1. After shampooing with Sleek Shampoo, rinse and towel dry, then part hair into four sections. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
1. After shampooing with Sleek Shampoo, rinse and towel dry, then part hair into four sections. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
3. Cover the head in plastic wrap, keeping hair smooth. See manufacturer’s instructions for processing time (between 10 and 50 minutes depending on formula and strand test). “Make sure your client sits straight during the whole service so the hair stays really smooth,” Smith says. Use the knot strand-test method after 10 minutes and repeat every five minutes. If the knot opens easily, more processing is needed.
3. Cover the head in plastic wrap, keeping hair smooth. See manufacturer’s instructions for processing time (between 10 and 50 minutes depending on formula and strand test). “Make sure your client sits straight during the whole service so the hair stays really smooth,” Smith says. Use the knot strand-test method after 10 minutes and repeat every five minutes. If the knot opens easily, more processing is needed.
2. Begin at nape, take a ½-inch horizontal part. Generously apply Opti.smooth Smoothing Crème. Use a wide-tooth comb with minimal tension to straighten. Smooth with fingers.
2. Begin at nape, take a ½-inch horizontal part. Generously apply Opti.smooth Smoothing Crème. Use a wide-tooth comb with minimal tension to straighten. Smooth with fingers.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water for 7-10 minutes. “Time is money in the salon, so hairdressers sometimes hurry through things. A huge part of this service is the rinsing,” Smith says. “Set a timer, because you may think, ‘Oh it’s been long enough,’ but this product is very thick and must be rinsed properly.” Gently towel dry and remove tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water for 7-10 minutes. “Time is money in the salon, so hairdressers sometimes hurry through things. A huge part of this service is the rinsing,” Smith says. “Set a timer, because you may think, ‘Oh it’s been long enough,’ but this product is very thick and must be rinsed properly.” Gently towel dry and remove tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
5. Using medium heat blow dry hair to 80 percent. “Use your fingers as a tool to separate the hair as it dries,” Smith says. “Your hands and fingers can assist in smoothing.”
5. Using medium heat blow dry hair to 80 percent. “Use your fingers as a tool to separate the hair as it dries,” Smith says. “Your hands and fingers can assist in smoothing.”
6. Apply Sleek Iron Smoother, section hair into quadrants. Beginning at nape, take a thin horizontal parting, iron the section three times until it is silky, shiny and no longer feels coated. Repeat through entire head.
6. Apply Sleek Iron Smoother, section hair into quadrants. Beginning at nape, take a thin horizontal parting, iron the section three times until it is silky, shiny and no longer feels coated. Repeat through entire head.
7. Begin at nape, apply Opti.smooth Conditioning Neutralizer ½-inch from scalp through ends. Comb gently with wide-tooth comb using minimal tension. Process for 10 minutes, continually smooth the hair. Rinse with warm water for 5-7 minutes, keeping hair straight. Towel dry and remove tangles with wide-tooth comb. Apply Opti-smooth Post-Treat Crème evenly to mid-lengths and ends. Leave in 2-3 minutes, rinse and towel dry. Blow dry with fingers to 80%. Then apply Sleek Iron Smoother and flatiron. Finish with Sleek Sealing Serum.
7. Begin at nape, apply Opti.smooth Conditioning Neutralizer ½-inch from scalp through ends. Comb gently with wide-tooth comb using minimal tension. Process for 10 minutes, continually smooth the hair. Rinse with warm water for 5-7 minutes, keeping hair straight. Towel dry and remove tangles with wide-tooth comb. Apply Opti-smooth Post-Treat Crème evenly to mid-lengths and ends. Leave in 2-3 minutes, rinse and towel dry. Blow dry with fingers to 80%. Then apply Sleek Iron Smoother and flatiron. Finish with Sleek Sealing Serum.
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1. After shampooing with Sleek Shampoo, rinse and towel dry, then part hair into four sections. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
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1. After shampooing with Sleek Shampoo, rinse and towel dry, then part hair into four sections. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
3. Cover the head in plastic wrap, keeping hair smooth. See manufacturer’s instructions for processing time (between 10 and 50 minutes depending on formula and strand test). “Make sure your client sits straight during the whole service so the hair stays really smooth,” Smith says. Use the knot strand-test method after 10 minutes and repeat every five minutes. If the knot opens easily, more processing is needed.
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3. Cover the head in plastic wrap, keeping hair smooth. See manufacturer’s instructions for processing time (between 10 and 50 minutes depending on formula and strand test). “Make sure your client sits straight during the whole service so the hair stays really smooth,” Smith says. Use the knot strand-test method after 10 minutes and repeat every five minutes. If the knot opens easily, more processing is needed.
