A new imported hair-straightening treatment
Posted Friday, August 10, 2007 by Emily Sacks, NewBeauty Deputy Copy Chief
A big, frizzy bird’s nest. That was my hair for the majority of my life. I have constantly struggled with poofy, curly hair that has a mind of its own and goes crazy at even the thought of humidity or moisture. And then I had my hair straightened at Alex Day Spa & Salon in Weston, Florida; although it’s probably not with the method you’re thinking. It wasn’t the typical Japanese thermal straightening, which fries your hair with chemicals and then grows out with embarrassing curly roots.
From the beauty-conscious country of Brazil comes the new, healthier way to semi-permanently straighten hair. The Brazilian Keratin Treatment is topical, and made mostly of keratin, a protein that already occurs naturally in your hair as a protective substance. Because of this, the treatment often works better and tends to last longer on dry or damaged hair, while helping to protect it from further damage.
“The requests that we get for this revolutionary technique have increased exponentially since it was introduced,” says Usha Mohammed, owner of Alex Day Spa & Salon, “and we continue to see more and more repeat clients.”
At a cost of $200 to $600 and with the end product lasting between two and three months, depending on your hair type, the product is brushed on in much the same manner as hair dye. Once saturated, your hair is blow-dried and then flat-ironed. My incredibly thick and curly hair took exactly one hour and 20 minutes to complete, from shampoo to lovely locks, with Usha and fellow stylist Stephanie working in tandem.
“For the first four days, while the product is setting, you can’t wash your hair or get it even the slightest bit wet. And make sure to use shampoo and conditioner that do not contain sodium chloride because it can strip the protein from your hair,” advises Usha. As opposed to growing out at the root, the Brazilian Keratin Treatment will gradually fade out, leaving you with your natural hair.
The end result? Amazingly smooth, silky and frizz-free hair. Towel-dried, my hair is shiny and sleek with subtle waves, and humidity is no longer an issue. When I blow-dry my hair, it takes about five minutes rather than an hour to make it perfectly straight. I love it, and I’ll do it all over again in three months!
The treatment is slowly but surely catching on in salons across the country, but if you're in the South Florida area, call the Alex Day Spa to ask about getting the same exact service you read about here: 954-217-3990.
Tags: Alex Day Spa & Salon, Brazil, Brazilian Keratin Treatment, Florida, keratin, protein, straightening, treatment