When I was searching for a new hair stylist to trial out I had two requirements: that they had experience using Olaplex, and that they offered Brazillian Blowouts. When I finally found someone that did both and was close to work, I pretty much spent the next three days in her chair. The perils of not getting a root touch up for four months, amirite?!
While I’m not going to get much into the science of getting a Brazillian Blowout, it is essentially a keratin treatment that smooths and conditions your hair. It will make your hair dry faster, look shinier and more smooth. The cons are that you will be exposed to mild amounts of Formaldehyde depending on which system your hair stylist uses. If you are considering a treatment, definitely speak to your stylist and ask questions to make sure you are comfortable with the process.
The whole process can be timely depending on the length and volume of your hair. For me? It took about two hours. Though it was done a different day from my cut and color.
Personally, after getting the Brazilian Blowout, I wish I had tried it out much sooner. Having naturally dehydrated 2a/b curly hair, never in my life have I really been able to air dry my hair. Or wake up and have it looking just as nice as when I went to bed. But it happened. Blow drying my hair only takes about five minutes now. Which is insane to me. I remember the days of high school where I would get up at 5am if I needed to wash my hair. Crazy.
One downside is that my hair does not hold a curl for as long as it did before. Though the curls do look much, much nicer. So in my mind it about evens out. Plus the perks make it totally worth my while. Especially with living so close to the beach (that I can go to without wearing layers… looking at you Oregon coast sneakers + windbreakers weather).
The blowout usually lasts around 8-12 weeks depending on how often you wash your hair and which products you use. I try to only use sulfate-free shampoos since sulfates will also break down the treatment (and my underlying coloring) faster.
One of my favorite sulfate free shampoos is the Blonde Sexy Hair Sulfate-Free Bright Blonde Shampoo. It is a pretty deep purple color and great for keeping those brass tones at bay. It has a great consistency for being sulfate-free and smells wonderful. After working it in, I will usually leave it sitting in my hair for about 3-5 minutes for it to tone a bit more. I have serious issues with my hair clinging to warmth/yellow hues. For a non purple shampoo, my other current favorite is the Dear Clark Resurrecting Wash. Not only did it make my hair extremely soft, I could not stop smelling my hair throughout the day. It’s definitely one of those love/hate aromas since it is fairly heavy, but it reminds me of a speak-easy.
After rinsing out my shampoo, I like to use a small microfiber hand towel to gently squeeze out all of the excess water from my hair before applying my conditioner. Being on a purple toning binge, I recently picked up the AG Colour Care Sterling Silver Toning Conditioner and have really liked the results. While it’s not as hydrating as some of my conditioners, it really does a great job at further toning brass out of blonde locks. As you might have guessed, my go to non-purple conditioner is the Dear Clark Resurrecting Rinse, which is the counterpart to the shampoo above. Same wonderful smell that leaves my hair super soft without weighing it down.
Once a week I use the Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 as a strengthening/conditioning mask. It works in conjunction with No. 1 & 2 that are applied during the coloring process, but still benefits your hair even if you haven’t used Olaplex in your hair before. If I’m in a rush I’ll just leave it on for about 5 minutes, but the longer you leave it on the better. I’m sure my roommates think I’m crazy when I do this, but if I have time I will slather it on and cover with saran wrap so that it doesn’t dry out, letting it soak in for about 20 minutes to a half hour. I’ve really noticed a difference in the strength of my hair with incorporating Olaplex. Even though I still shed quite a bit of hair, my overall breakage/damage from coloring has been much better too.
While styling products are another post entirely, I’ve noticed that I don’t need to do as much to my hair as before. It has truly become way less high-maintenance, which is something I thought could never be a thing.
What are some shampoos, conditioners, and treatments have you been loving lately?
Shop this post: Blonde Sexy Hair Sulfate-Free Bright Blonde Shampoo, Dear Clark Resurrecting Wash, AG Colour Care Sterling Silver Toning Conditioner, Dear Clark Resurrecting Rinse, Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3.
♡Em
