Any experience of Brazilian hair straightening?

[GinAndaDashOfLime]

Trying to cheer myself up post baby and was wondering if anyone has had a Brazilian hair straightening (as opposed to a Brazilian bikini wax!

I've got very thick coarse, shoulder length wavy hair which is so unmanageable that I wear it tied back every day. The other day I caught a glimpse of my reflection and I realised I've turned into "school run mum" with tied back hair / fleece / no makeup / flat boots - and it uttetly depressed me

Got 3 DCs so no time to faff around straightening my hair after each wash - and I've always been truly crap at doing it myself anyway..

So can anyone help?

Does it work?
How long does it last?
How much does it cost?
And can anyone recommend a salon in SE London / Kent?

TIA for your help transforming me back to someone I like the look of!!

[FaffTastic]

I'm looking into this at the moment. The Brazilian contains harsh chemicals and you can't wash your hair for 3 days or even pin it behind your ears and it requires 2 trips to the salon

I'm looking into Kebelo (google it) - started a thread yesterday asking for reviews but no responses yet! Seems to last just as long, costs around £100-150 and you can wash your hair straight away if you want plus you get a sulphate free shampoo and conditioner maintenance set.

[janmoomoo]

I did the home kit off amazon here. Its the business, look at the reviews and there are loads of threads about it on here (do a search).

Has made my frizz prone hair go all swishy and fab. It is easy to use once you have done it once and a box does last for two treatments. Also switched to silicone free shampoos and do coconut oil treatment every now and then.

[LousThighBurn]

I had it done a few years ago, it was £130, honestly, I feel stupid having spent that amount. Admittedly it reduced frizz and made my hair seem healthier but only for 24-48 hours, I was not able to wash my hair for the 2-3 days as previously mentioned (which was fine as I used to do it once a week) so maybe it would have been okay if you were having it done for a special occasion.
Try the kit like Janmoomoo suggested or search on the rest of S&B to see what others recommend for your hair type. Who knows, maybe once your hair has been treated you may find it looks better wavy!

[GinAndaDashOfLime]

Aw thanks everyone I'll look at the links and I'll let you know ...

[overbythere]

does it work if your hair is straight but frizzy? (like mine)

[FaffTastic]

It's meant to get rid of frizz over and just make hair more manageable. My hair is curly - I can expect the curls to loosen a bit but am hoping it will just get rid of frizz and make it easier to straighten when I want to wear it straight.

[BOF]

Yes, it works- I've used the amazon kit, but I got my mobile hairdresser to do it for me. It relaxed my curls a bit, but mainly just made my hair smoother and more manageable. Well worth it, I thought.

[whatphididnext]

janmoomoo. tell me more about the coconut oil treatment please.

I have had Brazilian hair straightening twice.

I loved it the first time, it was half price so I paid £80 + £10 for the shampoo.
my hair was so manageable for about 3 months. Really wash an go with no GHDs.

I had it done again 6 months later and my hairdresser had changed to a less toxic brand and it was a complete waste of money.
It didn't really make much difference and a couple of weeks later my hair was back to normal. So disappointing.

I bought a home kit off Groupon but haven't been brave enough to try it.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

yes it is fab, yes it works and faff you do not have to go to a salon twice to have it done and a lot of Keratin treatments dont contain harsh chemicals!

Check out Groupon/Wowcher for deals having it done in a salon.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

Ive also got the amazon treatment and got my hairdresser to do it for me. Worked great, but it wasnt any less costly than having a groupon deal.

[NotEnoughJamOnTheBread]

I had this done in London a few times when it first came out quite a few years ago, and about 3 times locally as its become a more common-place treatment in salons. I just wasn't prepared to keep paying between £80 and £130 every 3 or 4 months so after a lot of research I found one by Ionar on ebay which costs about £23 including P&P which you can wash out after one hour instead of the usual 72 hours. I did it myself last weekend (took about 2 hours and I followed the instructions to the letter) and my hair is lovely and soft, smooth and has got its "swing" back. My hair is shoulder length and is a bit coarse and wavy. There's enough left in the pack to do a second treatment. It's not designed to make your hair poker straight but it's much much straighter than usual once I've blow dried it and I've been able to turn my straighteners down to 150 degrees C instead of the usual 200 and I can straighten it in much larger sections which really cuts down on the styling time. When I get back from doing the school run in misty or damp weather my hair hasn't puffed up like a fluff ball. That's my experience anyway. Hope that helps.

[FaffTastic]

That sounds good NotEnough - like the fact you can wash you hair again the same day rather than having to wait three. Might get it done professionally with the Kebelo Salon Treatment the first time then but the Ionar stuff as a follow-up to use myself every 3-4 months

[janmoomoo]

Even tho you have to wait three days to wash your hair with the do at home kit, I actually thought my hair looked great those days and would happily have gone to work with it like that, so not really a problem. It doesnt make it poker straight but stops it frizzing up when its warm or damp or just feels like it. Looks smooth and shiny. Lasts about 10 weeks on me.

Whatphididnext - I just got a pot of coconut oil from superdrug for about two quid, dig it out with spoon, soften between hands, smear over dry hair, leave for a few hours in towel (and carrier bag on head if needs be), then wash out. Takes a couple of shampoos. Makes hair feel rilly rilly nice!

[MorrisZapp]

I swear by the one off Amazon. Amazing results and totally easy.

[SofaCanary]

I'm just about to do my very first Amazon kit treatment...wish me luck!

[CareerGirl01]

How was it sofacanary and janmoomoo can you use the kit on highlighted hair? Was thinking of doing it myself

[CareerGirl01]

Just noticed this is not suitable for pregnant or nursing women btw - am 28 weeks and planning to breastfeed. Still I'm interested in knowing how it goes.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

sofa are you all sleek and swishy?

[janmoomoo]

Careergirl - Shame you cant use it, but I have highlighted hair and it was fine, brings out the highlights too because hair looks all swishy and shiny.

[SofaCanary]

Jax, I look a bit like Olive from On The Buses at the moment - as someone curly and frizzy I've never had hair plastered so flat to my head before...I really, really don't have the face for it

But yeah, the hair itself is Aniston style sleek and swishy. I'm going to try and leave it in until Friday, the longer the better right? I shall report back

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

hey olive sofa hows the hair now?

[Reresgl]

Yes, the latest one,that's the one which allows you to colour hair if you want, the next day. I think it has helped me control surge of waves when blow drying, but it's pricey, would I recommend, yes try it

[Reresgl]

I think it has helped to control wavy thick hair, it seems easier to blowdry, only lasts for 3 months, but make sure it's the most up to date one, the one where u can color hair day after, if you want to, that seems to be criteria for the latest one, yes try it.

[nobodysfool]

Can anybody do a link for the new one out that you can couloir your hair afterwards please as I'm having trouble finding it

[SofaCanary]

It really does work doesn't it! I'm absolutely bloody thrilled with it - washed it off today and couldn't believe how, well, normal my hair was after just a 5 min blast with the hairdryer. I shall be stockpiling incase they ever stop selling it.