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My hair is doing my head in! Talk to me about Brazilian blow dry or similar

25 replies

Taystee · 15/10/2014 19:53

I have curly hair which I used to love but it is really annoying me at the moment. It dries in nice ringlets but where I live now it's damp all the time so frizzes when I go outside. Because of this I constantly tie it back in a ponytail instead of wasting time letting it air dry etc. Then it frizzes anywaySad

I'm tempted by a Brazilian blow dry but a bit worried about the chemicals, particularly as I'm breastfeeding. Or would something like L'Oréal xtenso be a better option?

I don't want my hair to be straight as it doesn't suit me and I really do like my curls when they behave which is approximately once a year on the odd dry sunny day.

Please help!

OP posts:
TheCowThatLaughs · 15/10/2014 20:02

Do you use a leave-in conditioner when leaving it to dry?

TheCowThatLaughs · 15/10/2014 20:03

Sorry just realised that wasn't what you asked! I've had a bit of a leave in conditioner epiphany recently though Grin

Taystee · 15/10/2014 20:04

I use boots curl creme and vo5 gel on wet hair then leave to dry. For the most part it dries lovely but the minute I go outside... Horror

OP posts:
Awks · 15/10/2014 20:06

Buy the keratin from amazon here and just don't do the straightening bit - just put the keratin on your hair and blow dry it on hot into your preferred style. It wont work as well as if you seal it with straighteners but it might tame the frizz a bit? I do the home kit I linked to and it works fine.

blingplease · 15/10/2014 21:12

i got the aveda brazillian blow out once. i have thick hair that can get very frizzy but will go naturally wavy and lustrous when treated to the time and skil I dont have. got it prior to a thailand holiday. if -I- my sis blow dried it or used ghd it did look salon quality, but more impressively lasted a couple of days.

and it coped very well in the pool, sun and sand - i used lush sulphite free products. i think the treatment lasted 4 weeks.

would never have it again as even with fans and ventillation it gave me a massive headache, ithcy eyes and a wheezey cough during the treatment not worth 4 weeks of good hair.

MAM48 · 15/10/2014 21:24

I have a Brazilian blow dry twice a year and it is fab. Not for you though as it leaves hair dead straight. My hair is a horrible kinky mess without. Plus it makes my morning routine a doddle!

Taystee · 15/10/2014 22:19

Oh that's interesting that the Brazilian blow dry left your hair dead straight MAM. I thought it was supposed to leave a fair bit of body. Bling - the chemicals are worrying me a bit... Aveda is supposed to be quite natural so if that smelled so terrible...

Has anyone used the home kit without the straightening step?

OP posts:
MAM48 · 15/10/2014 23:20

Nope it is poker straight no body for a month then it relaxes slightly. After 5 months it relaxes and my bloody cowslip and kinks Start to show again (angry)

Aridane · 15/10/2014 23:31

No - my experience is that Brazilian won't give poker straight hair. Wish iy would! Hairdressers actually warn that it won't - but great for defrizzing and manageability.

One the permanent Japansrs straightening - that was awesome - poker straight hair. But alas cannot have it done any more as hair is coloured.

BTE - Brazilian does not contain formaldeyde

Aridane · 15/10/2014 23:33

Oh, yes, meants also to say that there are different strengths of Brazilian according to the effect you want

MAM48 · 15/10/2014 23:42

Just for reference I go to a salon in Covent Garden and pay just £69 (hair to shoulders) they are super. Have to use Sulphate free products after and cannot wash hair for 24hrs.

Do not pay more than £100 as they basically put product on,leave for 30mins then dry off and use straighteners. Easy.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/10/2014 07:16

I take it you've tried Frizz Ease and secret agent creme?

strawberrysplit · 16/10/2014 10:45

Your hair sounds beautiful but alas i'm also a fellow frizzy (although with 90's perm style shaggy waves rather than springy ringlets)

i'm currently trying the curly girl method although I don't go in for the drying bit as I can't be bothered/don't have time... maybe worth you trying the conditioner washing and silicone free styling bit before heading on the chemical route though?

