Difference Between Relaxers, Brazilian Blowout, and Keratin Treatment

Have you ever wanted to straighten and smoothen your wavy or curly hair and tame the frizz to make your hair more manageable? But with so many available options, it can take time to choose the right fit for you. 

According to experts, relaxers are your way to go if your hair is coily or curly and can withstand chemical treatments to straighten them permanently. (1) Keratin and Brazilian blowout treatments are suitable for partial and temporary straightening. 

Keratin treatments are less harsh than relaxers. It is suitable for those with frizzy hair and who want smooth and straight hair for a long time. If you want the treatment to last longer, get keratin or Brazilian blowout treatments instead of relaxers. If you want a cost-effective treatment, go for relaxers.

Remember to consult your professional hairstylist for the safety and effectiveness of the treatments before getting them. 

Continue reading to learn more about the differences between relaxers, Brazilian blowouts, and keratin treatments. 

Relaxers Versus Brazilian Blowout Versus Keratin Treatment on Specific Aspects

The differences between relaxers, Brazilian blowout, and keratin treatments based on specific aspects are as follows. 

1. Process

Hair relaxers permanently straighten highly coiled hair using chemical treatments by breaking and reconstructing its disulfide bonds. (1)

Brazilian blowout is a semipermanent treatment (2) that smoothens hair temporarily and seals the cuticle with a preservative and liquid keratin solution. 

Keratin is a semipermanent treatment that smoothens your hair temporarily and strengthens it with heat and a keratin solution.  

2. Mechanism of action

In a relaxer treatment, lotions and creams containing calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or guanidine hydroxide are applied to the hair shaft. They break the disulfide bonds that make the hair coily or curly and reconstruct them as straight bonds. (1)

In a Brazilian blowout, a preservative and liquid-containing solution is applied to the hair. Keratin coats the hair cuticles and fills any damage or gaps. This is followed by blow-drying and flat ironing the strands to seal the keratin and smoothen the hair. 

In a keratin treatment, liquid keratin penetrates the cortex (hair shaft’s middle layer) and reacts with human hair keratin. The release of formaldehyde during heating fixes the hair’s natural keratin. It creates a water-proof coat around the hair, sealing the cuticle and improving the smoothness and shine of bleached and virgin hair. (2)

3. Hair type 

Relaxers are divided into lye, no lye, and ammonium thioglycolate. (3) Lye relaxers (sodium hydroxide) suit coily, wavy, curly hair. No-lye relaxers (calcium hydroxide) suit every hair type. Ammonium thioglycolate suits curly, wavy, and fine hair. 

The Brazilian blowout process suits people with frizzy, curly, or wavy hair. Coarse hair types can handle a Brazilian blowout with minimal damage, whereas fine hair types can get damaged with this treatment. 

Keratin treatment suits frizzy, damaged, and thick hair types. However, people with fragile and fine hair must avoid this treatment. 

4. Duration 

A relaxer treatment is permanent, lasts for 6–8 weeks until your hair grows out, and requires frequent touch-ups to keep the roots straight. 

A Brazilian blowout is temporary and lasts for 12 weeks. It requires a special conditioner and shampoo to maintain the smoothness. 

A keratin treatment is temporary and lasts for 3–6 months. It needs a special conditioner and shampoo to prevent the keratin from rinsing off. 

5. Cost

A relaxer treatment is a low-cost process, as it can be done at a salon or at home with cost-effective products. However, frequent touch-ups are needed to maintain the health and straightness of the hair. 

Brazilian blowouts are less expensive than keratin treatments but not necessarily inexpensive. Spending on a Brazilian blowout can be worth it if you want long-term straightened hair. 

A keratin treatment is expensive, as it can only be performed at a salon with trained professionals and quality products. It lasts longer and needs minimal aftercare products to prevent the keratin from rinsing off. It can also be performed at home, but the results don’t last long.

6. Result 

In a relaxer treatment, the cuticle is flattened, and the hair is straightened by removing any wave or curl.

A Brazilian blowout straightens and smoothens the hair. It also adds shine by forming a keratin film on the cuticle, reducing flyaways and frizz. 

Keratin treatment strengthens and smoothens the hair a little bit by infusion of keratin to the cuticle and adding protection and shine. 

7. Damage

Using hair relaxers is associated with scalp eczema (a condition that makes your skin itchy, inflamed, and dry), inflammation, burns, and pain. Other effects are hair color alteration, shaft damage, hair loss, and hair weakening. (4) 

According to researchers, relaxers are linked with increased cystine in fragile, damaged hair. (5)

The adverse effects of Brazilian blowouts are hair loss, breakage, patchiness, dryness, and brittleness once the treatment wears off.

According to experts, the overuse of Brazilian blowouts causes more damage and affects hair health. Using a flat iron with maximum heat can also fry your hair follicles.

