We all want what we can’t have. People with straight hair want curly hair and people with curly hair want straight hair. Since we are of the latter, and since it is so hot and humid outside that our hair has decided to look like a wet mop, we headed to Sisters Beauty Lounge to try the Brazilian Blowout. We were more than keen to try something new that will avoid having to cover our hair with a hat or keep it tied up in a top knot this summer. Brazilian Blowout is essentially a hair treatment that uses a Brazilian super-nutrient complex and a polymer system to improve the condition of the hair by creating a protective layer around the shaft, eliminating frizz and smoothing the cuticle. The end result promises smooth, healthy and conditioned hair with radiant shine.
The treatment step by step:
Our hairdresser for the day was Sandi who was very professional and started by talking us through how the treatment works.
‘Hair cuticles look like a fish tail. When you wash your hair with normal shampoo it opens up the hair cuticles to get rid of dirt. Then, by using normal conditioner you close the cuticles. How Brazilian Blowout works is that the treatment acts like a coating on your hair that seals and fills the cuticle to add weight to it and to smooth it down. This is also why you need to use the special shampoo and conditioner. They are sulfate free which is needed to smooth and seal the cuticle when you wash your hair.’
We started by having our hair washed with a special anti-residue shampoo that opens the hair cuticles. At this point our hair was quite raspy, but this was just because it hadn’t yet been conditioned. The cuticles need to stay open so the treatment can really penetrate into the hair. The Brazilian Blowout treatment was then painted onto our hair in sections and combed through from root to tip; each section getting a light dusting with the solution so that it surrounded each hair shaft with protective protein layers to smooth and flatten the cuticle. Sandi then blow-dried our hair as straight as possible. Once our hair was dry, Sandi divided it into four sections and used a flat iron to further straighten the hair in 2-3 inch sections. After that our hair was rinsed (with no shampoo), and then blow-dried straight one final time.
We could feel the incredible softness and smoothness of our new hair straight away. It felt heavier which Sandi had already explained was how the treatment works – it coats the hair to weigh it down, making it smooth. It also really helped that Sandi herself currently has the treatment done on her own hair, so she knows what she is talking about, and it’s great to have some first-hand advice on how to look after it when you get home.
Pros:
Sandi is very talented and really knows hair. It only takes 90 minutes and there is no down time. The minute you leave the salon, you can wash and dry your hair, and it will be smooth and frizz-free. It lasts about 12 months, depending on how well you look after it, though swimming in the sea or pool will make the time it lasts shorter.
Cons:
The treatment is expensive and then you need to buy the special after-care products on top. But it is worth the investment, especially in the summer months here in Abu Dhabi when the last thing you feel like doing is straightening your hair.
The verdict:
Our hair is more manageable, and with a quick blast of the hair-dyer after we hop out of the shower we get great results. Our hair feels stronger and has much more shine.
The Brazilian Blowout treatment is Dhs1,700 and the Brazilian Blowout products (shampoo, conditioner and treatment) are Dhs495. Sisters Beauty Lounge, Khailfa Bin Shakbout St, Al Bateen (02 222 2502).
