the stylist used affirm mild on my type 4 virgin hair this july and it worked excellently!!! the next time i got a friend to use dark and lovely, that one is really good and gentle, no-lye AND not drying at all. i think no-lye or lye, the chemical processing means u gotta work hard at maintaining moisture balance!! i am def. keeping to the dark and lovely though! i have heard people raving about lye but i am sticking ti the dark and lovely i am pleased with.it lasts really long as well. i am now 8 weeks into it and my hair looks great! i wash and deep cond every 4 days and aphogee treatment every 6 weeks. with no breakage and little shedding i could go 3 months no sweat!(tip:motions oil moisturizer softenes (almost relaxes) my new growth, i love it so much. i have been able to get away with just finger combing for the last 4 weeks!
on a sidenote, i am so shocked to know that most dont even know what their stylists put on their hair (ie. relaxers, conditioners etc). for goodness' sake ask, ask, ask! this is one of my end of year resolutions!!