If you're considering a smoothing treatment at a hair salon in West Vancouver, you've likely come across both Cezanne and traditional keratin treatments. The choice between them isn't always straightforward—each has distinct advantages depending on your hair type, lifestyle, and goals. Let's break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Understanding the Chemistry: The Formaldehyde Factor
The most significant difference between Cezanne and traditional keratin treatments lies in their chemical composition. Traditional Brazilian keratin treatments often contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing ingredients like methylene glycol. These chemicals are effective at breaking down the hair's structure and reforming it in a straighter pattern, but they come with serious concerns.
Formaldehyde exposure during salon treatments can cause eye irritation, respiratory issues, and skin reactions. For stylists who perform these treatments regularly, the cumulative exposure presents even greater health risks. This is one of the primary reasons many salons, including Wish Dry Bar, have moved away from traditional keratin formulas.
Cezanne treatments use a completely different approach. The formula is formaldehyde-free, relying instead on a keratin protein complex that bonds to the hair without the harsh chemical restructuring. This makes it safer for both clients and the stylists performing the treatment, with no noxious fumes or safety concerns during application.
How Each Treatment Actually Works
Traditional keratin treatments work by using heat and chemicals to break the disulfide bonds in your hair—the bonds responsible for your natural curl or wave pattern. The hair is then flat-ironed to seal it in a straighter configuration. This creates dramatic straightening but fundamentally alters your hair's structure.
Cezanne works differently. Rather than breaking bonds, it infuses keratin protein into the hair cuticle and uses heat to seal it in place. Think of it like filling in the gaps and rough spots in your hair's surface rather than restructuring the entire strand. Your natural texture remains intact underneath, but the smoothed cuticle eliminates frizz and adds shine.
Results: What You Can Actually Expect
With a traditional keratin treatment, you'll see significant straightening. Curly hair becomes wavy, wavy hair becomes nearly straight. Some people love this dramatic transformation, but others find their hair looks flat, lifeless, or unnaturally pin-straight. The results typically last 3-6 months but can leave hair feeling different even after the treatment fades.
Cezanne delivers a more subtle result. Your hair will be noticeably smoother and more manageable, but you'll retain movement and body. If you have natural waves, you'll still have waves—just frizz-free, defined waves that don't puff up in humidity. Curly-haired clients find their curls become more defined and less prone to the frizz halo. Results typically last 3-5 months with proper care.
The Treatment Process Compared
Both treatments require a similar time commitment—typically 2-3 hours depending on hair length and thickness. However, the post-treatment care differs significantly.
After a traditional keratin treatment, you typically cannot wash your hair or get it wet for 72 hours. You can't put it in a ponytail, tuck it behind your ears, or do anything that might create a crease. This waiting period is crucial for the treatment to set properly, but it can be inconvenient and uncomfortable.
Cezanne has a shorter waiting period—usually 48 hours—and is generally more forgiving. While you still need to avoid washing and keep hair straight during this time, the treatment is more stable and less prone to issues if minor bending occurs.
Which Treatment Is Right for Your Hair Type?
Consider Cezanne if you want to eliminate frizz while keeping some natural texture, have fine or thin hair that might look limp with full straightening, are concerned about chemical exposure, color your hair and want to maintain vibrancy, or prefer a more natural-looking result.
Traditional keratin might be better if you want maximum straightening, have very coarse or resistant hair, don't mind the longer waiting period, and are comfortable with formaldehyde-based treatments.
Cost Considerations in West Vancouver
Both treatments are priced similarly in the West Vancouver market, typically ranging from $250-450+ depending on hair length. The investment is comparable, so the choice really comes down to your desired results and comfort level with the ingredients rather than budget.
Our Recommendation
At our West Vancouver salon, we exclusively offer Cezanne treatments because we believe the results are more natural-looking, the process is safer for everyone involved, and our clients consistently prefer the outcome. The treatment smooths and controls frizz without eliminating the character and movement that makes your hair uniquely yours.
If you're unsure which approach is right for you, we're happy to discuss your hair goals during a consultation. Every head of hair is different, and what works beautifully for one person may not be the best choice for another. The most important thing is that you leave feeling confident and loving your hair.