Which relaxer do you use? I've been using affirm lye mild for over 4 years I do steps as follows:
1. Protecto along entire lenght of hair
2. Assurance for basing scalp and hairline
3. Relaxer creme for recommended time (I need about 20 minutes)
4. 5 in 1 reconstructor for at least 10 minutes
5. Normalizing 'poo
6. Positive Link condish
7. towel dry and style
The neutralizing 'poo is the "innovative" technique that made affirm stand out years ago -- neutralizing much more gently with a very low pH conditioner FIRST and begins neutralizing while conditioning at the same time, particularly when hair is in its most fragile state right after rinsing out the relaxer.
Check out the info on 5 in 1 at
http://www.avlon.com/5in1.html states that the 5 in 1 should be applied immediately after rinsing the relaxer from the hair and before the Normalizing Shampoo.
I'm convinced this "neutralizing condish" step helps immediately strenghten my hair and prevent breakage and I will always use a low pH condish immediately after rinsing relaxer out even if I switch brands (I'm thinking of jumping on the phyto bandwagon and if I do, I will be using 5 in 1 before using the neutralizing 'poo since phyto doesn't include this step.) I figure condishing freshly relaxed hair just can't be a bad thing, considering all the protein bonds have just been broken, my hair can only benefit from this step. I always follow with a neutralizing 'poo though, but I don't have to wash like 6 or 7 times cause the condish has already neutralized my hair about 80% so I only need to wash once or twice at the most.
I'm a big fan of neutralizing 'condish . . .