The Brazilian Blowout Pros And Cons And Everything You Need to Know About The Process: Is The Hair Treatment For You?

Almost everyone has an episode of checking themselves in a storefront or car window only to be horrified at a fuzzy unmanageable hair that looks like a lion’s mane. Sounds familiar eh? We all have our fair share of times when our stubborn hair just does not cooperate the way we’d like. And in our quest to put an end to bad hair days, we result to hair treatments, that well, might cause as small fortune but we do it anyway, in the name of a flawless frizz-free hair.

When it comes to taming down frizz and smoothening locks, you have probably heard of the popular Brazilian blowout. This hair trend is one of the most well-received straightening treatments but at the same time the most controversial one. It made more abuzz when Jennifer Aniston famously chopped her hair because of the Brazilian style blow-out disaster.

Despite all the drama surrounding Brazilian blowout, it still remains one of the most sought-after hair straightening procedures, a  treatment that many Hollywood A-listers went through and swear by the results — from besties Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie down to Jessica Parker, James Franco and including Jennifer Anniston herself.

Thinking about getting a Brazilian blowout? Before you take down the plunge, you need to do a lot of research. As with other hair treatments, this famous celeb hair obsession has its positives and negatives which should be weighed out carefully to come out with an educated decision if it is really worth taking the whirl. Before we dive in further, let’s look at the most common questions being asked about Brazilian blowout.

Read also related articles: Modern hair shag, shades of brown hair, and baddie hairstyles.

What exactly is a Brazilian blowout?

The Brazilian blowout is a semi-permanent hair relaxing treatment that involves a protein-rich solution called Keratin. The formula bonds hair, coating it with a protective barrier around each strand which is what reduces frizz, seal the cuticle and protects hair from hair damaging factors such as humidity.

The defrizzing treatment has been around since the early ’80s but recently just got its claim to fame. It started by hairstylist Ribiero Paulo in Brazil, hence the name. This straightening method was initially developed to keep models hair sleek and straight and eschew the use of occasional flat ironing.

Since then a lot of salons adopted Brazilian blowout. The procedure is now also known as Brazilian blow-dry and sometimes others also call it Brazilian Keratin treatment.

What’s on it?

As mentioned, Keratin is the main ingredient in Brazilian Blowout. You may not know it but Keratin is a type of protein that is already present in your hair and also makes up nails and skin. The formula in Brazilian blowout is filled with liquid Keratin alongside lab-made amino acids. When it gets contact with the hair, Keratin effectively the protein structure of the cells that overlap a.k.a statics,  resulting in a less frizzy and curly,  glossy hair.

Hair can lose moisture-balance with too much Keratin, however. Hence, most keratin treatments like the Brazilian blowout uses natural ingredients like corn, wheat, vegetable, soy, and wheat to counteract possible hair dryness and create a smooth and shiny finish.

Apart from Keratin, the original formula that was developed in Brazil contains formaldehyde which when combined with the Keratin, heat, and compression boost up the hair straightening performance of the formula.

However, formaldehyde is a very controversial carcinogen substance that releases pungent fume which when inhaled can be very toxic. Salon employees having nosebleeds and respiratory problems from handling formaldehyde hair treatments is very well reported.

Because of the health hazard of formaldehyde, modern formulations use an alternative substance like acid-carbocysteine mix which a safer ingredient in strengthening and straightening hair. Formaldehyde-free solutions may not be as long-lasting as those keratin treatments that use formaldehyde but they are much safer.

Is there a difference between Brazilian blowout and other classic keratin treatments?

The Brazilian blowout is interchangeably referred to as Brazilian Keratin treatment or may simply be called Keratin Treatment. After all, the Brazilian blowout and other Keratin treatments share the same main ingredient and primarily function to eliminate frizz while smoothening locks.

There is a slight difference in the results with Brazilian blowout and other Keratin treatments, however. The classic Keratin treatment alters the texture of hair to fully straighten it whereas Brazilian blowout leaves your natural hair texture. Because of this, you have the option to wear a curly to wavy hair with Brazilian blowout, something you would not envision with other Keratin straightening treatments.

Another difference is the aftercare. There are restrictions in styling with a regular keratin treatment. You are advised to refrain from tying your hair up or washing it for at least three days after the application.  With Brazilian blowout, you can style your hair in any way without having to worry about demarcation lines

Is Brazilian blowout suitable for all hair types?

