We put our hair through a lot. From coloring to relaxing to daily styling, our tresses are probably sore from the abuse. But when stubborn frizz or lackluster locks plague, you have to call in the big guns. Enter: A more kind and gentle, but still powerful, option that delivers gorgeous results fast—the Brazilian Blowout. Whether you want to go straight or tame your curls, the customizable smoothing treatment eliminates frizz and infuses shine by way of a bonding technology that actually improves the overall condition of your hair. What’s more, results are immediate—there’s none of the downtime that comes with keratin (like waiting three days to wash your hair). The treatment can cut blow-dry time in half, and lasts up to 12 weeks depending on your hair type and routine. While the service can be pricey, averaging $250 nationwide (we gave it a try at Rita Hazan New York for $300), the results are impressive—smooth, shiny, bouncy locks. Yes, please! But if you’re still riddled with trepidation, fear not. We tapped expert Alfredo Lewis, global director of education at Brazilian Professionals, to further explain why a Brazilian Blowout is worth the investment.
"The Brazilian Blowout uses amino acids—which are much smaller molecules—allowing the treatment to be rinsed out the same day. Keratin must crystallize over 72 hours. This is one of the biggest differences between a Brazilian Blowout and a keratin treatment. With a Brazilian Blowout, you don't have to worry about over-'keratinizing' the hair, which ultimately causes breakage."
"Designed to complement color-treated hair, the Brazilian Blowout is formulated to work best directly after a color service, because it's actually filling and sealing the hair's cuticle with the amino acids and nutrients, which locks in the color. If you do have a Brazilian Blowout and want to color afterward, you need to wait two weeks so that the color can penetrate the cuticle."
"The Brazilian Blowout is ideal for all hair types, even very fine. Because it's a customizable treatment, you can use a flat iron to add volume at the root, giving bounce to limp hair, or use lower heat to maintain body and curl while eliminating frizz and getting all the other benefits. Brazilian Blowout results last up to 12 weeks, provided you use the after-care products (shampoo, conditioner and mask) to reinforce the treatment. The line includes many of the key ingredients in the professional treatment. Lifestyle also plays a huge role—if you swim in salt water daily or wash your hair every day, results may not last as long. And the results are cumulative, so with every treatment you're improving the overall health of your hair."
"The treatment wears uniformly over the three-month period, which means there's no line of demarcation."
"There's an entire line of Brazilian Blowout after-care products designed to style hair, reduce frizz or add volume. An exclusive blend of açai berry, camu camu and annatto seed allows for a continual smoothing effect as hair is washed and styled between professional treatments. The Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner are crucial for maintaining the treatment for three months. For thicker hair, I recommend the mask as well."