The Brazilian Blowout 411 With Update

Yesterday, one of my fabulous followers asked me if I knew anything about Brazilian blowouts. With naturally frizzy wavy hair like mine of course I do! I've been coveting the treatment for ages! Here are the facts: the Brazilian blowout is great for any hair type, in fact frizzy, damaged, processed hair benefits from it the most. It can be done on previously colored and highlighted hair.  It can also be done over Japanese Straightening. It contains Keratin, which is 88% of what your hair is made of. The common misconception about the Brazilian blowout is that it is a straightener. The Brazilian reacts differently on different types of hair.  If you have very curly hair the Brazilian will minimize your frizz while giving you looser more relaxed curls. If you hair is naturally wavy it will most likely be straight. On straight frizzy hair the Brazilian will take way your frizz. Sounds great, right? Now for the down side... The Brazilian costs anywhere from $350 to $600. It can take 2+ hours to complete the treatment. Some formulas contain small amounts of formaldehyde, which is, of course, toxic. Although, most these days do not. Be sure and ask your stylist if their brand of Keratin contains formaldehyde. You should not shampoo your hair for at least 48 hours after the treatment. You also cannot tie you hair back in any way during this time. Or sweat. If any of you fabulous followers have had this treatment done I'd love to know how you made it through this 48 hour period without pulling you hair back! How do you remove your makeup? Or bathe? The other downside is you must not use any shampoo or conditioner that contains sodium chloride or it will strip the treatment from your hair. If any of the products you are currently using contains sodium chloride you will have to give them up for the 3 to 5 moths it takes this treatment to wear off. I'm still on the fence about this treatment to be honest. If any of you have had it done I'd love to hear what you think about it. If, like me, you are still trying to decide, there are lots of reviews on YouTube that might help you make up your mind. Click here to check them out. If the Brazilian blowout sounds like a dream come true but you're not sure where to go to get one, click here for salons.
Update from Jordana Lorraine- stylist and Brazilian Blowout expert:
I have been having Brazilian Blowout done on my hair, and been doing them on my clients, for over a year and a half. It is AMAAAAAZING!
Please allow me to clear up some inaccuracies/misconceptions; I can tell you've done some research, but there is a lot of confusing or conflicting information floating around. Brazilian Blowout is a BRAND NAME, not a category (that would be 'keratin treatment'). Brazilian Blowout has not contained formaldehyde since September 2008, and does not require any waiting period before washing or pulling your hair back.

Those inconveniences are features of other keratin hair treatments, which stylists unfortunately sometimes try to "pass off" as "Brazilian Blowout." If it's the real thing, you should see the logo throughout the salon and have no rules about when you can wash your hair.

This is not to say that other keratin treatments are bad; I do use two others in addition to Brazilian Blowout. But I am always honest with the client about what I am using and why. Most keratin treatments actually require a 72-hour waiting period...that is 3 days. Ouch! To answer your questions about washing your face and showering during that time, I do offer keratin treatment clients shower caps and make-up remover pads at no extra charge.

All in all, Brazilian Blowout is the most popular keratin treatment, as well as the most publicized and the most celebrity-endorsed. Nicole Richie has blogged about it, Lindsay Lohan, Halle Berry and Ashley Tisdale were quick to follow, and more recently Bridget Marquardt and Melanie Brown have had it. BUT there a many salons out there offering "Brazilian Blowout" when they are actually using other products which many contain formaldehyde or other cheap/unsavory ingredients, which may not completely fade out of the hair, and which make you wait to wash it. In other words...BUYER BEWARE. Research your stylist and their product.
If you're in the LA area and would like a Brazilian Blowout from Jordana herself she can be contacted at :http://www.jordanalorraine.com