Courtesy of Adriana Lima, Vogue
Brazil is known for many things—including this year’s 2016 Olympic Games—but it’s the country’s beauty industry (the 3rd largest in the world) that’s impossible to ignore. Famous for making bikini waxes and keratin treatments popular around the world, Brazil has cemented itself as a dynamic beauty hub. Below, we highlight five Brazilian beauty treatments the country is known for.
1. THE BRAZILIAN BLOWOUT
Brazilian women are known to boast untamed, bombshell curls prone to frizz when exposed to humidity. The Brazilian blowout is not actually an exotic blow dry, but a smoothing keratin treatment that aims to fight frizz, tame unruly curls, and repair damaged hair. The chemical treatment has since catapulted to popularity across the Gulf and North Africa with Arab women searching to smooth out their strands.
2. VELATERAPIA
Thanks to Brazilian models Alessandra Ambrosio and Barbara Fialho, Velaterapia—or hair burning—is a hot beauty treatment in the country. Hair is twisted into sections and held over a lit candle to burn off split and damaged ends. The result? Shiny, smooth hair worthy of a Victoria’s Secret angel.
3. THE BRAZILIAN WAX
Homegrown Brazilian beauties like Gisele Bündchen and Izabel Goulart are proud owners of enviable figures—ones often showcased in bikinis at the beach. Enter the Brazilian wax. The hair removal method gained international recognition after seven Brazilian sisters opened The J Sisters, an aptly named salon in New York City.
4. THE BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT
The Brazilian butt lift enhances the size and shape of the derrière. For this procedure, a licensed cosmetic surgeon removes stubborn, excess fat from other areas of the body—including the thighs, hips, and back—and strategically injects it into the buttocks. Those who wish to define and shape their prized asset (without the squats) can benefit from this procedure.
5. THE BRAZILIAN MANICURE
The Brazilian manicure isn’t your typical French mani. It begins as you would imagine—hands are soaked in a paraffin treatment and exfoliated before cuticles are snipped—but then things start to get messy. Nail polish is slicked onto the nails, but the surrounding skin is also painted. Why? Coating the edge of the nail bed makes the manicure last longer. A cotton pad is then soaked in acetone and used to remove excess polish from the skin.
