Customer Reviews

Phyto PhytoSpecific PhytoRelaxer Index 1 - Delicate, Fine Hair

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have read all the Phyto Index 1 reviews to date...most negative ones sounded as if they either chose the wrong Index or needed a hair professional to apply the product properly (one must be highly skilled to apply this professional product by one's self and work quickly in application) and be able to judge how to gauge the proper relaxing time...as a trained cosmetologist, esthetician and registered nurse I have used both Index 1 and 2 on friends and relatives with great satisfaction...as a woman of Native-American and Afro-American heritage who has thyroid dysfunction (which can negatively effect the quality of one's hair and scalp) I have used the Index 2 with tremendous satisfaction.

I've been using this product for the last two or more years and it's the best I've used since I began doing my hair again. The cost of this product is expensive but that's because it contains no lye. All over the counter relaxers contain lye. If the percentage is small enough, the companies are not required to list it as a main ingredient. The reason why Phyto takes 25 minutes to work on the hair is because it does not contain any lye at all. I switched from using Rusk where a hair dresser used that relaxer to burn my hair to the scalp. What I find with most hairdressers is that they want the quick fix. Women want their hair straight now. When you use a relaxer you changing both the physical and chemical structure of the hair permanently. I used to use Aveda's 'Wind Down' before it was discontinued. The hair dresser I used to go to explained that one of the main problems with relaxing the hair is that most people want to do it now and end up using the wrong relaxer, something far too strong and harsh on the hair. This causes major damages the root and scalp. The body then had to repair those damages and that's why they hair seems to be so damaged after you have relaxed it. He said the best thing was to 'train' the hair to respond to the least or mildest amount of chemical so as to cause less damage. I agree, my hair is smoother and softer this way and I still retain my curls only it's less frizzy. The key to this product is reading the directions. Even though I use every three months for new growth, I still read the instructions. I read them twice just to make sure that I'm doing it right. You need to have patience to work with this product because of the detailed timing that it requires. The only think I didn't like about this product which is not enough for me to take points off for, was the washing out. It takes a long time for it to wash out of the hair. I called the company before I purchased it and spoke with their main teaching hair dresser and she explained again to use the product. Most hairdressers, don't like to read the instructions. They believe they know it all. Not all products are same even if they are in the same category.

I have used at-home relaxers for several years now with average results until I decided to use Phytospecific (Index 1). I purchased the product after seeing a Beauty review that gave it high marks. I also liked that the ingredients were plant-based. Upon CAREFULLY reading the instructions and meticulously following each step and timing recommendation, my results were impressive! After blowing drying and curling, my hair had a luster that I've never achieved with standard over the counter brands. It's soft, full of shine and manageable--which is huge since my hair tends to be unruly. I also noticed that there wasn't the usual harsh chemical smell when using Phytospecific. This product really delivers and I'll definitely continue using it.

I have long hair (halfway down my back) and a lot of it, so I need to use 2 kits when I do my hair, but this is the most gentle relaxer I have ever used, including the children's relaxers available in grocery stores.

Four months ago I used Mizani at my hair dressers and actually got a 2nd degree burn (scabbing). I did not burn at all with this product and it did not smell as much as other relaxers. Split ends and breakage were not a problem (it's very recommended to use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil in your hair after every shampoo and conditioning if you have dry or chemically treated hair).

The key to applying relaxers is to work from the back (bottom) to the top of your scalp. The top of the head emits the most heat, so it makes the chemical work faster, and then you burn and have more hair loss. My hairdresser also says that you should wait 6 months if you can in between relaxers.

For natural days when you don't want to blow out your hair, try Aubrey Organics B-5 Hair Styling Gel; it's got great natural hold, although it flakes if you don't spread it out well, and it's completely organic and good for your hair. Also the Aubrey Organics Blue Algae Hair Mask is amazing for keeping your hair glossy and healthy.

The French guy that came up with this line needs a pat on the back ! I am African-American, and I do hair professionally. I love trying things. I have ordered both indexes and I tell you--they deliver! One of my clients has swithched to this relaxer and is loving it. She says, "My hair has never moved like this before." I use it on my hair and my children's hair as well and it is WONDERFUL. I will not go back to regular relaxers. I've read some negative reviews and all I have to say is someone isn't applying this product correctly. First of all, it is a fairly natural product, so you have to understand your expectations from the jump. You are not fixing to get a BONE straight look (although my daughter's last application was darn near bone straight). You have to make sure you order the correct index--just as you would choose the correct type of regular lye relaxer, whether it be mild, regular or super. Index One is for people that do not have super "nappy" hair, but just needs to uncoil some of their curl pattern. If you want a straighter look (something close to a regular relaxer) you need to get Index Two. ***Also, once you apply a flat iron, if you do that sort of thing, your results should be nothing less than gorgeous. I don't always flat iron mine, because I like to sport a wet look.***I ordered this index for my daughter who has naturally curly hair and it is vey tangly and dry. It did a great job. For me and my youngest, I have to get Index two because we have a little bit more "nap" that has to be tamed.***This is our relaxer of choice from now on.

