Alter Ego Linange Shea Butter Relaxer and Full Line - Review and Questions

[ElegantExotic]

Has anyone else used the Linange relaxer or texturizer?

Thanks!

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Has anyone else used the Linange relaxer or texturizer?

Thanks!

Inquiring minds want to know. And an update too for those who used it in the past. How ifs your hair condition now?

Help a sista out who is considering relaxing with this (I've been relaxer free for over five years now).

And those that promised pics, where are they?

 

[cat eyes]

Bummpinggggggggggggggggggg

 

[new-life]

OP, your review is everything I was going to say. I literally just came back from the salon like 20 mins ago and the stylist used this relaxer and I'm in LOVE, seriously!! This is the only relaxer I'm going to use from now on!

 

[joytimes10]

Subscribing... I have never had a relaxer that didn't tingle uncomfortable and/or burn. Going to have my stylist use this if I decide to relax. Keep the reviews coming, ladies. TIA

 

[BeautyFul-LDJ]

My shipment just arrived today and I will be relaxing in between now and Friday. I intend on posting before and after pics. I have not had a relaxer in 13 weeks. Wish me luck!

 

[ccd]

Thanks OP..although I'm not in the market for a new relaxer this is good to know.

I love Alter Ego....have been using it for years now and they are fantastic!!!Congrats

 

[Healthb4Length]

Ok, I'm getting my hair done tomarrow and I plan on using this relaxer. I hope I have good results too, I'm worried about my scalped because I was totally scratching it like a mad woman last night. sigh...

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Ok, I'm getting my hair done tomarrow and I plan on using this relaxer. I hope I have good results too, I'm worried about my scalped because I was totally scratching it like a mad woman last night. sigh...

Hope you come back and report. I'm still watching this thread though I'm natural. This is my top choice if I take the plunge.

Please ladies,

Follow up, those w/ longer term use:

How is your hair now?

Do you still like it?

Shedding?

Overall hair health?

Finally: Are you still happy with the relaxer. Thanks so much!

 

[luckiestdestiny]

bumping for updates

 

[Healthb4Length]

Ok I got my hair relaxed yesterday and I have mixed feelings about this relaxer.
First let me preface this by saying that I decided to relax at the last minute because my hair was looking HAM. I couldn't take it anymore. I my scalp was itchy and I scratched like a million times, that being said my relaxer experience was NOT pleasant at all! This relaxer did feel cool in the begining but towards the end my scalp burned so badly! I had to beg the stylist to rinse it out because my teeth were chattering and I was in pain. I was holding back the tears literally!::burning

After she washed, even the rinse out process was painful because that girl was digging into my scalp with her nails!!:burning::
She slapped some Alter Ego Garlic treatment on my hair and I went under the dryer for about 15 minutes. She rinsed my hair out and rollerset, I felt my hair and it did feel really soft and it was nice and smooth, then she blow dryed. That too was a painful process and I noticed scabs on my scalp she put some sort of grease on and continued blow drying.

Overall my hair did look nice but I'm unsure of this relaxer. I'm not sure if was my scratching the night before, or the terribly sloooooooooow stylist. I'm nursing my sore scalp right now and monitoring my hair. I'll post an update later on how my hair and scalp are doing.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Ok I got my hair relaxed yesterday and I have mixed feelings about this relaxer.
First let me preface this by saying that I decided to relax at the last minute because my hair was looking HAM. I couldn't take it anymore. I my scalp was itchy and I scratched like a million times, that being said my relaxer experience was NOT pleasant at all! This relaxer did feel cool in the begining but towards the end my scalp burned so badly! I had to beg the stylist to rinse it out because my teeth were chattering and I was in pain. I was holding back the tears literally!::burning

After she washed, even the rinse out process was painful because that girl was digging into my scalp with her nails!!:burning::
She slapped some Alter Ego Garlic treatment on my hair and I went under the dryer for about 15 minutes. She rinsed my hair out and rollerset, I felt my hair and it did feel really soft and it was nice and smooth, then she blow dryed. That too was a painful process and I noticed scabs on my scalp she put some sort of grease on and continued blow drying.

Overall my hair did look nice but I'm unsure of this relaxer. I'm not sure if was my scratching the night before, or the terribly sloooooooooow stylist. I'm nursing my sore scalp right now and monitoring my hair. I'll post an update later on how my hair and scalp are doing.

