Could this be the future of chemical relaxers?

I was on Youtube the other day waiting for my video to load when all of the sudden an ad comes on with several women talking about a new relaxer system from Soft Sheen Carson. I rarely look at box relaxers on the store shelves so this product may not be all that new after all. What really struck me was how loud the message of a "new relaxer system with a low pH that doesn't dry out the hair or promote breakage."

Their whole thing was that a lower pH means less damage to the hair. Which in turn could mean more shine and healthier hair overall. Just so you know, I haven't tried this relaxer and this isn't meant to be an endorsement in any way. I have no idea if this relaxer kit actually lives up to its claims. I was very excited, however, about the meaning of this commercial. To me, this marks the beginning of a new era in relaxed hair care. For decades, women blindly relaxed their hair and suffered incredibly at the hands of damage from these products. Now the focus on healthier hair, along with the choice by thousands of women to sport natural hair, have forced product manufacturers take notice and respond accordingly.

In order to stay in business, companies will have to compete to create the healthiest possible straightening system or quickly become obsolete. I'm enjoying the fact that relaxer manufactures are leveraging the online hair renaissance and learning about the healthy hair care needs of women with textured hair. I think progress will be slow but it'll take just one brand to break out with a new (safe) technology and soon that will soon become the standard. I'm looking forward to the day when relaxers have the power to infuse fatty acids, proteins and ceramides into the strand immediately after the straightening process. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a relaxer that fills in the damaged areas of the strand (while the cuticle layer is lifted) so the hair is actually stronger and healthier after the process and beyond? I will keep my eyes and ears open for new relaxer formulations that will change the game as we know it. I'm not just talking about adding plant oils I'm talking about a new "smart" relaxer system that will take our hair care to the next level.

Sigh, a girl can dream.....

Detox your hair from chemical relaxers. Zen Detox Review!

I am extremely excited to tell you all about my recent Zen Detox experience. I first stumbled across this product online while searching for ways to detoxify from the chemical exposure of relaxers, city water, and various hair product ingredients. At first glance, this product appeared to be the answer to all of my hair's wildest dreams, but could a product made of clay really make a positive impact on my hair?

I began my Zen detox experience by opening the cute red box and pulling out the page long product description and instructions. Actually the page was back and front so it equated to two full pages of insight into this wonderful product.

Here is an excerpt from the product page:

"Zen Detox is formulated to benefit people of all ages and hair of all conditions. It supports hair growth by detoxing the hair follicles/root. oil glands and scalp.

This unique multi-purpose formula is a very gentle Spa Detox to lift heavy metals and other toxins from the scalp and oil glands, and cleanse hair follicles.

Morrocco Method Zen Detox has been uniquely created to assist in removing the causes, not just the symptoms of disease. Our Zen Detox features Clays, which have been chosen of hundreds of clays from the most consistent results. An imported Volcanic Clay is added along with the synergistically tested formulas of spices and herbs."

The product itself consists of just clay powder which is a mint color. Nothing special about how it looks. The instructions state that the amount of clay powder should provide up to three uses so I poured about 1/3 it into a small bowl. Next I added some water over the powder which immediately started clumping up. I had a really hard time trying to create a smooth consistency once the clumps formed. Even as I added more water, I could not get it to smooth out. Eventually I gave up on trying to mix evenly and decided to use the product as it was (clumps and all). Some of the clumps were so big they were unusable. The good news is that the instructions state that any unused product should be left out at room temp to dry out and return to powdered clay. According to the package, the product does not expire so I can use it again weeks or months from now.

So I began applying the liquid part of the mix and breaking down to smaller clumps to use as well. I remember the Amazon reviewer stating that their hair benefited from the product so I used over the entire length of the hair as well as in the scalp areas. I applied as if I were applying conditioner. Let me also say that I applied on dry hair and I also skipped the pre-poo step of my regimen. Soon enough the liquid like mixture began to harden leaving my hair feeling stiff and looking ashy. At that point regret began to set in.

I was thinking to myself, "why on earth did I just add clay to my hair? Why didn't I just apply to scalp areas?" As time went on the hair got stiffer. It was a similar feeling to using the Aphogee hard protein liquid. I just played it safe an left the hair alone for the 15 minute duration until I washed it out.

