Brazilian blow dry vs. Yuko straightening

[NutBiscuit]

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help me with a decision about which of the above methods to use to straighten my hair?

I have really REALLY curly hair, very tight curls and very frizzy. For the last 8 years (!) I have been getting it straightened roughly every 9 months using the Yuko straightening system, which permanently straightens the hair until it grows out. Works like a dream, but the trouble is, it's very expensive (~ £500 a go).

Now lately, I've been hearing a lot about this Brazilian blow dry. My MIL says a couple of her friends have had it done and raved about it - but I don't know how curly their hair was previously ifswim? I just can't believe that a conditioning treatment (which is all it seems to be) will give me the same effect as the Yuko. However, it is significantly cheaper (~£100 I believe?)

What I really wanted to know is whether anyone has had the Brazilian blow dry and how curly your hair was prior and afterwards? And even better, if anyone has had both treatments, how did they compare?

embrace the curl. I do curly girl. After a year of not stripping it and basically moisturising it and leaving it to dry naturally, I have the best hair of my life. People stop me on the street.

I spent years straightening it, and apart from it being really unfashionable, it was costly and never really worked that well.

Yuko I did several times when I lived in Asia and it was crap. Took hours, worked for about 3 washes and just made the texture weird. Can't speak for Brazilian, but my mother doesn't reckon it lasts.

Don't fight the force! You have lovely curls, go with it!

Should add, I have ringlets and waves.

Ah, but that's the thing you see, if I had nice curly hair then I wouldn't fight it! I am really jealous of people with lovely ringlety hair because mine just stands straight up on end, think cartoon characters being electrocuted. Thankfully Yuko does work for me but it's just the expense, and yes, the damage it's doing to my hair doesn't help.

ahh, but that's probably because it's a) dry and knackered from all the yuko-ing and b) not cut in a suitable style.

It took a few months but the no shampoo method put the moisture back in and my hair went from dry-brush-with-a-wave to full on ringlets. It actually changed my hair type and how much it curled. I think I can dig out a photo to compare

I would love to see a photo if you can. Can I also ask, how long does it take you to 'do' your hair in the morning now? One of the reasons I love having my hair straightened is that styling time is totally minimised. To be honest, it's been so long now since I had curly hair that I can't even imagine it any more, and I don't think I'd have a clue what to do with it!

Hi nutbiscuit, I've added three photos to my profile page. The one like straw is before I started it. The ones after (not the best because we weren't specifically taking 'hair' pics) are 6-12 months after ditching the sulfates/parabens/silicones and largely washing with with conditioner.

In terms of care, well, I am 6 months pregnant and have a 2-1/2 year old and work part time very early shifts. I co-wash 2-4 times a week, on the days I don't I just run a damp hand through it a few times to reactivate.

The only products I use are Boots Pink Curl Creme and Giannini (sp) Flirty Curl gel. And not all the time. Oh, and neat argan oil.

I WISH I had discovered this years ago. I must have spent thousands, I mean thousands and thousands straightening it. And it's not a good look for me, Makes me look 'witchy', and my husband says "common"

Oh wow, it does look lovely now. I just CANNOT imagine my hair ever looking anything like like but perhaps it is time to give it a go. I think the difference between us (I don't have any pictures to put up right now, so i'm going to try to have to describe it), is that I just have so much hair. Oh god, please don't take that to mean I think your hair is thin , it's totally not, it's lovely, it's just that I really do have a ridiculous amount. Even 'straightened' it's massive, if that makes sense? (I look at those 'volumising' products in shops and laugh). I just don't know if there's physically room for all my hair to curl nicely and not stick up like a bog brush.......maybe I am being defeatist, I don't know

I think I know the kind of hair you mean, yes. And of course if it's left to curl it will go huge. But huge can be good!

Perhaps you need the weight of longer hair (which with curl takes longer to grow) to pull it down and the clumping you get with this method so the curls are defined and not pouffing out all over the shop? Does that make sense?

I would try a Brazilian though, salons are offering cheap deals. I just couldn't keep up the maintenance with my lifestyle as it is at the moment.