Tried and tested: KeraStraight treatment

WHAT I TRIED The KeraStraight intensive hair-conditioning treatment in Pastels salon, Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

WHAT I WANTED There are many things I love about the UAE, but clumps of hair falling out every time I wash my waist-length tresses and dry, brittle ends, thanks to the desalinated water, are not among them. I wanted a treatment that would restore my straight hair to its best condition.

HOW IT WORKS KeraStraight originated in Brazil and uses the hair's natural protein, keratin, to strengthen hair. It contains invisible nano-molecules of 22-carat gold, said to smooth the hair shaft to prevent breakages, and does not contain formaldehyde.

WHAT HAPPENED After a shampoo and blow dry, we get down to the nitty-gritty. I have exceptionally long hair, so Samantha decides to use three bottles of KeraStraight potion. She applies it from the root to the tips with a brush. The process takes about an hour. Depending on the condition of the hair, the potion is left on for between 10 and 30 minutes. The product smells rather sulphurous, but hair can be washed immediately afterward and dyed two days later - though it is best to put off washing or treating as long as possible for best results.

Samantha begins ironing small sections with hot straighteners. The heat helps the hair to absorb the product.

My hair is then washed with a special shampoo containing keratin and is blow-dried again before being styled. The entire process takes five hours, so take a good book. The effects of the treatment are said to last between two and four months.

THE VERDICT I barely recognise myself. I have a sleek, glossy mane that I can't help tossing about like a model in a shampoo ad. My hair is poker-straight and incredibly shiny. I am thrilled to discover that the thick clumps of hair clotting up my comb after every wash are no longer there. The KeraStraight treatment seems to have dramatically reduced my hair loss - enough to convince me to repeat the treatment. In fact, that seems a necessity, given that a month later my hair has gone back to falling out in clumps and has lost some of its lustre. Treat this as a nice, though somewhat expensive, conditioner.

Tahira Yaqoob

KeraStraight treatment, from Dh1,000 to Dh2,500, depending on hair length. Pastels, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, 04 394 7393, www.pastels-salon.com