Frizz gone, wave kept

Keratin and Smoothing Treatments

Several different smoothing treatments, because they do genuinely different things. The point is halving your blow dry, not erasing your texture.

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Sleek smooth finish after a keratin treatment at Shade Studio in Long Branch, New Jersey

Written and reviewed by Shauna Bibi Adri, owner of Shade Studio, eighteen years behind the chair, IBE certified, Milbon trained and Bellami certified.

Updated August 2026

This is the best hair studio I have ever been to. Color, cut, keratin, blow outs, all first class.
Joanne F., via Google

Smoothing is a dial, not a switch

Smoothing is a dial, not a switch: you can take the frizz out and keep your wave. Shade Studio carries several smoothing and keratin treatments because they behave differently on different textures. Most last three to five months, and sulfate free shampoo is the single biggest factor in how long yours holds.

The most common thing people get wrong about smoothing is thinking it means poker straight. It does not have to. Most clients here want the frizz gone, the shine up and their blow dry time cut in half, while keeping the wave that makes their hair theirs. Where you land on that dial is a decision you make with your stylist, not something the treatment decides for you.

We carry more than one smoothing option on purpose. They behave differently on different textures and different color histories, and having a range is what lets us match the treatment to your hair instead of selling you the only one in the cabinet. Living three blocks from the ocean, humidity is not theoretical here, and this is one of the most requested things we do through the summer.

Who books this

If summer humidity wins
The shore is humid from June through September. If your hair behaves for exactly as long as it takes to walk to the car, this is the service.
If your blow dry takes an hour
Getting that down to twenty minutes is the change most clients actually notice day to day, more than the look itself.
If you want smooth, not flat
A lighter express treatment takes the frizz without taking the body. You do not have to choose between the two.

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What happens

We start by looking at your texture, your color history and what you actually want to keep. That conversation decides which treatment you get, and it is worth being honest in it: if you love your curl, say so, because we can protect it.

The treatment is applied section by section, processed, and then sealed in with heat. It is not a quick appointment and the smell is real, though far less than the reputation suggests with the formulas we use now.

You leave with a specific washing window. Follow it exactly. The first few days after a smoothing treatment do more to decide how long it lasts than anything you do in month two.

Making it last

Sulfate free shampoo is not a suggestion here, it is the whole game. Sulfates strip a smoothing treatment out faster than anything else you could do. Washing less often helps too.

Most people are back in every three to five months. Plenty of clients time it to land just before summer, which is the right instinct on the shore.

You can see smoothing and keratin results on our Instagram, which is where the freshest work goes first.

Who does this work

Shauna Bibi Adri
Owner, eighteen years behind the chair. About Shauna
Megan Tangerman
Haircut specialist. A smoothing treatment and the right cut together is what makes the finish hold. About Megan
Pricing
Each treatment is priced separately because they are genuinely different services. Current rates are on the service menu and confirmed at your consultation.

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Questions we actually get asked

Will it make my hair dead straight?

Not unless you want that. Smoothing is a dial, not a switch. Most people here are after the frizz gone and the blow dry time halved while keeping their wave. Tell your stylist where on that dial you want to land.

Which treatment is right for me?

That depends on your texture, your color history and how much you want to keep. We carry several because they do genuinely different things, and picking for you is part of the consultation rather than something you should have to research first.

How long does it last?

Typically three to five months depending on the treatment, your hair, and how often you wash. Sulfate free shampoo is the single biggest factor in stretching it.

Can I do it if my hair is colored?

Usually yes, and plenty of clients do both. Order matters, so we plan color and smoothing together rather than treating them as unrelated appointments.

Does it fix damage?

Smoothing changes how the cuticle behaves, which makes hair feel dramatically better, but it is not a repair treatment. If the real problem is damage, a bond treatment is the honest answer and we will say so.

How soon can I wash it?

It depends which treatment you have. Your stylist gives you the specific window before you leave, and it is worth following exactly. The first few days decide how long the whole thing lasts.

Book a smoothing treatment

Book your appointment, or call (732) 995-9372. Not sure which one you need? Book a consultation and we will pick it with you rather than for you.