4b/ 4c Naturals Growth Thread

[snoop]

While binge-ing on health videos, this doctor mentioned missing trace minerals can cause hair growth issues (at around the 4:00 mark). In another video he mentioned that a good source of trace minerals is unsulphured black strap molasses.

Thanks for this video! I used to do a lot of this and aside from hair it just made me feel good -- energy and mood. Going get back to this once this kid comes out cause right now it controls my stomach. Also, going to pass this on to a few people I know would find this interesting.

 

[SAPNK]

Thanks for this video! I used to do a lot of this and aside from hair it just made me feel good -- energy and mood. Going get back to this once this kid comes out cause right now it controls my stomach. Also, going to pass this on to a few people I know would find this interesting.

I didn't know you were pregnant. Do you not know the sex of the baby yet?

 

[snoop]

I didn't know you were pregnant. Do you not know the sex of the baby yet?

Heh. No not yet. I always wait to find out.

 

[Cattypus1]

I have fine strands. I think the retention issue comes into play because my fine strands can take less "abuse" than if they were thicker more robust strands. I believe that my growth rate is out of my direct control but that some major TLC will make all the difference for the part I can directly control which is the part that is already outside of my scalp, especially the ends.

 

[SAPNK]

Heh. No not yet. I always wait to find out.

I love that. That's what I want to do. Someday... lol.

So, I have my marley twists in. I'm hoping to get some good summer growth with them.

 

[snoop]

I love that. That's what I want to do. Someday... lol.

So, I have my marley twists in. I'm hoping to get some good summer growth with them.

I want to put some in but they thought of extended hair makes me itch. I can't even put my own hair in cane rows cause they make me itch, too. I think my hair likes it's freedom.

...But I need a new protective style.

 

[SAPNK]

I want to put some in but they thought of extended hair makes me itch. I can't even put my own hair in cane rows cause they make me itch, too. I think my hair likes it's freedom.

...But I need a new protective style.

Have you tried rinsing the hair in acv before using it? Or is that not the problem? Is it just braiding/ twisting in general?

I've been getting a lot of compliments and they're so much easier to do than braids. My only issue is that they loosen very fast, and need to be freshened up a lot.

 

[snoop]

Have you tried rinsing the hair in acv before using it? Or is that not the problem? Is it just braiding/ twisting in general?

I've been getting a lot of compliments and they're so much easier to do than braids. My only issue is that they loosen very fast, and need to be freshened up a lot.

I've tried acv and conditioner in the same hair. Nope.

I live in two strand twists (my own hair) but for some reason corn rowing my own hair is a no go.

I think I could handle wearing Marley twists for a week though.

 

[faithVA]

I've tried acv and conditioner in the same hair. Nope.

I live in two strand twists (my own hair) but for some reason corn rowing my own hair is a no go.

I think I could handle wearing Marley twists for a week though.

Corn rows make my scalp itch as well. I think the hair being so close to the scalp maybe causes the hair to draw too much moisture from the scalp. That's just my theory.

 

[nothidden]

I have this but the thought makes me want to gag. I take malt extract but I find it difficult to stomach the flavour of the molasses.

I can stomach maybe a tablespoon of molasses straight. I'm going to add it to my smoothies as a sweetener and see how it goes.

 

[GGsKin]

I can stomach maybe a tablespoon of molasses straight. I'm going to add it to my smoothies as a sweetener and see how it goes.

That's a great idea @nothidden. Let me know if the flavour comes through.

 

[Honi]

My hair does not like to be deep conditioned with steam so I will pre poo only using moist heat. The driest parts of my hair responds better to dry heat. Now I have to figure out which condish works best for this scab hair I have going on.

 

[nothidden]

That's a great idea @nothidden. Let me know if the flavour comes through.

I added a plastic spoonful. While the flavor was masked by everything else my smoothie had going on, the molasses didn't make a good sweetener. I had to add a whole apple.

Hopefully one spoonful is enough.

 

[GGsKin]

I added a plastic spoonful. While the flavor was masked by everything else my smoothie had going on, the molasses didn't make a good sweetener. I had to add a whole apple.

Hopefully one spoonful is enough.

Thanks for that @nothidden. Hopefully, I'll remember and start adding it to my smoothies.

 

[guyaneseyankee]

Good morning ladies,

I'm currently natural. Have waffled back and forth between relaxed, natural, locs; whichever way the wind blows. Most recently I wore my hair loc'd for about three years then broke them open. It took me a month to do it. In the process of breaking them open and impatience, I lost a lot of hair and it was very thin to my standards. I've always had a massive amount of hair and though no one knew, I had broken strands. After about a month of not knowing what to do with my hair I decided to relax it. Everyone thought it was a beautiful head of hair but I knew differently. So after a few months I shaved it all off. And here I am. My most recent BC was 7/22/16. I'm learning my fro all over again. Now in a new location, I'm curious how my natural hair will react to this water.

