The Brazilian Blowout. Experiences from Behind the Styling Chair

As a hairstylist with over 20 years behind the chair experience, I am always on the lookout for new products and services to offer my clientele. When the Brazilian Blowout was presented to me by a sales rep, I was hesitant to take the plunge. I did my homework, which included a lot of online research, and testimonial reading. Eight months after making the decision to run with it, I am here to offer my personal findings and experience with this service.

What is the Brazilian blowout?
The Brazilian blowout is a smoothing treatment that fuses a layer of protective proteins around the hair shaft. It surrounds the cuticle resulting in smooth, frizz free, shiny hair.

If you have frizzy, damaged, or over processed hair, and want a smooth, healthy and shiny end result, you can benefit from this service.

Can you color your hair with the BB?
Service can be performed on color treated, as well as highlighted hair. For the best result, hair should be colored first. The color process can be completed immediately before the BB service with no down time. However, it is recommended that the client waits at least 2 weeks after receiving the Brazilian Blowout before re-coloring. After the BB service, the cuticle will be resistant to color, and result in uneven pigment distribution. Please wait the allotted time to avoid uneven color results.

What are the steps involved?
The first step in the BB process is cleansing the hair with a special shampoo. The hair will be washed at least twice, making sure that all impurities and product build up are removed. If the hair has a heavy coating of waxes or oils, additional shampoos may be needed.

The hair will be towel dried, and divided into 4 sections. The Brazilian Blowout product is then applied from the back bottom working upwards and finishing in the front. It is applied with a tint brush, and has the consistency of a thick conditioner. The product does have a slight odor, not unlike that of a perm or color. The odor has the ability to make some clients eyes water, but not to the extreme of making it an unbearable service to endure. If you've sat through other services that give off an odor, you'll be fine with this one.

After the product is applied, your stylist will blow dry the entire head, pulling the hair straight as they dry each section. If you have a sensitive scalp, this might be hard on you. Just remember, a thick conditioner textured product is coating the hair, and blow drying is going to be a little bit more stressful than normal.

After the hair has been dried and smoothed, a 450* flat iron will be used to smooth out each section. Starting from the back, moving forward, your stylist will take small sections, and smooth each one 4-8 times from root to end. You may notice a steam as the iron passes over the hair strand. This is a result of the product being heated, and bonded with the cuticle. Don't panic. This is normal. This part of the process also makes the product give off an odor similar to popcorn (I'll also been told chicken wings). Again, a normal result of the service.

This part of the service will take anywhere from 1 1/2- 2 1/2 hours depending on the amount, and texture of the hair. Just when your looking in the mirror at your newly smooth straight hair, your stylist is going to take you back to the shampoo bowl to rinse it out! Your hair will be rinsed in cool water, and a hair conditioning mask is applied for 1-3 minutes. After the mask is rinsed, the process is complete!

End results
The end result of the Brazilian Blowout has a lot to do with the texture of the hair that you start with naturally.
Very kinky curly ethnic hair with end up with a loose "s" shaped pattern curl, that can easily be smooth pin straight with a flat iron in less than half the time before receiving the service.

Medium to loose curl can be smoothed straight in most cases with a round brush and a blow dryer, again in less than half the time before service.

Hair can be curled with a curling iron if a loose barrel curl look is desired.

The best benefit is hair that is no longer ruled by the weather. Humid sticky hot days, or damp and rainy, your style will remain frizzy free and manageable!

How long does it last?
Please remember to use the products designed to go with this service. If you use the Acai shampoo and conditioner designed for this service, the average life will run from 10-12 weeks. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, you must coat the hair with a protective styling serum before swimming. Chlorine will decrease the life of your blowout.

Cost:
Depending on your location, the average cost of this service can run between $200 - $500. The general rule of thumb seems to be, the bigger the city, the higher the cost factor.

My personal experience with this product has been very positive. I have seen clients go from uncontrollable frizz, to drop dead gorgeous locks! In the 8 months since I took the first step by offering it, almost 85% of Blowout clients, have become repeat customers for this service.
Try it. You have nothing to loose but frizz.