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

[nobodysfool]

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?

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Foxy don't think you have to be able to give yourself the perfect blow dry, just be able to get it dry pre straightening iyswim
I have just finished blow drying. Eyes stung (even on a medium heat). Hair so far does not look at all glossy (feels a bit stiff/dry) - am I expecting too much at this stage?? Off to start straightening

[Purpleknickers]

Notwith mine was crunchy until it was straightened

[PoppyAmex]

NotWith don't worry, that's not indicative of the final result.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

foxy actually I just dried mine with the hairdryer not actually blow dried it in a style IYSWIM it was the straightners that did the full heat thing. for anyone contemplating it as you have to iron each section up to 7 times your hair does get hot, consider buying a heat resistant glove, I got mine off amazon for about £4.00 I think after my fingers got burnt the first time I did the treatment.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

merkin softness will emerge as you straighten

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Has anyone used this before a holiday?

My hair is uncontrollable on holidays because of the heat/humidity + salt water.

We do a lot of boat trips, so lots of swimming in the sea breaks. I notice your not supposed to sue shampoo etc with salt in and obviously I wouldn't expect it to last as long, with all the swimming, but would it be worth doing at all?

[CatsCantFlyFast]

I'm finished! So (with thick hair that is long - below my boobs length);
20 min wash x2 and blow dry
35 min apply keratin
20 min blow dry
1 hour straightening

I LOVE IT! It's swishy and swooshy! Lets hope it stays much like this when I wash it off on Sunday. Now just got to make sure I don't tuck it behind my ears for the next 3 days...

The blow drying with the keratin in takes much longer than normal and is hard work. I didn't style it or even really comb it while doing this, just rough dried it. For the straightening take Eccles advice and get a glove-I was too impatient to start so didn't have one and my fingers didn't thank me for it. I needed 4 sectioning clips to get my hair into small enough sections to straighten. Normally after blow drying my hair its quite flyaway on the top (even with using frizz ease) but I currently have no flyaway bits. And now it is dry it doesn't really smell, it smells a tiny bit sweet/sugary but not unpleasant.

Re holiday I read that chlorine and salt in pools/the sea strip the keratin out of your hair so it won't last as long. You would need to rinse with fresh water after each swim to try and prolong it

Anyway will let you know how it is on Sunday post washing. Can not say a big enough Thankyou to everyone who recommended it, give yourselves a big pat on the back!

[D0oinMeCleanin]

If it just lasted the course of the holiday, I'd be ecstatic, would it last two weeks with salt water, does anyone know?

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Guessing... But it's supposed to last 3 months if you take care of it. Assume in real life it only lasts 6 weeks then if you use the right shampoo and rinse religiously after swimming I would guess you'll get 2 to 3 weeks out of it on holiday

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

I haven't been abroad since I first started using this but salt water is supposed to strip the keratin out quicker, although I very much doubt the entire treatment would be lost during a holiday. I'm sure it'd be fine - just wash it every evening.

It definitely lasts three months for me, and I have naturally curly, pretty fizzy hair. In fact sometimes I can get to four months.

Don't forget to use sodium-free shampoo and conditioner, everyone who's done this!

[CrispyHedgeHog]

Dooin I think the salt water would make it last less long but it would definitely hold out for the two weeks I reckon

I have very frizzy, curly, coarse hair which is past my bra band and it lasts about 5-6 months for me.

[Pinkflipflop]

Does anyone know if you use this and then after a while use the GHD's to curl your hair if that is ok?

Would it undo the straightening?

[Purpleknickers]

pinkflipflop it's not a product to make your permanently straight its the smooth it and stop it frizzing, so curling it will not harm the products you should just have smoother curls if that makes sense

[Dancergirl]

I've just bought this from Amazon, haven't been brave enough to use it yet!

What's the verdict on blow drying? Like foxy I also don't own a hair dyer, I just use the GHDs. Will it work without or should I buy a dryer?

[Purpleknickers]

Dancer you should really use a hairdryer the product makes the hair take a lot longer to dry and I believe it is heat activated

[saycheeeeeese]

Sorry to barge in so late but I have very fine hair that tends to look limp when straightened. ..will this make it look flat or does it give frizz free volume?

[Purpleknickers]

Well I have masses of hair ( think Cystaltips and Alistair) and mine is now sleek and flat just how I like it, so I'm guessing that yours will also be very flat when straightened

[iloveweetos]

i wanna try this! im glad you dont need to blow dry straight as im terrible at it. looking forward to the verdict on sunday!

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Dancer you will def need a dryer pre straightening. Could you borrow one?
Day 2 for me with the product in. Hair had kinked a bit in the night (I must do crazy things in my sleep) but literally a minute with the straighteners and its all flat again.
For those in the know- after you washed the product out did your hair look and feel the same, better or worse than it looked while you had the keratin on?

[iloveweetos]

Also, what shampoo and conditioner would you recommend to use after?

[JazzDalek]

Mine was gorgeous after washing out Merkin . I seriously have not had hair like that since I was 18 (before I killed it with years of straightening/bad diet/smoking).

I really need to do this again, but am experimenting with my new Babyliss Big Hair at the mo and liking the results from that, too.

[PoppyAmex]

This shampoo is brilliant and the smell is out of this world.

I take it (and the matching conditioner) to the hairdressers and everyone comments on the amazing smell.

[PoppyAmex]

Also, I keep saying this but I spent hundreds of dollars in chemical straightening in salons years ago and this home kit is just as good, providing you stick to "approved" shampoos religiously.

That was honestly the biggest difference, I had to restrain myself from using serums/oils etc and found the results lasted for months this way.

[Purpleknickers]

Merkin Mine was washed yesterday after 4 full days and nights I used the shampoo and conditioner that Poppy has linked to and my hair is brilliant. I am absolutely loving it , its shiny and soft and just looks fabulous I love this product

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

great Merkin I had my first treatment (similar thing) at a hairdressers at VAST expense a few years ago just before a trip to Eygypt where i spent many a happy hour in the very salty dead sea snorkelling and it lasted so doin you should be ok, just as someone else said wash the salt out after swimming and use the right shampoo. I use sainsbury's kids shampoo that smells of cherry almond, its salt free and CHEAP. any old conditioner does really as long as its not got sodium chloride in it, currently favouring tresseme keratin smooth. I do have the brazilian shampoo and conditioner that is the same make as the miracle product but I don't think they leave my hair feeling as smooth after washing even though it dries ok. Yes fine hair could look a bit flat, I have loads of hair so this is not an issue for me.