The Brazilian Blowout, also called the Brazilian Keratin Treatment, straightens curly and wavy hair by coating the hair with keratin, which soaks into the hair's cortex. As the keratin sinks in, the pores fill and expand, straightening each strand of hair. Similar treatments require scrupulous hair care, but stylists insist that a major benefit of a Brazilian Blowout is the relatively low-key care regimen that a recipient must follow to optimize their Brazilian Keratin Treatment.
Avoid submerging your hair in saltwater for three to four days after your hair treatment. Pools and the ocean can be especially harmful to Brazilian Blowouts, as the sodium chloride found in both swimming spots are known to weaken the bonds that coat the keratin treatment to your hair. Refrain from taking a swim for four days and soak your hair in the shower before swimming in a pool or in saltwater to minimize the amount of salt that comes in contact with your hair.
Wash your hair use a creamy, rich shampoo and conditioner. Harsh chemicals like thioglycolate and glutaraldehyde, found in many keratin blowout preparations, are known to sap moisture from hair. What may be advertised as a Brazilian Blowout could be a similar treatment that contains these ingredients, so always check with your stylist before committing to the procedure. Some recipients of the Brazilian Blowout have reported that their scalps became oily after the treatment, requiring hair to be washed frequently. The scalp usually stabilizes within a week of treatment. A creamy shampoo will keep hair from drying out if more washing becomes necessary.
Color your hair before getting a Brazilian Blowout. The keratin coating of a Brazilian Blowout fills in the microscopic pores of each strand of hair. These pores usually absorb hair dye, and the keratin will leave little to no room for additional substances in your hair. Prepare to wait at least two weeks to color your hair again after a Brazilian Blowout.
Warning
Brazilian keratin hair treatments, including the Brazilian Blowout, may contain high concentrations that pose a serious health risk to both stylists and consumers. Brazilian keratin treatments have been banned in many countries, and consumers in the United States are advised to approach these treatments with extreme caution. Pregnant women and women who are nursing should not attempt a Brazilian Blowout.
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Writer Bio
Hailing from California, Ann Mazzaferro is a professional writer who has written for "The Pacifican," "Calliope Literary Magazine" and presented at the National Undergraduate Literature Conference. Mazzaferro graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the Pacific.