Brazilian Blow Dry
Brazilian Blow Dry (or Keratin Hair Smoothing Treatment) is a semi-permanent hair smoothing method done by temporarily sealing a liquid keratin and a preservative solution into the hair with a hair iron. It is often confused for a hair straightener, it is not because it does not chemically alter the structure of the hair, it still grows out naturally, without the demarcation lines associated with permanent chemical straighteners.
The technique has many variations and is known by several other names and brands, including Brazilian Blowout, Brazilian Straightening, Brazilian Keratin Treatment, BKT, and Keratin Cure.
All treatments essential aim to do the same thing, which is to eliminate frizz and smoothen your hair by temporarily coating the outer layer of the hair.
resulting in a beautiful silky smooth hair which gradually fades out after a few months.
Keratin is "the main protein of the hair, skin and nails", says Ele, "it makes up to 91 percent of hair and contains 16 different amino acids, with cysteine being the most important one as it creates the sulphur bridges in hair that give it its internal strength."
If your natural keratin levels are low, your hair can appear dry, frizzy, dehydrated and damaged, which is where the man-made treatment comes in.
'Absolutely amazing treatment, and I have never been so happy with my hair. It is a life change! '
'I went to get the Keratin Smoothing done and since I've never had a hair treatment before, I was really nervous but I'm very glad I found this salon, great people and great service.
I highly recommend Antonacci Salon'
Marie Carsley - Google review
Brazilian Blow Dry Q&A
So how long can I expect a Brazilian blow dry to last?
‘A good Brazilian blow dry treatment should last around 3 months,’ says Ele. ‘If you have it done regularly it will start to have an accumulative effect meaning it layers up on your hair; you could in theory get up to around 6 months of smoothness and manageability out of it.’ Those with really curly and coarse hair might need to have it done more frequently than every 3 months to see maximum benefits, but no more than once a month.
Are there any rules for right after a treatment?
The main thing to ensure is that you don’t use anything which could react to the keratin and strip it off your hair. Avoid exposing your hair to chlorine and use a gentle sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner throughout the duration of your blow dry.
So how soon can I wash my hair?
‘In my salon we use a system called Alphaparf Milano and the brilliance of it is that we can wash our clients’ hair right after the treatment has been applied in the salon; it’s formaldehyde-free which allows you to have much more freedom with what you can do with it. Other keratin treatments are more restrictive and don’t let you wash your hair or even tie it in a bobble for a while afterwards for fear of it creating a kink in the hair surface.
How soon can I get my colour done after a Brazilian Blow dry treatment?
While it’s tempting to want to make your hair look as great as possible to show off the benefits of your new ‘do, it’s advisable not to add colour for at least 6 weeks after your treatment. 'If my clients are desperate then I’ll do a semi-permanent colour on the same day, but it’s preferable to let the treatment settle on your hair before you do any more chemical processes. All permanent colour should be done a week before the Brazilian Blow Dry and toner on the same day.'
Can I use my normal styling products?
You can but just make sure they’re good quality professional products. ‘Right after a keratin blow dry, your hair can feel a bit flat and almost too smooth’ says Ele. ‘I like to add a bit of root lift in to offset this. Wella Professional Roots Lift gives it a bit of extra body.’
Can I use my heat stylers as normal?
The beauty of this kind of blow dry is that it negates the need for straighteners, so you shouldn’t need to use them. ‘If you want to use curling tongs (or a hairdryer post-wash for that matter) you can, but combat any potential damage by using a good heat protection spray first, like Wella Professional Techni.Art Pli.’ advises Ele.