Grow It Long Challenge Keep Growing On...

[Lucia]

The MAGNIFICENCE hits the screen at about @18:00 minutes. I believe her hair stretched is thigh length.

Wow her hair has gotten longer. I believe she’s thigh length too. Is she like waist or hip length curly ? That’s the ultimate super duper hair goal.
I’m good when my stretched or straightened hair hits hip or tailbone.

 

[Chicoro]

@Lucia
I think she's hip length curly!

 

[Chicoro]

AHA!!!!!!!

I noticed that Curlyproverbs has super long hair. She's in @Lucia 's siggy. I know that she is big advocate of ayurvedic powders and processes. Then I discovered just now....that she is a huge SHEA BUTTER user! Her routine now falls in line with many other women I've observed, who have super long afro-textured hair. Her hair is not in the 4 range, but her processes fall in line like all the rest.

Around @3 minutes into the video she states that she loves Shea butter and that she only added a little to her recipe mixed and shown in the video because she had run out. Usually she adds about 3-4 tablespoons of Shea butter to her butter mixture shown in the video. Aha!

 

[keranikki]

AHA!!!!!!!

I noticed that Curlyproverbs has super long hair. She's in @Lucia 's siggy. I know that she is big advocate of ayurvedic powders and processes. Then I discovered just now....that she is a huge SHEA BUTTER user! Her routine now falls in line with many other women I've observed, who have super long afro-textured hair. Her hair is not in the 4 range, but her processes fall in line like all the rest.

Around @3 minutes into the video she states that she loves Shea butter and that she only added a little to her recipe mixed and shown in the video because she had run out. Usually she adds about 3-4 tablespoons of Shea butter to her butter mixture shown in the video. Aha!

Shea butter is not my friend. It's too heavy. I'm going to try mango butter as a replacement.

 

[Chicoro]

Shea butter is not my friend. It's too heavy. I'm going to try mango butter as a replacement.

I think your hair might benefit better from a conditioning product (rinse out) containing dimethicone and behentrimonium chloride or dimethicone and behentrimonium methosulfate, high on the ingredients list.

I'm learning that when someone's hair doesn't respond well to Shea butter, they tend to have high porosity hair, which I see you've already noted in your siggy. In addition, those combinations I wrote out above seem to help one to gain and retain length. Lastly, that newer length sometimes reveals a hair texture change.

I'm assuming your hair is natural, right? I believe the Andre Walker TKO Ultimate Moisture Conditioner has those ingredients in the right place. There are others.

 

[IronButterfly]

I think your hair might benefit better from a conditioning product (rinse out) containing dimethicone and behentrimonium chloride or dimethicone and behentrimonium methosulfate, high on the ingredients list.

I'm learning that when someone's hair doesn't respond well to Shea butter, they tend to have high porosity hair, .

I can and will testify to all of this! My hi-po hair rejected pure shea butter with a passion, but snuggled up quite cozily with the 'cones.

 

[Chicoro]

I can and will testify to all of this! My hi-po hair rejected pure shea butter with a passion, but snuggled up quite cozily with the 'cones.

Thank you for responding to this and testifying! I'm sort of feeling my way in the dark. I appreciate the confirmation.

 

[keranikki]

I think your hair might benefit better from a conditioning product (rinse out) containing dimethicone and behentrimonium chloride or dimethicone and behentrimonium methosulfate, high on the ingredients list.

I'm learning that when someone's hair doesn't respond well to Shea butter, they tend to have high porosity hair, which I see you've already noted in your siggy. In addition, those combinations I wrote out above seem to help one to gain and retain length. Lastly, that newer length sometimes reveals a hair texture change.

I'm assuming your hair is natural, right? I believe the Andre Walker TKO Ultimate Moisture Conditioner has those ingredients in the right place. There are others.

Yes, I am natural (color-treated). I will look for this product and check the conditioners I currently have. Thank you ma'am!

Edit: My Jason's Biotin Conditioner has behentrimonium chloride high on the list (2nd), while dimethicone is low on the list (16th). Nature's Gate Color Protect conditioner has behentrimonium chloride (5th) and dimethicone (12th) on the list. Do they need to be close together or at least in the top ten for the conditioner to be effective?

 

[Chicoro]

Yes, I am natural (color-treated). I will look for this product and check the conditioners I currently have. Thank you ma'am!

Okay. If you're color treated, that can definitely increase the porosity of hair. In fact, most times it does. When hair is color treated, it tends to have more of a negative charge than non-colored hair. The dimethicone is + charged (cationic) and loves to make contact with hair in those negative charged areas. Dimethicone works better on colored hair than on non-colored hair.

