Naturals Who Use Aphogee 2 Step... Calm My Fears

[purplepeace79]

So I've been reading through the threads, the ones that came up, and I don't see a whole lot of naturals discussing it. If someone can post the threads I missed, I'd much appreciate it.

My cousin relaxes. Don't know why, but she does. Anyway, she had split ends, breakage, etc. She did the 2step and her hair did a complete 180. Im not a fan of relaxers, but her hair looked SO much healthier.

I have colored ends. I've been doing well with cleansing and conditioning, DCing, etc. I don't use heat but maybe once or twice a year. However, lately, I've noticed some ragged ends, likely due to my hair getting longer, grazing my clothes, and not wearing enough updos/protective styles (I've been busy and lazy lately). Last night, I cut about 1.5 inches off all around. My plan is to cut little by little to get the color out.

I bought the 2step system. I bought an overhead dryer. I'm going to do this!!! I'm excited but want some feed back from naturals who have used it. I understand the directions, but wanted to know if naturals did anything different or extra to make the treatment work better for them.

TIA!

 

[Miss AJ]

I use the 2 Step and the only thing I do different is do a moisturizing DC afterwards instead of what the directions call for. Too many reviews stated the Balancing Moisturizer was not enough moisture for them after the treatment, so that's how I've been doing mine since day 1 and it hasn't failed me.

 

[LynnieB]

Same as MissAJ. I use it every 2-3 months according to the directions and use my own deep moisturizing conditioner. Aubrey's HSR is a nice one but there are others.

 

[blackbarbie986]

could you guys name some more really good moisturizing deep conditioners. plan on doing the 2step next week.

 

[pinkchocolatedaisy]

^ Joico Moisture Recovery treatment balm

 

[purplepeace79]

Ok so their conditioner isn't moisturizing enough. So you recommend doing a DC instead? Would Hairveda's Sitrinilah DC be enough? Thats what I normally use

 

[Charz]

DO NOT COMB YOUR HAIR WITH APHOGEE IN IT!

I love the 2-step but I had a horrible first experience. I think the instructions say to comb it through your hair. Please don't do that, I know I had some breakage by doing so. And don't comb your hair again untill you DC under a steamer or dryer for 1 hour after rinsing out the Aphogee. Please detangle before putthing the Aphogee in your hair NOT AFTERWARDS! DO NOT USE THE MOISTURIZING CONDITIONER THAT COMES WITH IT! This conditioner is rubbish.

After following the above, Aphogee worked wonders for me.

 

[Charz]

Ok so their conditioner isn't moisturizing enough. So you recommend doing a DC instead? Would Hairveda's Sitrinilah DC be enough? Thats what I normally use

Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose

 

[southerncitygirl]

i use something similar to aphogee by komaza care its a protein strengthener. once i let it dry and rinse it out i've used any of these condtioners by aubrey organics with great results:
gbp, j.a.y,hsr, or white camellia ( I don't sit under the dryer just work it thorugh well and rinse)

I do this every 4-6 weeks and always use kbb hair milk as my leave-in and i either moisturize or mostisurize/seal several times a week. i have yet to have a protein overload. I don't do aphogee because of the parbens or formaldyhyde donors it contains. My only complaint about the komaza care is that the bottle is only 4oz and lasted me about 4 times because of my hair length and my hair is very dense. I wish they made an 8, 12 or 16oz cause as my hair gets longer it will run out more quickly.

I haven't done a length check since september so i hope adding this to my reggie will have me somehwere btw bsl and mbl in june. I think you'll be fine if you use aubrey as a deep condtioner.

 

[Vintageglam]

I use the 2 Step and the only thing I do different is do a moisturizing DC afterwards instead of what the directions call for. Too many reviews stated the Balancing Moisturizer was not enough moisture for them after the treatment, so that's how I've been doing mine since day 1 and it hasn't failed me.

ITA and co-sign with everything Miss AJ says here.

And also please listen to Charzboss's warning's cannot state them enough.

This stuff has been a godsend for me.

