« Meet Charity Andersen of Cade Christian | Home | BBC’s Favorite Beauty Blogs »
What is a Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment?
By Tammy | June 23, 2009
I’ve been hearing a lot about a process that treats your hair with Keratin to smooth the cuticles and create beautiful straight strands for months! I have to say, I’m certainly considering having a treatment done but I wanted to find out a little more about it so I asked Stacey Zayas, owner of Ritual Salon in San Diego, CA to comment on the treatment.
I’ve been hearing a lot about Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment lately. Can you tell me what it is?
Keratin is a type of protein high in Sulfur and the amino acid cystine, making it tough, elastic and insoluble. These qualities are fundamental to the strong structural role keratin often plays in nature. It is a major component of horns, hooves and wool. In fact, keratin is the main protective substance in our hair, skin and nails. Keratin is difficult to extract without damaging the cystine, or sacrificing potency. But Keratec® has discovered how to do this in a gentle, patented process.
Our keratin is derived from pure wool harvested from New Zealand sheep. The wool comes from an agricultural sector guaranteed to be free from BSE and other disease-related substances present in other parts of the world.
No animals are harmed throughout the Keratec TM process.
How does it work?
When it comes to keratin, tough is good. Its strong protective qualities improve the hair both inside and out. Our unique biopolymer ingredient is virtually a “liquid form of hair” that gently blends with the hair on your head. It brings to hair what it was lacking to begin with and what it has lost over the years.
Is the hair dull, dry and damaged? Is it curly, wavy, frizzy, overly voluminous or unmanageable? Application of our keratin treatment puts an end to all that.
The smaller keratin molecules penetrate the hair cortex improving and repairing the quality of the hair from the inside. The added strength, elasticity and moisture results in the smooth, soft, shiny and straightened affect.
The larger molecules coat the hair cuticle and take the environmental insults such as UV rays, smog, and smoke for your hair on the outside. Further damage to the hair shaft is prevented.
How long can I expect my salon visit to take when receiving the treatment on shoulder length hair? About 2hr.
How does an in-salon treatment compare to a DIY like Liquid Karatin 30 Day Starter Kit?
Well, like any home DIY product, it is very hard to do a thorough job yourself. You can expect the home process to take about 2 hr. Like any do it yourself home color, it’s just never as good. A salon treatment will last 3-4 month the DIY will only last 1 month.
What can I expect to pay to get my shoulder length hair treated?
About $250
How would this treatment benefit a busy mom?
It will cut your blow dry time in half. Most mom’s do not need to blow dry their hair at all after the treatment.
So, with this treatment, can a woman let her hair dry naturally and expect straight hair during the 3-4 months post treatment?
You can let your hair dry on its own and it will be smooth and frizz free. If you like your hair to be pin straight you might have to blow dry,It depends on how curly your hair is and how straight you want it.
Can it be applied to color treated hair?
Yes it works best on chemical treated hair.
Can an expecting mom get the treatments?
Not recommended.
How can I find a salon near my hometown that offers the BKT?
I would Google Brazilian Keratin Treatment in your area.
Do stylists have to go through special training to give the BKT?
Yes, they should be certified.
Does the treatment grow out like a perm does so the ends remain straight as the curl grows in with new growth? Or, does the hair gradually return to it’s normal state over time?
The treatment will gradually and evenly wear off the hair in about 3 to 4 months.
Here is a before and after picture so you can see the dramatic difference in how your hair would look:
Results are stunning aren’t they? I’m almost convinced to spend the money if it means not having to blow my hair straight with every washing! It sounds like a fairytale come true for me!
However, I still have some more investigating to do as I’ve read there are similar treatments and I’d like to find out the differences. I’ll bring you my findings soon! Until then, if you have any questions about BKT, check out Ritual Salon’s website or call Stacey with your questions!
UPDATE:
Since publishing this piece, I’ve learned that the BKT does have some downtime of several days, meaning you can not wash your hair, wear it in a ponytail or even put sunglasses on top of your head as dents may be formed. Ohh, not good. It also contains formaldehyde, which some people are allergic to. There are options available if these conditions don’t work for you.
Be informed, compare the Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment to the The Brazilian Blowout™ and the Global Keratin Treatment!
Related posts:
- Global Keratin Treatment vs Brazilian Blowout™: My Comparison of the Keratin Treatments I want to apologize to those that have been...
