Direct answer
Smoothing Treatment Cost: plan on $180–$500, with a U.S. national median of $300 per service. The published amounts further down this page come from brand menus and cover closely related services rather than this one, so they are shown as context rather than as the answer.
Keratin smoothing is priced on time and product, not on a fixed rate card, and that is why two quotes in the same city can differ by 58% for the same service name.
- Working range
- $180–$500
- U.S. market midpoint
- $300 per service
- Basis
- U.S. market range - published rows below cover related services
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
What matters most here
- $180–$500 is the U.S. market range for Smoothing Treatment Cost; the published rows below cover related services and are shown on a separate line.
- The U.S. national median for keratin smoothing is $300 per service.
- Add about 26% to any menu price for sales tax and gratuity.
- Maintained every 16-18 weeks, the annual cost is roughly $1,080.
- The biggest single variable is geographic market — the same service swings widely between metros.
Official published amounts and what each covers
These 7 lines come from published sources and are grouped by what they actually are. Averaging a penalty charge in with service prices is how misleading "average" figures are produced, so they are kept apart here.
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment starting price | $15 | $15 | — | Final price can vary by length, thickness, customization and stylist level |
| Foil highlight starting price | $20 | $20 | — | JCPenney Salon |
| Single-process color starting price | $55 | $55 | — | JCPenney Salon |
| Cap highlights starting price | $65 | $65 | — | JCPenney Salon |
| Double-process color starting price | $80 | $80 | — | JCPenney Salon |
| CHI smoothing blowout starting price | $199 | $199 | — | Official service-menu PDF; current category page exists but amount must be revalidated before current-year publication |
| Natural keratin smoothing starting price | $279 | $279 | — | JCPenney Salon |
Franchise and independently-owned locations set menus inside a corporate band. Use them as documented examples only.
Market ranges: what everyone else charges
A quote well above these bands is not automatically bad value - it normally means a different scope, a senior provider, or an expensive metro. This table tells you which question to ask.
| Service | Market low | National median | Market high | Unit | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keratin smoothing | $180 | $300 | $500 | per service | Smoothing treatment; results last 3-5 months. |
| Women's haircut | $28 | $69 | $140 | per cut | Normally includes consultation, shampoo and a finish style. |
| All-over single-process colour | $65 | $105 | $190 | per service | All-over root-to-tip or root retouch on virgin hair. |
| Balayage | $150 | $250 | $420 | per service | Hand-painted; long or dark hair pushes past the top end. |
| Gel manicure | $30 | $45 | $70 | per service | Cured colour; removal is regularly a separate charge. |
| Brazilian wax | $45 | $62 | $100 | per service | Full removal; first-timer offers are common. |
| Classic lash full set | $100 | $155 | $250 | full set | One extension per natural lash. |
| Standard facial | $75 | $110 | $180 | 50-60 min | Includes extractions and a treatment mask. |
| Spray tan (booth) | $25 | $45 | $75 | per session | Booth is lower-priced; hand airbrush costs more. |
National planning ranges. A quote outside these bands is not automatically wrong - check what is included before judging it.
Where you live changes the price more than anything else
Location is generally the largest single variable. The national median for keratin smoothing is $300; the same appointment can land near $210 in a small market and $525 in a top-tier metro. That is a 2.5× spread on an identical service name.
| Market tier | Planning range | Multiplier | Example markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 - highest-cost metros | $405–$525 | 1.35–1.75× | Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Miami Beach |
| Tier 2 - large metros | $330–$396 | 1.10–1.32× | Chicago, Los Angeles suburbs, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, Portland |
| Tier 3 - mid-size metros | $282–$330 | 0.94–1.10× | Columbus, Kansas City, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Indianapolis |
| Tier 4 - small metro and rural | $210–$279 | 0.70–0.93× | Smaller cities, county seats and rural markets |
Your own market may sit between tiers. The point is the 2.5x spread, not the precise figure in any one row.
What actually changes your price
Ask about these at booking, not at checkout. Each is easier to decline over the phone than once you are in the chair.
- Service complexity+$20–$120
Length, density, area size and condition all add time.
- Required add-ons+$20–$70
Some finishes are effectively mandatory but quoted separately.