I decided that since I was stripping the hair with Zen Detox, I would need to combat with a very moisturizing wash routine. So of course I had my Hair One moisturizing cleanser handy. I also decided that I'd use a blend of Silicon Mix, Suave Milk and Honey, and Nioxin Moisture and Strength conditioners as a way off adding the moisture back in.

To my surprise, the clay rinsed out fairly easily. I was not battling with clumps or clay remnants after the wash. One thing I did notice was that once I rinsed, my hair hung straighter. I don't know how to explain it but my hair was not tangled or fluffy or anything, it just hung straight down. I added the moisturizing conditioner blend to my hair and only left it on for a couple of minutes before rinsing. Once I rinsed, I immediately knew that my hair's moisture levels had once again been restored.

As I sat down to rollerset, I decided to use a dallop of Suave Milk and Honey conditioner as a creamy leave-in just in case the clay had over dried out my hair. I rollerset as normal but let me tell you, I instantly knew that I would experience a wonderful result because my hair felt very different.

It was unlike anything I've ever experienced yet to date. My hair felt like it wasn't my hair. Zen detox did something to it that I can not explain. The feeling was not like when I clarified leaving the hair feeling stripped clean. Yes my hair felt clean but not stripped. A word that would better described it would be....revitalized. My hair felt soooooooooooooooo extremely healthy. It feels strong and moisturized, it feels balanced. I feel like this is the result I've been seeking all this time. I don't know how to explain it. I'll tell you this, when I took my rollers out yesterday, my hair looked very different from how it looked on my most recent youtube vid. The curls fell below my shoulders. They were soft, shiny, and vibrant. I was absolutely amazed!

Is it the mysterious blend of herbs and spices that created this wonderful result? Or was the result due to the fact that Zen Detox, purified my hair so effectively that my conditioners I used became 100% effective? I'm not sure. All I know is that my hands will not stay out of my hair for nothin. I feel a strong peace and calm right now as I appreciate my hair as in its new beautiful state. Words can not describe how grateful I am today that I came across this beautiful product and I can not wait to continue using the treatments for two more sessions as the product describes.

I'll provide updates as I complete the second and third application. Per the instructions, the two subsequent applications should remain on the hair progressively longer. The second application should last 30 minutes and the final application for an hour. As I finish up this blog post, I need to share with you that it's now been two days since my treatment. I'm experiencing practically no breakage, my hair's moisture level is high and there's a smile on my face.

Weary of relaxer chemicals? Zen Scalp Detox may be the answer.

I remember a conversation with a friend who was telling me about one of the reasons why she stopped relaxing. She was now living a healthier lifestyle and could no longer subject her scalp to harsh chemical relaxers. I've heard it said on more than one occasion that you should never put on your skin what you wouldn't eat. The reason we should avoid applying synthetic chemicals because our skin absorbs and delivers it straight into our system. After that conversation I felt a heaviness inside. I too wanted to protect myself from the chemicals but I wasn't yet ready to transition. Every day, I've carried around a burden of how I could minimize my exposure to these chemicals. That is until today!

Today folks, I introduce to you 5 Elements Zen detox hair and scalp therapy. I was all smiles when I came across this product online. Take a look at the product description from Amazon.com

Product Description
This unique multi-purpose formula is a very gentle Spa Detox to lift heavy metals from the hair follicles and scalp and to bring clarity to the brain. There are TWO main things for good health: To get the toxins OUT and to BUILD the immune system. There are over 70,000 chemicals being used in commercial production in the U.S. Medical researcher, Alan Levin, M.D. believes that, the vast increase of chemicals in our environment, foods and medicines has greatly altered the body's ability to rid itself of toxins. The immune system provides for our first, second and third lines of defense against everyday germs, viruses and bacteria.