Because of its ability to relax and smoothen hair, individuals with thick hair or patterned hair (especially those that are curly kinky hair) vouched to the Brazillian blowout treatment. But even those straight-haired peeps who just want to diminish tangles and unruly strands also often undergo Brazillian blowout as a way of defrizzing hair.

Those who just have their hair dyed or chemically processed may shy away from the treatment but in fact, they may be one of the best candidates for Brazillian blowout. Hair that is chemically altered in any way may have a weaken hair composition — one thing that Brazillian blowout is designed for. The formula is made to fortify hair in addition to leaving protective film ideal for recently processed hair.

However, precautions are put into those who have thin and fine hair as the formula may be strong enough to cause strain to the composition of the hair.  One effective solution is to reduce the amount of chemical content in the formula to lessen the stress level on the hair.

So to answer the question, Brazillian blowout may not be for everybody So it is better to consult your trusted stylist to have an opinion on the health of your hair. Depending on the tolerance of your hair, you can still proceed with the procedure.

How is Brazilian blowout done?

The process involved in the Brazilian style blowout is not complicated. Methods may differ from salon to salon and also with the formula they use. In general, however,  the steps are akin to the general methods used in chemically straightening hair that involves the following steps.

1. Prepping Hair:  In this stage, the hair will be shampooed thoroughly, usually with a clarifying shampoo like that of Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo, to create a base for the treatment to adhere to. Depending on the technique used, your hairdresser may towel dry your hair or may leave it damp.
2. Application of the Treatment: Using the applicator brush, your hairdresser will now apply the formula to your hair. The solution is normally set around 15 to 60 minutes.
3. Your Hair Will Be Heat-Styled: Hair is blow-dried and flat ironed to straighten it even more.
4. Rinsing the solution: The product will be rinsed then conditioner will be applied. (In some salons, you are instructed to not wash your hair for several days after the treatment is applied. Then your next appointment will be the rinsing out of the chemicals applied. After rinsing, another round of treatment is applied to set the straightening effect.)
5. Flat Ironing the Hair: For the second time, your hair will be straightened using a flat iron or blow-dryer straightening technique to seal the solution into the hair.

Overall, this time-intensive procedure will take about 90 minutes or less depending on the length and texture of your hair. In rare cases, the process can about 2 hours if your hair is extremely thick or long.

How much will the treatment cost me?

The Brazilian blowout done by a professional can be found within a varied range, depending on the salon and the brand of the product used. Price can start at $300, top out at $800. While you might find treatments as low as $120, it is worth mentioning that legit blowouts, in general, aren’t cheaps. Therefore, be wary of super-low deals.

Can I do Brazilian blowout at home?

Keratin treatments such as the Brazilian Blowout are a hair beauty procedure that is better left of in the hands of professionals especially if you are a beginner.  However, with the right products and basic know-how on the application, you can still do your own Brazillian blowout. Of course, just don’t expect the same result as the salon-standard Brazilian blowout.

If you are really interested in doing the blowout on your own, we recommend KERATIN RESEARCH  Brazilian Keratin Hair Blowout Treatment VALUE KIT. The top-rated at-home keratin kit does not only include the Brazillian blowout formula but also the right tools to do the procedure such as highly graded ceramic tourmaline flat iron and easy comb alongside clarifying shampoo for prepping the hair. There is also a detailed instruction that is pre-packaged with the kit to guide you with the procedure.

How long will the blowout last?

The result of the Salon Brazilian treatment is relative to the strength of formulation. In general, you can have a frizz-free relaxed hair in 12 weeks with the Brazilian Blowout. One thing that you can do to extend the life of your blowout is to use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner since regular shampoos can prematurely wear the effects.

You can also use products that are meant for recently keratin-treated hair such as Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy. This is a valued set of shampoo and conditioner infused with lush keratin proteins coupled up with nourishing oils, all vital in maintaining the moisture and protein balance in chemically treated hair.

The Brazilian blowout Pros and Cons

Basing on all the information that we have laid out, here’s a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of going through Brazilian blowout.

The Verdict

The pros outweigh the cons in the Brazilian blowout. For an average price of $300 and an hour wait, you can literally have a hair that is “wash and wear”. You can enjoy activities that may restrict you in the past because you are too much worried about your hair getting wet and redoing it after. Occasional flat ironing or touch-ups are no longer a necessity. With Brazilian blowout, you are no longer a slave to your own hair.