- Provider experience+15–60%
Junior through master tiers are priced in bands.
- Tax and gratuity+20–30%
Neither appears on the menu price.
- Geographic market+30–90%
The same service swings widely between metros.
Related cost breakdowns: Clarifying Treatment Cost, Keratin Treatment Cost and Olaplex Treatment Cost.
What keratin smoothing costs you over per year
Most budgets break at the cadence, not the price. Keratin smoothing maintained every 16-18 weeks works out to approximately $1,080 annually once gratuity is included.
| Provider level | Per visit | Visits/yr | Service spend | Gratuity | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget provider | $180 | 3 | $540 | $108 | $648 |
| National median | $300 | 3 | $900 | $180 | $1,080 |
| Premium provider | $500 | 3 | $1,500 | $300 | $1,800 |
Assumes 3 visits annually. Change that number and every figure in this table moves with it.
The cheapest lever is almost always stretching the cadence, not finding a cheaper provider. Moving from 3 visits per year to 2 saves about $270 annually — usually more than switching salons would.
How much to tip on this service
Percentages are hard to judge in the moment. These are the dollar amounts at the low, middle and high end of the market range.
| Gratuity rate | On $180 | On $300 | On $500 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | $27 | $45 | $75 | Standard for a satisfactory service |
| 18% | $32.40 | $54 | $90 | Common default in mid-size and large metros |
| 20% | $36 | $60 | $100 | Typical for a stylist you intend to rebook with |
| 25% | $45 | $75 | $125 | Reserved for complex colour, long appointments or a rescue job |
- Tip the same on a redo as on the original if the redo was not the provider's fault - and speak to management rather than the provider if it was.
- Card tips may be pooled or delayed to the next pay run. Ask if you want it to reach one person directly.
- An automatic service charge ought to be disclosed when you book. Spot one on the bill, ask whether it goes to the provider before adding more.
- Cash is the most direct route and is still preferred in most independent salons.
Avoid these before you book
Ordered by how regularly they happen rather than dollar impact. In every case the fix is a question when you book.
- 1Comparing headline prices across different scopescosts $20–$70
Two "haircut" prices can include entirely different work.
- 2Not asking what is required versus optionalcosts $20–$70
Some finishes are effectively mandatory but quoted on a separate line.
- 3Forgetting tax and gratuitycosts $20–$30
Together they add around a quarter to the menu price.
If you want the policy detail behind these: Keratin Treatment Aftercare and Prepare For Keratin Treatment.
Exactly what to ask when you book
Ask these when you book rather than on arrival. Once you are gowned and in the chair, declining an add-on becomes socially much harder — which is exactly why that is when they are raised.
- "Which provider tier is that quote for, and what does the next tier up cost?"
- "What is the exact price for keratin smoothing at my hair length and density?"
- "Can you email or text me the quote before my appointment?"
- "If this runs longer than booked, does the price change?"
- "What is your cancellation window, and what is the charge if I miss it?"
- "Are taxes added at checkout, and do you have a card-payment surcharge?"
- "Is there a first-visit offer or a package rate I should know about?"
At checkout: check the itemised total against the quote before paying. Corrections are simple at the desk and nearly impossible afterwards.
The realistic total, worked through
This is the gap that surprises people. Starting from a $134 base, here is where the money goes by the time the card is out.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base service | $134 | The line you see on the menu |
| One typical add-on | $26 | Accepted at the chair without a stated price |
| Subtotal | $160 | Before tax and gratuity |
| Sales tax at 7.5% | $12 | Varies by state and city; services are taxable in some states only |
| Gratuity at 18% | $28.80 | Calculated on the service, not on tax |
| Realistic total | $200.80 | 50% above the menu price |
An illustration built from the ranges on this page. Your tax rate and add-on choices will differ.
Plan for the total, not the base. The $67 gap between the two is the part people forget when comparing two salons.
To check a specific quote, try it with your own figures.
How this compares with the alternatives
The useful comparison is like-for-like: same service scope, same provider tier, same market. These pages set the comparisons up that way.
What people want to know before booking
How much does Smoothing Treatment Cost cost?
