By Elena L. Peters - Beauty & Hair Editor
27 july 25

Silk Express Ultra-Fast Taninoplastia: the salon protocol step by step

Salon protocol15–20 min processingGlyoxylic acid

Silk Express Ultra-Fast Taninoplastia is Vitta Gold's salon smoothing treatment, with a processing time of 15 to 20 minutes. The Protein goes onto washed, fully dried hair, 1 cm from the scalp, is 60% rinsed out, and is sealed with the flat iron at 180 to 230 °C, 10 to 15 passes per section.

Below is the protocol step by step as printed on the Silk Express Protein label, plus the home routine. How this glyoxylic acid route compares with the other systems on our shelf is in our nanoplastia explainer.

Short answer: Strand test, wash and fully dry the hair, apply the Protein in sections 1 cm from the scalp, leave for 15 to 20 minutes, rinse out 60%, blow dry, flat iron each section 10 to 15 times at 180 to 230 °C, then rinse thoroughly. The smoothing active is glyoxylic acid.
Processing
15 to 20 min
From the scalp
1 cm
Rinse out
60%
Flat iron
180 to 230 °C

Why choose Silk Express?

Short processing time
15 to 20 minutes, depending on hair thickness. On Vitta Gold's Nanoplex lines it is 40 to 60 minutes.
For resistant hair too
According to the label, the Protein works even on the most resistant hair.
Glyoxylic acid as the active
The Protein is a smoothing cream with glyoxylic acid. Tannic acid is on the lists of the Silk Express shampoo and conditioner.
Salon and home from one line
For maintenance the label points to the home care collection: shampoo, mask, conditioner and serum.

What you need

For the salon treatment you need the Protein and a flat iron. The other four products are for maintenance at home.

Vitta Gold Silk Express, professional taninoplastia in the salon
Vitta Gold CosmeticsThe full Silk Express line is available from Beauty As Well: the Protein for the salon, and shampoo, mask, conditioner and serum for home.

How do you start? The perfect preparation

Important steps beforehand

  • Do a strand test: before every application, as the label says. Take small sections from the top and the nape and follow the full protocol. If the hair turns brittle or reacts badly, the label recommends professional hair care before you repeat the test.
  • Work safely: wear gloves and work in a ventilated area. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, scalp and mucous membranes, and rinse at once on contact. Stop if irritation occurs, and ask a doctor first in case of pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Lay out your tools: sectioning clips, a brush, gloves, a blow dryer and a professional flat iron that reaches 180 to 230 °C.

Step-by-step treatment guide

  1. 1
    Strand test

    Before every application, test on small sections from the top and the nape, using the full protocol.

  2. 2
    Wash and dry

    Wash the hair, then dry it completely. The Protein goes onto dry hair.

  3. 3
    Apply

    Divide the hair into sections and apply the Silk Express Protein 1 cm from the scalp.

  4. 4
    Leave to process

    Leave for 15 to 20 minutes, depending on hair thickness.

  5. 5
    Partial rinse

    Rinse out 60% of the product.

  6. 6
    Blow dry

    Blow dry the hair.

  7. 7
    Flat iron

    Flat iron each section 10 to 15 times at 180 to 230 °C.

  8. 8
    Rinse thoroughly

    Then rinse the hair thoroughly.

  9. 9
    Home maintenance

    For maintenance the label points to the Silk Express home care collection. The routine is below.

Protocol summary table

Phase and action
PreparationStrand test, wash, dry completely
ApplicationIn sections, 1 cm from the scalp
Processing15 to 20 min, by hair thickness
RinseRinse out 60%, then blow dry
Flat iron10 to 15x per section, 180 to 230 °C
FinishRinse thoroughly
HomeSilk Express home care collection

At home your client follows the routine printed on the shampoo: the Nutritive Shampoo on wet hair, massaging the scalp gently with the fingertips, then rinsing well. Then the Ultra-Gloss Mask, rinsed out fully, then the conditioner, rinsed out fully again. To finish, the Nourishing Hair Serum, spread through washed hair from the palms and left in.

Frequently asked questions

How long does Silk Express need to process?
15 to 20 minutes, depending on hair thickness. You apply the Protein 1 cm from the scalp and rinse out 60% before blow drying.
At what temperature do you flat iron Silk Express?
At 180 to 230 °C, 10 to 15 passes per section, once the hair is blow dried. Then rinse thoroughly.
Is Silk Express formaldehyde-free?
No, we do not call Silk Express formaldehyde-free. The Protein's ingredient list names glyoxylic acid as the smoothing active and DMDM hydantoin, a formaldehyde-releasing preservative.
Do you need a strand test for Silk Express?
Yes, before every application. The label asks you to test small sections from the top and the nape with the full protocol, and to give professional hair care first if the hair turns brittle before testing again.
Does Silk Express work with tannin?
The smoothing active in the Protein is glyoxylic acid; tannic acid is not on the Protein's list. Tannic acid is on the lists of the Silk Express shampoo and conditioner.

What formaldehyde-free means to us, and how to check it yourself on the ingredient list, is in our guide to formaldehyde-free keratin treatments.

Vitta Gold Silk Express, professional taninoplastia in the salon

All Vitta Gold lines are on the Vitta Gold Cosmetics brand page.