Women turn to Botox injections to maintain the salon blow-dry look

Posted: 17/09/2015

How far would you go to keep that bouncy, voluminous blow-dry intact after you’ve left the salon? As far as having your scalp injected with a paralysis-inducing toxin to prevent sweating and to prolong a salon blow-dry? 

This is the latest development in Botox which has long been used to treat excessive sweating, most frequently in the armpits. It is now being used by surgeons and dermatologists in the US to stop sweating on the scalp. Approximately 150 tiny injections of Botox are done to cover the scalp. The injections block communication between nerves and sweat glands, stopping production of perspiration. The reported results suggest that one procedure can keep sweat from the scalp for six months. 

The process is costly because of the amount of Botox required and is estimated to cost between $900 to $1,300 per treatment. But if this avoids $50 on a weekly salon blow-dry then it may be worth the expense. 

Elise Bevan, a solicitor in the clinical negligence team at Penningtons Manches, comments: “It is an interesting concept but, as with any new procedure, you should be aware of any potential complications and side effects. Other than the obvious pain of the actual procedure, the injections’ side effects of swelling, pain, and bruising are almost instantaneous. Sweating helps to regulate the body’s temperature. If you block sweat from coming off the top of your head, you will end up sweating elsewhere but, given that the scalp only makes up a small part of the body’s surface area, the lack of perspiration from the top of the heads should not cause harm. 

“The FDA has yet to approve Botox injections for your scalp and the more expansive terrain of your head comes with a different set of risks. The most common risk associated with Botox is the potential for drooping eyelids. If a dermatologist moves too far down from the scalp toward the face and injects a muscle near the temple, facial movement and structure could be impaired.  

“But on a more positive note, Botox injections in the scalp have also reportedly helped to stimulate hair growth. Although results are inconclusive, some dermatologists say the Botox can help promote activity at the follicle by relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow, possibly causing hair to grow. The bottom line is that scalp injections could help you to sweat less and reduce the number and cost of blow-dries but, before there's more concrete evidence on results and side effects, you may want to stick to dry shampoo.”

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