It's a miracle salon treatment for some women, who swear by the glossy, smooth tresses they leave with after getting a Brazilian blow-dry. But the fabulous, star-endorsed procedure has some detractors, too, mainly due to the chemicals that go into the process. Since the revolutionary treatment was exported from Brazil, many stylists have created their own proprietary concoctions to achieve the look. The process goes something like this: A stylist applies a keratin-rich solution to hair. Using a very hot straightening iron, the stylist adheres the solution to hair's cuticle, or outside surface, sealing in the keratin proteins. It traps moisture, adding a shiny veneer and hydrating hair. The treatment costs between $150 and $600, depending on the length and thickness of hair, and the results last from six weeks to a couple of months, depending on how often hair is washed. And it doesn't completely make hair stick-straight, so even girls who love their curls can have it done. However, there are a few health caveats that come with using the product.
Depending on the formula, it can contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and a substance that the Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate. It can irritate the eyes and lungs when it undergoes the heating process necessary for the treatment to work. Both stylists and clients have complained of nausea, sore throat and asthma-like symptoms when either administering or undergoing the treatment, not to mention the skin irritation involved. If you're interested in the Brazilian, then ask your stylist whether she's certified to do it and if her preferred formula has formaldehyde. Celebrities swear by salon owner Andy LeCompte's version, the Brazilian Blowout. Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Ashley Tisdale have sung its praises, and LeCompte tells Glamour magazine that his concoction has no formaldehyde. The bottom line is that the results make the treatment tempting to try - just do your homework first.