Brazilian Blowout-Like Style At Home

So, we all have read, seen photos, or seen firsthand how amazing the Brazilian blowout is for making even the curliest hair manageable and easy to style for weeks. But, along with those success stories, we have also read about the high price tag. Monetarily treatments are at least $150 and can be up to $600 depending on the salon you go to makes it a hefty price. Tack onto that the fact that they may put your health at risk due to the formaldehyde-containing solution that has been said to make stylists have breathing difficulties, eye burning, and nose bleeds plus is a known carcinogen and you may find the price tag is just too high, even for perfect hair after a shower in the gym locker room. I am all about staying healthy and not taking risks with my health and, luckily, at home products have jumped on the smooth hair band wagon and are now offering cheaper and safer at-home treatment alternatives. While they won’t be as long-lasting and may not be completely salon-quality, they will be time saving, easy, and a LOT cheaper. Read on for my own regimen to get sleek, shiny hair for less.

Step 1: Start in the Shower

One of the keys to fighting frizz is infusing as much moisture into your hair while you’re in the shower. First, use warm, not hot, water. You can do this by only shampooing every other day and using an amino acid-containing shampoo (such as Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo or Garnier Fructis Length & Strength Fortifying Shampoo) when you do in order to protect your hair from damage which causes frizz. Use a daily conditioner that infuses the hair with moisture, such as Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Fortifying Cream Conditioner. Finally, once a week use a deep conditioning treatment. I like to alternate every other week between Paul Mitchell’s Hair Repair Treatment and Super-Charged Moisture in order to keep my hair hydrated and strong to prevent flyways and breakage. Finally, rinse hair for 3-5 minutes in cold water to seal the hair’s cuticle.

Step 2: After Shower Wet Hair

This is another key time to infuse moisture into the hair and prevent loss of all the moisture you put in during the shower. Blot hair dry and smooth a moisture-infusing, cuticle-sealing treatment into your hair. I like Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield because it lasts for three days (even with washing) and is so inexpensive. Also, for the days that I have to shower at the gym, it helps keep my wash and wear hair frizz-free and looking sleek.

Step 3: Drying Your Hair

Before drying your hair, spray a heat shield on your hair. One of my favorites is Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray. Dry hair on the low setting of the dryer with a large paddle brush and the dryer aimed downward to smooth the cuticle.

Step 4: Styling

In order to set your hair in the straight and sleek style squeeze a little leave in conditioner onto your hand (such as Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioning Cream) and spray the it with a little hair spray, rub between your hands and smooth through your hair, focusing mainly on the ends. Finally, run a hair straightener through your hair starting about 1-2 inches away from the root to make hair ultra shiny and sleek. This last step helps ensure you won’t have to deal with flyways at the end of the day (this is a trick used by stylists on the runway that do the super sleek, straight hairstyles).

Step 5: Maintenance

If you’re one of those people that can stand it, going every other day without washing your hair can help preserve the Brazilian Blowout-like style. To keep hair looking clean and shiny, spray your hair lightly with a dry shampoo (I like Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo) and comb it to the end. Then you can smooth a little laminating serum (my favorite is Citre Shine Anti-Frizz Serum) to keep hair looking smooth, shiny, and glossy. For days you know your hair will take an extra beating (like a say at the beach) you can smooth a little bit of this laminating serum into hair to prevent it from getting too overly wind-blown and crazy.

 This may sound like a lot of work, but using these products and following these steps will cut down your styling time and beauty budget.  You will spend about $40/month or less on hair care products (vs. the $150-$600 for a Brazilian Blowout) and will not be risking your health in the process.  It only takes me about 30 minutes total to style my hair like this and the days that I decide to stop at step 2 and do wash and wear hair, I still have incredible smooth and silky hair.  So enjoy your new ‘do!