Please do so. Is that pic of you with the alter ego? If not, can you post a pic? Wondering if it was the scratching. I've been w/o a relaxer so long I don't remember what that was like (scratching=burning), so it's good to hear the info in case I decide to get relaxed. Thanks so much.

 

[Sugarhoney]

Ok I got my hair relaxed yesterday and I have mixed feelings about this relaxer.
First let me preface this by saying that I decided to relax at the last minute because my hair was looking HAM. I couldn't take it anymore. I my scalp was itchy and I scratched like a million times, that being said my relaxer experience was NOT pleasant at all! This relaxer did feel cool in the begining but towards the end my scalp burned so badly! I had to beg the stylist to rinse it out because my teeth were chattering and I was in pain. I was holding back the tears literally!::burning

After she washed, even the rinse out process was painful because that girl was digging into my scalp with her nails!!:burning::
She slapped some Alter Ego Garlic treatment on my hair and I went under the dryer for about 15 minutes. She rinsed my hair out and rollerset, I felt my hair and it did feel really soft and it was nice and smooth, then she blow dryed. That too was a painful process and I noticed scabs on my scalp she put some sort of grease on and continued blow drying.

Overall my hair did look nice but I'm unsure of this relaxer. I'm not sure if was my scratching the night before, or the terribly sloooooooooow stylist. I'm nursing my sore scalp right now and monitoring my hair. I'll post an update later on how my hair and scalp are doing.

Wow, sorry to hear about your scalp. Hope it gets better. Did she use the Linange neutralizing conditioner or a neutralizing shampoo? Did you base your scalp before the relaxer?

 

[deusa80]

I totally forgot about this thread, but I went to a salon on Saturday that used this relaxer. Actually, I think she used the no-lye relaxer..but I'll have to look into that.

I left a review in the salon review thread under the Dominican Essence Salon discussion and I mentioned there that this is the first time I've gotten a relaxer done at a salon in over 10 years and I'm really pleased with it.

I had been scratching my head for days before because I wasn't sure if I was going to get a relaxer, but it felt fine and it only started to tingle a little near the end of the process.

I was trying to pay attention to everything she used and I'm pretty sure that after she washed the relaxer out she just used a regular neutralizing shampoo(I think it was isoplus) and then she applied the linange restructuring mask and put me under the dryer for about 20/25 minutes. Then after she rinsed that out she put on the salerm deep impact mask for a few minutes. And followed up with Alter Ego/Nova Care intensive nourishing leave in conditioner for my rollerset.

I would definitely use this relaxer again, I really liked that it didn't burn me and how my hair looks and feels after I got it done. Next time I go to the salon for the relaxer I'll pay more attention to see whether it was infact the no lye (I'm pretty sure it was) and what neutralizing shampoo she used.

 

[Healthb4Length]

Please do so. Is that pic of you with the alter ego? If not, can you post a pic? Wondering if it was the scratching. I've been w/o a relaxer so long I don't remember what that was like (scratching=burning), so it's good to hear the info in case I decide to get relaxed. Thanks so much.

The siggy pic is me 11 weeks post flat ironed with my FHI Runway. After this incident I just don't know. My hair is glued to my scalp right now. I was going to wash my hair today but my mother who is a nurse suggested that I wait 2 more days because the scab is forming a kinda protective barrier and I should wait until it's fully healed over to wash it so that my sore won't be so painful.

Wow, sorry to hear about your scalp. Hope it gets better. Did she use the Linange neutralizing conditioner or a neutralizing shampoo? Did you base your scalp before the relaxer?

I'm not sure, I was just too anxious to get that mess rinsed out ASAP! I did notice that whatever she was using to rinse it out had a very chemically scent and was very watery. SHe did base before the relaxer but not very well IMO. I didn't base at home because I felt that it is common sense for a stylist to base before a chemical application...I taught wrong.

 

[MonaLisa]

I totally forgot about this thread, but I went to a salon on Saturday that used this relaxer. Actually, I think she used the no-lye relaxer..but I'll have to look into that.

I left a review in the salon review thread under the Dominican Essence Salon discussion and I mentioned there that this is the first time I've gotten a relaxer done at a salon in over 10 years and I'm really pleased with it.

I had been scratching my head for days before because I wasn't sure if I was going to get a relaxer, but it felt fine and it only started to tingle a little near the end of the process.

I was trying to pay attention to everything she used and I'm pretty sure that after she washed the relaxer out she just used a regular neutralizing shampoo(I think it was isoplus) and then she applied the linange restructuring mask and put me under the dryer for about 20/25 minutes. Then after she rinsed that out she put on the salerm deep impact mask for a few minutes. And followed up with Alter Ego/Nova Care intensive nourishing leave in conditioner for my rollerset.

