4b/ 4c Naturals Growth Thread

Used my herbal tea rinse this morning on my scalp, tonight I used on my hair - Luster's SCurl Moisturizer, B&B More Moisture Hair Cream, my diy Shea Butter blend and Blue Magic Grease to seal tonight.
 
So I've seen A LOT of naturals with our hair texture go back to relaxers lately on YouTube. My haur + color or relaxer= breakage. My hair just can't take the protein bonds being broken. Plus I love how thick it looks natural vs my flat straight hair. Anywho, most of the people who relax again do so for a few reasons.
1. They can't seem to meet their length goals. This doesn't apply to everyone. I saw one girl that was about waist length relax her hair and then a few months later it broke off into a TWA in most places. Im by no means a natural hair Nazi so I felt really bad for her. That would totally be my hair if I came close to it with chemicals.
2. Detangling is the devil. They were getting single strand knots galore, having to trim off progress and wash day was taking forever. I think I've almost solved this problem with stretching my hair using the revair.
3. Their hair was always dry. S curl and Shea butter is bae so I have dryness under control. Glycerin won't let me hold any definition but I'm experimenting with some new products.
4. They got sick of the constant protective styling. They just wanted to enjoy their hair. Now this one hits home because I feel like protective styling is a must for our hair type. Who really wants to go natural to hide their hair under wigs and braids all of the time? What's the fine line for you between protective styling to retain length and having time to enjoy your hair? I don't want to wait until I hit a certain length goal because then I still won't know how to care for my hair outside of a protective style. I want to find balance.
 
icsonia22 said:
What's the fine line for you between protective styling to retain length and having time to enjoy your hair? I don't want to wait until I hit a certain length goal because then I still won't know how to care for my hair outside of a protective style. I want to find balance.
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I've always been a lover of hair but I've never really been one for protective styling or additional hair. I did embrace it in my 20s when I wanted to grow out my hair, when things started going wrong and while transitioning.

In the last 3-4 years I've found it difficult to have the discipline to protective style because (I think) I feel I don't have to. I've always enjoyed wearing my hair down and loose. As soon as my hair started showing signs of recovery, I wanted to enjoy it. I know that my hair grows when left alone in a style like single braids, or twists (preferably with added human hair) but I want to see that I can grow my hair long, wearing it how I actually want to wear it, rather than a means to an end. Currently, I've seen more splits in my hair than I ever have before so we'll see how long I keep this up.
 
This morning I poured my new batch of herbal tea rinse on my hair and scalp.

This afternoon, I Heavy moisturized and sealed with SCurl Curl Moisturizer, B&B More Moisture, shea butter and BM Grease.
 
GGsKin said:
I've always been a lover of hair but I've never really been one for protective styling or additional hair. I did embrace it in my 20s when I wanted to grow out my hair, when things started going wrong and while transitioning.

In the last 3-4 years I've found it difficult to have the discipline to protective style because (I think) I feel I don't have to. I've always enjoyed wearing my hair down and loose. As soon as my hair started showing signs of recovery, I wanted to enjoy it. I know that my hair grows when left alone in a style like single braids, or twists (preferably with added human hair) but I want to see that I can grow my hair long, wearing it how I actually want to wear it, rather than a means to an end. Currently, I've seen more splits in my hair than I ever have before so we'll see how long I keep this up.
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Maybe you just aren't refreshing your wash and go as frequently as you need to. Maybe it just needs a little more water little more often.
 
faithVA said:
Maybe you just aren't refreshing your wash and go as frequently as you need to. Maybe it just needs a little more water little more often.
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This is a possibility @faithVA. I started a new job late last year and I have less time and energy to wash my hair in the week. Social life or sheer tiredness can take over my weekends and then wash day gets bumped, when previously I was washing every 4 days to a week.
 
My hair was crunch city from my faux locs because it was too much for me to try to moisturize since I didn’t crochet them individually. I finally got my Soultanicals stuff from the liter sale, and applied the Knot Sauce and finger detangled. I thought it wasn’t working until I felt some of the sections I had previously applied the sauce and, it didn’t feel half bad, so I just added a shower cap and a bonnet. I’ll see what it feels like after my nap :lachen:
 
I seriously need to get back in this thread since I've been experiencing some major shedding. The last 4 washes I have seen a lot of hair loss. And my nape almost disappeared again. I'm starting to think I definitely have some seasonal hair issues because every January my hair goals are the same - either growing out/babying my nape or trying to fill in some spot that thinned. Then over the course of the year I will make amazing progress, love what my hair is doing and January comes and I notice I have to start all over again. So either I have to revamp what I'm doing in the winter months or be destined to start from scratch every year.

Even with this problem though I can see my hair is getting longer. I'm full neck length again after that stupid pixie haircut last March and things are moving along nicely. On Wednesday I'm going to do a full wash day using the Olaplex system and see if I experience the same amount of hair loss.
 
I've been using scalp drops for hair growth for about 8 months now. I believe they are working pretty well. I will continue for a few more months and assess then. I need to know they are working if I am to continue buying them. One year should definitely give me some knowledge on how well they are working.
 
I was thinking of getting a relaxer because I'm tired of wash day taking hours. But I watched a relaxer routine video on YouTube, and her hair wasn't even straight after washing. After washing, it was blow-dried with a round brush, and flat-ironed. It looked flat and thin. I can get the same results on my natural hair with more body and thickness.

Also, there is the risk of the relaxed hair being over-processed each time. And chemical burns. And dealing with new growth. I forgot about all of this. I think I'll keep my natural hair.
 
