The Brazilian Blowout Is the Ultimate RX for Frizz Season
It’s back. “Frizz Season” and with it, months of humidity and intense heat that can make every strand of your hair feel unruly, dull, and stressed out. If your anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner aren’t enough to tame your mane, it could be time for an intervention. Enter the Brazilian Blowout, a buzzed-about treatment for its transformative qualities like eliminating frizz and promoting intense shine. In a process that takes about 2 hours, here’s how it works:
What Is a Brazilian Blowout Exactly?
Named for its country of origin, the Brazilian Blowout is a smoothing and shine-boosting amino acid formula that harnesses indigenous ingredients like camu camu (a supercharged vitamin C extract), with annatto seed, and açai berry (super hydrators) to deeply condition the hair leaving it frizz-free and better protected against the effects of heat styling. The best part? Hair with a glossy, mirror-like shine due to a process that safeguards your strands against external damage.
How Is the Brazilian Blowout Different than Keratin Treatments?
Here’s the essential difference: the Brazilian Blowout achieves smoothing not hair straightening. The system harnesses amino acids which are safer than applying keratin to the hair shaft. With most keratin-based treatments you’re advised to not tie back your hair in an elastic or clip (potential breakage) and to not wash or style your hair for 3 to 4 days post-treatment. With a Brazilian Blowout, your stylist customizes the application specifically for your hair type and desired finish. Post application, it’s rinsed out, and your hair is styled to a glossy finish. And that’s it.
Will the Brazilian Blowout Make My Hair Completely Straight?
Yes, if that’s your preferred look. Depending on your desired result, they’ll tailor the treatment to preserve your wavy or curly texture but make it smoother and frizz-free or to straighten your hair completely. To accomplish this, they will seal in the treatment by passing a flat iron over your hair. The more heat applied, the straighter your hair will be. The result is strands—of any texture—that appear frizz-free, smoother, and glossy. For example, if your hair is naturally curly, you’ll retain your full body with waves even if you air dry. If blow drying your hair usually takes about 30 minutes, the coating and protection from the treatment will reduce your dryer time by half. And less heat means less potential damage. If your look is pin-straight hair, your stylist will tailor the amount of applied heat needed to achieve the desired straightness.
How Long Does It Last?
About 3 months, per the manufacturer. To achieve the longest-lasting results, using the total system—including shampoo and conditioner—is recommended. It’s also important to avoid using any shampoo that contains sulfates and/or chlorine.
As the treatment wears off, you’ll see it first in the re-growth at the hairline when your hair gradually returns to its natural texture or curl pattern. Another plus: unlike with relaxing or straightening treatments, there is no obvious line of demarcation between treated hair and any new growth.
Is It Safe?
Bottom line: as with any new treatment, consult your stylist first to find out if a Brazilian Blowout is right for you. The treatment is completely safe on most hair types. However, textured hair should take precautions because the inconsistencies between hair strands in textured manes mean that heat may affect one area more intensely than another which can result in damage and breakage.
Is It Safe for Colored Hair?
The treatment is typically safe on color-treated strands. In fact, since it completely seals off the hair shaft, your hair may stay vibrant longer. Some clients follow a color treatment with a Brazilian Blowout on the same day with effective results since the cuticle has been opened from the color. However, be sure to let your colorist know since doing one treatment after the other can affect the brightness of your color.
What Should I Do After My Treatment?
There aren’t any restrictions with the Brazilian Blowout system. Since it’s rinsed out in the salon, you can wait as long or as little as you’d like to wash it, but again, it’s best to use both Brazilian Blowout shampoo and conditioner to best maintain your results.
For those looking for the ease of faster blow drying and smoother and shinier hair, the Brazilian Blowout is a one-and-done solution.