I am so dense that when my hair starts breaking it takes me weeks and nearly half the hair on my head to remember that the thing that stopped it last time was the Aphogee 2 step

I use this every 6 - 8 weeks as I am transitioning (so not completely natural). I concentrate it on my ends and then run it lightly through my natural new growth and then sit under my hood dryer for about 20 minutes until it's rock-hard like a helmet.

I then let it cool down while I clean the house or something and then rinse for a good 5 minutes until ALL of the product is completely rinsed out of my hair before I even think of manipulating.

I then slap a huge handful of cheapie cholesterol in my hair while I am in the shower to get the last remnants of the treatment out of my hair (so kind of co-wash it out) to avoid breakage.

Finally I DC with my bestest and most favourite moisturising DC. You want to go all out on this step - NO HALF MEASURES or you could end up with rough dry hair. I usually DC with heat or steam after the 2 step for AT least 1 hour if not 1.5 hrs just to make sure, This may sound excessive but there is a good reason for it.

When I have completely cut off all my relaxed ends I intend to do this treatment every 2 - 3 months.
HTH's

 

[DMJ's Mom]

I use it every now and then. The balancing moisturizer is moisturizing enough for my hair. I don't use it to stop breakage, my hair just really loves protein and thrives when I use it.

 

[LadyPaniolo]

DO NOT COMB YOUR HAIR WITH APHOGEE IN IT!

I love the 2-step but I had a horrible first experience. I think the instructions say to comb it through your hair. Please don't do that, I know I had some breakage by doing so. And don't comb your hair again untill you DC under a steamer or dryer for 1 hour after rinsing out the Aphogee. Please detangle before putthing the Aphogee in your hair NOT AFTERWARDS! DO NOT USE THE MOISTURIZING CONDITIONER THAT COMES WITH IT! This conditioner is rubbish.

After following the above, Aphogee worked wonders for me.

lol, no, the directions say in all caps, bolded letters NOT TO COMB your hair with it in or you will suffer severe breakage.

I use the moisturizing conditioner but then I also follow up with Kenra MC or Suave Humectant under the Mastex heating cap for like 45 mins.

 

[yaya24]

It says to comb for even distribution on the new bottle. I do not remember what the old bottle said.

It says do NOT comb or brush while dry

 

[soulfusion]

^^^ I used the little packet from Sally's a few weeks ago and it said the same thing .. comb for even distribution. I didn't and I wouldn't recommend doing that ..

 

[poookie]

the two step (not the 2 minute) says not to comb while the product is in your hair. if it said to comb, you might have been looking at something else.

i loved the two-step as a relaxed head, & will definitely give it a try now that i'm natural! & like others have posted above: i don't use the balancing moisturizer. it wasn't moisturizing enough for my relaxed hair, so my natural hair would simply laugh at it.

my favorite conditioner now as a natural is the age renew conditioner by one 'n only. they sell it at sally's. the bottle looks like this. for some reason you can't buy it online, but it's been at every sally's store i've visited. tons of slip & very moisturizing (it does have cones, though). i'm going to deep condition with that once i do my 2-step treatment.

 

[Charz]

It says to comb for even distribution on the new bottle. I do not remember what the old bottle said.

It says do NOT comb or brush while dry

Yeah I shouldn't have combed it for even distribution like it said to do.

 

[LadyPaniolo]

Oh, I didn't realize a new formula had different directions. Well, regardless, nobody do it!!! Your hair will all snap off and be dead and gone

I love the 2 step, it really makes a marked difference in how much breakage I get detangling and styling. I lose like 1/5th as much hair when I've recently done a 2 step treatment

 

[prettybyrd]

Please don't consider this highjacking the thread, but I'm curious: Why are naturals using Aphogee so often? Some of you use it a few times a year. I had some heat damage and used it once last year - it worked well to stop my breakage, but why keep using it if you don't have damage?

I'm not being confrontational, I'd like to know if this is something good for natual hair that I'm missing.

