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Have you used the Brazilian Hair Straightening / Blow-Dry Home Keratin Treatment from Amazon?

405 replies

nobodysfool · 22/05/2013 13:11

I have read lots of threads about this kit and people seem to rave about it to reduce the frizziness in hair but I remember reading a while back that some contain formaldehyde and I concerned that this one contains it. I have read the ingredients but am unsure if formaldehyde goes by other chemical names?
Just worried I'll do damage to myself for the sake of frizz free hair.
Any ideas?

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SofaCanary · 22/05/2013 13:28

It works so well I'm guessing it's got something pretty nasty in it at some level. Totally worth the risk though imo Blush

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Sunshineandflowers · 22/05/2013 17:49

I've used it last year and had it done for me again yesterday, have a hairdresser do mine at home.

No formaldehyde and it's brilliant stuff. Bit of a faff having it put on but the benefits are so worth it. I have mad frizzy curly hair that I straighten. Without the treatment it takes me am hour to wash and get my hair looking ok. With - 10 mins max to get it looking fabulous.

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carrielou2007 · 22/05/2013 18:10

Is it difficult to do?? I ordered one yesterday, it's my 40th next week and with 3 dc (one newborn) my heir us up in a bun with quick straighten to the front as no time to ghd the lot every morning so hoping this will work wonders Grin

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Sunshineandflowers · 22/05/2013 18:23

I wouldn't like to try and do it myself! Do you have a mobile hairdresser who could do it? Or a friend?

And the stuff is very pungent when it's being heated. You need to keep small children out of the way!!

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hexagonal · 22/05/2013 18:31

I used it once, I have long thick frizzy hair and usually straighten it. I wasn't amazed by it, the results weren't much different than just normal straightening, and it didn't last after washing.

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carrielou2007 · 22/05/2013 19:50

Bother!! Dd will be at school and ds1 at preschool but ds2 only 3 weeks. How long does it take? I don't know anyone who could do it, just thought would be plonk it on, then wash it off

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JazzDalek · 22/05/2013 20:00

Yes. It's amazing. But results only lasted 5-6 weeks for me rather than the 3 months that is touted.

I've enough left in the pot for another application, so am saving it for once I've had my hair cut.

Good value IMO even for 6 weeks of gorgeous, easy-to-style hair.

My hair is shoulder-length, medium-fine, wavy and frizz-prone. Keratin Kits made it feel like actual, normal hair, soft and swishy.

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JazzDalek · 22/05/2013 20:00

Oh and I applied it myself, it wasn't hard at all.

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Sunshineandflowers · 22/05/2013 20:00

It took my hairdresser 2.5 hours in total. I've had it done at a salon before and it took nearly 4 hours! I have thick hair just past shoulder length.

You have to wash it with the special shampoo provided. Totally dry it. Paint the solution onto the hair, leave 20 minutes. Blow dry the hair. Then straighten with straighteners, every section 5 times. If you don't get it dead straight it won't work properly. There is no way I could do the underneath or back thoroughly.

What about that 30 day stuff you can get in boots. My DD has used that and it wasn't as good a result but only took her about half hour.

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 22/05/2013 20:34

I used it a couple of months ago and it was amazing, my hair was all shiney, straight and smooth. Its only easy if you are confident with hair styling ie: able to straighten well. as someone else explained you wash twice with clarifying shampoo supplied. dry your hair or as I did just left it to dry while I did my housework and just finished off with the dryer. Then you apply the gunk, its a bit toxic smelling and can make your eyes water so need a well ventilated room. this is combed through and dried thoroughly. once dry you need to straighten small sections of hair running hot (ghds or similar that go to 230) straighteners over each section up to 7 times. I recommend getting a heat resistant glove (check out amazon, I got one for about £4.00) as it heats your hair and can burn your fingers as you do it as your hair gets very hot. once done you will have lovely straight smooth shiney hair BUT you cannot tie it back or clip it up or WASH it or get it wet at all for 3 full days. if you do you have to dry and sraighten again asap. choose a suitable time to do it as you will look like a grease ball by day 3 Sad then you MUST wash it only with shampoo that does not contain sodium chloride so check the small print on your products as this strips the keratin back out and defeats the object. Once done, and tbh it sounds worse than it is, you should have smooth soft and straight lovely hair. I love it and am sat here a bit greasy looking as I did my second treatment yesterday. There is enough in the pot for two applications on medium length hair (mine is shoulder length bob) oh and get the refill pack rather than the starter pack, the only difference is that the starter pack comes with a comb and clips which you probably won't need or already have. sorry for the repetition but I wanted to give the whole experience from me. tons of reviews on amazon too.

