i have been natural for 4yrs now and it seems like my hair is at a standstill, i need help creating a regimen that will create visible results.
I DC once a week with either lekair cholesterol or mane and tail condish +nexxuse ensure+EVOO. I poo once every 3-4 months, dust every 4 months or so, have only straightened twice (last flat iron was 12/2007). After DCing, i 2 strand twist with moisturising gel and scurl spray, leave the twists in for 3-4 days and wear a twist out for 2-3 days, repeat the whole cycle.
For the last 2 months, i did notice an increase in shedding/breaking, so I did an emergence last month....followed by a moist DC. still some shedding evident.
The middle nape that Im always writing about (W-shape) doesnt seem to be improving, so when I wear a twist out, I have to apply moisture/water to left and right nape areas( about 8 inches but shrinks to 3 inches) inorder to shrink the hair there to blend in with the shorter middle nape(2-3 inches).
I used to be in micros (leave in 4-6 weeks) for the past 2-3 yrs and it helped me retain growth, but the last 2 times I did it last year june and september...I noticed bald spots( Not sure what caused it but i suspected it was keratin protein, I was using VS so sexy condish that had Keratin protein, but would leave in without washing out) .This is the reason I decided not to do braids this whole year...( cos im not certain of the cause of the bald spots, the VS condish is just a guess) Im trying...dont know if Ill be able to do it....now im thinking about doing a weave....i do not know what to do
My hair is not long enough to bun without adding phony pony....Itried using a phony pony for a couple months earlier this year but I got tired of it.
I had a similar problem.
I am natural 4A/4B and i thought my hair had come to a standstill. For me the key was a no/low manipulation reggie.( i wore weaves)
DC''s
I have never used nexxus, i'm not sure what it is, but your DC sounds like a lot of protein plus i just dislike LeKair's products.
Lustrasilk Shea butter chloesterol
Elasta QP Intense conditioner
Mix honey, melted shea butter or any oil of your choice such as coconut or Evoo and coconut milk. As a DC
I'm sorry i can't think of any other DC's that are available in the US that i have used.
I've heard great things about motions moisture plus
also ORS replenishing is great as well
Moisture
Rosewater/Glycerine
It comes pre mixed here, but its great for moisturising, then i use a creamy leave in or leave it just like that. and then a thick butter for my ends ( this is for twists, It sounds like a lot but a week later after taking out my twists my hair was still moisturised)
Is your hair fine? Mine is and i need protein. I was neglecting it and my hair suffered for it. I was cowashing and using a lot of hair creams and my hair became over moisturised. I like Aphogee 2 minute.
I'm not sure about cowashing frequently. I used to cowash every day and frankly it didn't help me retain length to be honest. I think low manipulation is best for us type 4s to be honest.
Also do use heat to DC? Once i started using heat, my hair took off. I have one of those dryer attachement things.
But anyway
I agree with the OP, i think that may be too much manipulation. Try wearing your twists for 2 weeks.
Protective styles with Fake Hair
You could make your own stocking cap wig, there are many tutorials on youtube and online and its not actually that hard. You could make a nappy one, push it back a little and use your edges to cover the edge of the stocking cap.
Get some afro kinky hair. The type used for kinky twists. First brush out the hair(its in bulk)
Then section your hair, leaving out your edges, back and sides (quite a lot)
Do you know how to braid? It doesn't have to be neat or anything because no one will see it. Braid the middle of your hair using the afro kinky hair, not all the way down though less than halfway and leave it out.
When you pull up your hair and the weave together it will look like a big afro bun. You can put a head band on the front or gel it down or whatever.
You don't need that many braids either, depends on your length/thickness
Or you could buy some synthetic afro weave hair i know Beverley Johnson makes some its quite cheap as well. Just clip the weave (you can just use bobby pins) in the middle of your head and pull it up into a bun.
I'm sorry i haven't described the styles very well.
Thats all i can think of right now.
) It would seem like they were working good at first but then my hair felt coated and dry. Now that I think about it the mineral oil did the same thing. My hair would feel fine at first with the product and then maybe the next day or so it was dry like my hair sucked it all up. My dcs weren't getting through either. 
