Originally written on 8/4/2014
When choosing a hairdresser, you need to keep in mind the specific needs of your hair and your style. Not all salons can provide specialized services like a Brazilian blow dry; London has a huge variety of hairdressers available, so know what aspects of your particular needs are most important. If you're looking to straighten your hair, find a salon who can perform a “Brazilian Blowout” (keratin blow dry) to keep your hair smooth and sleek for up to three months.
For those who aren't familiar with Brazilian Blowouts, look no further for your information! This treatment applies a keratin solution throughout your hair, which will help preserve the silken texture, and seals it in with heat for straight hair that lasts for weeks. Don't want to waste time ironing your hair every time you go out somewhere? Perhaps a Brazilian keratin treatment (BKT) is right for you. Keratin is the same protein that makes up your hair and fingernails; hydrolysed keratin (keratin with water added) can greatly increase the moisture and softness of your hair. Because of this, keratin treatments can actually strengthen your hair.
Brazilian hair straightening can be done on any type of hair, even if you've had it treated before. Highlights, colour, and relaxing treatments won't be affected by this smoothing treatment; you can even use it to get rid of a perm gone wrong. It won't always make your hair perfectly straight if you have extreme curls, but it will leave it slightly wavy at the most. BKTs are also good on virgin, untreated hair and won't damage your hair the way other treatments such as bleaching would.
There's no question about the results shown from keratin treatments: even a quick Google Image Search will show you how both slight frizz and unmanageable curls are transformed into sleek and shiny hair. However, the procedure itself is very controversial because some products used in the process can contain formaldehyde, which is dangerous for both you and your hairdresser. Several countries have banned the process entirely, including Brazil itself.
Because of the potential health risks involved in a keratin blow dry, it's critically important to make sure you have a hairdresser you can trust. When choosing a salon, talk to the hairdressers and the managers to make sure that they only use formaldehyde-free products in their treatments. Stylists in salons with high levels of formaldehyde-containing products often report eye irritation, difficulty breathing, nausea, and headaches; if your hairdresser often performs keratin smoothing treatments but doesn't suffer from these health issues, the salon will be a good choice for you. Remember: if salons put the health of their stylists as a top priority, they're taking care of your health, too.
If you make sure that your salon doesn't use products with formaldehyde in them, you should be safe from any potential side effects. However, you should still avoid having a keratin blowout if you have any medical conditions that could be affected by trace amounts of formaldehyde in the air. These include: respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, or a sore throat; nervous system problems like frequent headaches, dizziness, or fainting spells; and eye problems including conjunctivitis, blurry vision, or inflammation and redness.
For healthy people who just want fantastically smooth hair for a few months, a Brazilian blow dry may be the right choice for you. It has better results and lasts longer than other smoothing treatments. Talk to your current hairdresser about the procedure; if he or she is not aware of the potential risks, or doesn't know whether or not their products contain formaldehyde, find a different salon for now. Some salons offer a choice of multiple products, which is a good sign—just make sure that your hairdresser at the time of the procedure knows not to use the brands that contain formaldehyde. Cost is also an important consideration, since keratin treatments can cost upwards of £200; however, you can find a Brazilian blow dry in London for under £100 if you take advantage of coupons and sales. In the end, it just comes down to balancing price and quality: take a little time to do your own research based on the style you want and you'll be sure to come up with great results.
When choosing a hairdresser, you need to keep in mind the specific needs of your hair and your style. Not all salons can provide specialized services like a Brazilian blow dry; London has a huge variety of hairdressers available, so know what aspects of your particular needs are most important. If you're looking to straighten your hair, find a salon who can perform a “Brazilian Blowout” (keratin blow dry) to keep your hair smooth and sleek for up to three months.
For those who aren't familiar with Brazilian Blowouts, look no further for your information! This treatment applies a keratin solution throughout your hair, which will help preserve the silken texture, and seals it in with heat for straight hair that lasts for weeks. Don't want to waste time ironing your hair every time you go out somewhere? Perhaps a Brazilian keratin treatment (BKT) is right for you. Keratin is the same protein that makes up your hair and fingernails; hydrolysed keratin (keratin with water added) can greatly increase the moisture and softness of your hair. Because of this, keratin treatments can actually strengthen your hair.
Brazilian hair straightening can be done on any type of hair, even if you've had it treated before. Highlights, colour, and relaxing treatments won't be affected by this smoothing treatment; you can even use it to get rid of a perm gone wrong. It won't always make your hair perfectly straight if you have extreme curls, but it will leave it slightly wavy at the most. BKTs are also good on virgin, untreated hair and won't damage your hair the way other treatments such as bleaching would.
There's no question about the results shown from keratin treatments: even a quick Google Image Search will show you how both slight frizz and unmanageable curls are transformed into sleek and shiny hair. However, the procedure itself is very controversial because some products used in the process can contain formaldehyde, which is dangerous for both you and your hairdresser. Several countries have banned the process entirely, including Brazil itself.
Because of the potential health risks involved in a keratin blow dry, it's critically important to make sure you have a hairdresser you can trust. When choosing a salon, talk to the hairdressers and the managers to make sure that they only use formaldehyde-free products in their treatments. Stylists in salons with high levels of formaldehyde-containing products often report eye irritation, difficulty breathing, nausea, and headaches; if your hairdresser often performs keratin smoothing treatments but doesn't suffer from these health issues, the salon will be a good choice for you. Remember: if salons put the health of their stylists as a top priority, they're taking care of your health, too.
If you make sure that your salon doesn't use products with formaldehyde in them, you should be safe from any potential side effects. However, you should still avoid having a keratin blowout if you have any medical conditions that could be affected by trace amounts of formaldehyde in the air. These include: respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, or a sore throat; nervous system problems like frequent headaches, dizziness, or fainting spells; and eye problems including conjunctivitis, blurry vision, or inflammation and redness.
For healthy people who just want fantastically smooth hair for a few months, a Brazilian blow dry may be the right choice for you. It has better results and lasts longer than other smoothing treatments. Talk to your current hairdresser about the procedure; if he or she is not aware of the potential risks, or doesn't know whether or not their products contain formaldehyde, find a different salon for now. Some salons offer a choice of multiple products, which is a good sign—just make sure that your hairdresser at the time of the procedure knows not to use the brands that contain formaldehyde. Cost is also an important consideration, since keratin treatments can cost upwards of £200; however, you can find a Brazilian blow dry in London for under £100 if you take advantage of coupons and sales. In the end, it just comes down to balancing price and quality: take a little time to do your own research based on the style you want and you'll be sure to come up with great results.