I would definitely use this relaxer again, I really liked that it didn't burn me and how my hair looks and feels after I got it done. Next time I go to the salon for the relaxer I'll pay more attention to see whether it was infact the no lye (I'm pretty sure it was) and what neutralizing shampoo she used.

Thanks for this....I have to remember that the bulk of the posts are referring to the lye version....which if I was to try Linage, I would not be using..

 

[Healthb4Length]

I gently massaged the sore areas with warmed olive oil last night, I did it on and off for 1 hour or so. I eventually lifted some of the glued hair off my scalp, it was painful. I washed today I I believe 75% of it is gone that GOD! I will continue to do cowashes and gentle scalp massages every other day until my scalp is no longer tender. Anyways here are some pics taken the day of;

The first pics show how my hair is literally glued to my scalp...I found these nasty scabs the day after the relaxer. I wrapped my hair that night. Big mistake!


Here are pics of the finished style. I'm happy with my progress but it was thisclose to being derailed...I seriously taught I might have had to do a BC
So far I'm being optimistically cautious, I hope I don't suffer a set back in the long run;

 

[Healthb4Length]

Here are some pics of when she blowdryed my hair. She didn't use a flat iron afterwards so I guess that's a plus.

 

[sexylonglegs]

Sounds very interesting...

 

[Stepiphanie]

Wow this is so funny, I went to DE a little over a wk ago and she used the same products on me. It was no lye b/c I saw her mixing it. I cant give a fair review b/c I also wasnt ready for a relaxer and did get burn nothing major but a burn nonetheless evntho I was based very well. I will def give it a try again tho

I totally forgot about this thread, but I went to a salon on Saturday that used this relaxer. Actually, I think she used the no-lye relaxer..but I'll have to look into that.

I left a review in the salon review thread under the Dominican Essence Salon discussion and I mentioned there that this is the first time I've gotten a relaxer done at a salon in over 10 years and I'm really pleased with it.

I had been scratching my head for days before because I wasn't sure if I was going to get a relaxer, but it felt fine and it only started to tingle a little near the end of the process.

I was trying to pay attention to everything she used and I'm pretty sure that after she washed the relaxer out she just used a regular neutralizing shampoo(I think it was isoplus) and then she applied the linange restructuring mask and put me under the dryer for about 20/25 minutes. Then after she rinsed that out she put on the salerm deep impact mask for a few minutes. And followed up with Alter Ego/Nova Care intensive nourishing leave in conditioner for my rollerset.

I would definitely use this relaxer again, I really liked that it didn't burn me and how my hair looks and feels after I got it done. Next time I go to the salon for the relaxer I'll pay more attention to see whether it was infact the no lye (I'm pretty sure it was) and what neutralizing shampoo she used.

 

[deusa80]

Wow this is so funny, I went to DE a little over a wk ago and she used the same products on me. It was no lye b/c I saw her mixing it. I cant give a fair review b/c I also wasnt ready for a relaxer and did get burn nothing major but a burn nonetheless evntho I was based very well. I will def give it a try again tho

Thanks for confirming that, I was pretty sure it was no lye! Sorry to hear that it did burn you... I guess everyone has different sensitivity levels. Did you like how your hair turned out otherwise?

 

[robot.]

this sounds really good. i hope it really catches on, that way i can see some texturized/texlax shots.

OP, where in Baltimore do you go? how much was it?

 

[Kurlee]

bumping for texlaxers

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Ok I got my hair relaxed yesterday and I have mixed feelings about this relaxer.
First let me preface this by saying that I decided to relax at the last minute because my hair was looking HAM. I couldn't take it anymore. I my scalp was itchy and I scratched like a million times, that being said my relaxer experience was NOT pleasant at all! This relaxer did feel cool in the begining but towards the end my scalp burned so badly! I had to beg the stylist to rinse it out because my teeth were chattering and I was in pain. I was holding back the tears literally!::burning

After she washed, even the rinse out process was painful because that girl was digging into my scalp with her nails!!:burning::
She slapped some Alter Ego Garlic treatment on my hair and I went under the dryer for about 15 minutes. She rinsed my hair out and rollerset, I felt my hair and it did feel really soft and it was nice and smooth, then she blow dryed. That too was a painful process and I noticed scabs on my scalp she put some sort of grease on and continued blow drying.

