Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Hair Treatment - Know the Difference

By Upasana KakatiDec 28, 2023 6 min read

What is a Brazilian Blowout?

What is Keratin Hair Treatment?

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Hair Treatment – What’s the difference?

How do you choose the appropriate treatment?

References

Taming the unruly and frizzy hair is a collective desire for all. After all, who doesn’t want smooth and silky hair? Your hair faces the brunt of numerous external aggressors like pollution, dirt, dust, and styling products, eventually resulting in frizz and dryness. Hence, it takes smoothening treatments to rescue the damaged hair and make it more manageable.

If you have ever looked for a hair smoothening treatment, the two topmost searches include - Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Hair Treatment. While both give similar results, they are slightly different from each other. If you want to change the frizzy situation and turn it into smooth, gorgeous, and frizz-free strands, either of the treatments are meant for you. But how do you choose what’s good for you? This blog is all you need to read to understand the difference and make the right choice.

What is a Brazilian Blowout?

Brazilian Blowout is a smoothening hair treatment that turns your frizzy and unruly hair into straighter, silkier, and more manageable tresses. The mild liquid formulation rich in amino acids can tailor the treatment to your hair type. The formula is applied along your hair length, which creates a protective layer around each strand, diminishes frizz, and seals the cuticles. After application of the formula, the hair is blow-dried, straightened, rinsed out, and blow-dried again for heat sealing the chemical. The Brazilian blowout results last up to 3 months.

What is Keratin Hair Treatment?

While the purpose is similar to Brazilian Blowout, it is slightly different. Keratin Hair Treatment helps de-frizz the hair, but the level of customization is limited. The treatment takes longer to give the desired result of silky, straight, and smooth hair. Unlike the Brazilian Blowout treatment, which can be rinsed on the same day, the wait time for keratin treatment is around 72 hours before the hair can be washed.

Also Read - Comprehensive Guide to Keratin Hair Treatment

Brazilian Blowout vs Keratin Hair Treatment – What’s the difference?

Both smoothening treatments look similar on the surface, but there are a few differences. Also, the primary purpose of both treatments is to reduce frizz, make hair more manageable, and get silkier, smoother tresses. These are the common differences between both the treatments:

Application Process: The hair is washed with a clarifying shampoo for deep cleansing in both processes. Generally, in Keratin Hair Treatment, it is allowed to sit for 30 minutes after applying the formula. Then, the hair is blow-dried and straightened using a flat iron. For best results, waiting to wash your hair for three days is advised. The Brazilian Blowout solution is applied on slightly damp hair, immediately blow-dried, and flat-ironed. Once done, the stylist washes your hair, provides deep conditions for hydration, and blow-dries for the final result.
Customizability: Brazilian Blowout can be customized and tailored per the hair texture and requirement for optimum results. The treatment helps eliminate frizz while keeping the natural wave or curls intact. On the other hand, keratin hair treatment cannot be completely customized.
Processing Time: Brazilian Blowout has a shorter processing time of 2 to 3 hours. After applying, you don’t have to wait 72 hours before washing your hair. It is possible to style your hair immediately after the treatment is over. However, in the case of keratin treatment, you need to wait up to 72 hours for keratin protein to crystallize on your strands. Hence, you can wash your hair only after 3 days.
Styling after treatment: When comparing Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Hair Treatment, you can style your hair immediately after the former. However, for the latter, you must wait 3 days before styling. This means no ponytails, use of hair accessories, or washing until 72 hours after keratin treatment.
Also Read - Before and After Keratin Hair Treatment
Ingredients: The ingredients vary in both treatments. Brazilian Blowout often uses amino acids in its formulation to coat the strands in less time. However, Keratin Hair Treatment uses proteins, and it often takes 72 hours for the keratin to crystallize and coat the outer layer of the hair strand.
Longevity: Brazilian Blowout typically lasts about three months, whereas the keratin treatment lasts three to five months. However, the duration depends on aftercare, hair texture, and products used.
Impact: There is another significant difference regarding Keratin Hair Treatment vs. Brazilian Blowout. While both smoothens and eliminates frizz, Brazilian Blowout cannot fix damaged hair and is often an excellent option for coarse, brittle hair. However, as keratin treatment focuses on healing the hair cuticles, it helps repair damaged hair and is an excellent option for even thin hair.

How do you choose the appropriate treatment?

You can pick from Brazilian Blowout vs. Keratin Hair Treatments depending on your hair texture and needs. While both essentially focus on eliminating frizz, boosting shine, and smoothening hair, they vary slightly per hair type. Brazilian Blowout is suitable for coarse hair texture, while keratin treatment is better for finer hair.

Brazilian Blowout is lighter and hence de-frizz and smoothens hair while retaining its natural texture or waves. On the other hand, keratin formulation is heavier, might weigh down the hair, and hence is good if you are looking for straighter hair. After weighing down the differences between both, opting for a keratin treatment is effective if you have curly, damaged, and frizzy hair.

Compared to Brazilian Blowout, keratin therapy lasts longer (3 to 5 months) while giving straighter, shinier, frizz-free, and silkier hair. Also, keratin treatment helps in repairing damage by sealing the hair cuticles. Brazilian Blowout is your call if you want to walk out of the salon with frizz-free hair and style hair immediately. However, opting for keratin treatment is a better idea if you don’t mind waiting for 3 days before washing and styling your hair. Now that you know how long the Brazilian Blowout lasts and its outcome, you can choose as per your hair requirements.

Whether you opt for a Brazilian blowout or keratin treatment, it is imperative to research the brand and product and seek expert guidance. Despite the differences, both of them aim to make hair manageable and get rid of frizz. No matter the treatment, follow a good aftercare routine like using sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, deep hydration hair mask, limiting styling products, and applying heat-protectant spray before using heat styling tools.