Burning eyes, nosebleeds and chest pain—these are just some of the symptoms that stylists experience when they perform certain Brazilian keratin treatments on clients. When Brazilian keratin treatments first appeared in salons, they took consumers by storm. Everyone wanted to try the revolutionary treatment from Brazil that worked miracles, transforming even the tightest curls into loose, silky strands.
The Brazilian Blowout, one of the biggest name brands for Brazilian Keratin Treatments, is a 90-minute long procedure aimed at smoothing the hair with a “Brazilian super nutrient complex.” Using keratin, the blowout is supposed to build a protein layer around the hair, leaving it frizz-free and in healthier condition than before the treatment. The effects of Brazilian keratin treatments are supposed to last about twelve weeks, but the glamour lasted only till 2007, when “Allure” magazine released an article exposing the presence of formaldehyde (a human carcinogen) in the Brazilian Blowout treatments. Ever since, more and more stylists and consumers have been skeptical of Brazilian keratin treatments, specifically the Brazilian Blowout products.
My close friend, who inspired me to keep going when I was transitioning, wanted a blowout to do a length check. She chose the Brazilian blowout and it permanently straightened her hair!
I'd never do it. Period.
I've had the "Brazilian Blowout" treatment done twice last year and really enjoyed the results. I used the "Brazilian Blowout" brand and had it done professionally by my stylist. I blogged about my results, but I didn't experience anything negative.
So is the Brazilian keratin treatment basically a glorified relaxer? Or are the affects different than a relaxer? I ask because my mother insists on putting one in my 11 year old sisters hair after I begged her not to. She insists it doesn't have any of the damaging or permanent affects of a relaxer.
You don't have to worry about my trying this one!! I definitely remember the Rio relaxer lol. This procedure has to be harmful yet women are pouring in! ABC did a brief video as well on it. http://www.sassynaturals.com/2010/10/brazilian-blowoutabc-news-discusses-its.html
I heard about this…i did a post on it a while back: http://collegecurlies.blogspot.com/2010/10/keratin-potentially-dangerous.html
scary
Seriously I would be cautious with any hair products manufactured in Brazil. Who remembers the Rio "natural" hair relaxer? I do, and I will never forget the image of the man in the commercial licking it. My brother and I were grossed out. Naturally it turned out to be major bust…just saying.
Mercy. Mercy.
I read on a natural hair blog that said Seda Conditioner was the best. It is a Sunsilk version but from Brazil. Well, being new to natural hair, I drove a good 45 miles to a Brazillian area of town. The lady at this store told me to get some stuff in a tube as well. I did.
Got home and used the Seda and that reaked with the smell of formaldehyde and my curls became loose. My hair started to feel strange.
The stuff in the tube had formaldehyde in it as well. She said the product would make my hair straight.
I threw that stuff in the garbage. I WILL NEVER use any of those products again.
I had to wash and wash and wash to get my natural hair back into a hair-like condition.
All I can say is, it is going to take one curly coily natural at a time to undo the pressure we have for bone straight hair.
Not that bone straight is wrong, but the means to getting can sometimes be way more than it is worth.
Wearing a gas mask to get straight hair…I'll pass.
I saw a beautician on youtube talking about this. she said that stuff ate through 3 pair of gloves by the time she finished and her finger tips were numb for 5 days after she finished and she was having problems breathing. It went on to say that people in her shop were getting sick (clients and stylists). now the owner of the shop only allows the treatments to be done in an isolated space in the shop with ventilation and both the client and the stylist has to wear gas masks.
Beautiful results if you are looking for straight hair. From what I know, this uses chemicals to get protein to bind to your hair (temporarily of course – explaining the 2 – 6 month lifetime of the treatment). Mmmm, liquid keratin binding to the hair. So what does it take to get keratin to become liquid? Let's see, I may be oversimplifying but my nails are made up of keratin right? What would it take to liquefy my nails? Never mind. I don't want to know.
swoodward.