- Caring For Your Keratin Hair Treatment I had a Brazilian Blowout done 8 weeks ago. ...
- My Results: The 411 on Formaldehyde-Free Global Keratin Treatment Make every day a great hair day with Global...
- Formaldehyde-Free Global Keratin Treatment The Brazilian Hair Straightening craze has frizzy gals buzzing...
- Pros & Cons of Keratin Complex by Coppola You may have read about the Brazilian Blowout™, Global Keratin,...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Topics: Hair | 20 Comments »
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
Looking forward to hearing more. This would be worth it. I hate blow drying my hair straight!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Wow, so glad you did this post… I’ve been dying to know how this works! I can’t believe it works on dyed hair? I always thought I couldn’t use these kind of treatments since my hair has highlights and color in it…wish I could do this!
Now if only I lived in a place where they did this treatment (and did it well)…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Bailey, you are going to NY next month! Ask DM to hook you up with someone they recommend in NY! (unless you are going to be nursing your new baby girl- then you’ll have to wait).
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
Wow, the BEFORE and AFTER pics look great. Wonder how much it costs in my city…
June 26th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
[...] a Brazilian Blowout compares to other treatments such as Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT), which we learned about last week. I’m excited to learn the differences because I have some confusion regarding the [...]
July 6th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
[...] Brazilian Blowout as opposed to Brazilian Keratin Treatment or the other keratin treatments? Brazilian Blowout™ is a superior product in an ultra-rich creamy [...]
August 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I started doing the Brazilian Keratin treatment two years ago. A month ago, I found that it had strong chemicals such as formol (more than the approved amount by the FDA). I decided to try yesterday the Brazilian Blowout which claims to be formol-free. During the application, my eyes got irritated (just like with the Brazilian Keratin Treatment by Marcia) and it smelled. I washed my hair as soon as I came home. Today, a day later, I’ve felt my scalp tingling and as if there was ice on it – an odd feeling. Does anyone know what ingredients have been substituted for the formol to straighten the hair? Are they just as bad as the original straightening?
August 9th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Lolita,
In the following article, Jordana explains that the Brazilian Blowout (TM) contains a chemical cousin, also in the ‘hyde’ family, and therefore can cause irritation in some individuals.
http://amominredhighheels.com/brazilian-blowout-toxic/
She suggests an alternative for those experiencing irritation called the Formaldehyde-Free Global Keratin Treatment. You can read about it here:
http://amominredhighheels.com/formaldehydefree-global-keratin-treatment/
I hope this information helps answer your concerns! If you have more questions, you can contact Jordana directly at jordanalorraine@gmail.com. She has been terrific at answering my questions and those of other readers.
August 10th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Tammy, YOU ARE THE BEST!!! Thanks for th quick response – very, very helpful! I’m going to try to use the formolhyde-free product – Global Keratine.
Thank YOU thank you so much!
Lolita
August 10th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Me too! the BB made me tear uncontrollably! But I do love the results and would be willing to do it again. First, however I will try the GKT and see how it compares
Let me know how you like it!
August 14th, 2009 at 4:35 am
My daughter had a straightening treatment in Japan about a year and a half ago. I would like to know if it’s the same treatment as the BKT or the blowout. Her hair was super straight and shiny. It was just beautiful. The only problem was that it tangled quite badly. So bad in fact. that she ended up having about 6 or 8 inches cut off. Could this be the same treatment?
August 14th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Narla, the BKT, Brazilian Blowout and Global Keratin Treatment are all semi-permanent hair straighteners. This means they gradually fade out of your hair, returning it to it’s original texture. From what I understand of Japanese straighteners, they are permanent and grow out like a perm.
My Keratin Treatment expert, Jordana, has a great comparison chart that compares Japenese Straighteners to Keratin Treatments. I hope it will help you:
http://web.me.com/jordanalorraine/Brazilian_Blowout_by_Jordana_Lorraine/Keratin_vs._Japanese.html
August 14th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Narla, I agree with Tammy, and would guess your daughter had a Japanese treatment such as Yuko System, which changes the structure of the hair permanently and compromises its strength. Did it look beautiful, but maybe a little too straight, and stayed that way even as roots grew in? Was the process 3-4 hours long? Depending on her hair texture, there is a good chance she could get a similar but more natural-looking and healthier results from a keratin treatment such as Brazilian Blowout or Global Keratin. There is more body left in the hair and as Tammy said, it is semi-permanent and fades away slowly.
http://www.jordanalorraine.com
October 8th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Hi Ladies, I just want to share my experience:
I have really tight curly blond hair. Always have envied girls with silky long hair, and the easiness they have to brush and get that Asian straight look.
