Until the grand old age of 25, I had an absurd hair routine. For context: I have very curly (I’d say 3A), very thick hair — and I’ve never known what to do with it. So, from age 11, I religiously straightened my hair. Then from around 16 years old, I used to straighten it and then — *gulp* — curl it with the straighteners. Stupid, I know.
It wasn’t until a friend showed me the Curly Girl Method (and I got really into CurlTok) I finally got on board with embracing my curls. But it was a bumpy ride and, due to many factors, for a while it’s been, in the immortal words of Cheryl Cole, weak, limp, and lifeless. It was so dry that if I dared even tease it with a straightener, it would burst into flames. So, when I heard about a treatment that could supposedly smooth my curls, repair my dry hair, and enable me to take a dip or get caught in the rain without looking like a mad scientist afterwards, I was sold — but sceptical.
Fabriq treatment review
The treatment is by Fabriq — formerly known as KeraStraight and founded by hairdresser Jez Barnett in 2009 — and it’s called Reset. It’s a low pH protein treatment that claims to be able to transform the shape, strength, and condition of every hair type. As per the Fabriq website, Reset straightens, smooths, strengthens, repairs, protects against damage, adds shine, and fights humidity. And it lasts up to four months. It’s most suited to people, like me, who suffer with frizz, use heat to get their desired finish, or struggle with slow hair growth.
So far, so good. But the word ‘straightens’ made me apprehensive. I didn’t want to lose my curls completely — though I was keen to loosen them a little. I was also worried about damaging my hair further, or even altering it permanently. We have a love-hate relationship, but I’d never want to do anything to my curls that would change them forever.
After being reassured that the treatment can be tailored to however you want it — meaning the curls could stay — and that it definitely isn’t permanent, I decided to go ahead with it. And so, on a cold Saturday morning in early December, I visited Brooks & Brooks hairdressers in Holborn to have the Reset treatment done.
I made sure to turn up with my hair as it was — dry, detangled, washed the previous day, but, crucially, left au naturel. On arrival, I had a consultation with my designated, very lovely, stylist Libby. We talked about exactly what I wanted: for my curls to generally be a bit looser, and then quite a bit smoother at the roots — not totally straight but not kinky, as they naturally are. Libby said this was totally possible; that she would adjust the temperature of the straightening irons and amount of passes she did with them (AKA times she pulled my hair through them) to suit how relaxed I wanted each part of my hair to be.
How the Fabriq Reset treatment works
Quick explainer: the treatment works in three main steps. First, Libby washed my hair with gentle clarifying shampoo (sulphate-free, which is key if you have dry hair, and especially curly hair, which is more prone to dryness and frizz).
Next, she applied a pre-treatment spray, which enables the treatment to penetrate the hair, before applying the Reset treatment. Once on, Libby wrapped my hair in a plastic cap and left me to marinate for about 45 minutes. When time was up, she rinsed my hair and applied a replenishing mask, which was washed off after around two minutes.
Finally, Libby used a hair dryer and a brush to dry (and smooth) my hair, before ironing it straight, going down the strands multiple times. She did the most passes over my roots, so the curls would be more relaxed there than in the rest of my hair, as I’d requested. The iron temperature can be personalised too, to suit your hair type’s needs, with resistant hair needing more heat.
Overall, the treatment took about three hours (factoring in consultation, shampooing, treatment, drying/ironing, and discussing aftercare), but the time passed quickly. One thing to note is that you have to leave the salon with straight hair, which curly girls might not be too keen on. But you can wash your hair any time after 30 minutes, so if you hate wearing your hair straight, don’t make any plans immediately after the treatment. But once you’ve travelled half an hour home, you can get your locks wet and your lovely curls back.
My hair felt super soft and looked so shiny when I left the salon, and although it felt weird leaving with straight hair, I was only getting on a bus and heading home. I did wash my hair as soon as I got home (after about an hour), and then stood looking at myself in the mirror for about 45 minutes as it dried.
Now I know that you might be feeling sceptical yourselves, but I’m speaking with total sincerity when I say: my hair has never, in my entire life, looked as good as it did after that first wash. It was how I’ve wanted my hair to look my whole life: soft, shiny, defined curls, but looser than before and straighter at the top, making it look longer, less messy (IMO), and significantly more manageable.
Fabriq Reset treatment results
It seems hyperbolic to say, but after a year of bad hair days (which can really impact your self-esteem) and not being able to wear my hair down, I actually found the results quite emotional. I felt confident for the first time in ages, and my hair felt healthy. I could also go straight out without doing anything to it (except adding a little bit of curl cream for definition).
In the four months since, my hair has consistently looked good, and I’ve been able to wear it down every day without using any heat — something I’ve rarely felt comfortable doing in my 30 years of being alive.
Top tip: a stylist at Brooks & Brooks who’s had the treatment done herself recommended that I use Fabriq’s Hydrate shampoo and conditioner, and said you can really notice the difference when you don’t use it. While it might sound like an upselling technique, I’ve found it to be totally true. Over the last four months, whenever I’ve washed with anything other than Hydrate, I’ve noticed my hair is dryer. It’s never been as dry as it was pre-treatment, but it’s significantly shinier and softer when I use Hydrate. So much so that even though the treatment has just worn off and my curls are almost back to normal, I’m still using Hydrate, which continues to inject much-needed moisture into my hair.
FYI: I say my curls are almost back to normal because, just over four months after having the treatment, my hair still isn’t back to being quite as curly as it used to be. It’s curly enough that I’m once again straightening the roots, but the kinks don’t feel as tight as before — though my hair has grown over the last four months, which could have impacted this.
One main thing I’ve struggled with when it comes to my hair is festivals and summer holidays, as I don’t always have access to styling tools or showers, meaning my curls can get quite unruly. So, as it costs from £180 to £300 (depending on your hair type and length and the expertise of your stylist), I might save it as a once-a-year summertime treat to ensure my festival season is always as smooth as possible. Lucky for me, that’s coming up soon.
For more info and to book your Fabriq Reset treatment at Brooks & Brooks, click here. You can find other salons across the UK offering the treatment here.