There is no verifiable published price to quote. The U.S. market band for keratin smoothing is $180–$500 and the national median is $300 per service - treat that as a planning figure, not a quote.
Is there a price for treatment starting price?
Treatment starting price: $15 as published. Final price can vary by length, thickness, customization and stylist level. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
How much is foil highlight starting price?
Foil highlight starting price: $20 as published. JCPenney Salon. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
Single-process color starting price: what is the published amount?
Single-process color starting price is documented at $55. JCPenney Salon. That is below the $300 national median for keratin smoothing.
Cap highlights starting price: what is the published amount?
Cap highlights starting price: $65 as published. JCPenney Salon. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
What does this cost once tax and tip are added?
The menu price is not the final price. Budget 26% more - roughly $78 extra on a $300 service - and more if you accept anything offered at the chair.
What is the annual cost of Smoothing Treatment Cost?
At every 16-18 weeks - about 3 visits a year - the annual figure is around $1,080 including gratuity at the $300 national median. Dropping to 2 visits saves around $270.
Why do Smoothing Treatment Cost quotes vary so much?
Rent, wages and local demand set the menu. Scaling the $300 national median by published metro multipliers gives about $210 in a small market and up to $525 in a top-tier metro - before provider tier is considered.
How current is this pricing?
No. Everything here is either an amount taken from a source listed below, or a labelled U.S. market range. Individual locations revise pricing freely. Last reviewed August 2026.
Sources and how we checked them
10 sources were reviewed for this page. Official brand pages are used for brand claims only; nothing here extrapolates one location's menu into a national rate.
- Official service menu PDFNumeric menu; document age requires fresh validation · updated 2026
- Hair smoothing and formaldehydeFormaldehyde exposure and smoothing-service safety · updated 2026
- Official membership termsCancellation, billing, surcharges · updated 2026
- Owatonna, Minnesota official salon menuStarting haircut, treatment and facial-wax prices; pricing conditions · updated 2026
- Official hair color service pageColor-service definitions and durations · updated 2026
- Dillon, Colorado official booking pageLocation-specific haircut and haircut/blowout prices · updated 2026
- Hair dye and relaxer safety guidancePatch tests, scalp condition and timing after chemical services · updated 2026
- Hair dyes official safety guidancePatch tests, allergy risk and eye-area restrictions · updated 2026
- Official facial services pageFacial categories and service scope · updated 2026
- Official services pageFacial, nail, massage and body-treatment categories · updated 2026
Prices move. If you were quoted something different, tell us and we will re-verify.
People also ask
Frequently asked questions
How much does Smoothing Treatment Cost cost?
There is no verifiable published price to quote. The U.S. market band for keratin smoothing is $180–$500 and the national median is $300 per service - treat that as a planning figure, not a quote.
Is there a price for treatment starting price?
Treatment starting price: $15 as published. Final price can vary by length, thickness, customization and stylist level. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
How much is foil highlight starting price?
Foil highlight starting price: $20 as published. JCPenney Salon. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
Single-process color starting price: what is the published amount?
Single-process color starting price is documented at $55. JCPenney Salon. That is below the $300 national median for keratin smoothing.
Cap highlights starting price: what is the published amount?
Cap highlights starting price: $65 as published. JCPenney Salon. Compare that against the $300 U.S. median for keratin smoothing before deciding whether it is competitive.
What does this cost once tax and tip are added?
The menu price is not the final price. Budget 26% more - approximately $78 extra on a $300 service - and more if you accept anything offered at the chair.
What is the annual cost of Smoothing Treatment Cost?
At every 16-18 weeks - about 3 visits annually - the annual figure is around $1,080 including gratuity at the $300 national median. Dropping to 2 visits saves around $270.
Why do Smoothing Treatment Cost quotes vary so much?
Rent, wages and local demand set the menu. Scaling the $300 national median by published metro multipliers gives about $210 in a small market and up to $525 in a top-tier metro - before provider tier is considered.
How current is this pricing?
No. Everything here is either an amount taken from a source listed below, or a labelled U.S. market range. Individual locations revise pricing freely. Last reviewed August 2026.
Last reviewed . Prices change without notice — report a correction.