 

[Chicoro]

Yes, I am natural (color-treated). I will look for this product and check the conditioners I currently have. Thank you ma'am!

Edit: My Jason's Biotin Conditioner has behentrimonium chloride high on the list (2nd), while dimethicone is low on the list (16th). Nature's Gate Color Protect conditioner has behentrimonium chloride (5th) and dimethicone (12th) on the list. Do they need to be close together or at least in the top ten for the conditioner to be effective?

Ideally, yes.

 

[Dee Raven]

My hair has been thriving lately. I don't see broken pieces anymore so and I'm doing really good with PJism. I now only use 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner. If I want to make the conditioner a protein treatment, I put some brahmi powder in it. I've also been clarifying at least once a month which I never used to do, but I think it is helping.

 

[Chicoro]

My hair has been thriving lately. I don't see broken pieces anymore so and I'm doing really good with PJism. I now only use 1 shampoo and 1 conditioner. If I want to make the conditioner a protein treatment, I put some brahmi powder in it. I've also been clarifying at least once a month which I never used to do, but I think it is helping.

Congratulations! That's a huge accomplishment to stop breakage, even if its broken 'pieces'. Here's to retention and getting to super long lengths! You are on your way!

 

[Aggie]

Good Evening Ladies. Haven't been in this thread for a while but I have been taking great care of my hair and even got heavily into clay washing/conditioning and ayurveda powders and oils.

When I got home about an hour ago, I decided to do a 10 minute scalp massage with CP Ayurveda Growth Oil, followed by 5 minutes of inversion. My hair still feels wonderfully soft so I probably won't moisturize it tonight but will save it for after I spritz with CP Ayurveda Tea Rinse. .

 

[Chicoro]

Good Evening Ladies. Haven't been in this thread for a while but I have been taking great care of my hair and even got heavily into clay washing/conditioning and ayurveda powders and oils.

When I got home about an hour ago, I decided to do a 10 minute scalp massage with CP Ayurveda Growth Oil, followed by 5 minutes of inversion. My hair still feels wonderfully soft so I probably won't moisturize it tonight but will save it for after I spritz with CP Ayurveda Tea Rinse. .

I'm still buzzing about those 2 gorgeous pictures you shared for your 'look for the day'. Movie star beautiful! Are you going to share those photos in this thread? After all, they are protective styles which help you grow your hair long!!!

 

[Chicoro]

I cannot wear wash n' go's, twist outs or braid outs because my hair gets horribly tangled. Every time I wear any of those three (3) styles I lose ENTIRE, WHOLE CURLS! Sometimes, I lose entire curls just because my hair somehow got tangled from a protective style.

I used to lose a couple of these entire curls every 2 months. The incredible thing is since I started my no- comb process and added Shea Butter to my routine, I've only lost one (1) curl this year in 2017 [which is down to 1 from 14 of them per year]!!!

I'm starting to shore up or tighten up all the ways I'm losing and breaking off hair. I'm hoping to be solidly at tailbone in 2018.

 

[Aggie]

Per @Chicoro's request

Me wearing my new protective style this month. It's called Las Jaden by Vanessa

 

[Chicoro]

Per @Chicoro's request

Me wearing my new protective style this month. It's called Las Jaden by Vanessa

BEAUTIFUL!

 

[Evolving78]

Per @Chicoro's request

Me wearing my new protective style this month. It's called Las Jaden by Vanessa

Where do you think you are going young lady? Lol you look goood!

 

[Aggie]

Where do you think you are going young lady? Lol you look goood!

Thanks hon

 

[Lucia]

AHA!!!!!!!

I noticed that Curlyproverbs has super long hair. She's in @Lucia 's siggy. I know that she is big advocate of ayurvedic powders and processes. Then I discovered just now....that she is a huge SHEA BUTTER user! Her routine now falls in line with many other women I've observed, who have super long afro-textured hair. Her hair is not in the 4 range, but her processes fall in line like all the rest.

Around @3 minutes into the video she states that she loves Shea butter and that she only added a little to her recipe mixed and shown in the video because she had run out. Usually she adds about 3-4 tablespoons of Shea butter to her butter mixture shown in the video. Aha!

It’s funny you mention that I use Shea butter in the winter the ivory soft kind it’s easy to use or mango or Aloe Vera butter, I’m using more oils and butter blends makes a nice penetrating and sealing oil all in one. I use it on my skin too.
Now I use Shea avocado oil blend and of course I’m a big Ayurveda user.

 

[Lucia]

So I’ve had a set back due to stress and no time to indulge my hair. I had a lot of shedding, breakage and had to cut a lot of ssks and splits.
My hair did grow back to 1 inch shorter than it was before on the sides where I vigourisly cut last time in June 2017.

