Something just didn’t feel right. I decided to try it out once more on my test section. This is what sealed the deal for me. At this point my hair did not curl back up to normal. Instead, it is just a limp relaxed curl. With a little cajoling I can make it curl up a bit more but it is nowhere near normal.
I was still wary of trying this on my new growth, so I just applied it onto my relaxed ends and my test section again. My ends came out so smooth and straight and when I washed it out they were much more well behaved. My test section looked a little bit looser but after a while it snapped back and looked relatively normal. The hair felt very smooth, however, and straightened out very easily just from tension. It felt like the hair was relaxed.
Pravana has been one of the top contenders in the professional hair care market. I was really excited that they had come out with a hair smoothing system called Perfection Smooth out. It was formaldehyde free and claimed to “virtually alters the internal textural memory of the hair fiber to transform it to a smoother, frizz-free state.” That “virtually alters” claim made me raise my eye brow a quite a bit so I did a little research on it before I decided to try it out.
I could barely find reviews on it but the few I did said that it was better than the highly popular Brazilian Blowout. They also reported that it made their hair permanently straight after several applications. For these reviewers this was a highly desirable result. I thought that since my hair was way curlier it would have a less pronounced effect. Unfortunately, I was wrong.
The formula itself was pretty liquidy, more so than others I have tried. It was an opaque white color and smelled quite pleasant, similar to a bar of soap. It did make me sneeze a little bit which threw me off, but I decided to try it anyway. The formula is also safe to use without any gloves which is a big plus for me! Yet, because of the sketchy reviews I decided to do a test section instead of slathering it all over my hair. The test section came out looser and felt really smooth. I liked the results and after a while it reverted.
Can the Perfection SmoothOut service be applied over hair that is color- treated, highlighted and/or bleached? The Perfection Smooth Out Service at our Boca Raton hair salon can be successfully applied to color-treated, highlighted and/or bleached hair. This treatment is so gentle you can shampoo and color your hair the same day!
Pravana Perfection is not only formaldehyde free, but it is also free of formaldehyde derivatives, which is what most keratin based smoothing products use in order to smooth the hair. This amazing treatment contains proprietary nano-amino acid complex that virtually alters the internal textural memory of the hair fiber to transform it to a smoother, frizz-free state.
Update April 3, 2019: According to Pravana the Perfection SmoothOut for hair has been discontinued. In a statement Pravana reps say “We have been unable to obtain the raw materials for Perfection Smoothout so rather than replace them with materials that may not provide the same great results we have chosen to discontinue the product while we research new technology.”
Ask around for recommendations either from friends or your stylist even if he or she doesn’t offer the service they may be able to recommend a reputable salon. Ask if you can come in for a consultation first. As you “interview” stylists, ask these important questions: • Which brand does the salon use? • What are the expected results, and do they match up with my expectations? • Does the formula contain formaldehyde or derivatives? If so, is it in levels deemed safe by the FDA or other agency? • What will it cost? Will there be extra charges for long or thick hair? What will it cost to maintain the results? • Will it damage my hair in any way? • If my hair is color-treated, is the product safe? • Will my results be “wash and go” or will I still have to blow dry it? • How long will I have to go without washing or styling? (Make sure this is feasible with your work or activity schedule.)
Lewandowski began by separating my clean hair into 1/4-inch sections. Wearing gloves, she applied the SmoothOut solution to each section, from scalp to ends, frequently combing my hair. The solution had a pleasant smell. The mixture was allowed to set for 15 minutes, then she carefully blow-dried it while using a brush to keep it straight. Once 95 percent dry she flat ironed each section using high heat (360 degrees is typical, she says). The heat caused the product to steam, a normal effect, says Lewandowski. The process created a strong odor, but the room was well ventilated.
Lewandowski advised using a sulfate-free shampoo (I recommend WEN: It’s free of all detergents and is a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner) to maintain the best results and explained that while there are expensive “keratin” shampoos and conditioners on the market, they are not essential with this service.
Your hair looks amazing,” I told my friend Sara during a bump-in at the farmers’ market last summer. She and I share the same, annoying, not-curly, not-straight hair type—lucky us—but on that humid day, while my hair was frizzed up like a French poodle’s, hers lay perfectly smooth and glossy. Her secret? She’d just had a salon service similar to a Brazilian keratin treatment, only without the permanence and possible health risks.
FAQ
Which keratin treatment contains formaldehyde?
Does all keratin treatment contains formaldehyde?
Which hair treatment is formaldehyde-free?
Does keratin treatment without formaldehyde work?
