Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018

[jennex]

I just started using shea butter this month. Well, that's not entirely true. I used it on and off for years. I loved how easy it was to detangle my hair when I used it but it didn't make my hair soft and and the build up was terrible. That was in my co-washing days. So I decided to use it just for my skin. I always have some on hand but I swore I would never use it for my hair again.

So much for that!

The 2015 Shea growth and retention thread convinced me to give it another chance. I whipped some up, added a couple of oils and scooped it into a glass jar. Tried it once over my trusty stay sof fro and loved it. Tried it again and loved it even more. Then I broke my jar. It wasn't worth it to scoop the shea butter out of a broken jar so I just threw the whole thing away. I didn't have time to whip up another batch so I just used it straight. Still the same results! Soft, easy to detangle hair, moisture for days.

I prefer the light and fluffy texture of the whipped shea butter but I'm so glad I can use pure shea butter in a pinch and still get good results.

 

[mzteaze]

I've been investigating aloe vera gel, ayurvedic powders and shea butter. I tried a moisturizing mix of melted shea butter, cocoa butter and powders which my hair LOVED.

This would be another really good challenge to try in 2018 as it relates well with my goals. I'm in.

 

[NCHairDiva]

Soooo, Ive tried it several times. I still have 2 jars of "whipped" shea. But mines didnt come out right. Its really thick like a chunk.
Do I need to throw it away and start over trying to whip it or what can I do?
Also, I have extremely fine hair so will it work? Or will it be to heavy for my hair. I wanted it to be light and fluffy.... ???

 

[Chicoro]

Here's a video on how to make a shea mix without a mixer. This has never worked for me. It would definitely not work for the shea butter I have in the house right now.

But it may help and work for someone!

 

[Honey Bee]

I'm scared of shea butter. My hair is too fine. But! I don't seal , and I wanted to start. Also, I'm trynna get this length, so let's see if we can finesse a fine hair- appropriate shea butter mix.

I'm thinking 'dry' oils, like apricot kernel, hazelnut, etc.

It would have to be well whipped, extremely light and airy.

I have an uncontrollable need to put avj in everything, not sure if necc.

Maybe astringent-like eos, ie citrus?

@Alma Petra

 

[naturalagain2]

@NCHairDiva I have fine hair as well. The fluffiness of the mixture helps greatly for me and to mix it with light oils. I just use a very little swipe concentrating on my ends then work my way up to the roots in sections after moisturizing with my AVJ mix. I wear mostly a twist and curl since my hair is short right now and my hair is fluffy, soft and not weighed down at all. I also don't get that stringy crunchy look either. I found the key for me was making sure I used a moisturizer and then using this as a sealer very lightly. I barely get any ssk's now either since I've been using it. Also you won't use this every night because your hair will be so soft and moisturized for days.

My cousin touched my hair this weekend and said "ooohhhh your hair is soooo soft!" LOL

 

[KinksAndInk]

I'm in. My hair is so soft and retains the most moisture when I seal with APB hair and body butta. No ssks, tangles or breakage. I might venture into making my own one day but for now, Erica's formula is perfect for me. I will be in faux locs for all of 2018 but will still work shea butter into my regimen.

 

[apple_natural]

I'm using shea butter mixes when I braid up my hair and when I bun. therefore, i'm with you ladies!

 

[apple_natural]

so... what hair styles do you ladies wear with this shea butter in your hair?

 

[Chicoro]

I'm noticing a pattern. It looks like closed buckets of Shea butter seem to be more likely from Senegal.

 

[Chicoro]

Burkina Faso is the only African country that is totally enveloped and covered with shea trees. Today, the shea butter industry employees about 900,000 people in Africa who are mostly African women, in the Shea Belt. Right now, women control this industry. Below, the same map is in Chinese. I hope the control of this precious tree, and its industry, does not 'change hands'.

 

[Chicoro]

so... what hair styles do you ladies wear with this shea butter in your hair?

I wear 8 braids: three (3) on the right and five (5) on the left. I pull them back in a bun for work.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm scared of shea butter. My hair is too fine. But! I don't seal , and I wanted to start. Also, I'm trynna get this length, so let's see if we can finesse a fine hair- appropriate shea butter mix.

I'm thinking 'dry' oils, like apricot kernel, hazelnut, etc.

It would have to be well whipped, extremely light and airy.

I have an uncontrollable need to put avj in everything, not sure if necc.

Maybe astringent-like eos, ie citrus?

@Alma Petra

Jojoba, avocado and grapeseed oil tend to be the least greasy ones.

 

[apple_natural]

I wear 8 braids: three (3) on the right and five (5) on the left. I pull them back in a bun for work.

... yea but your hair is freaking bomb beautiful... what do I do with mine?? lol

hmm. i could probably do that actually. i need to think simple. i could put in some big chunky braids which are fast and easy anyway... THANK YOU!!

 

[Alma Petra]

I'm scared of shea butter. My hair is too fine. But! I don't seal , and I wanted to start. Also, I'm trynna get this length, so let's see if we can finesse a fine hair- appropriate shea butter mix.

I'm thinking 'dry' oils, like apricot kernel, hazelnut, etc.

It would have to be well whipped, extremely light and airy.

I have an uncontrollable need to put avj in everything, not sure if necc.

Maybe astringent-like eos, ie citrus?

@Alma Petra

My hair is fine too and is easy to weigh down with oil/butter/grease. But you are right it seems that the whole point of whipping the Shea butter is to have more air than grease in the mix lol
I am willing to try it. I have never tried the oils you suggested before. Apricot sounds good though. And I love AVG, not yet sure about AVJ. I could try it in my second batch.

