Curly and frizzy haired people struggle to tame their manes on a daily basis, but there is a controversial treatment for this kind of unruly hair.  The Brazilian Blowout is a highly popular treatment that will surround each cuticle of hair with protein and will eliminate frizz and smooth out the hair follicle, sometimes enough to literally straighten even the curliest of hair.  If you decide to pony up the dough, which may cost you up to 500 dollars depending on hair length and thickness, (I have paid 300 on a few occasions), you will leave in roughly 90 minutes with a life changing head of hair.  This dream style will last you close to three months.  It is truly an amazing treatment, but many say it can come with a harmful price.  The major concern being the presence of formaldehyde.  Even when listed as formaldehyde free, OSHA claims to have identified 12% levels in some Brazilian Blowout formulas.  The harmful effects of formaldehyde on humans may cause eye and nervous system disorders, as well as respiratory issues and rash.
 
Clients that are too skeptical of the Brazilian Blowout may opt for the Keratin Complex or Keratin Straightening Treatments.  This is a similar treatment that obtains close to the same results, but doesn’t contain the exact chemicals as the Brazilian Blowout, however it does indeed contain some questionable chemicals, just not formaldehyde.  However, its biggest downfall is that once you leave the salon, you cannot wash or put up the hair for three to five days.  I have also had this treatment and it is a long drawn out process, but is quite effective.

Unless you have someone trained in these professional treatments, I would not recommend anyone doing them anywhere other than a salon that offers the necessary precautions, such as trained professionals, fans, and open ventilated areas.

Due to the fact that the Brazilian Blowout Treatment is currently legal, it is up to the client to believe if it is harmful or not.  It may be a huge risk to obtain this hair treatment, but for those who either take the risk, or believe it is harmless, will almost always be happy they did!

Lastly, there are products available for at-home use such as Liquid Keratin products. These do seem to work well and are a great choice for those who don’t want to pay the high-cost of professional treatments and are not concerned with long-lasting results. Many seem to be very happy with their results however it is very important to follow directions accurately and choose this method when the desired result is more of hair smoothing as opposed to virtual straightening.