Made this chart in October 2007 to sort of track the different hair textures of my hair. People who are natural and have the same hair type + same hair texture all over their head, are extremely rare.

I used to have about 3-4 different hair types and 3 different hair textures. Now my hair type has evolved, in the sense that I am now 4b/c overall...but my hair texture has remained pretty much the same.

The different colors represent the hair textures: green = silky / blue = cottony / red = spongey.

55529916_1099259443596738_6532671894603169792_o.jpg

The difference between hair type and hair texture can be summed up as follows: hair type is more about how your hair looks, while hair texture is more about how your hair feels to the touch. HTH

55793552_1099259460263403_7373537830150078464_o.jpg
 
I decided I'm tired of retwisting nightly, so I'm going to find some other go to style that will keep my hair stretched and allow me to just come home and not have to do anything to my hair. From here on, I'm determined to not have a hair regimen that requires more time than I'm happy to give. NO MORE!!!!
 
FadingDelilah said:
I decided I'm tired of retwisting nightly, so I'm going to find some other go to style that will keep my hair stretched and allow me to just come home and not have to do anything to my hair. From here on, I'm determined to not have a hair regimen that requires more time than I'm happy to give. NO MORE!!!!
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That’s one thing I never did as a natural. I was too darn lazy to retwist every night :lachen:
I’m with you on spending only the necessary amount time on my hair.
 
ItsMeLilLucky said:
That’s one thing I never did as a natural. I was too darn lazy to retwist every night :lachen:
I’m with you on spending only the necessary amount time on my hair.
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I did it because I HAVE to or else my hair will be unwearable the next day, not to mention the matting. I've realized that I need a style I can maintain nightly with very little effort, and twist outs are just not it (at this stage anyway). Maybe when its much longer and I can do 6 or less twists, but until then...
 
FadingDelilah said:
I did it because I HAVE to or else my hair will be unwearable the next day, not to mention the matting. I've realized that I need a style I can maintain nightly with very little effort, and twist outs are just not it (at this stage anyway). Maybe when its much longer and I can do 6 or less twists, but until then...
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Have you tried the banding method? My hair is the same way so I band it before I go to sleep.
 
Has anyone been seeing good length retention?

My hair grew a bit. Past apl now. It stopped retaining length however.
I was pretty much in Marley twists all the time. I've been wearing it in plaits lately, though. I've decided to cut off all my split ends (and my growth) and go back to my marley twists. They look good on me. I hope my bss hair scissors wont do more harm than good.
 
Maracujá said:
Made this chart in October 2007 to sort of track the different hair textures of my hair. People who are natural and have the same hair type + same hair texture all over their head, are extremely rare.


View attachment 444883
Click to expand...

To you or anyone that can answer, what is the difference between spongey, wiry and cottony?
We all know what silky hair is...and I have 2 small patches of silky hair but the rest of my head is ??????
Cotton...sponge...what?
 
metro_qt said:
To you or anyone that can answer, what is the difference between spongey, wiry and cottony?
We all know what silky hair is...and I have 2 small patches of silky hair but the rest of my head is ??????
Cotton...sponge...what?
Click to expand...

I usually describe my hair as cottony. It has that airy feeling like cotton candy. Lately it has become spongy. This has happened before. It feels more dense and compact. It feels like I'm squishing packing peanuts, some give, but it feels like there's not a lot of air in between.

Wiry, I feel describes very thick strands that feel very "strong" and less pliable. You can feel the thickness as opposed to thinner/finer strands that feel more like baby hair. I'd liken it to a twist more resistance in bending than thinner hair. But for this last one, I don't have any real experience with save for one misplaced hair on my neck. :look:
 
Sprayed and massaged my Fenugreek Tea Rinse on scalp and hair. The peppermint, Rosemary and Tea Tree oil in it have my scalp all wonderfully tingly. I am storing it in the fridge especially because of the AVG in it. It looks like enough for at least 2 weeks.

Here's is the recipe I used with a tiny change of adding about 2 ounces of my Hops, Earl Grey, and Horsetail Shavegrass herbal tea rinse I had in the fridge:

 
SAPNK said:
Has anyone been seeing good length retention?

My hair grew a bit. Past apl now. It stopped retaining length however.
I was pretty much in Marley twists all the time. I've been wearing it in plaits lately, though. I've decided to cut off all my split ends (and my growth) and go back to my marley twists. They look good on me. I hope my bss hair scissors wont do more harm than good.
Click to expand...

I've been seeing length retention. I had mini braids for about 6 weeks and I kept them moisturized and washed them once. Once I took those out, I washed my hair and stretched it with my revair. Keeping my hair stretched and using low manipulation/protective styles has helped.
 
This week I will be:

-Prepooing with Chicoro's Moisture Drench Prepoo - AVJ, EVCO and EVOO
-Shampoo with Afro Love Mint Eucalyptus Rosemary Shampoo

-Protein Deep Conditioning with Natur Growth Bambu Nourishing Treatment
-Moisture Deep Condition with Afro Love Raw Honey and Shea Butter Hair Treatment
-Leave-in with IN Aloe and Hibiscus

-M/S with CFCG Curl Moisturizer and Shea Butter/Blue Magic Grease
-Styling - Bunning with Wetline Xtreme Gel, MO Curling Custard.

Massaged some Castor Cayena Scalp Drops for growth stimulation today and for the rest of the weekend.
 
How do you all handle your hair when styling?
I'm still unable to separate my hair without tearing it apart despite all of my efforts.
So whenever I style, I lose a lot of hair to breakage. Even if I dont use a comb, lol.
That's what I believe is holding me back the most, so I'm really trying to get past it.
 
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