So now I PS my hair in low manipulation styles loose buns and hiding my hair under wigs. (Pic in avatar bun with added curly hair) Fake it till you make it!
I have full access to my hair to take care of it and let it breathe every day when I’m home and will continue my regimen.
My goal is to get pass WL fast and keep growing.

Fav products are still Camille Rose, Kinky Curly, eco styler (limited use)
Suave cheap conditioners for CWs, castor oil or curls blueberry edge control or design essentials edge control instead of eco styler
Homemade Ayurvedic oil, homemade Shea avocado oil blend
Henna treatments to strengthen hair
Aphogee protein treatment and light protein spray
Trying out tgin and, Ouidad DC, Devacurl products to see if they make my staple rotation list.
No heat, or indirect limited heat when needed bonnet dryer or diffuser, switched to soft brush, and goat hair baby brush for baby hairs.
Clarify with acv and water dilution, or Devacurl buildup buster if needed, and I’m giving shampoos the boot they just aggravate my hair and make it dry and frizzy even non sulfate ones.


New winter regimen 2017

Using Shea avocado oil blend instead of straight butter
Homemade Ayurvedic oil blend for scalp, oil and massage w scalp invigorator 3 x a week, inversion method
Hiding my hair for PS
Co washing the same
DC more often with heat cap or steamer
Clarify when needed

~~~~~~
Old winter regimen
All Butta Regimen
Since 8/2015

Pre: homemade Ayurvedic oil mix weekly or DC 1x a month or when needed

Cowash: 1-3x wk (winter) every other day-daily in summer any cheap but good suave or tressemme conditioner

Seal: LCOB* or LOC method
w CRN Jansys MM or Coconut water DC
homemade oil then CRN Moisture Butter or Homade butter mix

DC & Clarify: 1-2x a month

Styles: wng braidouts ponys buns or Baggie buns
Still working on getting a good twist out

Styling Products: whatever I used to LOC in the moisture
Curls edge control
Giving eco styler a long vacation

*LCOB method (phrase I coined in my fotki-that I stumbled upon trying to tweak my regimen last year late 2013 early 2014?? ish
b/c below zero Arctic winter was drying my hair out )

 

[Lucia]

Curly hair goals!

 

[Lucia]

Per @Chicoro's request

Me wearing my new protective style this month. It's called Las Jaden by Vanessa

Nice wig, looks natural.

 

[Chicoro]

So I’ve had a set back due to stress and no time to indulge my hair. I had a lot of shedding, breakage and had to cut a lot of ssks and splits.
My hair did grow back to 1 inch shorter than it was before on the sides where I vigourisly cut last time in June 2017.

So now I’m PS my hair in low manipulation styles loose buns and hiding my hair under wigs. (Pic in avatar bun with added curly hair) Fake it till you make it!
I have full access to my hair to take care of it and let it breathe every day when I’m home and will continue my regimen.
My goal is to get pass WL fast and keep growing.

Fav products are still Camille Rose, Kinky Curly, eco styler (limited use)
Suave cheap conditioners for CWs, castor oil or curls blueberry edge control or design essentials edge control instead of eco styler
Homemade Ayurvedic oil, homemade Shea avocado oil blend
Henna treatments to strengthen hair
Aphogee protein treatment and light protein spray
Trying out tgin and, Ouidad DC, Devacurl products to see if they make my staple rotation list.
No heat, or indirect limited heat when needed bonnet dryer or diffuser, switched to soft brush, and goat hair baby brush for baby hairs.



New winter regimen 2017

Using Shea avocado oil blend instead of straight butter
Homemade Ayurvedic oil blend for scalp, oil and massage w scalp invigorator 3 x a week
Hiding my hair for PS
Co washing the same
DC more often with heat cap or steamer
Clarify when needed

~~~~~~
Old winter regimen
All Butta Regimen
Since 8/2015

Pre: homemade Ayurvedic oil mix weekly or DC 1x a month or when needed

Cowash: 1-3x wk (winter) every other day-daily in summer any cheap but good suave or tressemme conditioner

Seal: LCOB* or LOC method
w CRN Jansys MM or Coconut water DC
homemade oil then CRN Moisture Butter or Homade butter mix

DC & Clarify: 1-2x a month

Styles: wng braidouts ponys buns or Baggie buns
Still working on getting a good twist out

Styling Products: whatever I used to LOC in the moisture
Curls edge control
Giving eco styler a long vacation

*LCOB method (phrase I coined in my fotki-that I stumbled upon trying to tweak my regimen last year late 2013 early 2014?? ish
b/c below zero Arctic winter was drying my hair out )

I'm sorry to hear about your hair set-back. Those are never fun, but they are always informative in that they let us know what our hair likes and doesn't like. More importantly, I hope the stressor in your life has been minimized. Take care of you!