How do you usually style your hair?

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

@IDareT'sHair

My mix is:
4 ounces shea butter
2 ounces mango butter
4 ounces oil.

For my oils, I prefer ceramide rich oils like grape seed, safflower or rice bran oil. So 2 ounces of the oils are usually these. 1 ounce apricot oil and the last ounce rotates between castor oil in the cooler months and coconut oil in the warmer months.

If I want a creamy mixture, I throw it all in my magic bullet:



If I want a whipped texture, I use my Bella Immersion Blender's whisk attachment:



I don't prefer either texture over the other. They both work well in my hair and on my skin. The best tip I received from @Chicoro was to keep the butter at room temperature and to not melt it before working with it. As long as I do this, I get a perfect blend every time.


Oh and count me in on the challenge.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@ElevatedEnergy
Gurl....You are "The Whiptress"

You know you will Whip It into Shape!...

ETA: I will be pulling out my Nu.tri-Bul.let to whip something up.

ETA: Do you buy Yellow or Ivory SB?

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

@ElevatedEnergy
Gurl....You are "The Whiptress"

You know you will Whip It into Shape!...

ETA: I will be pulling out my Nu.tri-Bul.let to whip something up.

ETA: Do you buy Yellow or Ivory SB?

This is the one I use:

Amazon product ASIN B01H0ONIZC
I'm cracking up at "whiptress" LOL

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@ElevatedEnergy
Thanks Sis.

It's a better deal than the one I was looking at.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

I'm cracking up at "whiptress" LOL

@ElevatedEnergy
The "Whip Appeal"

All Your Stuff looks

 

[Honey Bee]

Jojoba, avocado and grapeseed oil tend to be the least greasy ones.

Ooh, good! I have avocado and grapeseed.

My hair is fine too and is easy to weigh down with oil/butter/grease. But you are right it seems that the whole point of whipping the Shea butter is to have more air than grease in the mix lol
I am willing to try it. I have never tried the oils you suggested before. Apricot sounds good though. And I love AVG, not yet sure about AVJ. I could try it in my second batch.

How do you usually style your hair?

I don't. I wear wigs. But when I wear it out, it's in a wng.

 

[grownwomanaz]

I wear 8 braids: three (3) on the right and five (5) on the left. I pull them back in a bun for work.

Pretty lady, pretty hair.

 

[Hairties]

I'm in.
I actually got my small order of East African Shea butter I wanted to try. I was gonna do a henna infused one but I may just put in a little of my CP oil when I do my mix.

I'll omit coconut oil because it's been acting weird in my hair.

 

[auntybe]

I have Shea butter and some oils. I'm in. I almost gave my Shea butter and mango butter away. I have been so frustrated with my hair. I am getting a cut before January. Perfect timing.

 

[Jetblackhair]

I'm in. I mixed my Shea butter and oils for the first time last week. Shea butter was always difficult for me to use on my fine hair in its normal state. Whipping the butter has been a game changer. I put my hair in box braids using the Shea mix. Thanks @Chicoro and @ThatJerseyGirl for your insight.

 

[Pygmy_puff]

so... what hair styles do you ladies wear with this shea butter in your hair?

I braid it up and either wear a wig over it or a satin lined cap. I find that the shea is a bit too heavy on my fine hair for “out” styles. It also tends to attract dust when I wear it out. So under the wig it goes! Ha

 

[Kells]

I'm in!

I just started using whipped shea butter around a month ago and my hair loves it.
It's almost time for me to make another batch; I can't wait!

 

[Chicoro]

... yea but your hair is freaking bomb beautiful... what do I do with mine?? lol

hmm. i could probably do that actually. i need to think simple. i could put in some big chunky braids which are fast and easy anyway... THANK YOU!!

Thank you for the compliment. It wasn't always bomb beautiful. I am proud of the results of the work I put in, though. As for your future freaking bomb beautiful hair, it is a great idea to keep it simple! Big chunky braids are something simple to try. Please do it and tell us how you come out!

 

[Chicoro]

@IDareT'sHair

My mix is:
4 ounces shea butter
2 ounces mango butter
4 ounces oil.

For my oils, I prefer ceramide rich oils like grape seed, safflower or rice bran oil. So 2 ounces of the oils are usually these. 1 ounce apricot oil and the last ounce rotates between castor oil in the cooler months and coconut oil in the warmer months.

If I want a creamy mixture, I throw it all in my magic bullet:

View attachment 418509

If I want a whipped texture, I use my Bella Immersion Blender's whisk attachment:

View attachment 418511

I don't prefer either texture over the other. They both work well in my hair and on my skin. The best tip I received from @Chicoro was to keep the butter at room temperature and to not melt it before working with it. As long as I do this, I get a perfect blend every time.


Oh and count me in on the challenge.

Ah, so THAT'S the secret: blender for creamy and whisk for fluff!!!!!!!!! I'm a fluffy, whisk it kind of girl.

Yes, butter that has been melted using heat BEFORE the first blend, tends to end up more grainy. I must say though, if you got butter that is really, really grainy after the first whisk, it can be helpful to heat it, then harden it [in the fridge] and then whisk it again. I had to do this for my Senegalese butter that I currently have in my possession.

 

[Chicoro]

Ooh, good! I have avocado and grapeseed.


I don't. I wear wigs. But when I wear it out, it's in a wng.

Wigs are purr-rect! That is because you can plait your hair and grease them down with shea butter and keep your hair protected. If you whip up a batch, please tell us how it comes out for you!