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A few years ago Japanese hair straightening was all the rage; now Brazilian Blowout has taken the main stage. Brazilian Blowout has become so popular with Hollywood starlets that you can even read about Nicole Richie’s on her blog. To have a Brazilian Blowout, you will need to go to a salon where a hairdresser applies a special chemical solution. After you learn about how it’s done, you can decide whether a Brazilian Blowout is right for you.
A Brazilian Blowout, also called Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BTK), is a 90-minute salon treatment that leaves your hair smooth and without frizz but still gives it some body. This may be a desired treatment if you have frizzy, damaged or processed hair. Wavy hair will be made straight, curly hair will be more manageable and straight frizzy hair will loose its frizz and have more shine.
The procedure involves shampooing your hair, applying the special Brazilian keratin conditioner, blow drying your hair and then having it straightened with a flat iron. Afterwards, your hair should have bounce and be more manageable. A Brazilian Blowout lasts about 10 to 12 weeks and costs between $150 to $600. If you normally color your hair, it is suggested you color it before the Brazilian Blowout a shade darker than usual since the straightening solution will lighten the color.
The main concern with using Brazilian Blowout solutions is that some are made with formaldehyde as the straightening agent, which is carcinogenic. Some companies claim to use keratin instead of formaldehyde in their solution. However, according to Dr. Jessica Wu, a dermatologist from dailyglow.com, keratin can only moisturize and condition hair, it cannot without other chemicals keep hair smooth through months of washing. Other Brazilian type products claim not to have formaldehyde but may use other chemicals such as such as glutaraldehyde and thioglycolate which can weaken the hair making it more susceptible to damage, drying or even breaking off.
All of the Brazilian Blowout solutions produce noxious fumes so they must be used with adequate ventilation. Women in forums report how much the smells made their and their hairdressers' eyes water. Some women reported loving the results of their Brazilian Blowout. Others felt they had their best result the first time they had it done and were less pleased with following treatments. Many posted concerns about formaldehyde or the other chemicals used in non-formaldehyde solutions.
If you are considering having a Brazilian Blowout, do your research. The Food and Drug Administration does not restrict the use of formaldehyde in cosmetic products nor does it regulate the presence other ingredients. Therefore, it is unknown what exactly is in straightening solutions and in what amounts. A Brazilian Blowout can be a real life saver if you have very unruly frizzy hair but exposure to formaldehyde can be a life taker if you aren’t careful.
sources:
www.dailyglow.com/hair-care-treatments/brazilian-blowout.html
www.short-hair-style.com/bkt-or-brazilian-keratin-treatment-formaldehydefree-alternatives.html
www.brazilianblowout.com/FAQs
http://nicolerichie.celebuzz.com/2009/03/you-have-to-get-a-brazilian-blow-dry/
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele can be read at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Add a Comment6 Comments
I just realized it is listing me as "anonymous." I do nto mean to be secretive; my name is Jordana Lorraine and I am a Brazilian Blowout and keratin treatment specialist. I work with 4 other treatments besides BB and have done appx 400 keratin treatment services, the majority of which were Brazilian Blowout.
June 30, 2010 - 11:01pmThis Comment
Thanks for the clarification. I didn't realize how the name Brazilian Blowout is over used inaccurately. I did a little more searching and was unable to find more than what you said, that it is a "proprietary polymer system". It would be interesting to know what the chemicals actually are as the other solutions don't sound too healthy to be around, even if they can give you gorgeous hair.
June 30, 2010 - 8:26pmThis Comment
Keratin needs a bonding agent to stick to the hair. That bonding agent - or 'proprietary polymer system' if you prefer, is most likely formaldehyde, also the ingredient that actually straightens the hair. Stylists are making $ hand over fist with this, which is why they are in such deep denial. It is not the first time Brazilian Blowout has been caught lying about this.
October 3, 2010 - 2:19amThis Comment
Hi Michelle, Brazilian Blowout does not release the full ingredient list as their formula is highly sought-after and is patent pending. Their ability to give great results without aldehydes, and the fact that a client does not have to wait the 1-4 days before washing their hair, is a huge advantage that they of course do not want to lose. I recently corresponded with a BB employee on this subject, and was told point blank that it contains no aldehydes of any kind or hyde derivatives. Feel free to call them yourself at 877-779-7706 to confirm.
June 30, 2010 - 10:58pmThis Comment
Great post! If I may clarify: Brazilian Blowout is a brand name, not a category of treatments. Brazilian Blowout makes only one solution and it is not only formaldehyde-free, but free of all "hyde" family ingredients.
Some other keratin treatments use various aldehydes to bond their treatment onto the hair, while Brazilian Blowout uses their proprietary polymer system. It can be confusing, as many of the names are similar, such as Brazilian Keratin, Keratin Complex, Global Keratin, etc. To make matters worse, some salons and stylists are not forthcoming about which product they use, or even flat-out lie, using the Brazilian Blowout name to describe other treatments.
These treatments all promise amazing hair, but they do contain different ingredients, use different processes and give different results. For example, with Brazilian Blowout you have no downtime; with other keratin treatments, you have to wait 1-4 days before you can wash pr even ponytail your hair!
Make no mistake--there is only ONE Brazilian Blowout!
June 30, 2010 - 5:56pmThis Comment
Really? OSHA would say otherwise. Since the product is not FDA regulated, we do have no way of knowing if you or the company are telling the truth.
October 3, 2010 - 2:15amThis Comment