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 22/05/2013 20:37

ps the boots stuff is not good, not for me at least. it was more like using perm stuff and dried my hair a lot without straightening it very much at all. I would use the brazilian keratin kit simply because of its effect on the shine and condition of my hair after... like new again.

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nobodysfool · 22/05/2013 22:36

Thanks all for your replies . I'm confident styling my hair as I regularly colour my own hair etc I was just concerned about the ingredient formaldehyde - or any other version if it being In the ingredients .any ideas?

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 24/05/2013 09:57

it says it is formaldahyde free but there has got to be some chemical stuff or it probably would not work and it smells quite toxic. But then again so does hair dye, perm solution etc... depends on your stance really. I think I use it once every 3-4 months, probably breathe in a shed load of toxins every day, eat / drink a shed load of toxins of some sort every day so unless someone proves it will shorten my life by x number of years (like smoking would for example) then I am not losing sleep over it hth.

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janmoomoo · 24/05/2013 09:59

I have used it and it is the business. I do it myself - if you are used to straightening your own hair you won't have any problem. It takes a couple of hours, and as above you can't wash hair for three days but I find my hair looks OK in those three days and I would happily go out. I am not worried about it making my hair poker straight, but it reduces frizziness and I still straighten it but it takes two mins, rather than 20.

Why are you worried about the formaldehyde issue? If it is because you are worried it will damage your hair then I would just say that my coloured over-straightened hair was dry, brittle and totally knackered before I did the treatment but afterwards it is swishy, beautiful and shiny. I think the clarifying shampoo and then moving to sulphate free shampoo and conditioner has had a big impact too, but the keratin treatment has transformed the condition.

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 24/05/2013 10:05

yup no worries about damage at all, like janmoomoo my hair has never looked so shiney and soft... except today as today is the day I can finally wash it after treatment... roll on tonight when my 3 days are up I look like a chip pan Grin

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LulaPalooza · 24/05/2013 14:07

StepAway / janmoo have either of you had a keratin treatment in a salon and, if so, is it as good as that?

I spend £££ on keratin treatments at my hairdresser three times a year. It's amazing and if you look after it properly it lasts for a good 4 months. But it's ridiculously expensive. If this home kit is the biz, I might try it.

By the way, you can use dry shampoo on day 3 if absolutely necessary

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CrispyHedgeHog · 24/05/2013 14:14

I absolutely love this stuff. I find it lasts about 5-6 months on my very thick, curly, frizzy hair. Once it's done I have a glossy, swishy mane.

I've had it done in a salon and this one is definitely better.

I would get someone else to do the back for you tho because if you leave any kinks then they'll stay.

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LulaPalooza · 24/05/2013 14:42

That's helpful Crispy, ta.

Might get some of this and do my Mum's hair and then she can do mine.

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nobodysfool · 24/05/2013 18:54

janmoomoo- yes it's the health side of things that worries me as formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen.

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Wenchelda · 25/05/2013 23:17

Can you use this if you've got dyed hair? (And can you dye your hair in the 3 months that you've got this on?)

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StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 27/05/2013 18:33

oooh late back but if you are still around op YES I paid £180 for a treatment in a salon first time I was very pleased but second not so much. left it to revert to fluff and frizz and 'old lady' hair until I discovered this and actually think it is as good as if not better than the first time in a salon.

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jan13 · 27/05/2013 18:42

ive used this and its brilliant. ive used it 3 times now, you can really tell the difference when my hair starts going back to normal! it makes it so silkly, cuts down my time for doing hair and is so worth it. ive had my hair dyed different colours and it hasn't affected how it worked. i got shampoos from the body shop (rainforest i think?) which suited and i think they are in general better shampoos for your hair anyway. its just a pain doing it as it takes about 2 - 3 hours.

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jan13 · 27/05/2013 18:43

about dyeing your hair - you can dye your hair after using keratin but wait for 2 weeks until you dye it. its fine to use on dyed hair

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Wenchelda · 27/05/2013 19:24

How soon after dying hair can I use the keratin stuff? (My roots are going to need doing soon but I also want the straightening stuff so just trying to work out timescales for doing both!)

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FattyMcChubster · 27/05/2013 19:37

I have spent a fortune on keratin treatments that have not worked.
Bought a Matrix Opti Smooth for a fraction of the price and have had amazing hair since.
It's a chemical straightener like the opposite to a perm but I no longer have to straighten my hair (was like sideshow bob before) and can even leave to air dry! Amazing.
It will last until I grows out and hasn't damaged it at all. Infact, as I don't use my straighteners anymore, it's in better condition than ever.
Takes about 2.5 hours to do but more than worth it.

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