Anyway, I also have this great friend with whom I am working with, and every time we spend time together, I end up spending money!!! Since we’ve been working together, we have not been seeing much of each other until a few days ago as we were both off…. I had a few errands to do, and so had she. She had spent the entire afternoon we spent together mentioning the Brazilian keratin treatment, because one of her friends came back from Brazil and had it done over there as it is apparently cheaper (after doing some research, I’m still not sure if that’s accurate, because the price seems to vary according to providers).

So what is a Brazilian keratin treatment?

BKT is a novelty hair smoothing treatment used by licensed hair stylists. It is available not only in Brazil, since there are similar Japanese methods as well, and such products have expanded worldwide. Brazilian Keratin Treatment is also known as Escova Progressiva or Brazilian Blowout (which sounds a bit pornographic, if you ask me, lol). The hair is temporarily smoothed by sealing a liquid keratin and a preservative solution into the hair with a hair iron. It became widely popular in Brazil, because the weather there is hot and humid. And then it expanded from Brazil to the world.

Which are its main benefits?

If you simply google the words and check out the images, you will find amazing “before and after” transformations. The treatment even works well with natural African American curly hair (many women from Brazil are descendants of native African slaves). After doing the treatment, women report having more body and shine on their hair. It is way easier to style and you can forget about awful frizz! Because all these products contain natural keratin protein, which rebuilds, restores and rejuvenates all types of hair, you can forget about bad hair days. The effects of the treatment last for 3 to 6 months, depending on your hair type and the weather of the place you live in.

How do you look after your hair once the Brazilian Keratin treatment is done?

A Brazilian Keratin Treatment is not exactly the same as a relaxing treatment: BKT is done in several steps and it can last for some hours. First, the keratin is applied, and then the hair gets relaxed with a hair iron. This is done repeatedly until the keratin has coated the hair entirely, smoothing it and relaxing it.

There are different kinds of Brazilian treatments: in one of them, you should wait 24 hours before washing your hair, and in the other, 48 hours – I was told to wait 3 days to wash my hair… And when you use a shampoo, make sure it doesn’t contain sodium chloride. After a week, you can do whatever you want with your hair: go to the swimming pool or into the ocean if you like! If you want to color your hair, do it before applying the BKT.

How about the Brazilian Keratin Treatment cons?

Some time ago, there was a discussion about whether BKT contained or not a harsh chemical substance called formaldehyde (which can cause cancer). After this, the main official brands came out to claim that their products are natural and contain no such dangerous chemical, but just in case, you’d better read the labels if you decide to try a product on your own.

On the other hand, the treatment is based on keratin, which is the substance that comprises about 88% of your hair. It won’t break the bonds of the hair as it only coats it, so you won’t suffer hair damage in the long run, like in other treatments.

How much does a Brazilian Keratin Treatment cost?

The price varies according to your hair length. I was a bit worried about the price as she thought it would cost about $350. Such an amount was more than I was willing to pay; I thought was a bit excessive. So we decided to enquire, and as we walked passed a hairdresser we went in and asked. Guess what? It was cheaper than we thought, so we both decided to go in.  After a couple of hours and $180 later, I am so happy about how my hair looks now! It is so healthy again, silky, shiny, and very straight! Just the way I like it. I am not sure if it will last 3 months like a proper straightening, but if your hair looks a bit dull and frizzy, it is definitely worth it.

Also, to make it really worth it and I suppose to help the whole Brazilian Keratin Treatment last, I bought a shampoo, conditioner and flat iron spray from the Organix Brazilian keratin therapy range. This unique product is a blend of rich cocoa nut oil with keratin proteins for strength. It includes other natural ingredients, such as organic avocado oil and cocoa butter to smooth the cuticles. It leaves your hair amazingly bright and glowing.

The salon I went to also used some Moroccan Argan oil from Organix. There are other brands, but this one is available at my local Boots beauty shop, so it is easy for me and it has good reviews, and the price is right too.

Where can I buy a Brazilian Keratin Treatment?

Brazilian keratin treatments are readily available, and you can order Brazilian Keratin Treatment products online. However, some are quite expensive, so I’m not really sure what are the benefits to do it yourself. The products offer some of the advantages of a salon treatment, but for less money: you will you’re your hair smooth, straight and easy to style.

Perhaps you don’t need such a treatment for yourself because you were blessed with natural straight hair, but it is a good gift idea for this coming Christmas! Ask your local hairdresser for a Brazilain Keratin Treatment gift card!