Natural treatments that transform — and retain clients
Words | Christina Pinto
A great hairstyle does more than flatter — it builds confidence. But when it comes to textured hair, achieving that result takes more than skill. It takes the right treatment, the right products, and a genuine understanding of what each client’s hair needs.
Stylespeak spoke with Shine Janarthanan, Director and Founder of Time Machine Salon and Academy, to explore how salons can elevate their textured hair offerings — and why natural treatments are leading the way.
Embracing What’s Natural
The salon industry has come a long way. Where services were once limited and largely one-size-fits-all, today’s clients expect — and deserve — treatments tailored to their hair’s unique characteristics. Textured hair, in particular, demands this level of care.
“Specialized treatments take into account porosity, elasticity, and nourishment needs,” says Janarthanan. “Supporting naturally textured hair isn’t just about aesthetics — it reduces damage and hair fall, and celebrates what’s authentic to each client.”
Understanding Texture — Beyond the Basics
With 15 years of industry experience, Janarthanan breaks textured hair into four core categories: Straight, Wavy, Curly, and Afro Curl — each with sub-types that make every client’s hair truly individual.
The concerns differ just as much as the textures:
- Straight hair — flatness, lack of volume
- Wavy hair — balancing moisture with definition
- Curly hair — dehydration and frizz
- Afro Curl — coarseness and manageability
“Different textures require different solutions,” she emphasises. “There’s no single product or protocol that works across the board.”
Why Natural Treatments Are Winning
Chemical treatments — keratin procedures, perms — were once the go-to for difficult-to-manage textures. But repeated use often left hair rough, brittle, and uneven. The industry has since shifted, and the evidence backs it up.
Nature-based formulations consistently deliver softer, shinier, and more resilient results — without compromising the hair’s integrity.
At Time Machine Salon, every treatment begins with a thorough assessment. “We look at dryness, dullness, brittleness, sensitivity, frizz, and any previous chemical history,” explains Janarthanan. “Based on that, we customise treatments using trusted brands like L’Oréal, Redken, Cotril, and Nashi Argan.”
For wavy to curly hair types, she recommends frizz-controlling formulas — gels or oil-based products — with ingredients like shea butter, argan oil, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar delivering the strongest results.
Treatments Worth Knowing
Today’s menu of specialized treatments gives salons real tools to address the full spectrum of textured hair concerns. Here are the ones making a difference:
Curl Detox Treatment — Removes product build-up from the scalp and strands that prevents curls from absorbing hydration. Deeply cleanses without stripping, restoring natural springiness and curl definition.
Hair Spa Treatment — A customisable treatment adapted with targeted products to address everything from lifeless to thinning hair.
Protein Treatment — Reinforces strands with a concentrated infusion of active ingredients to relieve dryness, smooth texture, and revitalise brittle ends.
Olaplex Bond Shaper Curl Rebuilding Treatment — Repairs, rebuilds, and redefines natural curls, restoring a healthier, more defined texture.
Curl Defining Rituals — Powered by manuka honey, ceramide, and glycerin, these treatments deeply nourish and strengthen curl definition — reducing frizz, improving hydration, and minimising breakage.
Janarthanan also highlights two treatments she considers particularly effective:
Redken Acidic Bond Concentrate Balance Treatment — Infuses hair with protein and moisture to boost hydration and shine, improve frizz control, reduce split ends, and restore pH balance.
Shea Butter Treatment by Beauty Garage — A three-step intensive repair process: a cleansing shampoo, a deeply nourishing injector spray, and a high-moisture shea butter mask that smooths strands, treats damaged ends, and leaves hair more manageable.
Timeless Treatment by Cotril — Built around hyaluronic acid, this anti-ageing treatment repairs deep strand damage, restores youthfulness, and combats the effects of pollution and environmental impurities.
The Bigger Picture
Advanced textured hair care is no longer just about managing a hair type — it’s about celebrating it. With improved formulations and increasingly personalized protocols, salons that invest in this space aren’t just delivering better results. They’re building trust, loyalty, and a reputation for expertise that clients keep coming back for.
