I blow-dried my hair in 10 minutes today with a paddle brush -- and got a look that would normally take me over an hour ... and one or more of these products.
Hooray! And so begins my public service campaign to all my frizzy-haired sisters, spreading the word on the newest thing in straightening treatments -- Brazillian Blowout. Basically, it's a layer of keratin (the protein that makes up hair/skin/nails) applied to your hair, sealed in with a flat iron, then rinsed away. The result: Healthy, straight, frizz-free hair -- that lasts four months.
Since it takes two hours, I had plenty of time to grill the stylist, Michelle Vance, and owner Tom of the Tom Brophy Salon in Beverly Hills:
Q: Who does this treatment work best on?
A: Anyone with curls, waves or frizz, plus anyone with color-damaged hair -- it actually works best on them; you see the most remarkable difference, it's so shiny. New clients usually come in and have a "strand test" done, just to see what the results will be like before they commit.
Q: Is it safe? Or is my brain cooking under all this stuff?
A: This one is safe -- Brazilian Blowout has no formaldehyde, unlike some of the other brands out there, where the stylist and the client both actually have to wear masks. Women should ask about the ingredients in the treatment before they sign up.
Q: How is it different from Japanese hair straightening?
A: This fades gradually, so you won't have curly roots with straight ends. Plus -- this is the big thing -- Japanese straightening goes in and chemically changes the bonds of your hair. It's like the reverse of a perm. And that's just damaging; your hair can actually break off. Whereas the Brazilian Blowout is just a coat of protein sealed over your hair shaft to smooth it out.
Q: Does it remove all the curl?
A: If you have wavy or straight hair, it makes your hair a natural-looking straight -- for super-straight, you just flat iron over it. If you're very curly, it enhances the curl and virtually eliminates the frizz.
Q: Will it last?
A: Yes, about four months, especially if you:
- Use a low-sulfate or sulfate-free shampoo
- Don't use deep-cleansing shampoos
- Shampoo less frequently. Shower -- please, we like that! -- but just rinse your hair and apply conditioner.
Q: How much?
A: For a whole head, $450. But my clients say it's worth it because they're saving an hour each time they shampoo. Plus, people also get a partial done -- so if the back of your hair is particularly unmanageable, you can just do that for less.
And P.S. How sweet is this? (Well, sweet if you're in Los Angeles ...) -- Tom's offering you a free Healthy Scalp Treatment ($60) if you stop by before July 1 for a cut or Brazilian Blowout. Call (310) 858-8780.
- Staying curly? Here, our curl boot camp.
- Staying true to your flat iron? Then you need this.
- Our fave curly hairdos. Such cuteness should be illegal.