Well, 6 months ago my twin sister (same kind of hair) came from FL to visit me. Let me tell you, she looked FABULOUS! her hair was shinny, and unbelievably smooth!!! She recommended me a Brazilian keratin called Sunliss. She has tried many brands before but said that this was second to none. So I went and bought it directly from their site and took it to my stylist. There are no words to describe how my hair looked, before and after. I would have been the perfect candidate for those types of pictures LOL. Anyhow, after the treatment I can blower my hair in literally 7 minutes giving that $100.00 dollar blower in the best salon in Manhattan. Seriously, 7 minutes! that is the best part, and more when I’m not a morning person and any minute I can save to sleep a little longer is precious…
In the past 6 months I have done this twice, the last application being 6 weeks ago. They claim that its safe and I really hope so. Sunliss is very popular in South America and Europe. I love this product and want to continue using it.
Another great thing is that its progressive, so the more you use it, the better the absorption of keratin in your hair will be.
Feel free to ask me questions about it
Best,
Taty.
October 8th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Oh, I forgot to post the website its:
http://www.sunliss.com
cheers
Taty.
October 8th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Taty,
Thanks for bringing another keratin treatment to our attention! I like that it is Formaldehyde- free! I can’t wait to hear if Jordana has any experience with this product
October 9th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Thank you, Taty!
I have looked over the site and contacted them to learn more. I did notice that they make their treatment with or without formaldehyde; which one did you buy? The one which contains it is called “Ultra,” because it is stronger and probably lasts longer. What kind of ventilation did the stylist use in the area she performed it? Did you experience any eye irritation? I hope I’m not asking too many questions…
October 10th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Hi Jordana!
I read in their website that all their treatments have 0% formaldehyde. I had the Ultra applied because of my hair type. My stylist started with a little fan which I told her to turn off after a while. I didn’t think it was necessary… She has a big space though. During the flat ironing part, I did see vapor coming out which got my eyes a little watery but nothing unmanageable. This is normal right?
c
heers,
Taty
October 10th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Hi Taty,
I misread the website and would like to CORRECT my previous statement; both treatments by Sunliss are FORMALDEHYDE-FREE. The ingredient they use in place of it is the same one used in Brazilian Blowout (http://amominredhighheels.com/stop-battling-frizz-brazilian-blowout/), however the latter has the benefit of being rinsed off and then styled during your appointment, so you see the results immediately. This is especially exciting on the first visit!
Your eye sensitivity is not abnormal with this ingredient, it occurs in maybe 10% of clients. The fan probably would have helped keep the vapors away from your face, and I would recommend letting her keep it on in the future for your comfort. In my salon, we use special air filters for both the clients’ comfort and the stylists’ safety (considering that while you do this a few times a year I do it 5-10 times a week).
So did your stylist just do this for you, or did she buy the bottle and start offering the service? I would be curious to speak with her about it on a professional level, if you wouldn’t mind pointing her in my direction. http://www.jordanalorraine.com (phone and email contact info there)
Thank you for the information and for being open to questions!
October 30th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Two hours with Alan, and my life is forever changed! Situation: I have over-processed and damaged hair from necessary color, highlights, blow-drying (over an hour every time I washed my hair), ironing, etc., etc. Straighteners over the years? You name it, I’ve tried it, damaging my hair further. I went up to Alan’s and left with beautiful, silky, shiny hair. A few nights later, I walked the Highline near the river with some friends – walked for two hours, with the river winds blowing through my hair. Afraid to look in the mirror afterwards – it was still perfect (as it is, now, when I wake up in the morning). But the ultimate test (and resulting joy) was a few nights later when I went on a Blues Cruise on the Hudson River, something I’d avoided for 10 years in New York, knowing my hair would look like cotton candy ten minutes into the trip, spoiling the evening for me. Now? I am happy, happy, thrilled! My life no longer revolves around my hair. Thank you, Alan!
Linda F., New York