TIA

 

[pinkchocolatedaisy]

^ It may not apply to all... but just because you're natural doesn't mean you don't need protein. Idk how Joico Kpak deep penetrating reconstuctor compares but I've used it weekly with no issues & I've been natural almost 2 yrs. I think we also have to consider a lot of natural ladies may have fine hair and/or usw heat frequently. In that case I think a good healthy dose of protein is essential. JMO.

 

[Violets-are-blue]

I guess I'm the only person who uses the balancing moisturizer. I believe products are made in pairs for a reason in the case of extreme treatments like this. I agree the balancing moisturizer's not moisturizing but I follow the directions anyway.

I put it into my hair, let it sit for 2 minutes, then rinse, THEN use my deep moisturizing deep conditioner (in my case AOHSR).

Even if it's crappy, the way I see it, at least it helps to remove any last remnants of the treatment since you don't want any leftover in your hair. After that, I deep condition to truly restore moisture to my hair. I'm just kinda panicky about directions.

I'm not natural (I texlaxed around last august for the first time. But it had like 2% effect (basically it looks the same as my natural hair) and I decided not to bother again. First and last.)
But for me, I have fine fine strands, and I noticed hair breakage despite the fact my hair was well moisturized. My hair FELT different, in a good good way, after the treatment, albeit a bit stiffish. After the deep conditioning ( i did it overnight since I have heat) my hair feels soft and cushiony, both the barely tex'd ends and my new growth near my scalp). I think it's super easy for fine strands to end up over moisturized and I think structural support through protein is that much more important. (just my thoughts tho)

 

[purplepeace79]

I have fine strands, so thanks for weighing in about the effects on fine strands. I wonder if my colored ends will suffer at all?

I think I'm going to do a strand test. I'll do one section on the side or something to see how it works out and if I can get the steps right, and then I'll do my whole head. Not willing to risk 75 hours of combing out locks to preserve length just to lose it over a protein treatment.

 

[MiiSS kECiia]

H0w long does this product last? I have 2 0f the older Square bottles =/

 

[Lady S]

ITA and co-sign with everything Miss AJ says here.

And also please listen to Charzboss's warning's cannot state them enough.

This stuff has been a godsend for me.

I am so dense that when my hair starts breaking it takes me weeks and nearly half the hair on my head to remember that the thing that stopped it last time was the Aphogee 2 step

I use this every 6 - 8 weeks as I am transitioning (so not completely natural). I concentrate it on my ends and then run it lightly through my natural new growth and then sit under my hood dryer for about 20 minutes until it's rock-hard like a helmet.

I then let it cool down while I clean the house or something and then rinse for a good 5 minutes until ALL of the product is completely rinsed out of my hair before I even think of manipulating.

I then slap a huge handful of cheapie cholesterol in my hair while I am in the shower to get the last remnants of the treatment out of my hair (so kind of co-wash it out) to avoid breakage.

Finally I DC with my bestest and most favourite moisturising DC. You want to go all out on this step - NO HALF MEASURES or you could end up with rough dry hair. I usually DC with heat or steam after the 2 step for AT least 1 hour if not 1.5 hrs just to make sure, This may sound excessive but there is a good reason for it.

When I have completely cut off all my relaxed ends I intend to do this treatment every 2 - 3 months.
HTH's

Couldn't put it any better.

 

[pinkchocolatedaisy]

Its been a while since I used this. Would you ladies suggest I use the 2 step prior to rollersetting & flat ironing my hair or just use the 2 min reconstructor?thanks

 

[purplepeace79]

Well, I survived. Hair didn't break off or fall out lol

The moisturizer actually works really well. It left my hair feeling soft and manageable. However, I still did the DC after. I didn't see much change from the hair before the DC or after, but a DC doesn't hurt. I do them once a week anyway.

We'll see what the long term effects of the treatment are. I was tripping over how hard my hair got. I thought people were exaggerating lol I was like oh damn!! I read the instructions and it DOES say to comb through for even distribution, but that's before sitting under the dryer. I didn't do it though. I just used my hands and rubbed it through.

Thanks so much for all of your advice. I'm sitting under the dryer now with a roller set. Will post pics if I like the way the roller set comes out lol