It's healthy and thick (I think I have two heads worth of hair on my little ole head)
My regimen. I don't do it. LOL
I wash whenever I feel like it. I really think that's the ticket. Low manipulation. I use As I am co-wash and shea butter but it was making my hair feel extremely rough. So I did a ACV rinse, and conditioned it with some conditioner I found under the sink and combed it out. All my shed hair, that was stuck in my fro came out and flat twisted it to my head. I let that air dry for about two days, covered it with a scarf at night. One day 2, i unraveled the twist and wore my stretched TWA.

I'm itching to do something new, as my TWA is getting the best of me, and in boredom and I think this weekend, I'm going to wash and condition. This time, I going to do flat twists the right way. Last week I just rolled them to my scalp. this time, I'm going to take two strands to my scalp, if you know what I mean.

I haven't trimmed and maybe I'll do a light dusting, just for the heck of it.

 

[Ipanema]

I used to wish that I could just wash my scalp while leaving the rest of my hair alone. I wanted a clean, refreshed scalp without having to strip my hair of all of the oils, detangle it, and cause a bunch of breakage. I think I found a way.

While still in 2-strand twists, put my hair in about 4 or 5 ponytails, using those little black rubber bands for the hair. The ponytails start about 5 or 6 inches away from the scalp. Braid the ponytails, and put another rubber band on the ends. Then shampoo my scalp in the shower, rinse thoroughly with the jet stream setting, and let the hair dry. Then oil and re-twist.

 

[icsonia22]

My hair type is 4b except for a small looser section in the back. I honestly don't know what's back there lol


After being natural off and on since 2011 I'm JUST NOW (really sad) learning how to properly moisturize and seal my hair.

I thought I wanted to heat train my hair a few months ago but it turned out to be an awful idea. My hair started breaking and became relaxer straight all over. Right now I'm transitioning from heat damage. My goal is to retain length and eventually cut off the heat damaged ends

Here is my natural curl pattern prior to the heat damage

This is what it used to look like fresh out of the wash with no product


Of course now that it's heat damaged it looks a lot different. I plan to moisturize, seal and protective style until I feel it's time to chop off the straggly ends

 

[snoop]

I used to wish that I could just wash my scalp while leaving the rest of my hair alone. I wanted a clean, refreshed scalp without having to strip my hair of all of the oils, detangle it, and cause a bunch of breakage. I think I found a way.

While still in 2-strand twists, put my hair in about 4 or 5 ponytails, using those little black rubber bands for the hair. The ponytails start about 5 or 6 inches away from the scalp. Braid the ponytails, and put another rubber band on the ends. Then shampoo my scalp in the shower, rinse thoroughly with the jet stream setting, and let the hair dry. Then oil and re-twist.

Another thing to consider is that they shampoo that you are using could be too strong. If you find the right shampoo you shouldn't have to worry about it stripping your hair.

 

[SAPNK]

My hair type is 4b except for a small looser section in the back. I honestly don't know what's back there lol


After being natural off and on since 2011 I'm JUST NOW (really sad) learning how to properly moisturize and seal my hair.

I thought I wanted to heat train my hair a few months ago but it turned out to be an awful idea. My hair started breaking and became relaxer straight all over. Right now I'm transitioning from heat damage. My goal is to retain length and eventually cut off the heat damaged ends

Here is my natural curl pattern prior to the heat damage View attachment 404299 View attachment 404301 View attachment 404303

This is what it used to look like fresh out of the wash with no product
View attachment 404305

Of course now that it's heat damaged it looks a lot different. I plan to moisturize, seal and protective style until I feel it's time to chop off the straggly ends

Welcome! What protective styles are you planning on doing?

 

[icsonia22]

Welcome! What protective styles are you planning on doing?

I plan on using wigs during the winter but I've found that its way too hot to wig it up during the summer months, especially being 8 months pregnant. Lately I've been relying on single braids using my hair, cornrows and braid outs. Here's how a braid out looks on my heat damaged hair I can't wait until it thickens up. You don't appreciate what you had until it's gone

 

[I Am So Blessed]

Hello, my hair range is 4B-4C. I have been natural for exactly 25months today. I am 25 months post relaxer not big chop. So far I retained 14'' - 15" of hair. Thank God. June 5, 2015, I said "no more relaxers!" so being natural again is a great success to me. I prayed and asked God to restore all off my hair, and He did! (with some help from Wild Growth Oil) just two more inches and I will be back were I was before I ever relaxed. I absolutely regret every touching a relaxer in 2011 - 2015. I seriously do not know why I did it in the first place. I am so glad that we finally know how to take care of our hair, all this time long hair was right under our noses.

