La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment
Melroseco2000
Registered Users Posts: 13
I have been researching and considering the Brazilian Keratin Treatment for almost 2 years, now. I finally decided to get the service and I am absolutely thrilled with my results. I am so happy that I wanted to share my experience with other women with Black or African American hair types (which is very common in Brazil).
Here is some background, first and foremost:
I believe that I am 3c or 4a, but I am not certain. I am transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair and did not want to do the big chop until I had at least a year of new growth. It has been 24 weeks since my last relaxer. My hair is layered and the back length is just beginning to reach my shoulders. I go to a Dominican salon weekly and get a roller set and then have my roots blown straight to match the texture of my relaxed hair. I do not use heat on my hair throughout the week. I wrap my hair each night to protect it and to avoid the need for flat or curling irons. If I do my own hair, I am not able to get my roots straight, so it is very "puffy" and full. When I do my own hair, I let it air dry in a pony tail (or I sit under a hooded dryer) and then I blow it dry at the roots to try and smooth them, if necessary. Finally, I flat iron my hair. I use my flat iron to make curls, also. When I do my own hair, it does not come out as shiny or soft as when I go to the salon. In fact, it looks a bit more dry and frizzy when I do it myself, but not terrible.
I decided to try the BKT in order to manage my natural hair through the heat and humidity of summer. I also read from others that it helps to reduce breakage and is recommended when transitioning from relaxed to natural. My stylist also recommended it to help me manage my hair better on my own, as I was going to her once a week and it is getting expensive as I have more and more new growth.
La Brasiliana Zero Keratin Treatment:
My stylist uses La Brasiliana Zero for her BKT's. The entire process took 4 hours. The treatment has to stay in your hair for 4 days. During this time you are not able to get your hair wet or bend or clip your hair in any way. I did carefully wrap my hair and tie it with a scarf at night however, without leaving any clips or pins in it, as this would create an imprint on the hair. My hair was bone straight like a fresh relaxer, but very waxy to the touch. The hair strands were also a bit "sticky" and I found myself running a detangling comb through it often to keep the hairs from clumping together. The keratin coats the hair shaft and "cures" during this 4 day period.
First Shampoo After BKT:
I could not wait to wash the treatment out of my hair. I did not like the 4 day waiting period at all, as my hair was very limp and stuck to my head. Although, when the wind blew, my hair moved like crazy. I used only the products provided by my stylist, as you can easily strip the BKT from your hair by using shampoo/conditioner with sulfates or sodium. She recommended Smart Protection products (shampoo/conditioner/leave in) by Infinite Colors. After washing/conditioning, I noticed that my natural hair still curled up at the roots, but it was not nearly as puffy and it was very easy to comb. My "S" curl pattern was much looser, soft, had great "slip" and was not tangled. My natural and relaxed hair was very soft and slick in every way! After I let it air dry in a pony tail, I blow dried and flat ironed my hair in 35 minutes! My natural roots were completely straight without much effort and blended perfectly with my relaxed hair. My hair was super shiny, super soft, silky and swinging! I couldn't believe it was MY hair. The movement was incredible. I LOVE IT! I am so pleased that I want to share this with anyone who has been a slave to a relaxer and is tired of chemically altering the core structure of their hair. The BKT is not permanent. In fact, it is a protective coating on the hair and washes out over 3-6 months, depending on how frequently you wash your hair.
The biggest surprise has been how well my hair holds up in sweltering heat, rain and humidity. We had 88 degree heat with very high humidity and my a/c unit failed. I was sweating and could hardly breathe, but my hair was still BEAUTIFUL! The next day when the a/c repair man came, I had to go outside in high humidity and light rain and my hair did not revert, puff or even frizz! AMAZING! I am definitely hooked!
Here is some background, first and foremost:
I believe that I am 3c or 4a, but I am not certain. I am transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair and did not want to do the big chop until I had at least a year of new growth. It has been 24 weeks since my last relaxer. My hair is layered and the back length is just beginning to reach my shoulders. I go to a Dominican salon weekly and get a roller set and then have my roots blown straight to match the texture of my relaxed hair. I do not use heat on my hair throughout the week. I wrap my hair each night to protect it and to avoid the need for flat or curling irons. If I do my own hair, I am not able to get my roots straight, so it is very "puffy" and full. When I do my own hair, I let it air dry in a pony tail (or I sit under a hooded dryer) and then I blow it dry at the roots to try and smooth them, if necessary. Finally, I flat iron my hair. I use my flat iron to make curls, also. When I do my own hair, it does not come out as shiny or soft as when I go to the salon. In fact, it looks a bit more dry and frizzy when I do it myself, but not terrible.
I decided to try the BKT in order to manage my natural hair through the heat and humidity of summer. I also read from others that it helps to reduce breakage and is recommended when transitioning from relaxed to natural. My stylist also recommended it to help me manage my hair better on my own, as I was going to her once a week and it is getting expensive as I have more and more new growth.
La Brasiliana Zero Keratin Treatment:
My stylist uses La Brasiliana Zero for her BKT's. The entire process took 4 hours. The treatment has to stay in your hair for 4 days. During this time you are not able to get your hair wet or bend or clip your hair in any way. I did carefully wrap my hair and tie it with a scarf at night however, without leaving any clips or pins in it, as this would create an imprint on the hair. My hair was bone straight like a fresh relaxer, but very waxy to the touch. The hair strands were also a bit "sticky" and I found myself running a detangling comb through it often to keep the hairs from clumping together. The keratin coats the hair shaft and "cures" during this 4 day period.
