s Road. And the best thing? It has a festive promotion for December and January: book in for a treatment with a friend and one will be free; and then head off for cocktails at Eight Over Eight across the road and get them half price. Good, eh?

Keratin, for those who’ve never heard of it, is immensely strong protein, and the treatment involves giving your hair an extra layer of this protein to stop it going, to put it technically, mental. It strengthens your hair and relaxes it, and hopefully does away with the frizz.  Hm. Let’s see, shall we?

First, my hair was cleaned to within an inch of its life. Three deep cleanses; I kid you not. It was so clean that the squeakiness of fingers on hair was akin to nails down a blackboard, and made my teeth itch. I was then sat in front of a mirror while the lovely Glenn worked his magic.

After a rough blow dry that caused a minor hair explosion on my head, the keratin was slopped on, serum-style, to every strand of hair, tiny section by tiny section. It’s strong-smelling stuff, and I wondered nervously whether my hair would fall out. I mean, at least that would solve the frizzing problem. Fully coated, it was left to soak in for 30 minutes, and then it was blow-dried and further straightened. My hair has never been so shiny or soft – or completely straight. Even those annoying fuzzy bits around the hairline.

Then came the set of strict instructions. For three days, on no account was I to let my hair get wet, to tie it back or put it behind my ears. If it got at all wet or crinkled, I was to straighten it at once. The keratin must be allowed to do its work undisturbed. Think it through – that’s difficult. Walking the dogs in a snowstorm was the biggest test. But I was determined to follow the rules, because the real test was not going to be what my hair looked like on leaving the salon, but what it did when I washed it.

When my three days were up, I was delighted to scrub the grease out. I didn’t use serum or leave-in conditioner – I just left the hair wet, plonked myself down in front of The Apprentice final and waited nervously for the explosion.

And it didn’t come. Wow. Don’t get me wrong, my hair didn’t just fall into a salon-perfect style. Of course not. But the frizz was definitely properly reduced – including the bits around the hairline. As it dried, it lay reasonably flat, rather than expanding to look like the ‘before’ shot of the Frizz-Ease advert. Pretty incredible.

Apparently the treatment lasts three months, and further treatments are cumulative – so theoretically my hair could get even sleeker.  The salon and the staff were lovely and welcoming. Keratin treatments go from £150; bear in mind that that’s for three months of frizz-reduction, and the promotion will get you two of the treatments, so you can split it with a friend. Promotion times for the salon are Monday to Thursday, 9am  t0 4pm; cocktail promotion time is 5 to 8pm. Get booking.

Lockonego
394 King’s Road
Chelsea
SW10 0LN

Tel: 020 7795 1798