Braziliant hair!
Last week, I battled my way through a downpour to “Eleven” Hair salon on Blenheim St for a Brazilian Chocolate and Keratin hair treatment. My hair was looking like a hippified (and soaked) version of Donald Trump’s embarrassing barnet, I needed help.
My hair type is not particularly “rebellious” or unruly, but it was in need of some love after 10 years of over styling. This technique seemed like the perfect antidote as it “smoothes and creates shiny, healthy- looking hair without the use of strong chemicals. Perfect for dried out hair during the winter months”.
Upon further digging, I found that this treatment has come under fire, mainly in America, because of the high use of formaldehyde. Small doses of this chemical (used to embalm dead people) are all around us, but what concerns scientists is the effect it has when heated. When used in manufactured products (you wouldn’t believe the places this stuff crops up in – 2nd hand smoke, latex paint, nail varnish), formaldehyde breaks down slowly under normal circumstances and is not rapidly released into the environment. Heat and moderate humidity levels hastens the break down and releases the chemical.
Part of this treatment is to lock the solution in with hot irons. Cue poisoning, hair loss, sore throat, headache, itchy eyes and worse if you are a smoker… all this flashed before my eyes.
Slightly PETRIFIED by the thought of loosing my hair (many many reports of this) and the other noted effects, my first question to David was will I be reduced to shaving my hair off a la Britney Spears in her kerrrazy days. He reassured me that there is only 0.02% formaldehyde and that my locks would be in safe hands. They were.
The treatment takes 2 hours and consists of a shampoo (twice), hair is 90% blow dried, treatment is applied in sections as a colorist would, hair is completely dried and then ironed. The hot irons close the cuticles, locking in the moisture and magic. They also made my eyes water a little. Goggles would have been useful. I don’t care how silly they look.
My hair has been a joy to behold. All the wispy, straggly, underneath layers of hair are poker straight. I can literally wash and go – no hair dryer, no irons, no fly-aways. I thoroughly recommend this treatment to anyone who spends most of their morning blowing and straightening their locks or for those lucky buggers hitting the beach this Christmas or those who are cash ok, time poor, for this treatment will set you back £200. It works best with European hair and is safe to use if colored. With afros’, the opinions have been mixed. It will soften and smooth, but this is not a relaxer. And I don’t have an afro. Damn it. I’ve always wanted one.
You are not meant to wash or style your hair for at least 2-3 days. So, as sod’s law would have it, I had a modelling job the next day and the look was curly.
No real harm done, it was nice to wash the solution off and the results say it all. After nearly a week, my hair is still seriously glossy, soft and straight with a little twist at the bottom. I couldn’t have done a better job and I have had no side effects except compliments from strangers… olivia inge
Eleven Hair Salon – 0207 491 2390
Tags: Brazilian Chocolate and Keratin Treatment, Eleven Hair salon, Hair Treatment