I got a little lost. Even though I've been natural, I've been lurking on this page, as I'm considering relaxing in the next year...or not...or yes..or...you get the point. Anyways I am interested in this but I was a little lost. Do you use the shampoo or not? I want to make sure my hairstylist knows the right way to do it, if I go the extra route. I realize the mask should be applied to, but in what order and also what about the shampoo as I don't speak spanish?
Sorry, I was away from LHCF for the day. I would have gotten lost too. Hwiseman and I were trying to figure out what was up because 1) the directions in English and Spanish do not match and 2) the Linange line carried a "Vitalizing shampoo" but not a "neutralizing shampoo."
We then figured out that the
correct order of operations is
NOT per the English instructions, but the Spanish instructions. The cliffnotes:
1. Relax
2. Rinse thoroughly
3. Linange Neutralizing Conditioner
4. Linange Vitalizing shampoo
5. Mask
The Spanish instructions mention that the conditioner, shampoo, and mask all help with the conditioning, cleansing, residue-removing and neutralizing process.
Our
hypothesis (because the Spanish instructions refer to the shampoo as simply "Shampoo Linange," which is odd for a few reasons but we won't go there) is that the Vitalizing shampoo has a low pH and is pH balancing, but we don't
know the pH, so it's just a guess and we aren't sure.
Because the system is new, Alter Ego hasn't made the Linange shampoo in personal sizes (meaning affordable sizes) yet. There is an Alter Ego (as opposed to Linange) vitalizing shampoo, but we don't know the pH... so there's no saying whether it would be a suitable replacement.
When I got the relaxer, I only used the neutralizing conditioner, and a different deep conditioner in place of the mask. I didn't use any kind of shampoo.
When hwiseman did hers, I believe she relaxed, used the Linange conditioner, and then just used a neutralizing shampoo from a different line.
The next time I relax, I plan on doing what hwiseman did, but I am not sure which shampoo I will go with.
Sooooooooo, that was just kind of to explain what we had been trying to figure out. I would recommend following the original steps (in Spanish), which include a neutralizing shampoo following the relaxer.
Depending on the salon, they might carry the Linange vitalizing shampoo, in which case that is the one I would ask for. Really though, I think whichever neutralizing shampoo they carry would be fine. When I look for one later on I will try to find one that seems moisturizing and up to par with the Linange and whatever additional nice traits I'd want it to have, but when it comes down to it, as long as it is neutralizing, I don't think you should really sweat it.
I hope this answers your questions.
From what I understand there is no neutral shampoo, only neutralizing conditioner. So you relaxer, use the conditioner and then the mask. Where does the shampoo come in? Bump? Curiousity.
I just wrote this under your last post, but this should make it easier for anyone else with this question to spot. The shampoo step would come in between the conditioner and the mask. The Linange Vitalizing shampoo is the shampoo the system refers to, but any good neutralizing shampoo would do the job, really.
Thank you OP for this review, I love the Alter Ego and Alfaparf line and I've been seriously torn bwt this and the Affirm. Off to convince my husband... I live in Canada and will have to order online, or wait until a friend goes to NY and brings me some.
Great review
Well, just to let you know, I was relaxed with the Affirm a little over two weeks ago in a high end salon in Boston. I will be posting a review and maybe progress shots tomorrow. The relaxer did its job (straightened) but I did not like it. Too harsh. Too much burning. My hair felt stripped after, and my roots look thinner than the rest of my hair! Not slightly thinner the way the have sometimes following a relaxer, but upsettingly so! Also, I have increased shedding, especially from my baby hair region, which pisses me off because that is all growing out and thickening up so nicely, and more breakage. To be fair though, I can only ascribe the thin, lackluster roots and burning definitively to the Affirm, because I did get sick (which could have caused the shedding... but that would be VERY unusual for me, but it could happen), and the breakage could be from protein increase because I did get a demi perm put in.
Whichever decision you make, I hope the relaxer does you well though. But as someone who has used both lines for her last two relaxers - the Affirm just couldn't hold a candle to it.
I know those costs to Canada can be CRAZY though!!! If I were you, I know I would probably be an Affirm lady for the moment, or at least on a longgggggg stretch while I saved.
I think that's the neutralizing conditioner, not the shampoo. They don't have a small shampoo yet, unfortunately.
Miamori, please whatever you do don't stop the antibiotic until it is completely gone, I know you are feeling better but that does'nt mean the infection is. Knowing that both of your parents are in the medical field is in your favor as well. I too will be praying for your quick recovery! I know first hand what it's like to have an infection and having to take antibiotics to get rid of it. You will be fully recovered soon sweetie! Bless your heart!!!!!!
Yes ma'am! I've been sticking with my dosage schedule - every 8 hrs (well close to it, but I've been doing my 2 pills 3x daily
) and nope, I'm not stopping. Shoot, if this mess doesn't go faster they might need to extend me to 10 days. My throat still looks toooooo... I don't want to gross anyone out, so I will just say "not right," and I can still feel all these lumps and things when I swallow. Plus I can tell it's still very swollen, because everything keeps getting stuck down there still. So nope, I know the drill!! Take every last bit.
but yeah, that mask is a little pricey.
I know if I ask Beauty of New York about it they will look into it though. Generally, if I ask them about something they don't have, they stock it, which is nice. 
erplexed
It burned really, really bad. I did wash my hair two days prior, so that could have been the problem. But, I could not leave it in for over five minutes...my head was on fire! And I only got to do one section. It was a mess! I still have to do the rest of my head, but I think I am going to stick with old faithful, Silk Elements. When I texturize with Silk Elements it's like putting conditioner on my head - no burns, nothing. Did anyone else experience the burning?
