With Stylist Christine Healey after treatment
Frizzy hair…ugh. Whether our hair is straight, curly, long or short, we never want the dreaded frizzies, and my recent, Brazillian Blowout at Rita Hazan Salon has shown me that I’ll never have to deal with them again. Buh Bye.
For years I’ve watched friends get Japanese Hair Straightening, Keratin treatments as well as other anti-frizz treatments. However, for a few reasons none of them suited me, number one being that I don’t look well with pin straight hair that has no fullness. On days with low humidity, I’m blessed with manageable hair that looks good without having to use many products or heated styling tools. Just some volumizer, a large round brush, a blow dryer and I’m good to go. It’s long, thick, mostly straight and generally not very frizzy. But, on days of rain or high humidity…uh oh….my hair “blows up” to twice its volume, the shine disappears, the strands look like straw and it’s a mess. For many women, having frizzy hair can create loss of confidence and even drive them to dread client meetings, job interviews, first dates, or having their picture taken. Hats, buns, braids and ponytails become suddenly popular for rainy days, as a paper bag over one’s head is socially unacceptable.
What is a Brazilian Blowout?
Having read a lot about Brazillian Blowouts and seeing the results on friends, I decided it was time to try it for myself. Unlike Japanese straightening which is permanent (until new hair growth) the Brazillian Blowout lasts approximately three months. It’s a professional smoothing treatment, and unlike permanent straighteners, the process won’t totally change the texture of your hair, it simply coats the hair with a protective protein so it won’t frizz. The Brazilian Blowout works on all hair types – color processed hair as well – and there’s no down time or a list of “do’s and don’ts” for days. Once you leave the salon, you’re done. With Keratin treatments, your hair isn’t really finished when you leave the salon. You need to wait three days to shampoo or use any clips, ponytail holders or bobby pins because they’ll leave permanent crimps in your hair.
The Process…
The Brazilian Blowout process is available at various salons around the country. Go to their website to find one in your area. I had it done at the fabulous Rita Hazan salon in midtown Manhattan. At the consultation with my expert stylist Christine Healey, I expressed my flat hair concerns and she explained how she customizes the process for individually desired results. My hair was washed and blow dried, the solution was applied and then my hair was flat ironed. The flat ironing is what makes the magic happen and seals the amino acid proteins to the hair shaft. Once that was finished, my hair was washed and blow dried as normal. In less than two hours I was done and my hair has been without frizz since then.
The Results…
It’s been about three weeks now and my hair still looks as it does in the video above. I’ve made it through the summer heat wave and several downpours with a frizz free mane. Additionally, there’s yet another great…and I mean really great…reason to have the process done. My hair takes less than half the time to blow dry. Seriously, I can’t even begin to tell you how thrilled I am about that. For the past 20 years I’ve spent 40-50 minutes blow drying my hair, and it now takes me a quick 20 minutes. Amazing!
After Care…
The most important aspect of after care is not to use shampoo with sulfates. Sulfates will quickly break down the protein coating and bring back your frizz. Look for the words “Sulfate Free” on the bottle. Along with creating the Brazillian Blowout professional product, the company also creates a line consisting of shampoo, conditioner, serum and various styling products. They contain Acai and other anti-oxidant nutrients and will help keep hair smooth and frizz-free. Available: http://www.BrazilianBlowout.com and at hair salons
As a long time fan of Rene Furterer hair care, I was happy to also have the option of their Absolue Keratine Ultimate Renewal Care Collection. These sulfate-free products are great even if you haven’t had a Brazilian Blowout and will add shine and moisture to damaged hair. They’re rich in amino acids, soy protein extract and wheat micro-proteins that seal the hair cuticle and strengthen hair structure. The Absolue Keratine line consists of shampoo, leave-in cream, and a mask. Available: http://www.renefurtererusa.com and Barneys.com.
Photo taken 3 weeks later on a hot humid day
No frizz and my blow drying time cut in half. I’m definitely doing this again.
