Is there any reaon you have to use this brand?  You could find something better.

I'd use the regular one because the one for relaxed hair has sodium hydroxide (lye) in it.

Some say that it's for pH stabalizing, but it just doesn't look right to me.

Why not use something like neutrogena triple moisture?  It must be just as easy to find.

quote : Why not use something like neutrogena triple moisture?  It must be just as easy to find.

i would but they dont sell it at walmart and the only money i have is from my mom on a walmart card.

I wish i could afford a salon brand but i am a broke college student and i cant so i have to make due for now ....i wanted to try vive since i hear such bad reviews for tressme' ....but i hear a lot of good things about vive

I have been doing A LOT of reading on ingredients and I would think that the one with glycerin would be better.  Try looking at the site ourhair.net (no www first)  It acutally tells you how to read the labels of conditioners adn what you chould be worried about, not only by what ingredients are in there, but by looking at whrer it falls in the ingredients...whrer it falls in the ingredient list, for example 1st, 2nd or 3rd tells you if there is more or less of the ingredient in there.  Anothe idea is to get the cheap stuff and add something like olive oil to it to make a better conditioner...Thre are some good CHEAP recipies in the permanent post area...take a look! 

Hope this helps...

The one with glycerin would be better only if it didn't have sodium hydroxide imo.

The pre poo thing is a good idea.  If the shampoo isn't too powerful, you can improve the results by using a pre poo treatment.

Tiajanice, what have you read about using sodium hydroxide in shampoos?  In this particular formula, it's near the middle of the list.  Even so, that means that there is a good amount in it... more than I would risk using. 

Actually, CoconutShy, I have been looking since I read this post, and I found this little bit of info from a soap site:

2.* Sodium hydroxide - NaOH - is a naturally-occurring mineral and basic ingredient of all soap-making, since ancient times. When properly mixed into water and plant oils or goat's milk (fatty substances), NaOH dissolves and reacts with them, creating soapy compounds with a basic pH close to that of human skin. You don't want soaps to be too acid, as then they start robbing your skin and hair of natural oils.

So I think the simple fact that it is present at all is not a reason in itself to be alarmed.  Also, is glycerin higher on the list?  That means there is more of it.  IMO I wouldn't get too worried unless you personally start to see bad results with your hair, that would be a reason to change to something your hair likes more. 

Hey...  I just did a search for the ingredients for Loreal Vive Smooth Intense shampoo...Is this what you were looking at?

If so, notice there is less sodium hydroxide in there than there is fragrance...I wouldn't be worried about it at all.

Oh yes, it didn't dawn on me that sodium hydroxide is in soap.  I knew this, I guess I wasn't in the skin thinking mode.  :)

Still... I woudn't use soap on my hair.  I don't even use it on my skin (sensitive skin) because it's a harsh cleanser.  Not to mention the other affects that it could have.  I don't trust that it has no bad affects.       

Now that my attention was bought to it, I don't like too much fragrance because it's alcohol.  Fragrance in the middle of the list doesn't look good to me either.

Like I said, I wouldn't use it.  I don't take any chances with my hair, if I don't know for sure, I don't use it/do it.  I woudln't feel right telling someone else to.  I may be quite overprotective of my hair, but well... that's just the way I am. 

Well, there you go Twink... two completely different opinions on the same product.   Well, go with whoever you feel more comfortable with.  I hope it works out for you.