chayil0427
New Member
I just wanted to make a quick post with some neutralizing tips. These are great if you self relax, but you also want to look out for these things at the salon to make sure you're not leaving with relaxer still active in your hair!!! erplexed
1) The first stage of neutralizing happens with WATER!!. Water has a pH of about 7 so rinsing for 10 minutes with WARM water before you ever shampoo is important to allow water to remove all the excess relaxer cream and bring the pH down to about 7 (from 11 to 14 depending on what type of relaxer you use).
2) Your next neutralizing step can be conditioner if you choose! Apply a good moisturizing conditioner (this is not the best time to use heavey protiens ... they can leave your hair feeling like wire if used after a relaxer!! If you need a touch of protien at this step just add a small amount of your protien conditioner to a much larger amount of moisturizing conditioner or use a very light protien) while the cuticle is open from the relaxer is a great way to really get some moisture back into your hair after a chemical service. Also, most good quality salon conditioners have a lower pH (about 5) so this will bring the pH of your hair down even further. You can choose to condition after you shampoo but many like to apply a good moisturizing conditioner at this stage because the cuticles are open. You might want to try this step with a plastic cap and a hood dryer if you have one.
3) The next step is the shampoo. Don't just slap it in and look for pink then rinse. Shampoo 2 to 3 times. Then apply another lather of neutralizing shampoo and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. You may notice that it turns pink after it sits. Sitting allows it to penetrate the hair and neutralize relaxer thats penetrated more deeply into the hair folicle. If there is a great deal of pink rinse and re-lather allowing the poo to sit for another 5 minutes.
4) I like to follow the neutralizing poo with my regular moisturizing poo and a second conditioning. These also work to neutralizing any remaining traces of base in the hair.
Hope these tips are helpful! If you have any other neutralizing tips be sure to post them in this thread!
1) The first stage of neutralizing happens with WATER!!. Water has a pH of about 7 so rinsing for 10 minutes with WARM water before you ever shampoo is important to allow water to remove all the excess relaxer cream and bring the pH down to about 7 (from 11 to 14 depending on what type of relaxer you use).
2) Your next neutralizing step can be conditioner if you choose! Apply a good moisturizing conditioner (this is not the best time to use heavey protiens ... they can leave your hair feeling like wire if used after a relaxer!! If you need a touch of protien at this step just add a small amount of your protien conditioner to a much larger amount of moisturizing conditioner or use a very light protien) while the cuticle is open from the relaxer is a great way to really get some moisture back into your hair after a chemical service. Also, most good quality salon conditioners have a lower pH (about 5) so this will bring the pH of your hair down even further. You can choose to condition after you shampoo but many like to apply a good moisturizing conditioner at this stage because the cuticles are open. You might want to try this step with a plastic cap and a hood dryer if you have one.
3) The next step is the shampoo. Don't just slap it in and look for pink then rinse. Shampoo 2 to 3 times. Then apply another lather of neutralizing shampoo and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes. You may notice that it turns pink after it sits. Sitting allows it to penetrate the hair and neutralize relaxer thats penetrated more deeply into the hair folicle. If there is a great deal of pink rinse and re-lather allowing the poo to sit for another 5 minutes.
4) I like to follow the neutralizing poo with my regular moisturizing poo and a second conditioning. These also work to neutralizing any remaining traces of base in the hair.
Hope these tips are helpful! If you have any other neutralizing tips be sure to post them in this thread!