This is a *new* technique that prevents damage because it begins to immediately neutralize, but does so with a condish that can sit awhile and go to *work* on both bringing down the pH as well as allow conditioners to penetrate already open cuticles. The "neutralizing conditioner* is low pH just like the neutralzing 'poo and you don't have to keep washing and manipulating the hair to bring down the pH, just put on the condish and let it sit a while 5 to 10 minutes -- its the best of all worlds - neturalizes and conditions at the same time. You still need to 'poo, but probably only needs one or two washes with the neutralizing 'poo rather than 4 or 5 normally neened because the condish would already done about 80% or more of the neutralizing and the extremely vulnerable cuticles doesn't need to be subject to the extra "handling" -- plus you get to conditioners in there while you can!
Below is an excerpt from this link re: *neutralizing conditioners*
http://www.ispcorp.com/products/hairskin/content/haircare/brochure/ethnic.html
***l relaxer treatments, whether sodium hydroxide or guanidine hydroxide, leave the hair in an alkaline state. To re-balance the hair to its natural pH level, acidic "normalizing" or "neutralizing" shampoos with a pH 4.5 - 5 are usually used after the creme relaxer is rinsed from the hair. It is important to note that the rinsing time of the relaxer has a very direct bearing on how well these products work. The more the hair is rinsed the more likely cuticle damage will occur. To prevent swelling of the hair, it is recommended that a conditioning neutralizer be used instead of a shampoo. These products are applied generously to the entire head and particularly to the new growth area, scalp, and hairline to completely neutralize the alkalinity from where it is most concentrated (new growth area) to where it is least concentrated (ends): just after the relaxer creme is rinsed out (usually 95 seconds of rinsing or 45-60 seconds for short hair). The low pH of the conditioning neutralizer (pH 3 - 3.5) will handle the excess alkali. The products should be combed through to keep the hair in a straight pattern and allowed to remain on the hair and scalp for at least 5 minutes, then rinsed and re-applied for another 3 minutes before rinsing again.
Shampooing is only offered as a service to remove/prevent the sulfury deposits in the hair. The hair and scalp should not be massaged, as the bonds may still be quite active and the scalp may be sore. It is also recommended to have very mild surfactants at this point, since both the hair and the scalp are chemically compromised.
Using a conditioner instead of a shampoo and the elimination of extensive water rinsing is a new concept. Several new commercial products using this technology are being introduced to the market place. ***
Years ago I researched this and it convinced me to swith to affirm mild lye which includes the *neutralizing condish* phase. Looks like a lot of relaxer systems are coming on board and adding (or recommending this) because it really does seem to help maintain the integrity of the cuticles . . . .
I think of it like condish washes, where we've learned that we can *wash* hair with conditioners to limit exposure to harsh 'poos. Kinda the same concept, IMO
HTH!