2. Begin at nape, take a ½-inch horizontal part. Generously apply Opti.smooth Smoothing Crème. Use a wide-tooth comb with minimal tension to straighten. Smooth with fingers.
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2. Begin at nape, take a ½-inch horizontal part. Generously apply Opti.smooth Smoothing Crème. Use a wide-tooth comb with minimal tension to straighten. Smooth with fingers.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water for 7-10 minutes. “Time is money in the salon, so hairdressers sometimes hurry through things. A huge part of this service is the rinsing,” Smith says. “Set a timer, because you may think, ‘Oh it’s been long enough,’ but this product is very thick and must be rinsed properly.” Gently towel dry and remove tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
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4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water for 7-10 minutes. “Time is money in the salon, so hairdressers sometimes hurry through things. A huge part of this service is the rinsing,” Smith says. “Set a timer, because you may think, ‘Oh it’s been long enough,’ but this product is very thick and must be rinsed properly.” Gently towel dry and remove tangles with a wide-tooth comb. Spray Opti.smooth Pre-Treat onto ½-inch partings, scalp to ends.
5. Using medium heat blow dry hair to 80 percent. “Use your fingers as a tool to separate the hair as it dries,” Smith says. “Your hands and fingers can assist in smoothing.”
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5. Using medium heat blow dry hair to 80 percent. “Use your fingers as a tool to separate the hair as it dries,” Smith says. “Your hands and fingers can assist in smoothing.”
6. Apply Sleek Iron Smoother, section hair into quadrants. Beginning at nape, take a thin horizontal parting, iron the section three times until it is silky, shiny and no longer feels coated. Repeat through entire head.
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6. Apply Sleek Iron Smoother, section hair into quadrants. Beginning at nape, take a thin horizontal parting, iron the section three times until it is silky, shiny and no longer feels coated. Repeat through entire head.
7. Begin at nape, apply Opti.smooth Conditioning Neutralizer ½-inch from scalp through ends. Comb gently with wide-tooth comb using minimal tension. Process for 10 minutes, continually smooth the hair. Rinse with warm water for 5-7 minutes, keeping hair straight. Towel dry and remove tangles with wide-tooth comb. Apply Opti-smooth Post-Treat Crème evenly to mid-lengths and ends. Leave in 2-3 minutes, rinse and towel dry. Blow dry with fingers to 80%. Then apply Sleek Iron Smoother and flatiron. Finish with Sleek Sealing Serum.
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7. Begin at nape, apply Opti.smooth Conditioning Neutralizer ½-inch from scalp through ends. Comb gently with wide-tooth comb using minimal tension. Process for 10 minutes, continually smooth the hair. Rinse with warm water for 5-7 minutes, keeping hair straight. Towel dry and remove tangles with wide-tooth comb. Apply Opti-smooth Post-Treat Crème evenly to mid-lengths and ends. Leave in 2-3 minutes, rinse and towel dry. Blow dry with fingers to 80%. Then apply Sleek Iron Smoother and flatiron. Finish with Sleek Sealing Serum.
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Sleek And Smooth’Tis the season for hectic schedules, which means your clients are looking for ways to spend less time styling, but may not know of the services available. “To help upsell smoothing services, listen for your client’s cues like, ‘My daughter hates her hair,’ or, ‘I wish my hair was more manageable,’” says Sandra Smith, Matrix Artistic Designer. “Many clients still don’t know it’s possible to have a smoothing or straightening service.”

Matrix’s Opti.smooth offers two options for smoothing—the Natural Smooth Service, a cold-smoothing process that calms and defrizzes hair but maintains curl; or the Sleek Straight Service, a heat-straightening process, resulting in curl reduction.

“Communicating with the client is the most important step to determining which formula to choose,” Smith says. “Listen to her expectations—the client doesn’t always know the options; having a thorough consultation is key. If she wants to keep her wave but kill the frizz, the Natural Smooth Service is the way to go. If she wants to reduce the curl and desires straight hair, use the Sleek Straight Service.”

Here, Smith walks us through the Sleek Straight Service, and offers her application tips. “This service can be used on hair with permanent color processed up to 20-volume developer, or if 40 percent or less of hair has been highlighted,” Smith says.

TIPS:
• Tell clients to not shampoo or get hair wet for at least 48 hours after receiving service.
• Avoid pins, braids or clips for 48 hours after receiving service.
• Wait two weeks before applying color.
• Regrowth application must be 4-6 inches to apply smoothing crème and flatiron without overlapping previously processed hair. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for complete application details.

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