Overall my hair did look nice but I'm unsure of this relaxer. I'm not sure if was my scratching the night before, or the terribly sloooooooooow stylist. I'm nursing my sore scalp right now and monitoring my hair. I'll post an update later on how my hair and scalp are doing.

There's no neutralizer mentioned. I'm natural, but from my previous experience w/ relaxers, they should neutralize. Maybe that also caused problems in addition to all the digging into your scalp. Sorry about all the pain.Those pics hurt me to look at them. seems more of a stylist problem, though and then the excessive scratching just caused mayhem.

 

[Miamori]

this sounds really good. i hope it really catches on, that way i can see some texturized/texlax shots.

OP, where in Baltimore do you go? how much was it?

I go to Top Dominican on Reisterstown in Pikesville.
It is right across from Safeway, and right next to Subway, and the Mexican restaurant.
If you are driving up Reisterstown from the city (Northwern Parkway, etc.), it is on the left. If you are coming from Milford, Pikesville, Randallstown, north / west, etc., it will likely be on your right.

The precise info:
Top Dominican Hair Salon
104 Reisterstown Rd
Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 415-5448


Cost:
They have been raising their prices, and the last time I went it was $65 for the Alter Ego. That is the most expensive relaxer the carry. The others are $55 and $60 I believe.

My mother just decided to get her hair relaxed again after being natural for the umpteenth time (maybe after 5 years now) with Alter Ego, so I know for a full/virgin head, it is $75.

I also always get a deep conditioner and leave in when I go, which can be an extra $3 or $5 depending on the day. Sometimes I bring my own.

Stylists:
I have gotten picky with who I let in my head there. I only fully trust Alex (short and very pale, many women think she looks Filipino), the woman who works in very the front (medium complexioned, round face, ALWAYS at the first spot closest to the door whenever I'm there), or the owner (appears on the postcards and business cards with her hair fanned ala Irresistible ).

I do not always wait for Alex because she often has a few ladies or Latinos waiting on her. But she knows me so if I want her she is always happy to oblige. She is the best with cuts, IMO. Not light trims though. I think ALL the other stylists are good with tat, even the ones I don't like. I think Alex is too much of a perfectionist for light trims.

The owner is younger with hair at about BSL, and she does not always style. She is often just walking back and forth or discussing what the salon carries or something with a customer. She is also the one who goes after people if the don't pay or don't pay enough, and she does all the naturals.

These are the people I either do NOT let in my head or I am very finicky and on edge with:
1) The tall pale stylist who likes to sing and dance, and who many women prefer. I personally simply just don't enjoy being in her chair AT ALL. Many ladies who go to Top Dominican consider her to be the best.

My thing is just that I always feel like she is arguing with me when I request my hair to be styled a certain way, even if I explain why I prefer it. The same thing goes for how she treats your hair. I believe that she is just too rough, and there's no point in putting up with it. She unnecessarily and ruthlessly beats the craptackery out of my hair. My mother likes her as a person, but she also complains that she argues with her when she asks for something using an "I know best tone/attitude" and always does the same thing, which is what she prefers to do as a stylist, and nothing new.
No matter what you say you want done with you hair after, she insists on fully blowing it and flat ironing if possible, and WILL NOT STOP for almost anything. I had to half light her up in Spanish and get half out of the chair for her to finally stop and just handle my roots like I had already asked her repeatedly. She got the O_O face when the angry Spanish slang started flowing out of me after I got mad!! I noticed a lot of splits after the first and only time she tried to blow me out completely (she was unsuccessful, but like I said, I felt like I had to do way too much to get her to stop). I've also witnessed several of her clients tell her she must stop the beating of their hair and the rough handling with the brush.
2) The receptionist, who I think my also be the owner's relative. She is MEAN, and if you don't know Spanish, you may want to be glad sometimes that you don't! Homegirl says some NASTY, hateful, ignorant things about people. She will walk up to the stylist working on your hair, and insult you/your appearance/ your hair TO the stylist while staring you in the face! Part of why she thinks she is all that is that she had HL/TBL hair that she just cut last summer, so she's a hair snob. She insulted me one day and I held my peace but I can already tell at some point... Anyway, her stank attitude.... reflects in how she handles you hair if she is ever called to set,take down, or style it. Beyond that, though she is not a horrible stylist, I just don't want someone who talks about me and everyone else in the shop touching my precious locks. Bad vibes.
3) The other tall, pale stylist who works closer to the back. She's good and sweet. I let her do my hair, but don't let her blow it out, because she is bad with parting, and always breaks off the widow's peak / front center of the part. I just have her leave it, or wrap it.

