Silk Elements Relaxer users - switch from Regular to Mild?

[CarmelTreat]

Hi ladies,

My scalp has been burning after about 14 minutes when using the SE Regular. Because of it, any part that wasn't able to be relaxed well enough is underprocessed because I need it out of my head FAST! I'm a very coarse 4a/b and I know that the relaxer works well for me because it's usually just the section my hairdresser gets to last that gets underprocessed (not enough time to work it in). And I love how soft it makes the hair.

I'm getting a touch-up today and I'm planning to take some Mild for my hairdresser to use this time. For those who have used both, do you think the Mild is as strong and just works slower (and could be my solution) or is it actually a weaker relaxer (and may not straighten as well)? How long do you all usually keep it in before rinsing?

Oh, and please give your hair type, too. Thanks!

 

[shunta]

I switched from regular to mild and my hair did fine. I dont like my hair too straight anyway (but Im not texlaxed, though) and my stylist left it on for 15-20 min. Just think if you dont like it just go back to regular and just make sure you base the heck out of your scalp the night before and day of. Actually, I think it sraightens about the same. Just my opinion. Im 4a/b

 

[preciousjewel76]

I did a strand test with SE Mild, and it did nada. I'm a 4A/B. I think I left it on about 20 minutes. I tried SE Regular for my last touch-up, leaving it on about the same time, and it worked much better. I'm still underprocessed, but I think that was due to my poor self-relaxing technique. Mild might work OK for you, though, if you plan to leave it on longer. Do a strand test first!!

 

[CarmelTreat]

Can someone walk me through the steps of doing a strand test? I'd like to try it and see. I'm guessing I should pluck a hair or two from my head (from the root with new growth), apply some relaxer and see what it does, right? Should I smooth it any as the hairdresser would do?

Also, any recommendations of a good product to base with at home before I go to the salon? Wouldn't basing because of too much scalp manipulation be a bad thing to do before I go into the salon? My hairdresser usually bases right before applying the relaxer.

Thanks ladies! Others please comment if you have suggestions or tips.

 

[CarmelTreat]

bump for more responses before 3:00pm EST.

 

[preciousjewel76]

Can someone walk me through the steps of doing a strand test? I'd like to try it and see. I'm guessing I should pluck a hair or two from my head (from the root with new growth), apply some relaxer and see what it does, right? Should I smooth it any as the hairdresser would do?

Also, any recommendations of a good product to base with at home before I go to the salon? Wouldn't basing because of too much scalp manipulation be a bad thing to do before I go into the salon? My hairdresser usually bases right before applying the relaxer.

Thanks ladies! Others please comment if you have suggestions or tips.

For my strand test, I actually cut a small section of hair out of my crown (because that's where my NG was thickest). I taped together the ends of the hair and smoothed some of the relaxer on the new growth.

As for basing, I use petroleum jelly around my hairline and ears. I don't think I based my scalp last time around, but I don't burn very easily - and I use a lot of oils on my scalp normally anyway.

 

[gymfreak336]

I used the regular last year and if I used se again, I will use the mild. I processed really quick with the regular.

 

[CarmelTreat]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, ladies. I didn't get a chance to do a strand test. BUT, I did base my scalp myself before going to the salon (used some of my hubby's Blue Magic grease). My hairdresser (I let her base some, too) used the SE Mild this time around and it went very well! I didn't burn at alll!!!!! I made it to 20 minutes and my hairdresser could take her time and work it through good. Hair is nice and straight, too (and we're talking about some seriously thick roots earlier today). I just started to get a little tingle and she rinsed it right out before it got the chance to start burning. Woo hoo!

 

[shunta]

Thanks for all of your suggestions, ladies. I didn't get a chance to do a strand test. BUT, I did base my scalp myself before going to the salon (used some of my hubby's Blue Magic grease). My hairdresser (I let her base some, too) used the SE Mild this time around and it went very well! I didn't burn at alll!!!!! I made it to 20 minutes and my hairdresser could take her time and work it through good. Hair is nice and straight, too (and we're talking about some seriously thick roots earlier today). I just started to get a little tingle and she rinsed it right out before it got the chance to start burning. Woo hoo!

