A Safe Frizz-Fighting Treatment
Oct 31, 2011“Everything good in life is either immoral, illegal or fattening.” During her badgirl phase, Nicole Richie spoke those wise words…and I’d like to add carcinogenic to her list.
The Brazilian Blowout was all the rage last year. It became known as the professional frizz-eliminating treatment that was gentler and safer than its predecessor -- Japanese straightening. But true to theory, as one of the good things in life, the Brazilian Blowout is now apparently carcinogenic as it contains formaldehyde.
Thankfully, there’s a new pro treatment that’s quicker and safer. The Keratin Complex Express Blow Out is a one-hour, in-salon process that infuses keratin proteins into the cuticle to make strands smoother and less frizzy. The main difference between this treatment and the Brazilian Blowout, aside from the fact that the formula really is supposed to be formaldehyde free, is that it smoothes and de-frizzes but doesn’t straighten and flatten the hair.
Nicole enlisted me to try out the Keratin Complex Express Blow Out at Chicago's Studio 110 salon to see if it really works.
Full disclosure: I have relatively straight hair with a little bit of bend. But I also have a lot of breakage, which creates a lot of flyaways, so I was excited for this service. First, my hair was shampooed, conditioned, and given a quick tousle with a hair dryer. Then, the keratin solution was applied to my hair in small sections using a brush like the one used to apply hair dye. Next, the stylist went back over my strands with a fine-toothed comb and a flat iron to help the keratin fully penetrate my strands. When I left the salon, my hair looked shiny/slightly greasy and stick straight/flat (see the above pic). I was told to keep it dry and elastic free for 8 hours—not 3 days like other keratin treatments out there. Whew!
After my first wash, I air-dried my hair and was thrilled with the result -- there weren’t any frizzies in sight. My hair still had its natural shape and curvature, minus the straggly, frizzy flyaways. Talk about a miracle! The Express Blow Out lasts about 5-6 weeks and is a fraction of the cost (about $100) of the full-fledged Natural Keratin Smoothing Treatment that lasts up to 5 months.
My verdict: The Keratin Complex Express Blow Out is great way to give conditioning treatments a try without the commitment. And it’s not immoral, illegal, fattening or carcinogenic.
Trend To Try: Celebrity Hair Obsession - Brazilian Blowout
Jul 21, 2010One of the biggest beauty issues my readers tell me they face during the summer is frizzy hair. I've tried to tackle this concern in many posts with a variety of products and techniques such as hair oil, mousse, how-to's and even offered giveaways for a flat iron and a complete hair care regimen.
However, if you're fed up with poof and want to eliminate it for good, another option is to trade in the D.I.Y. options for pro hair treatments like the Brazilian Blowout. This is the newest frizz-eliminating service on salon menus and it's gaining a lot of celebrity attention. Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Richie, Halle Berry and Lindsay Lohan are just some of the stars doing it.
You may have heard of Japanese straightening, a chemical-based treatment that was all the rage years ago. Unlike Japanese straightening, which offers results that last up to six months but can damage hair or flatten it if in the wrong hands, the Brazilian Blowout uses proteins that smooth and protect each strand. Think of it as a condom for your hair. Whether that image grosses you out or not, you'll be happy to know the formaldehyde-free process is totally healthy for your mane, protects locks from hot tools and there's no downtime. The fact that you can jump in the pool immediately after the treatment is the main advantage to choosing the Brazilian Blowout over other popular protein-based hair treatments like a Keratin treatment, which prevents you from showering or using hair elastics for three days post service. I have to say, the Brazilian Blowout sounds a lot less intimidating than other Brazilian named beauty services I've tried, and all it takes is 90 minutes of your time to get shiny, frizz-free hair for up to three months.
Nicole Pearl, The Beauty Girl, has written for national publications including Allure, Cosmo, Marie Claire, Self, In Style, Seventeen, and more. She's covered NYC and LA Fashion Weeks, has appeared on TV as a top beauty and style expert and has been a guest speaker for corporations. The Beauty Girl blog is Nicole's exclusive insider notebook, sharing her V.I.P. access to the latest in beauty. Welcome! Still curious about Nicole? Click here. To book this beauty expert for parties, events, TV segments, media tours, personal consultations and appearances, email info@thebeautygirl.com
