Week by week
| Week | What you will see |
|---|---|
| 1 - 3 | Smoothest, fastest drying |
| 4 - 7 | Still holding well |
| 8 - 10 | Frizz gradually returning |
| 11 - 12 | Largely faded |
Because it fades rather than growing out, there is no point where your hair looks half-done in a visible line. Frizz returning at week nine is the treatment ending on schedule, not failing.
What shortens it
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sulphate shampoos | The biggest single factor |
| Chlorine | Significant |
| Salt water | Significant |
| Frequent washing | Cumulative |
| Clarifying shampoo | Strips it directly |
| Hard water | Mineral buildup over weeks |
A treatment that ended at six weeks almost always has one of the first two rows behind it. Checking the ingredient list on a bottle you already own is the cheapest diagnostic available.
Extending it
- 1Sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner. This is most of the answer.
- 2Wash two to three times a week rather than daily.
- 3Rinse your hair with clean water before swimming so it absorbs less pool or sea water.
- 4Avoid clarifying shampoos entirely.
- 5Cool to lukewarm water rather than hot.
- 6Consider a shower filter if you have hard water.
- 7Use a leave-in conditioner as a barrier before swimming.
Rebooking
| Interval | Note |
|---|---|
| Every 10 - 12 weeks | The standard rhythm |
| Every 12 - 16 weeks | Some people stretch it comfortably |
| Longer | Fine — it simply fades out completely |
| More frequently | Not generally advisable — repeated heat processing accumulates |
Why yours may last longer or shorter than average
The 10 to 12 week figure is an average across a lot of different heads of hair. Several things move it in either direction before you have done anything at all.
| Factor | Effect on duration |
|---|---|
| Hair porosity | Porous hair often holds it less well |
| Existing damage | Faded results appear at the ends first |
| How curly your hair is | Tighter curl patterns show returning texture sooner |
| Wash frequency | Daily washing can halve it |
| Swimming habit | Regular chlorine exposure is a large factor |
| Water hardness | Mineral buildup shortens and dulls |
If your stylist tells you at the consultation to expect closer to eight weeks than twelve, that is a useful piece of honesty rather than a sales problem. A prediction that turns out right is worth more than an optimistic one.
What fading actually looks like
Knowing the sequence stops people concluding something went wrong at week eight.
- Drying time creeps up first. Usually the earliest signal, before anything is visible.
- Frizz reappears at the hairline and crown before the lengths.
- Humidity starts affecting your hair again on days it previously did not.
- Texture returns evenly, with no line and no patchiness.
- If it goes patchy rather than evenly fading, that is worth raising with the salon.
Getting to twelve weeks rather than eight
The difference between the short end and the long end of the range is mostly a handful of habits, and none of them are demanding.
| Habit | Effect on wear |
|---|---|
| Switching to a sulphate-free shampoo | The single largest gain available |
| Washing three times a week instead of daily | Substantial |
| Rinsing before and after swimming | Substantial if you swim regularly |
| Lukewarm instead of hot water | Modest but free |
| A shower filter on hard water | Modest, and helps colour too |
| Dropping clarifying washes entirely | Prevents an abrupt ending |
None of these require buying the salon’s range. They require reading one ingredient list and changing one habit, which is a good return for roughly a month of extra wear.
When not to rebook
Rebooking on schedule is normal. There are situations where waiting, or skipping a round, is the better call.
- You are having colour or bleach done soon. Sequence it with your stylist rather than stacking services.
- Your hair is breaking mid-strand. That is a stop sign, not a scheduling question.
- The last result underperformed and you have not yet worked out why with the salon.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding — speak to your doctor first.
- You simply want a break. Fading out completely is not a problem to fix.
A stylist who suggests waiting is giving you their assessment of your hair, which is what you are paying them for. Repeated heat processing is cumulative, and the interval exists for that reason rather than as a sales rhythm.
Frequently asked questions
Q.How long does a Brazilian Blowout last?
Around 10 to 12 weeks, fading gradually rather than growing out with a line.
Q.Does it grow out with a line?
No. It fades, so there is no visible boundary between treated and untreated hair.
Q.Why did mine fade faster?
Usually sulphate shampoo, daily washing or swimming. Porosity and existing damage also shorten it.
Q.How often can I get one?
Every 10 to 12 weeks is standard. More frequently is not advisable because repeated heat processing accumulates.
Q.Can I swim?
Yes, with precautions. Rinse with clean water before and immediately after, and use a leave-in conditioner as a barrier.
Keep reading
What people read next after this page