This unique multi-purpose formula is a very gentle Spa Detox for the hair follicles and scalp. ZEN DETOX features clays, volcanic ash, herbs and spices which enhance this unique formula to help eliminate the chemicals, heavy metals and often carcinogenic exposures of daily living This therapy assists in detoxing Mercury which is now associated with over 200 diseases. Mercury is especially associated with neurological and behavioral disruptions including depression allergies, food sensitivities and chronic illness. ZEN DETOX is a therapeutic method to assist in detoxing accumulated chemicals from synthetic shampoos, conditioners, styling products, coloring agents, perms, hair relaxers, and Sodium Laurel Sulfate. There are 38 different names for SLS including DEA, TEA, MEA, and Cocomide, a synthetic so-called coconut oil. There are a wide variety of toxic exposures, including environmental and industrial pollution, toxic water and air. All of these chemicals and pollutants are stored in the body in our glands and immune system.


There is hope people! We too can protect ourselves from the undesirable effects of harsh chemicals to our body's systems.

Based on the two reviewers (who rated this product with 5 stars) on Amazon, this product also seems to bring out desirable results not just to the scalp but on the hair also.

Take a look:

By SLG (Detroit, Mi) - See all my reviews
This really helped remove debris and build up from my hair. My hair was soo shiny! And it felt so soft and smooth, but not coated. It was really clean with a really nice glossy sheen. My baby hair lay down perfectly when it usually likes to be wirey. I would recomend this to anyone having hair issues. My hair hasnt felt this good in a long time.


By DMTM - See all my reviews
I started using this product to detox my hair from all the chemicals I'd put in my hair. It made my hair SO soft and I think it straightened it out some. Looking forward to seeing how great my hair will look in the future!

(BTW, because the words "baby hair" and "straightened" were used in the reviews, I made the assumption that these reviewers probably have textured hair).

I understand that the primary ingredient in this product is clay so I honestly don't expect soft manageable hair. In fact, I expect some drying as a result. Ultimately, I do see a wonderful benefit to removing toxins and chemical build up from the hair and scalp. Especially for those of us who relax. The creator of the product, Anthony Morrocco even states that those of us who wash our hair with hard water (like me) can also benefit from this detox process. I imagine this detox process to be much like an internal detox, you may experience a low point as the chemicals are released but afterwards the results are magnificent. That is just my opinion. I have no idea how this product will work.

I'll know in a few weeks though, cause I just ordered it!

Review coming soon!

Bring health to your hair and scalp with Apple Cider Vinegar

About a week and a half ago I rediscovered a miracle. This product has done more to improve my beauty concerns than any other products I have combined! Best of all, these wonderful concoction is all natural. What I speak of, my friends, is Apple Cider Vinegar.

I am amazed.....amazed at the number of ailments I was able to address with one simple all-natural liquid. It all started when I finally figured out that the $10 bottle of medicine I purchased for my toenail fungus was not cutting it. A quick search online led me to try ACV (apple cider vinegar). Within days, I noticed a wonderful improvement in the overall look and feel of my toenails.

It didn't take me long to realize that this stuff was extremely effective. Next I thought about a stubborn dermatitis issue I had been dealing with for a while. The skin on my face would peel and cause discoloration as it healed. My solution was to rub a little ACV on a cotton ball and swab the affected areas with it. That practice soon evolved to using ACV over my entire face. Let me just tell you all that my skin looks emaculate! Acne scars have started fading away leaving behind a smoother more even-toned texture. Best off all, my dematitis was gone...is gone. I even used to experience flakiness and peeling in my ear....not no more! I decided to begin dabbing a Q-tip into the ACV before I use it, the flakiness in my inner ear...gone!

Next I decided to attack my dry, itchy, flaky, scalp. Dermatitis causes unbelievable dandruff issues. It's like dandruff on crack. I wanted to relax my hair this past weekend but I knew that if I didn't wash first and address the itchy scalp issues, I'd suffer greatly at the hands of the relaxer. Several days before I relaxed I created a solution of apple cider vinegar and water and poured it in my nifty applicator bottle.

After washing I applied the ACV water, along with Keracare's dry itch scalp and allowed it to sit for several minutes. The word I can use to describe my experience afterwards was simply relief. I know longer felt like my scalp was infested with microscopic itch creators.

Days later I relaxed without a care in the world. I felt like I had more time to smooth out the new growth 'cause my scalp wasn't feeling like it was being eaten away by the relaxer. I rinsed as normal, washed, deep conditioned, and once again used that Apple cider vinegar water as a final neutralizer to help manage the PH balance of my hair and scalp.
I'm just going to take a minute to stand up on this chair and shout from the roof tops

"My Scalp is NOT burned and Scabbing!!!"
(Not to mention the benefits of shiner hair I experienced due to the ACV rinse.)

