I'm adding pictures to my album now. I was going to get a touch-up from the same stylist I've been going to since 1996. I figured that it would be best to call ahead and I'm so glad that I did. Turns out that she doesn't work at the salon anymore and the receptionist didn't want to tell me where she was working now. That saved me a half hour drive to another county and $60, but now I didn't have anyone to do my touch-ups.
Traditionally, I've always used Designer's Touch Lye except for a few times when they didn't have it and I used a no-lye relaxer. This left my hair feeling hard and stiff with very little shine and stick straight dry hair.
I decided to go for a box relaxer and I was trying to remember which ones people on the board had trouble with. It was like studying the night before a test and getting to the classroom and forgetting everything! The only thing that stood out in my mind to stay away from were Fabulaxer and the Revlon relaxers.
The store didn't have much else, so I picked out the Profective Anti-Damage No-Lye relaxer in Regular. All the while, I had a lady circling me, looking from my hair to the relaxer box in my hand. She would keep leaving the aisle and then coming back and looking from me to the box before she picked up one of her own.
Now, the last box relaxer I used was way back in 8th grade (Just for Me, I think). So I was hoping that my hair wouldn't fall on the floor after using this.
The process was very easy. I mixed it myself (it comes with two applications). It didn't smell awful AND it DIDN'T burn my scalp! Not ONCE in the 15 MINUTES that it was on my head. In the salon, I would never leave the relaxer on for very long; I seldom went past 5 minutes, but I didn't want to have underprocessed hair so I went with the timing guide.
It rinsed out very easily. My hair was soft and silky. My only gripe is that I don't want my hair to be too straight, and it's a little too straight for my liking, but I'll see if it grows on me. Sometimes after a touch-up, my hair appears straighter than it is. I'll see when I wash it in a few days.
The neutralizing shampoo was very easy to apply. It's a foam (comes in a can like foam shaving cream). I applied it twice and then for good measure used another neutralizing shampoo. The Profective one made my hair very soft and it rinsed out with ease.
I then used Kenra MC for three minutes, then Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deeeeep. This did leave my hair a little hard, because of the protein (this always happens after I get a touch-up) so I'm not worried. I rinsed with Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal.
The only step that I didn't follow were the strand test and the leave-in conditioner that comes with the relaxer. I wanted to use my Salerm 21 instead.
Overall, this turned out to be a better experience than I thought it would be. The Profective no-lye regular relaxer was very easy to use, fool-proof if you follow the directions (which are very clear, the also have pictures) and best and most important of all, it wasn't damaging to my hair! I'd even go so far to say that it was a very gentle process.
On the box, it says:
"Unmatched saftey and protection. Prevents breakage, split-ends and dryness. Protects against overprocessing."
I've found this to be very true in my case. This appears to be very different from salon no-lye relaxers which neither my hair nor my scalp like.
The Verdict: 10 out of 10
I would definitely use this relaxer again. And not only would I use it again, I would recommend it to someone regardless of whether they use lye or no-lye. I think this is a keeper! I lost very little hair and have no damage to my hair or scalp. My mom applied it (the relaxer) for me, but I feel confident that I can do it myself.
Traditionally, I've always used Designer's Touch Lye except for a few times when they didn't have it and I used a no-lye relaxer. This left my hair feeling hard and stiff with very little shine and stick straight dry hair.
I decided to go for a box relaxer and I was trying to remember which ones people on the board had trouble with. It was like studying the night before a test and getting to the classroom and forgetting everything! The only thing that stood out in my mind to stay away from were Fabulaxer and the Revlon relaxers.
The store didn't have much else, so I picked out the Profective Anti-Damage No-Lye relaxer in Regular. All the while, I had a lady circling me, looking from my hair to the relaxer box in my hand. She would keep leaving the aisle and then coming back and looking from me to the box before she picked up one of her own.
Now, the last box relaxer I used was way back in 8th grade (Just for Me, I think). So I was hoping that my hair wouldn't fall on the floor after using this.
The process was very easy. I mixed it myself (it comes with two applications). It didn't smell awful AND it DIDN'T burn my scalp! Not ONCE in the 15 MINUTES that it was on my head. In the salon, I would never leave the relaxer on for very long; I seldom went past 5 minutes, but I didn't want to have underprocessed hair so I went with the timing guide.
It rinsed out very easily. My hair was soft and silky. My only gripe is that I don't want my hair to be too straight, and it's a little too straight for my liking, but I'll see if it grows on me. Sometimes after a touch-up, my hair appears straighter than it is. I'll see when I wash it in a few days.
The neutralizing shampoo was very easy to apply. It's a foam (comes in a can like foam shaving cream). I applied it twice and then for good measure used another neutralizing shampoo. The Profective one made my hair very soft and it rinsed out with ease.
I then used Kenra MC for three minutes, then Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deeeeep. This did leave my hair a little hard, because of the protein (this always happens after I get a touch-up) so I'm not worried. I rinsed with Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal.
The only step that I didn't follow were the strand test and the leave-in conditioner that comes with the relaxer. I wanted to use my Salerm 21 instead.
Overall, this turned out to be a better experience than I thought it would be. The Profective no-lye regular relaxer was very easy to use, fool-proof if you follow the directions (which are very clear, the also have pictures) and best and most important of all, it wasn't damaging to my hair! I'd even go so far to say that it was a very gentle process.
On the box, it says:
"Unmatched saftey and protection. Prevents breakage, split-ends and dryness. Protects against overprocessing."
I've found this to be very true in my case. This appears to be very different from salon no-lye relaxers which neither my hair nor my scalp like.
The Verdict: 10 out of 10
I would definitely use this relaxer again. And not only would I use it again, I would recommend it to someone regardless of whether they use lye or no-lye. I think this is a keeper! I lost very little hair and have no damage to my hair or scalp. My mom applied it (the relaxer) for me, but I feel confident that I can do it myself.