First Shampoo After BKT:
I could not wait to wash the treatment out of my hair. I did not like the 4 day waiting period at all, as my hair was very limp and stuck to my head. Although, when the wind blew, my hair moved like crazy. I used only the products provided by my stylist, as you can easily strip the BKT from your hair by using shampoo/conditioner with sulfates or sodium. She recommended Smart Protection products (shampoo/conditioner/leave in) by Infinite Colors. After washing/conditioning, I noticed that my natural hair still curled up at the roots, but it was not nearly as puffy and it was very easy to comb. My "S" curl pattern was much looser, soft, had great "slip" and was not tangled. My natural and relaxed hair was very soft and slick in every way! After I let it air dry in a pony tail, I blow dried and flat ironed my hair in 35 minutes! My natural roots were completely straight without much effort and blended perfectly with my relaxed hair. My hair was super shiny, super soft, silky and swinging! I couldn't believe it was MY hair. The movement was incredible. I LOVE IT! I am so pleased that I want to share this with anyone who has been a slave to a relaxer and is tired of chemically altering the core structure of their hair. The BKT is not permanent. In fact, it is a protective coating on the hair and washes out over 3-6 months, depending on how frequently you wash your hair.
The biggest surprise has been how well my hair holds up in sweltering heat, rain and humidity. We had 88 degree heat with very high humidity and my a/c unit failed. I was sweating and could hardly breathe, but my hair was still BEAUTIFUL! The next day when the a/c repair man came, I had to go outside in high humidity and light rain and my hair did not revert, puff or even frizz! AMAZING! I am definitely hooked!
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This product supposedly does not contain formaldehyde and adds collagen to the formula in addition to the keratin. It may contain a derivative of formaldehyde, but I am not certain. It is my understanding that all keratin treatments have some form of formaldehyde in varying degrees. I did notice a brief smell that irritated my nose similar to nail polish remover for a few seconds. My stylist did not wear gloves or a mask, as I have read from other folks online. She did have a fan on for the blow drying, however. My hair took to the treatment very well. The most noticeable difference was after the waiting period when I washed out the treatment. My hair did appear to retain it's natural curl pattern, but it was a bit looser and much easier to comb and style. Ironically, as my hair air dried, the curl stretched out more instead of drawing up and tightening more. My hair is still very soft and shiny and easy to maintain in this awkward transition state as I grow out my relaxer. My hair is not at all frizzy or puffy at the root where I have my new growth. I work out and sweat and it does not ruin my hair. I go out in high humidity and heat and it is still smooth.
I do believe there is a lot of fear and ignorance being spread about the treatment. But the truth is that the primary chemical in a relaxer will melt a hole in your head if you leave it on too long. No one is spreading fear about relaxers burning women's scalps on a daily basis across the world. In my opinion this treatment eliminates the need for anyone to ever get a relaxer unless they really don't ever want their natural curly hair. I definitely feel that this is a viable option for those of us that want our natural curly hair with the added option to wear it silky straight without a ton of effort/heat, that won't puff, revert or frizz in hours.
A brief background about my hair. Its very kinky, both 4a and 4c type hair. I wanted to do La-Brasiliana to help manage my hair better.
So I went to a Dominican Salon as well by where I live. My hair is pretty straight, I'm just waiting out this 4 day period till I can wash my hair.
Melroseco2000: What shampoo did you use to wash out your hair, its supposed to be sodium chloride free. Searching for sodium chloride free shampoo. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
I used only the products provided by my stylist, as you can easily strip the BKT from your hair by using shampoo/conditioner with sulfates or sodium. She recommended Smart Protection products (shampoo/conditioner/leave in) by Infinite Colors.
How did your hair turn out? I hope you had a great experience.
However, once I blow dried on low heat, I flat ironed it and it came out really straight. No frizz, lots of sheen and very soft. It looks like I've put a relaxer through it.
Not sure what the results "should" be. But thats what happened with me.:)
I'm just starting to see a couple of inches of new growth curls. The rest is mostly wavy. I'm really scared that my hair won't be the same after it finally grows back in. My hair is about mid back lenght. Can you imagine how long it's going to take to come back!
Wow, that is a very unfortunate scenario! What brand of the treatment did she use on your hair? A keratin treatment is simply a protective coating over the hair shaft and washes out over time. It is not supposed to alter the structure of your hair like a relaxer does. There is definitely a difference in the various brands of keratin treatments and even the expertise of stylists that apply it. That is why I did so much research before I got mine. I am still very happy with my results and will definitely do it again.
I can send pics via private email, if you'd like. I did the keratin treatment at home on my daughters and it came out beautiful. I still have mine professionally done every 3 months. The results get better each time, so far. I have done this 3 times since April 2010.
I am asking because I had a great initial experinec with keratin and then it went south and I loved it so much I have been searching for a brand where I could possibly give it another try.
PROS:
CONS:
The bottom line is that I will get the GK Hair treatment again. I will simply move down a strength to retain my naturally curly afro. As with La Brasiliana, the GK Hair treatment washes out over time and your natural texture gradually reverts back. My hair is so much easier to manage with GK Hair, even more so than with La Brasiliana. I am constantly getting compliments on my hair. I have been natural for two years and will NEVER go back to relaxing. I love the versatility of being able to go straight or curly.
Thanks for all your helpful updates on this treatment. Have been trying to research as much as I could about different types of keratin treatments before I make a final decision on having it done. Look forward to more updates from you or anyone else having it done.
Jamila Henna Lover:toothy4:
I hope this update helps others out there looking for solutions!