Brazil Protein SOS Protein Mask (500 g) is a rinse-out mask marked Professional, with coconut oil on the front and 15th on its list. The tub prints two timings: 5 to 10 minutes and rinse, or, to intensify, a second application for another 10 minutes before the brush and the iron. That two-stage method is the lever. The leave-in of the same line is the SOS Protein Fluid 300 ml.

What the ingredient list shows

The list is a conditioning base, cetearyl alcohol 2nd and behentrimonium methosulfate 4th, with cetrimonium chloride 6th and cetearyl olivate 9th. Tocopherol sits 7th, linseed oil 10th, coconut oil 15th; silk amino acids come 22nd. The silicones, from 16th, are what the iron works on. What you control is the second application: one pass for maintenance, two after a chemical service.

Key ingredients

From the complete ingredient list

• Cocos Nucifera Oil: coconut oil; 15th on the list.
• Tocopherol: 7th.
• Behentrimonium Methosulfate: the conditioning agent, 4th.
• Cetearyl Olivate: an olive-derived emulsifier, 9th.
• Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil: linseed oil, 10th.
• Silk Amino Acids: a silk-derived entry, 22nd.

Complete list:
Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-90, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol,
Cetrimonium Chloride, Tocopherol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetearyl Olivate, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil,
Paraffinum Liquidum, Parfum (Fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-39, Cocos Nucifera Oil,
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Pca, Bht,
Ethylhexylglycerin, Silk Amino Acids, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid.

What to expect

Anti frizz and anti porosity action are the tub's own words for it. In the chair that reads as softer, easier-to-comb hair after a chemical service and an easier finish under the iron. We would not promise more than that on its behalf.

Who it is for

• Hair after a chemical service, lightening, colouring or a smoothing treatment, as the printed body describes its use
• The professional backbar: the front prints Professional
• Stylists who want a printed timing they can work to

Who it is not for

• Clients who avoid animal-derived ingredients: silk amino acids are 22nd on the list
• Clients sensitive to fragrance: parfum is 12th
• Anyone expecting a repair treatment: it is a conditioning mask, and the chemical service is a separate step

Professional tip

Use the double application as the post-service step and the single one as maintenance between services. The tub prints both and lets you choose. The mistake we see most is the long version on every visit; once after the service and short thereafter keeps the hair easier to work.

How to use

The EU sticker on the tub prints the directions in English and Dutch. Method A follows the English sticker; where the tub's curve cuts a word, the step is given in plain words from the tub's own printed body. Method B is how we would work it in the chair.

Method A: the manufacturer's directions

1. After washing your hair, apply the SOS hair mask, length to tip.
2. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse.
3. To intensify the result, reapply and leave to act for another 10 minutes and rinse.
4. Brush, then finish with the flat iron.

Method B: the Brazilian method (salon practice)

Salon practice, not a step printed on the pack.

1. Wash and squeeze the water out of the lengths.
2. Apply from length to tip, section by section, and comb it through evenly.
3. Leave for the first window in Method A, then rinse.
4. On hair that has just had a chemical service, do the second application for the time in Method A, then rinse.
5. Brush out and finish with the flat iron, at the setting you use for that client's hair.

Where it fits in the Brazil Protein range

The mask is the rinse-out step of the SOS Protein line, and the SOS Protein Fluid 300 ml is its leave-in. The SOS Protein & Oil Trio puts the two together with the Mix Brazilian Oil 60 ml. Everything is on the Brazil Protein home care page and the Brazil Protein brand page.

Precautions for use

Chemical smoothing treatments
Applies to: keratin treatments and Brazilian blow dry, protein treatments and nanoplastia, tannin smoothing (taninoplastia), hair botox and all other professional smoothing treatments and kits.

• For professional use only, by a trained hairdresser.
• Wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated room, also while blow-drying and ironing.
• Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Rinse immediately with plenty of water if contact occurs.
• Do not use on an irritated, damaged or sensitive scalp, or in case of a known allergy to one of the ingredients.
• Carry out a sensitivity test and a strand test before every treatment.
• Follow the processing time and the iron temperature given in the instructions. Do not combine the product with another chemical service without the manufacturer's advice.
• During pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask the client to consult her doctor first.
• If swallowed, rinse the mouth and seek medical advice.
• Keep out of reach of children. Keep the container tightly closed, cool and dry, away from heat sources.

Always read the label and the instructions of the product itself.