The heat in keratin treatment damages the hair, destroys its protein structure, and makes the hair shaft weak and prone to breakage. It also leads to hair dryness in the long run and moisture loss. 

Relaxers, Brazilian Blowout, or Keratin Treatment: What to Choose?

Generally, your choice depends on your expectations and needs and professional hair expert advice. 

Hair relaxers permanently straighten highly coiled hair using chemical treatments by breaking and reconstructing its disulfide bonds. (1)

Brazilian blowouts are semipermanent treatments (2) that smoothen and seal the hair temporarily with a preservative solution and liquid keratin. A keratin treatment is a semipermanent treatment that (2) temporarily strengthens and smoothens the hair with heat and a keratin solution.

Hair relaxers are best suited for curly, coily, wavy, and fine hair types. However, they can lead to scalp irritation, dryness, and damage. (4) The results of hair relaxers last for 6–8 weeks, and the hair needs maintenance products and frequent touch-ups to keep it straight and healthy.

People with frizzy, curly, or wavy hair who want to eliminate flyaway and frizz can go for a Brazilian blowout. However, incorrect methods and overusing this treatment can lead to dryness, hair loss, and breakage.

The results of a Brazilian blowout last for about 12 weeks, and the hair requires special conditioners and shampoos to keep it smooth and straight. 

People with curly, damaged, and thick hair who want to add protection and shine to it are the best candidates for a keratin treatment. However, it can also result in moisture loss, formaldehyde exposure, and hair shaft damage when done using poor-quality products and high heat.

The results of a keratin treatment last for 3–6 months, and the hair requires special conditioners and shampoos to prevent the keratin from washing off. 

These treatments have their advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, choose the best treatment based on your hair goal, condition, type, budget, and preferences.  

What are relaxers hair treatment?

Hair relaxers are permanent hair-straightening chemical treatments for highly coiled hair. They break and restructure the hair’s disulfide bonds.

This product is usually sold as kits containing different components, such as a relaxing cream, a protective gel, a liquid activator, and a neutralizing shampoo. (1)

What is a Brazilian blowout hair treatment?

A Brazilian blowout is a branded salon procedure with its proprietary product line to smoothen the hair by forming a defensive protein layer around the hair shaft. It seals the cuticle and eliminates frizz. 

What is a keratin hair treatment?

A keratin treatment is a temporary hair smoothing treatment that involves hair infusion with keratin (a fibrous protein found in the fingernails, skin, and hair).

People who want to tone down their natural curly texture and make styling easy are perfect for this treatment.   

Procedure for Relaxers, Brazilian Blowout, and Keratin Treatment

Relaxer treatment

A relaxer hair treatment can be performed at the salon and at home. Lye relaxers are commonly used by professional hairstylists in salons, whereas no-lye relaxers are popular for at-home usage. (6)

How it’s done:

1. A hair examination is done before picking an ideal relaxer for the person. The type and strength of a relaxer are based on hair porosity, coarseness, curliness degree, and previous treatments.
2. The hair is shampooed to remove sebum or any buildup that can interfere with the straightening solution. The ears and hairline are protected with cotton balls or petrolatum to prevent skin burns from the highly alkaline solution.
3. The clean hair is then parted into sections, and chemical relaxers are put in. After cream application, the hair is smoothed section by section until the hair is straightened.
4. The duration for leaving a relaxer on the hair depends on the hair thickness, hair porosity, and the producer’s guidelines. 
5. The hair is then rinsed. The relaxer must be thoroughly washed off before shampooing.
6. A neutralizing shampoo is applied to restore the normal scalp and hair pH and close the cuticle. (2)

Brazilian blowout treatment

An authentic Brazilian blowout can only be performed by professional hairstylists at the salon.

Yet, following proper precautions, you can get a Brazilian blowout effect with a DIY keratin treatment. 

How it’s done:

1. Wash your hair well with an ionic cleanser. 
2. Towel-dry your hair and part it into four sections. 
3. Apply the smoothing solution from roots to tips and comb.
4. Use a boar-bristle brush to blow-dry your hair at medium heat. 
5. Part your hair in small sections and flat iron it to lock in the treatment. 
6. Wash your hair with warm water and apply the ionic bonding spray. 
7. Comb and style as preferred. 

Keratin treatment

Salon professionals do keratin treatments. 

General Queries

Final Word

Hair relaxers, Brazilian blowouts, and keratin treatments are all suitable for hair smoothing with different pros and cons. Relaxers can permanently straighten curly hair, but they also damage it.

Brazilian blowout and keratin treatments add protein to your hair, and are temporary. However, keratin treatment penetrates your hair shaft, giving it a more natural and lighter feel, whereas Brazilian blowout treatment coats each strand of the hair, making them sleeker and voluminous.

Evaluate your hair type and condition and the cost of treatment before getting any of these treatments.