With that said, I don't really think handling from any of these stylists would cause a setback, really. I do think some are heavier / more painful with the dryers though. I personally only get my roots blown, and I blow them myself on a medium-low setting at home after a fresh relaxer.

I began going to them in the summer because they were cheaper than my former stylist. They are still cheaper for wash and sets, but not relaxers, but I stick with them because they have the Linange and I can't find any other Bmore salon that does.

The next time I am serviced I am going to stop at DE on my way home from break to have the relaxer done though. Cheaper, and I want a good trim.

Two extra things:
1. Top Dominican is constantly upgrading the quality of their products and their stock lately to Dominican and Italian favorites, which is nice.
2. The shampoo woman: Love her and she's generally okay, but when she's tired or rushed, she can get lax with the detangling. She normally covers your hair in conditioner for slip, but if she isn't paying attention or doesn't feel like it, won't get the middle well enough, and will just pick/drag/yank the comb through. Whenever you ask, she never minds getting a lot more conditioner to put on your hair to detangle, though.

 

[MonaLisa]

Wow this is so funny, I went to DE a little over a wk ago and she used the same products on me. It was no lye b/c I saw her mixing it. I cant give a fair review b/c I also wasnt ready for a relaxer and did get burn nothing major but a burn nonetheless evntho I was based very well. I will def give it a try again tho

Awww dayum....

 

[Miamori]

The first pics show how my hair is literally glued to my scalp...I found these nasty scabs the day after the relaxer. I wrapped my hair that night. Big mistake!

I don't know what state your hair is in now, but I wanted to offer encouragement.

In my teens, I had a number of burns from relaxers. Only one caused serious and permanent damage though, and that was because the burn was caused because I had a thin cut back there I didn[''t notice before the relaxer (my nape). Years later, the hair grew/grows in fine, just SUPER fine and thin and SUPER thick, dry, and crazy different in a single patch where the two vastly diff. textures are next to each other (the site of the most damage).

Anyway, I just wanted to share that I recovered from many burns / scabs. Mine weren't as severe as yours though, which does make me worry about your experience. The ones I got were also from using stronger (IMO relaxers), some super strength (of course they were stronger) and others just the brands - like Motions.

I wonder if your scalp might have had an adverse reaction to one of the chemicals in the Linange No Lye, like an allergy type thing that made it more sensitive - or did you do a LOT of scartching - and how long did she leave it in???? I've had relaxers in for an hour, done fair scatching, had my scalp scratched during rinse outs, etc. and never had such an adverse result. THis is why I am wondering whether it might be that the relaxer's ingredients don't work for you. I am so sorry but I hope you and your hair recover.

(The neutralizer also sounds strange too since you said it smells very strongly of chemicals? Maybe other ladies can vouch, but the neiutralizers I've used are normally sweetly or pleasantly scented, or just plain smelling.)

Of course this goes without saying, but I would steer clear of both the relacer and the stylist from now on, if I couldn't pinpoint confidently exactly what the issue was.

Oh and also, though I am sure you figured this out by now, when I had burns (mine were always small though), wrapping and brushing (and manipulating in general) were a no-no.

 

[Miamori]

this sounds really good. i hope it really catches on, that way i can see some texturized/texlax shots.

OP, where in Baltimore do you go? how much was it?

Also, if you describe what you want, I've seen the owner (who works with the naturals too) do successful texlaxes (with various relaxers) where the clients look happy (and I've seen her show the n the texture before she rolls/straightens if they seem apprehensive or worried so they can see the remaining curl). She is also honest and good with answering questions well and understanding what is good for your hair. She (and my other two favs) are the most careful with your hair.

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Also, if you describe what you want, I've seen the owner (who works with the naturals too) do successful texlaxes (with various relaxers) where the clients look happy (and I've seen her show the n the texture before she rolls/straightens if they seem apprehensive or worried so they can see the remaining curl). She is also honest and good with answering questions well and understanding what is good for your hair. She (and my other two favs) are the most careful with your hair.

Is there a reason you chose the lye over the no lye? Just because if I get a relaxer I have that whole debate going on in my head about the two types and am trying to pinpoint what will work best for me. thanks

 

[luckiestdestiny]

Bumping for miamori or someone else on the lye vs no lye versions of this relaxer