Is your hair frizzy? Do you spend too much time blow drying your hair and still have frizzy ends? If you answered yes, you may benefit from a Brazilian Keratin Treatment. (BKT)
The BKT is a technique that is intended to get rid of frizzy hair without chemically altering the natural structure of the hair leaving it smooth and shiny. These treatments are semi-permanent so they last about 12 weeks. That's right, weeks. Commitment free because during these 12 weeks your hair slowly returns to its normal state.
The BKT is not meant to completely straighten your hair. It does relax the hair and make it easier for you to blow dry by cutting your blow dry time in half. Sounds good right? Well, there is something I should mention: these treatments contain formaldehyde. The definition in the dictionary states -- a colorless poisonous gas.
This is how the treatment goes:
1. a creamy solution containing keratin and said gas is applied to the hair
2. solution is blow dried into the hair
3. hair is flat ironed at 450* (that's HOT! check out our Beauty Resolution #2)
4. rinse hair, style to finish
It's an easy process and takes about 90 minutes. The average cost is around $350.
Many clients report uncontrollable watering eyes, burning eyes, scratchy throats and coughing during the treatments. The critical point of the process is during the ironing. That is when the formaldehyde is released into the wild! Most companies warn you and suggest wearing masks.
I am a hair color specialist for 20 years. I do all hair color techniques and the japanese straightner which is permanent. As soon as I heard about the BKT I wanted to do it on my clients. I love staying current and up to date on new techniques. But there was something in my gut that said no. I researched the different brands and they all have some amount of formaldehyde in them. I spoke to someone at Brazilian Blowout who claims their product is formaldehyde free. When I asked him what took the place of the poisonous gas he said he was not allowed to give out that info. Hmmm. I talked to many of my hairdresser friends who do the BKT's and they say the same thing: sore throat, headache and burning eyes after each treatment. This was enough for me to decide not to do them. I have severe asthma and don't want to do anything to compromise my dear lungs.
I do have several clients that have done the BKT. Some like it, some don't. The results are very different for each client. For each client, it did get rid of their frizz.
If the BKT sounds good to you, try it. I suggest you do your research and have a consultation at a reputable salon. If you like it great! If you don't your hair should be back to normal in about 12 weeks.