This is the first time in a long while that I am not having to deal with scabs after chemical burns. Best of all, I can massage my scalp without dealing with all the crazy dandruff. I knew that I had experienced victory when I attended an event this week. I sat next to a friend of mine who also has dermatitis. I shared the good news of ACV to her and secretly hoped she would heed my words as I watched her scratch her scalp, pick her ears, and brush her shoulders throughout most of the meeting. "I no longer have to concern my self with embarassing scalp problems" I thought to myself "I am a person with a healthy scalp."



So as I shared the good news with my friend, so I share the good news with you....my friends. I am overjoyed at the numerous benefits I've experienced in such a short period of time. I drink it, I use it topically, I love it!

Affirm Fiberguard, will you marry me?

Here it is folks. My Fiberguard/Preservo Serum review. I actually contemplated stretching a little while longer but my curiosity got the best of me. I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.

I began my relaxer expeirence with the Preservo Serum. I parted my hair into relatively small sections, saturated each part with the product, and repeated until my entire head was adequately treated. The serum is similar in consistency to a watery/creamy leave-in. Very close to a Lacio Lacio, if I had to make a comparison. I was very grateful to this product because I pretty much had given up on trying to do anything to my hair the last week before relaxing. The Preservo Serum allowed me the ability to detangle without going completely insane.

I carefully opened the top to my relaxer and dipped my applicator brush into the contents. I immediately began regretting my inability to keep from scratching or irritating my scalp as soon as I noticed the consistency of the relaxer. It was creamier/thinner than I was used to. I knew right away that I would be enduring scalp burns as a by product of my lack of discipline.

So on I went parting, applying, parting, applying until I felt the time was right to begin smoothing. Yes....my scalp burned, and yes I suffered through it for the sake of smooth edges.

Finally the time came to rinse and I quickly jumped in the shower wondering what the end result would look like. As I washed the Affirm relaxer out, it was as if I was washing out a deep conditioner. My hair was so buttery smooth and delicious. Unbelievable!

When the relaxer was completely rinsed out, my hair felt as if I already washed and deep conditioned. I still proceeded with my Silicon Mix Pearl Extract conditioner just before I neutralized and, honestly, my hair felt just as good before the Silicon Mix as it did after.

After the wash I loaded my hair with more conditioner and tested out my new generic-ghetto version of the steaming method (I'll post on this method later in the week).
After steaming, I rinsed, rollerset, and sat under the dryer.

My hair, ladies and gentlemen, is so freakin' beautiful today that I am at a loss for words. I was planning on using a black rinse to help bring back some color and shine but there's no need. My hair is darn near perfect right now. I attribute the finished product to a superior relaxer, the steaming process, a fabulous leave-in, and quality finishing products. Everything worked together in glorious harmony.

If my hair will look like this every time I relax, then I think I found my new best friend. Oh, and by the way, my roots were not at all wavy when it was all said and done. The relaxer did a great job of managing my outrageous new growth. I also wanted to mention that though my scalp burned like crazy, I am not (yet) experiencing any scabbing.

I am definitely recommending this product to anyone who is in the market for a new relaxer. I also want to recommend the Preservo Strengthening Serum because this product was the ying to my relaxer's yang. I am a very happy gal this morning and just wanted to share my joy with you all.

Be Blessed.

Affirm Fiber Guard Relaxer has arrived!!!

This long arduous day of mine has been saved by a glimmer of hope in the form of a small package. Finally the day has arrived when I can relax. After three long months of stretching, the time has come for a touch up. My Affirm Fiberguard relaxer is here. Along with the fiberguard relaxer, I also purchased the Preservo Strengthening Serum. The purpose of the serum is to protect and condition the hair during the relaxing process. The instructions state that the product is applied to the entire head of hair (including the new growth). The serum is said to minimize the swelling of the hair shaft thereby better preserving the strength of the hair.

I've read some reviews from those who've used Affirm Fiberguard relaxer saying that their new growth was not a straight as with other relaxers. Right now my main concern is with the overall strength of my hair. Bone straight roots are the least of my worries. I spend most of my days sportin' new growth waves anyway. I'll trade healthy hair for bone straight roots any day. Isn't healthy hair what this is all about?