I'm currently using the tresemme naturals conditioner and a mixture of 100% argan oil, naked curl crème stuff and Giovanni curl gel thingy...

strawberrysplit · 16/10/2014 10:47

Out of interest what texture is your hair?

I've been considering this but i'm worried that it'll end up breaking my very fine, flyaway hair...

specialsubject · 16/10/2014 11:38

you cannot avoid chemicals, you drink dihydrogen monoxide.

I had X-tenso a couple of times and if correctly applied it got rid of my frizz for a year. Current hairdresser uses Wellastrate, done twice now (a year apart) and it is BRILLIANT, also lasts a year. I've gone from frizzy mop to swishy vague waves - I like it straight which takes five mins with the straighteners. Wash every 3-4 days now, blow drying does make it dry straighter. I can use a comb and it is so much more comfortable too.

you'll need the intense version if you have frizzy hair. But you can't have that if you have coloured hair, that needs the mild one. This might also leave you with the curls, ask.

added bonus is that it turns grey streaks into blonde ones (I have brown hair). Takes years off me too.

one hairdresser cocked it up and it fell out after 3 months. Correct sequence is wash, apply straightener (that takes a while), sit v. still and leave for appropriate time, rinse, blow dry, straighten, apply neutraliser, wash, condition, blow dry, straighten. Five hours, £140. Then don't wash, tie back, tuck behind ears or get wet for as long as possible to let it really set in - five days.

yes, does smell - needs an open window in the salon.

Ujjayi · 16/10/2014 11:44

I've been using Sebastian Whipped Creme on my wavy hair. It is very moisturising so leaves curls soft and defined (without any mousse type crunch) and far less prone to frizz. In fact, even though we have had "perfect for frizz" weather this week, my hair has stayed frizz free.

Taystee · 16/10/2014 14:37

Lots of suggestions here thanks. It's the formaldehyde I was worried about in particular as I keep seeing conflicting information about whether or not the Brazilian contains it. Maybe I will go down the less permanent route for the time being and try some new products. My hair is quite fine so frizz ease serum isn't great for me but I used to use the secret agent which was good. Or maybe I'll try the whole silicone free curly girl thing... Hmmmm decisions decisions!

OP posts:
redredread · 16/10/2014 20:14

Mam48 - can I ask which Covent Garden salon you go to? I have yet to find a place I really like that isn't £££, and I work near there.

The Brazilian blow dry is amazing on my hair - it still has a lot of wave, but no frizz

bigkidsdidit · 16/10/2014 20:22

I buy wellastrate from eBay. It makes my hair go smooth and lovely, not poker straight but much better and easily manageable. I love it and it's cheap, and you can do it at home. Plus none of this 'no touching hair for three days' stuff. It might contain formaldehyde though, I don't know

bigkidsdidit · 16/10/2014 20:24

I don't do it as rigorously as the salons btw and it doesn't take me be hours, but it only lasts three months or so for me.

MAM48 · 16/10/2014 20:28

redread Alterity is the salon name. They advertise via Groupon but keep the flyers in the salon so offer it to everyone. £69 for shoulder length and £79 for below shoulders. Good luck!

specialsubject · 16/10/2014 20:34

bigkids yep, when not done rigorously it fell out in 3 months. Done properly and it grows out rather than stopping working.

bigkidsdidit · 16/10/2014 20:36

Yeah. I don't mind doing it myself every three months but my hair is chin length. If I had long hair I'd go to. Salon!

redredread · 16/10/2014 23:49

Thanks mam48 - I've just had one done, but will definitely give it a go next time.

Aridane · 17/10/2014 11:24

taystee - I understand that formaldehyde is used in overseas preparations but is not allowed in the UK

strawberrysplit - the keratin Brazilian straightening treatment I have protects / conditions the hair as it is a keratin bonding thing and so shouldn't cause the hair to split and can be used on all sorts of coloured hair (though get a hairdresser to advise). However, other straightening treatments are like perms in reverse and like any strong chemical treatments will damage the hair

unfortunately for me, Brazilian last barely 3 months...

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