The Brazilian Keratin Treatment: Curls Are Canned and Stay Down for Up to Three Months

I won't beat around the bush, guys: the Brazilian Keratin Treatment is the best hair straightening treatment ever.

Let me give you some background about my hair. A lot of my friends envied me for my curls. In high school I wore it tied back in a loose ponytail, where bunches of curls hung just above my shoulders; for special occasions, I had it styled in ringlets that even Cindy Brady would die for.

But after a while my hair was becoming much too difficult to maintain. The only way I could have gotten my hair curly - presentably so, without the frizz - was if I washed it. After washing my hair I would towel dry, and, if I were lucky, it would become a brilliant mass of curls and waves. More often than not, though, my hair became Frizz City. It was dry and whenever I tried to brush it or comb it, I'd end up with a clump of knotted hairballs and an aching scalp.

My mother figured straightening my hair was the way to go. Like many other plagued individuals, I turned to countless methods for straightening my hair. I tried relaxing it, but it wasn't long (try 48 hours or so) until my hair was back to its frizzy form, unable to be contained. Japanese treatments (like Chi) not only left my hair straight for a short period of time, but it also left my locks damaged and dry.

It was difficult to keep my hair straight for extended periods because I had to constantly wash it. I'll confess: I have dandruff. Bad dandruff. I don't use Head & Shoulders for it (not only did I learn it's not great for your hair, it simply wasn't strong enough for my scalp); instead, I use a shampoo by Neutrogena, the T/Gel Extra Strength Therapeutic Shampoo. This stuff is strong because there's a special formula that includes a bit of tar. Neutrogena's T/Gel is a serious shampoo for dandruff.

Having my hair straight meant having it dry. I couldn't wash it after straightening it with other treatments because it would bring me right back to Frizz City. But because of my dandruff, I didn't have a choice. It was a Catch-22 of hair care.

Then I discovered the BKT.

My mother found out about the treatment through a friend of hers. Mom told me, "Supposedly you wash your hair, leave your hair alone for three days, wash it, and it stays straight."

"Supposedly," I said, obviously skeptical. I had lost a lot of faith in hair straightening.

She did the treatment first. Her hair was a lot worse off than mine; it was brittle with a lot of split ends, ravaged by countless coloring and other treatments. After she did the BKT, her hair completely changed. The first day from the salon it looked great, like any other salon style. But as days became weeks, I realized that this treatment was legitimate. She would brag and say, "I get up out of bed, brush it and it looks fantastic. I don't need to do anything to my hair anymore!"

The BKT is a very new innovation in hairstyling. The treatment utilizes the use of keratin, a special protein naturally found in hair, hooves and wool. The more keratin your hair has, the straighter your hair is. The BKT adds keratin to your hair, leaving it looking more healthy and protected from UV rays.

The treatment takes about four hours. The stylist will wash your hair, apply the treatment, and blow dry, then seal the solution with a blow dryer and hair iron. My treatment was what's affectionately known as the "Chocolate" deep conditioning. As the stylist worked, I smelled a pleasant (yet strange) aroma of chocolate.

After she had finished ironing my hair, my hair was pin-straight. I was ecstatic, but remained very skeptical. I did not want this treatment to become just another procedure to add to my Stuff That Never Works on My Hair list.

Three days later, I washed my hair. As I was in the shower I thought, "Here come the waves..."

When I stepped out and looked into the mirror, I was shocked.

My hair was not becoming curly - it was wavy. The waves were soft, gentle, as if some unknown force had subdued my hair. It was no longer pin-straight as if I had just come out of the salon, but it was at least tame.

I decided it was time to turn to the iron.

I quickly dried my hair and anxiously went to my ceramic hair iron and worked on my hair. Thirty minutes later, my hair was back to pin-straight.

I couldn't believe my mirror. My hair was actually straight after washing my hair. And this time, it looked good! I remember instances where I would wash my hair, dry it, then iron it, and instead find myself not only back in Frizz City, but in the borough of Split-End Town. My hair, after this shower, was straight and healthy. I was
extremely pleased.

This was in mid-April. It is now late June, and my hair is still straight.

I can now easily wash my hair without having to worry about frizz and curls, thanks to this wonderful Brazilian treatment. But that doesn't mean it doesn't come without its "flaws."

The BKT carries a hefty price tag, up to over $600, depending on the length of your hair. My mother won't tell me how much she paid for my treatment, but she assured me I needed to have it done. Otherwise, I would have gone insane trying to control the stuff on my head. If you do a little bit of hunting, like I have, you can find some places that'll do the treatment for a fraction of the price. (A salon right down the block from my house offers the same BKT, for $250.)

Also, some procedures (there are many different variations, such as the Florida's Caribbean Dream Relaxer) carry small traces of formaldehyde, a carcinogen. The treatment I took did not have this chemical. In order to know for sure if the treatment you want is formaldehyde free, call your local salon and inquire about your options.

Only professionals who took the certification class to perform the treatment can administer the BKT. You cannot purchase the treatment for personal use. You can, however, purchase follow-up shampoos and conditioners that contain keratin, the treatment's key ingredient.

Miracles do happen. There are treatments out there, like the BKT, which will work wonders with your hair. All you have to do is a little bit of research, and you may soon find yourself with a new do and a smile on your face.