If all goes well, I should be relaxing within the next several days. And, of course, I will most certainly share my experiences. I am taking a very systematic approach to achieving healthy hair. I'm breaking down every step of my hair care routine, looking for areas where I can improve it, and creating workable solutions with every step. If I am able to get the relaxing step right (with the help of Fiberguard), I know that will be a huge win for my hair.

Want stronger hair? Maybe you should start with your relaxer

As you all may know, I'm going through a phase where I'm searching for the most optimal means possible of adding much needed strength to my hair. So far I've been introduced to the Nanokeratin system by my stylist. Along with that, I also bought Silicon Mix w/Pearl Extract in hopes of benefiting from the strengthening pearl ingredient.

Today, while browsing various blogs online, I noticed Dr. Ali Syed shared with his readers a fabulous presentation on the type of damage that can occur to our hair during the coloring, styling, and relaxing process. His presentation will be shared with professional hair dressers on his visit to Europe.

I am most grateful that he shared presentation with us. He presents some great information that we (common folk) may not see on a regular basis. That's because most of the information is highly scientific in nature.
Dr. Syed immediately grabbed my attention on slide 48 where he shows the amount of cuticle layer loss which occurs during the relaxing process. Knowing how important the cuticle layer is to the health of our hair, I was disheartened to see how much loss occurs using a traditional traditional relaxer. According to the graph, the loss which occurs at the cuticle layer is about 90% more than in untreated (virgin) hair. Just before I started contemplating going natural, I noticed a third comparison of cuticle layer loss with the use of a fiber guard relaxer. According to the graph, the amount of cuticle loss with a fiber guard relaxer is about half of that with a normal relaxer.


I immediately went searching for more information on the fiberguard system. Apparently the fibergaurd system is one that is exclusively used in the Avlon's Affirm Relaxer with fiberguard. I found some reviews online and I thought I would share one or two of them with you.

This one was excerpted from a blackhairmedia.com thread:

"I use Fiberguard and I LOVE IT! It retains the tensile strength and elasticity of the hair, and it is excellent for color treated hair. My hairdresser uses Affirm and Fiberguard on my hair, depending on whether I have used color recently or not. Both relaxers work great. I used to use optimum before I switched to a hairdresser who used Affirm. That was 7 years ago, and I will not use any other relaxers. I urge you to try Affirm or Fiberguard."


Here's another post from LHCF:

"My stylist also uses Affirm Fiberguard on my hair, too. I have not had as much breakage since he's been using it. My last stylist used Affirm...not sure if it was Fiberguard and I always had really thick hair. After Hurricane Katrina I went through a stylist search and ended up using other brands. I had so much breakage and thinning. I found my new guy and he used Affirm FG and it is healthier. It is a plus for preventing/slowing breakage IMO. As far as CONS, maybe switching brands after using it for years was not a good idea. That is the only thing I can think of."

According to Avlon's website, strengthening polymers in the relaxer creme penetrates hair fibers leaving hair with significantly more tensile strength and elasticity after relaxing. The four-step system is also said to preserve up to 40% more of the hair's strength compared to conventional relaxers.

This information came to me at the most opportune time because I'm currently on the hunt for a new relaxer and I am seriously leaning towards ordering this product.

Right now I am experimenting with Mizani but I'm not totally sold yet. I have to admit that my hair feels extremely silky and soft right after application but after a couple of weeks, I'm no longer impressed with the appearance of my hair.


Prior to Mizani, I was faithfully using Deep Brilliance. I had no major concerns with Deep Brilliance, I just stopped using it because I could no longer purchase it from my local BSS.


To be completely honest with you, I have now reached a new level of thinking with regards to my hair care. I no longer want a mediocre product. I want a product working hard to protect the strength of my hair. I want my products to go to war against the evil powers that be which seek to damage my hair!!!!
I will continue to search both near and far until I can honestly say that I have thee absolute best products for my hair.

With that said, I will politely finish off the rest of the Mizani relaxer and quickly replenish my relaxer supply with Affirm Fiberguard. If Avlon's claims are true, by this time next year my hair will be a force to be reckoned with.