Does Anyone Know About Brazilian Hair Treatments?

I work with a Dominican lady and she referred me to her beauty salon and I went there and got my hair colored and styled after my episode last month when I was paralyzed on my left side. The lady was talking to me about doing a Brazilian treatment that would smooth my hair and make my curls better and less frizzy. She said that it's nothing like a relaxer. I didn't realize until the end that she didn't know I was black !!!!  She thought I was hispanic even though I didn't have an accent. When she was talking about the relaxers, I told her I didn't want one of those because I used to use those but I've gone without them for almost 14 yrs now and she had a puzzled look. She then said, you're hispanic and what? I told her that I was black.  LOL  So do y'all know anything about this Brazilian hair treatment and would it be a good idea for me. I wear my hair in a bushy ponytail everyday and I'm 42.

I have a co-worker who swears by it.  She wears her hair in a dooby and has it relaxed but she says the treatment keeps her hair from frizzing up in inclement weather.
It usually looks smooth and silky.

I'll tell you know it's not cheap.  The first treatment is like $100.00 here in NY.  Every treatment there after is a little less.  I can find out the particulars if you like.

There was a big stink about it in the news a couple of years ago linking it to cancer because of the fumes from formaldehyde.  Do they have a formaldehyde-free formulation yet?

The lady who cut and colored my hair recommended I do it. She said it would allow me to go months with out a relaxer too. I am always leery of stuff like that, if you cant explain to me how it works, I don't want to try it. But if you do please report back and let me know.

You can't go months without a relaxer because you will always have to retouch the roots.
the only difference is your ends should remain silky and straight for longer periods of time.

Hugga thanks for the info but it didnt matter after she told me how much it cost, it was a wrap. Do you know how many PCJ relaxers I can buy with 100.00???? LOL

Fast Facts About Brazilian Keratin Services

What it is: A chemical process service to smooth curly, frizzy hair. Includes the application and absorption of a liquid solution throughout the hair. Heat (450 degree flatironing) is applied to activate, and seal keratin to the hair. What you can charge: The service can command up to $800; the average price ranges from $300 to $600, depending on length and density of hair. Time it takes: Most technicians complete the service within 90 minutes. Some salons have stylists “double up" to expedite the flatironing stage, depending on the length and texture. Permanent or temporary: Designed to be long-lasting without changing the physical structure of the hair. Fades over time with shampooing. How long it lasts: The straightening, frizz-reducing effects are estimated to last up to four months, depending on the client’s hair texture, condition and home maintenance routine.   Do: Perform color services before processing keratin treatments. Don’t: Shampoo hair for three or four days after processing Know that: Formalin, a cosmetic-grade solution of formaldehyde, is what binds and preserves the keratin (a protective protein) on the cuticle, and is what creates the long-lasting effect. Always: Ask your distributor or manufacturer for an MSDS on the product. Be suspicious of any product that does not plainly list its ingredients on the label. Insist: On training, education and proper ventilation systems.

Dont know anything about it but this is what I found when I research, which tells me that it is still chemical that will be put in your hair

Say - Perry-ess Mason.........

Can yolu find my baby daddy for me? 

  That sounds dangerous. She was only going to charge me $60.00 so maybe this was something else. No chemicals are going on my hair if I don't know what they are. I have enough health problems without adding more. Dang, I guess I should go back to relaxers and my short Halle Berry cut even though I've got the lollipop thing going on right now.   I'm home sick right now but I have pics from my daughter's college move in and I'll post them and y'all can see me in all of my lollipop goodness. LOL Thanks for the research and answers.

Let me stop and pray that this come out of my mouth the right way) (Lord, I come to you asking you, please dont let me put my foot in my mouth and if I do, please add some chocolate syrup so that at least it will taste good, amen...ok

Rita: Although you are black, have you ever thought about using a perm that white folks use on their hair instead of a relaxer?  I am asking this because my oldest sister have hair like yours and this is what she had to do, but she only have to do it like once a year.

The relaxer performed on African-ethnic hair is typically formulated using hydroxide-based compounds to permanently break the chemical side bonds in the hair shaft in order to remove curl and wave from the hair. A straight perm is basically a perm service, using thiol compounds to temporarily break the chemical side bonds in the hair and reform them using a neutralizer (usually hydrogen peroxide). The difference in a straight perm and a curly perm is the use of or absence of perm rods or other wrapping tools to reshape the hair into a curl pattern. The straight perm is designed to remove the existing curl in the hair and usually involves combing the hair gently while the hair is processed.