 

[SAPNK]

Hello, my hair range is 4B-4C. I have been natural for exactly 25months today. I am 25 months post relaxer not big chop. So far I retained 14'' - 15" of hair. Thank God. June 5, 2015, I said "no more relaxers!" so being natural again is a great success to me. I prayed and asked God to restore all off my hair, and He did! (with some help from Wild Growth Oil) just two more inches and I will be back were I was before I ever relaxed. I absolutely regret every touching a relaxer in 2011 - 2015. I seriously do not know why I did it in the first place. I am so glad that we finally know how to take care of our hair, all this time long hair was right under our noses.

Welcome to the thread! And congrats on you're awesome growth.

 

[I Am So Blessed]

Welcome to the thread! And congrats on you're awesome growth.

Thank you!

 

[crimsonpeach]

I'm 4b/4c and i'm currently growing my hair back out after a semi big chop after a heat damage incident. I'm currently stuck in the awkward stage and fighting the urge to chop off again.

I'm going to back to henna as soon as my heena sooq order comes in. I had forgotten how much stronger and thicker my hair was when I was consistently using it at the beginning of my natural hair journey 6 years ago.

I also finally found a comb that doesn't take my hair out. I had been using thee Quidad detangling comb but the hair that frames my face is so fragile that I couldn't avoid breakage. I ordered a sandalwood comb after seeing an advertisement on Facebook. It's been a game changer. So much easier to detangle and much less hair coming out. Hopefully I can thicken up my edges and temple areas with the henna and new comb combo.

I'm aiming for shoulder length for overall by the end of the year.

 

[faithVA]

Here are some updos for us 4b/4c ladies

http://www.savingourstrands.com/201...s-for-natural-hair.html?m=1&_utm_source=1-2-2

 

[SAPNK]

Thanks @faithVA. Love these!
I just took my twists out so I'll probably be on the forum more now. But I'm suddenly remembering why I had it twisted in the first place. The tangling is too much. Very frustrating.

Whenever I search for 4c hair bun tutorials to see if my hair is ready for bunning, they are always using marley hair. ALWAYS! I didn't search for marley hair bun, I searched for 4c hair bun. What does this mean? Why would 4c bunning be synonymous with using fake hair to do so? I know it takes us reaching much greater length to bun because of the shrinkage.

anyone on this thread able to bun yet? How long is your hair?

 

[snoop]

Thanks @faithVA. Love these!
I just took my twists out so I'll probably be on the forum more now. But I'm suddenly remembering why I had it twisted in the first place. The tangling is too much. Very frustrating.

Whenever I search for 4c hair bun tutorials to see if my hair is ready for bunning, they are always using marley hair. ALWAYS! I didn't search for marley hair bun, I searched for 4c hair bun. What does this mean? Why would 4c bunning be synonymous with using fake hair to do so? I know it takes us reaching much greater length to bun because of the shrinkage.

anyone on this thread able to bun yet? How long is your hair?

How big and how sophisticated is this bun that you're trying to make? I ask because you can try different things like putting your hair in a pony tail, then tucking the ends under the bottom of the holder (like a top knot but not on top... more like a "man bun"); there's the cinnabun style that was popular a few years ago that looks very nice; ballet buns are a lot easier to do than I'd originally thought they'd be, but they look fuller in on longer hair.

I think that if you are APL and your hair is stretched (using braids should suffice), then you should be able to do these styles.

 

[Colocha]

@SAPNK, I bunned on twist outs starting at APL. Like @snoop mentioned, it was a fold over kind of bun. I didn't want to use ponytail holders, so I experimented with different hair toys like Ficcare clips and Flexi-8s with varying success. Now I'm around MBL and I'm able to wrap my hair around into a bun and secure with a hair fork. (I also use satin scrunchies for this).

 

[faithVA]

Thanks @faithVA. Love these!
I just took my twists out so I'll probably be on the forum more now. But I'm suddenly remembering why I had it twisted in the first place. The tangling is too much. Very frustrating.

Whenever I search for 4c hair bun tutorials to see if my hair is ready for bunning, they are always using marley hair. ALWAYS! I didn't search for marley hair bun, I searched for 4c hair bun. What does this mean? Why would 4c bunning be synonymous with using fake hair to do so? I know it takes us reaching much greater length to bun because of the shrinkage.

anyone on this thread able to bun yet? How long is your hair?

I couldn't remember if I had posted this or now Hope it helps.

 

[SAPNK]

I think I'm going for a ballerina bun or the wrap around bun like with the marley hair, so it'll take me a while. I'll put in some crochets in the mean time. Off to find a nice style.