Thats great news!! I like mild too (as I stated earlier) but after about 3 wks my hair comes in very wavy which is fine with me. It has more body when its this way. Glad you liked it.

 

[CarmelTreat]

Thanks so much, Shunta. Yeah, I haven't been able to stretch real long with SE, but I think it was due to it not being relaxed well enough. I'd start getting thick roots around week 3 or 4, too. But, same for me, though. I like the extra thickness because of the body it gives. As long as I'm not underprocessed (which makes things more difficult), I'm fine with it. So, I'll see how things go this time around.

 

[Cutiepie7691]

I used Silk Elements regular today and it burned really fast. I won't probably be able to see if it's underprocessed until a few weeks though. Hopefully it took well. I think I might switch to mild next time. I need more time to let it process. I found myself really rushing towards the end .

 

[CarmelTreat]

Hi Cutiepie7691! Your hair in your avatar is so pretty!

But, yeah, girl. That SE is no joke with the processing. I can't stand burning but need straight hair so I was stuck for awhile (I thought). Definitely try the switch to Mild (and basing extra, too). It solved my problems. I know that the real test of how well it straightened will come next week when I wash, though. So, I'll keep ya'll updated. But, I can just tell that it got straighter all over than it did the previous times (I just get a roller set and wrap after my relaxer, no curling iron - so the roots tell on themselves if they're not straight).

 

[mrsmeredith]

It burns like h@ll. Normally relaxers never burn for me and my fam but this one is different. I purchased it because of all the reviews on this board but man was I wrong. I can't use my normal relaxer because only asian BS has it so I am stuck with no love. I would love to try mild maybe I will do that next time for my folks.

 

[Cutiepie7691]

Hi Cutiepie7691! Your hair in your avatar is so pretty!

But, yeah, girl. That SE is no joke with the processing. I can't stand burning but need straight hair so I was stuck for awhile (I thought). Definitely try the switch to Mild (and basing extra, too). It solved my problems. I know that the real test of how well it straightened will come next week when I wash, though. So, I'll keep ya'll updated. But, I can just tell that it got straighter all over than it did the previous times (I just get a roller set and wrap after my relaxer, no curling iron - so the roots tell on themselves if they're not straight).

Thanks Sweetie. Let us know how it works out. I'll probably switch to mild if it works out for you.

 

[preciousjewel76]

Hi Cutiepie7691! Your hair in your avatar is so pretty!

But, yeah, girl. That SE is no joke with the processing. I can't stand burning but need straight hair so I was stuck for awhile (I thought). Definitely try the switch to Mild (and basing extra, too). It solved my problems. I know that the real test of how well it straightened will come next week when I wash, though. So, I'll keep ya'll updated. But, I can just tell that it got straighter all over than it did the previous times (I just get a roller set and wrap after my relaxer, no curling iron - so the roots tell on themselves if they're not straight).

Man, so am I the only one who SE regular didn't seem to burn? I didn't feel a thing after 20 min., and my hair didn't get straight. Maybe I had too much gunk in my hair for it to process during the regular time. Oh, I added a little olive oil to it, as well, so I think that affected the processing time. Shoot, I was thinking that I might have to move up to SUPER, but next time around I'll just smooth it for a while longer.

 

[CarmelTreat]

Maybe I had too much gunk in my hair for it to process during the regular time. Oh, I added a little olive oil to it, as well, so I think that affected the processing time.

Have you ever tried it without the Olive Oil? I wonder if that's making the difference as far as burning and processing. Too much "gunk" on your hair could affect the processing time (takes longer), but shouldn't effect your scalp (unless you've got a lot on your scalp, too). The olive oil could be helping out your scalp.

But, there are others on here who I've read don't burn with it. So, I don't think you're the only one. We burners must just be the "sensitve scalp crew" trying to make lye work for us because we love it so much!

 

[CarmelTreat]

Just wanted to update here that although the SE Mild helped with my burning scalp, I can not consistently keep my hair straight with this relaxer - one touch-up it worked pretty decently, the next time it didn't. So, I'm going to try out Mizani Mild for my next touch-up (hopefully next week). I'll keep SE on the back burner because it's not BAD, but with this current and upoming summer heat, I don't have time to play around with nappy roots. LOL