OK, So I tried this product trying to soften a rough patch of my very fine, soft curly ( about 3B) hair and to reduce overall frizz. So I applied the product, left it in for 15 mins ( the min. time) and did not do much smoothing because I wanted to keep my curls. This product is terrible. Though the day I did the relaxer, my hair was "straighter" ( meaning certain parts were straighter than the others), about 2 days later, my hair is curlier than it was before, not to mention really really dry, even though I use a heavy conditioner that used to soften my hair really well. Its like I didnt use anything at all. I would not recommend this product to anyone at all. It just damaged my hair without softening/loosening the curls/defrizzing, anything.

I purchased the index 1 kit from [...] for [...]. I asked my hair stylist to apply to my hair. She agreed to relax my hair with this product just out of curousity. My scalp did not burn in the process. It smelled like any other relaxer. It straightened my hair. I would continue to use but the price is too steep for a stay at home mom like me, but I wanted to try it after reading about in Essence magazine. Vanessa L Williams said she uses it and her hair feels terrific. I have very fine hair. It had been nearly a year since I relaxed my hair. I was giving my hair a break. I usually relax my hair every 3 months. My hair stylist said she would not buy it. She added it's like any other no-lye relaxer.

I tried phyto index #1 and basically, its a waste of cash. You can get the same deal at the grocery store and it'll probably do a better job. Let me describe my hair. I am black, my hair is thin and breaks easily. I can not have too heavy moisterizers because it weighs my hair down I will lose the bounce in my hair, so I always use serum. I style my hair by blow drying and using a ceramic flat iron to get it straight, flowing, and bouncy. The relaxer almost seem like it didn't take. I haven't had a relaxer to do that in ages. I put this in almost a month ago and I can't wait until it grows out to put some real relaxer in.

Also, everytime I would do a touch up, my hair would stop shedding. With Phyto index #1, it sheds more! With breakage strands. I'm ok with root strands shedding, that's natural. Next time, I will either order Mitzani relaxer online or go to a professional to put that in. Mitzani is one of my favorites. Number #1 is Silk II (I have no idea how to get that). As for homekits, Optimum is good.

I just had to leave a review for this product. I was skeptical at first as to whether or not this would be safe to use or even work as I am Caucasian and am also pregnant, but I did the research to make sure it would be okay to use while expecting. I am so glad that I decided to try this as the results were surprising! I have really thick, curly hair and years ago I had my hair chemically straightened with okay results and horrible odors, but not with this product! The smell was not bad at all and there was plenty of product to do my shoulder length hair. It is not perfectly "bone straight" after use but it is way more manageable. My bangs are almost completely straight, but the rest still has a bit of a wave to it (which is fine with me!) Anyway, just wanted to let others know that it worked for me and there was no damage done to my hair in the process :)

When I purchased this product I had to consider 3 things before I would continue to make it part of my routine:

Availablity - Can I purchase this product when I need it? ie Planet Beauty, Sally's, or local beauty shop. So far I am glad that I could make the purchase via Amazon. But I must also make a mental note that it is very hard to find offline (not a good indicator).

Price - Is it affordable? The current price point of $60+ dollars for a product that contains about 1/3 of the previous product that I was using is a bit pricy.

Quailty of my hair over period of time - Since my hair is extremely dry, I am still sitting on the fence. I started using Neem Oil from Dr Hauschka to help with the dryness of the hair.

Summary: It has taken me more than 7 months to figure out that I will go back to using my prior product or I will use a mixture of both the Phyto sometimes and the other lye one at other times.

Notes and miniblog:

9/25/05 First usage of perm - 1/2 of product
10/29/05 Other half usage of perm - 1/2 of product
11/21/05 Require heat to get the straight look like the non-lye and lye perms. Hair texture is different on new growth doesn't feel like permed hair. Hair is not prone to the frizzies on phyto part of the hair.
12/17/05 The edges on the hairline is growing healthier. The additional product line ie restructure and oil balm is good to use even when the perm product runs out. I realize that the entire perm must be used at once for better results.

Rain test- Washed hair and just blowed dried only to notice no frizzies after being in the rain.

2/10/06 Used about 75% of Phyto product not the entire product like I projected.

4/16/06 Used regular lye perm-felt hair was getting back to natural state or maybe I should be using the Index II not sure but the lye perm was a quick fix for my hair need at the that
time. Did not notice any breakage from this specific process.

5/16/06 Hair is becoming less dry with the Neem Oil from Dr H. Looks like I do have damage but still not sure if it is from severely dry hair (colder winter this year) or the transistion from lye to Phyto. But also notice no shadows (long hairs with short hairs in between)on the phyto part of the permed hair.

update July 29, 2008

I decided to use this brand exclusively. Their website warned of using two different straightening on your hair. (believe them.) I switched over to the Index 2. I am not sure when but this is what I have learned.... Be extra careful with the edges on the hairline by timing the process to a limit of x minutes before you have completed the process. When I don't, I have damage like patches of hair gone. I think it is due to when I begin to rinse off the hairline. Additionally, I am starting to get scalp burns so on the last process I put the protection cream on the parts of the scalp that is getting burned.