Hair
Keratin / smoothing prices in the US
Keratin / smoothing runs $199–$350 at most US salons, median $280. That’s from 231 prices on 131 published menus across 15 cities — not an estimate.
Low
$20
Typical
$199–$350
Median
$280
High
$475
Keratin / smoothing cost by city
Cities where we hold menus from at least two salons.
| City | Median | Range | Salons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | $300 | $250–$400 | 6 |
| New York, NY | $350 | $20–$362 | 4 |
| San Diego, CA | $300 | $225–$350 | 4 |
| Atlanta, GA | $225 | $150–$399 | 3 |
| Austin, TX | $175 | $20–$350 | 3 |
| Carrollton, TX | $163 | $55–$180 | 3 |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $138 | $100–$300 | 3 |
| San Jose, CA | $275 | $225–$400 | 3 |
| Chicago, IL | $80 | $75–$350 | 2 |
| Gilbert, AZ | $350 | $160–$450 | 2 |
| Goodyear, AZ | $238 | $225–$250 | 2 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $350 | $65–$1400 | 2 |
| San Antonio, TX | $300 | $250–$350 | 2 |
| San Francisco, CA | $338 | $300–$375 | 2 |
| Washington, DC | $270 | $135–$400 | 2 |
Book keratin / smoothing direct
Listed providers, prioritised by cities we hold keratin / smoothing pricing for. Confirm the service is on their menu before booking.
African Hair Braiding By Beju
Book appointmentSan Diego, CA
Awa's Hair Braiding
Book appointmentSan Diego, CA
Luna Lucci Hair Salon
Book appointmentNew York, NY
Jovi Hair Suite
Book appointmentNew York, NY
Bhumi’s Salon
Book appointmentCarrollton, TX
ADJIA'S HAIR BRAIDING
Book appointmentSan Antonio, TX
Ametrine Salon
Book appointmentGoodyear, AZ
Designs by Terrie
Book appointmentSan Antonio, TX
Reading on keratin / smoothing
- Non-Keratin Hair Smoothing: A Practical GuideAcid, amino-acid, tannin and thio smoothing systems all work without a keratin-plus-aldehyde formula. Here is what each chemistry actually does, how long it holds, and where the trade-offs land.
- Keratin vs Non-Keratin Smoothing: What to BookAcid smoothing, tanino therapy, thermal reconditioning and bond treatments all get sold as keratin alternatives, and they behave very differently. Here is what each does to the hair and who should pick which.
- Keratin vs Other Hair Smoothing Treatments ComparedKeratin, Japanese reconditioning, relaxers, acid smoothing and silk presses all promise smooth hair. They differ in how much of the hair's bond structure they destroy to get there.
- Hair Botox vs Keratin vs Tanino: Smoothing Compared$150 to $500 buys hair botox, keratin, or tanino in 2026. Compare formaldehyde content, longevity, frizz control, and which smoothing treatment fits your hair.
- Premium Non-Keratin Smoothing: The Systems That WorkCysteine, tannin, glyoxylic acid and thermal reconditioning all smooth hair without a keratin formaldehyde system. Here is how each chemistry behaves, which hair types it suits, what smoothing costs across sampled salons, and how to maintain the result.
- Alternatives to Keratin: Professional Smoothing OptionsAcid smoothing, thermal reconditioning, bond building, and deposit-only masks all get sold as keratin alternatives. Here is what each one changes, what it cannot do, and who is disqualified.
Keratin / smoothing — FAQ
How much does keratin / smoothing cost?
Across 131 US salon menus we've collected, keratin / smoothing runs $199–$350 at most places, with a median of $280. The full spread is $20 to $475 — the low end is usually a junior stylist or a partial service, the high end a senior provider in a high-cost metro.
Where is keratin / smoothing cheapest?
Across the 15 cities where we hold menus from more than one salon, Chicago, IL has the lowest median at $80 and Las Vegas, NV the highest at $350. These are small samples — 2 and 2 salons respectively — so treat them as a sighting shot, not a market average. The table above has the rest.
Are these prices what I'll actually pay?
They're list prices from providers' own published menus, not quotes. Expect the final figure to move with length, density, add-ons and who's in the chair, and expect tip on top. Booking direct with a provider is the only way to get a firm number — the book links on this page go straight to their own scheduling.
Other hair services
Braids · $130Hair color · $90Twists (Senegalese/passion/kinky) · $175Haircut · $55Highlights · $175Sew-in / weave · $175Blowout · $65Knotless braids · $230Balayage · $250Root touch-up / color · $100Men's haircut · $53Box braids · $180Deep conditioning / treatment · $50Boho braids · $300Relaxer · $120Kids haircut · $35Silk press · $123
Prices sourced from 644US providers’ own published menus (last updated 2026-10-07).Method on the price index. Providers on Best Hair Guideare paid listings; booking links go direct to each provider’s own scheduling, and are marked rel="sponsored".