Five Common Misconceptions About the Brazilian Blowout, Mèche Salon Stylist Debunks Misconceptions.

Brazillian Blowout

The summer months are when our tresses need the most TLC. This summer, consider a Brazilian blowout to improve the overall condition and appearance of your hair. The treatment creates a protective protein layer around each strand, eliminating frizz and smoothing out any split ends. The result is smooth, shiny and healthy hair that requires less maintenance time! It’s the perfect treatment to get shiny, radiant summer locks.

Mario Mendoza, the Brazilian blowout expert at Mèche Salon in Los Angeles, says that although the treatment has been around for years now, there are still quite a few misunderstandings about the process and results. Mendoza gives us a list of five common misconceptions and the real facts to help clear up the confusion

1. The Formaldehyde Exposure Is Bad For You

According to Mendoza, formaldehyde is actually more common in our environment than we may think. It is found in many products we use on a day-to-day basis such as various hand soaps and nail polishes. The amount of formaldehyde used when heat is added during a Brazilian blowout is actually quite minor. It is also important to remember that the methylene glycol fumes are outside your body during the procedure, not inside. Nevertheless, Mèche Salon has an outdoor station where all Brazilian blowouts are performed in case clients still find the fumes worrisome. Mendoza likes to put it this way: If we have to breathe the air of LA every day, we can handle a Brazilian blowout three times a year.

2. Getting a Brazilian Blowout Will Break My Hair

The idea that a Brazilian blowout will lead to brittle hair susceptible to breakage could not be more false. In fact, the procedure actually makes hair healthier, adding keratin and protein to each strand. Mendoza says that in reality, our hair is made of keratin, therefore adding more only improves your hair’s health and strength. If hair does break after a Brazilian blowout, it’s because the stylist is using a product other than the Brazilian Blowout line. There are definitely cheaper and less effective products on the market parading themselves as Brazilian Blowout, but only the original will benefit your hair in the long run.

3. A Brazilian Blowout Cannot Be Done On Color-Treated Hair

Mendoza says that, if done properly by a trained professional, a Brazilian blowout is always safe, no matter the hair type or color. A proper treatment will actually help color-treated hair because it will condition the hair. That being said, any new coloring should be done post-Brazilian blowout, otherwise the color may be slightly altered by the process.

4. Brazilian and Keratin Treatments Are The Same

Clients often associate Brazilian blowouts with keratin treatments and assume they are one and the same. Mendoza says that the concept is the same, though the formula is different. While both are popular smoothing treatments, the major difference is that a Brazilian blowout is rinsed almost immediately after application, while the keratin treatment must be kept in your hair for a few days. Globally, keratin is the second choice among clients after the Brazilian.

5. The Process Is Expensive

A Brazilian blowout is not the most inexpensive procedure to have done to your hair, however the benefits are long lasting (up to 16 weeks). When broken down against the cost of a weekly blowout, however, the rates are actually quite comparable. While a Brazilian blowout runs a one-time cost of around $400, weekly blowouts at $35 for four months add up to more than $500. Mendoza also suggests investing in a sulfate-free shampoo, which will help your blowout stay nourished until it’s time to head back to the salon for another treatment.

About Mèche Salon

French for “a highlight” or “a lock of hair,” the word Mèche signifies a new era for Beverly Hills salons and current trends in hairstyles. The salon embodies the casual glamour that defines LA, and is a comfortable and carefree environment, opened by Tracey Cunnigham and Neil Weisberg in 2012.