What is The Brazilian Blowout? The Next Big Hair Straightening Trend!

Don't panic! The Brazilian Blowout is not some sort of no-holds-barred wax job where everything within a ten mile radius of your bikini line ends up red and chapped right down to the subcutaneous layer. Thankfully, it refers to the hair on your head, and it has got Hollywood's most glamorous hooked, including Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Richie, and Halle Berry.

Most of us at least once have been a slave to a relaxing treatment or Japanese hair straightening. Godawful smells, their drying results, and not being able to get a drop of water on your hair for days in fear of ruining the whole thing... such was the price of beauty. The Brazilian Blowout removes these annoying factors. It is currently the only hair smoothing treatment with zero wait – once you've got it done, feel free to go about your life, go swimming, and take a proper shower that night. No more walking around with gross, unwashed hair for three days!

Great looking hair is one thing, but healthy hair definitely wins the popularity contest. With traditional straighteners, you would've had to sacrifice the latter. The Brazilian Blowout seems to have the opposite effect, and is actually good for your hair. Every type of hair has been tested (fine, frizzy, colored, as well as hair that had been previously straightened), and by the looks of it, everyone stands to benefit from the treatment's nourishing results. By encasing each strand with a protective protein layer, hair will be shiny, frizz-free, and with tons of body. The effects stack too, meaning each successive treatment will leave your hair in better shape than the last. Score two for the Blowout.

So unless you're one of those horrendous ponytail girls, you're undoubtedly dying to know more. Read on for everything you want to know about getting gorgeous, low-maintenance hair that'll never make you late for your bank appointment ever again (sorry).

How straight will my hair be after receiving the Brazilian Blowout?

If your hair has a natural wave to it, the treatment will make your hair effortlessly straight with a bounce that is lacking from the pin-straight results of Japanese straightening. If your hair is very curly and coarse, it will minimize the frizziness and give you a manageable natural wave which you can then easily straighten with an iron in a fraction of the time.

How long does the treatment take?

Around 1 to 1½ hours, depending on how much hair you have.

How long do the results last?

The Brazilian Blowout can last up to 12 weeks, its life prolonged if a special protective wash is used. Once the life cycle of the treatment is finished, your hair will revert back to how it was before. However, as the results of it are progressive, getting successive Blowouts will increase its lifespan.

How much does it cost?

Here's where we may have to dash your hopes. A Brazilian Blowout usually starts at $350, with the chance of going as high as $600 if you have really coarse hair (and a lot of it). Keep in mind these are Hollywood prices, where the trend originated. As it spreads across the country, your local salon may offer the treatment for a lower price. Just make sure you trust the salon to begin with, or are at least okay with parting with a couple hundred bucks if it doesn't turn out as good as you expected.

How soon can I color my hair after the Brazilian Blowout?

Two weeks is the suggested time frame. Any sooner than this, and the color may not hold as well due to the protective layer that the Blowout adds to your hair. If you really must have straight hair and a new dye job on the same day, you should apply your color before you receive the Blowout. Make sure it is a shade darker than what you're aiming for, as the color will fade during the duration of the treatment.

How soon can I receive a Brazilian Blowout treatment after I receive my first treatment?

My, my, you're eager to burn through $350 aren't you? Just like Gerard Butler, your hair can only get so straight. Though it won't hurt to do it every day if you so wanted to, your hair's cuticles can only take so much before the straightening process becomes redundant. If your Brazilian Blowout had disappointing results, or you just want to make your hair more manageable, you should wait at least ten days between treatments for it to make a difference.

What is the difference between the Brazilian Blowout compared to relaxers and Japanese straightening?

The Brazilian Blowout uses a patent-pending Super Nutrient Complex that works with a proprietary polymer system. These two things are what smooths every strand and reverses damage done to the hair. The results are all exterior, which sets it apart from other straightening methods. Relaxers and Japanese hair straightening changes the actual structure of your hair, which is why they tend to last longer. Although, there is a huge difference between the treated hair and new growth, which means you'll constantly have to touch-up, or live with a schizophrenic hairstyle until you can chop it off. Since your hair is obviously forced to go against nature, overdoing these traditional treatments weakens your hair over time, until it gets to the point where it truly and officially looks “dead.” The Brazilian Blowout is more of a short-term commitment, but you're free to do it as often as you like and you can feel no guilt knowing that you're putting as much good stuff in as you are getting out of it.