Your new regimen sounds like a good, well thought out hair plan and process for the Winter! I used to live in Cedar Rapids, IOWA, and along with that snow that came halfway up the front door, was the Arctic winter cold as well. Are you covering your head from door to door, meaning when you leave the house, to get into the car, to get into work and back again?

 

[Chicoro]

It’s funny you mention that I use Shea butter in the winter the ivory soft kind it’s easy to use or mango or Aloe Vera butter, I’m using more oils and butter blends makes a nice penetrating and sealing oil all in one. I use it on my skin too.
Now I use Shea avocado oil blend and of course I’m a big Ayurveda user.

The more I look at Shea butter, the more I'm starting to be convinced that it truly is a magical ingredient.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm a Shea Butter Hater and Lover!

Today I took out my braids. My hair looked dull, coated and dry and it felt hard. The culprit: Shea butter!
Now I remember why I hated Shea butter in the past. It does NOT work for my hair in loosened styles. But it works like magic for my braided protective styles! I will continue with it.

I was sitting down with one of my braids loosened. While seated, some of the hair touches the top of my thigh. Let me be real, about 5 strands! Those little 5 strands count, though.

I have no memory of ever having my hair being long enough to touch my leg while I was seated. I really think it is because of the Shea butter.

Shea butter still gets a 9/10 from me. It makes my braids gorgeous, moisturized and lush and protected and tangle free! That in turns helps me to gain healthy, length.

So my 'AHA' for today is that I can't use shea butter for loosened hair. But that I can live without those styles anyway. My favorite styles are braids and heat-straightened, loose pressed hair.

 

[Aggie]

I'm a Shea Butter Hater and Lover!

Today I took out my braids. My hair looked dull, coated and dry and it felt hard. The culprit: Shea butter!
Now I remember why I hated Shea butter in the past. It does NOT work for my hair in loosened styles. But it works like magic for my braided protective styles! I will continue with it.

I was sitting down with one of my braids loosened. While seated, some of the hair touches the top of my thigh. Let me be real, about 5 strands! Those little 5 strands count, though.

I have no memory of ever having my hair being long enough to touch my leg while I was seated. I really think it is because of the Shea butter.

Shea butter still gets a 9/10 from me. It makes my braids gorgeous, moisturized and lush and protected and tangle free! That in turns helps me to gain healthy, length.

So my 'AHA' for today is that I can't use shea butter for loosened hair. But that I can live without those styles anyway. My favorite styles are braids and heat-straightened, loose pressed hair.

I would imagine that the inversions helped as well @Chicoro. Doing those seem to be the only thing that helped my length to go beyond what I thought was a terminal length at APL for my hair. I managed to get to BSL and was heading to MBL when I last checked before I gave myself a much needed cut. I am giving it another go.

By the way, congrats on your new length achievement.

 

[Chicoro]

I would imagine that the inversions helped as well @Chicoro. Doing those seem to be the only thing that helped my length to go beyond what I thought was a terminal length at APL for my hair. I managed to get to BSL and was heading to MBL when I last checked before I gave myself a much needed cut. I am giving it another go for it.

By the way, congrats on your new length achievement.

Me and those 5 strands of hair, thank you! I agree with you about the inversion.

I treat inversion like a dirty secret, in that I don't acknowledge it. I'm confused about inversion. I started it because of your gorgeous results. I trust you. And for the most part, I do it pretty faithfully. The practical part of me wants to be able to pinpoint how, when and why inversion helped me, but it doesn't work like that. And I knew that before I started as you all schooled me on how to determine if it were working or not.

BUT, here in lies my conflict. In August, I did nothing except ply on Shea butter to my hair. I skipped doing inversion and even washing my hair. Prior to that, I didn't notice too much growth. But when I came back to my home in September, or October, I realized that I had a whole 1 inch of growth.

This is the reason why I like changing only 1 thing at a time. To better be able to identify what is responsible for a benefit or a problem.

So let me revise it and write down my processes thoroughly and correctly!
My growth has come from:

1. 10 months of inversion (5 minutes per session, for 7 days in row)
2. Shea Butter use
3. No combing method

Thank you for keeping me honest @Aggie !

 

[Soaring Eagle]

@Chicoro Can you detail how you apply your Shea butter. Do you apply a gulp to one section and then braid or do you add little amounts to your fingers as you braid? Also how much would you say you use on each braid? Do you ever go over an already braided section with more Shea butter for added protection?

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro Can you detail how you apply your Shea butter. Do you apply a gulp to one section and then braid or do you add little amounts to your fingers as you braid? Also how much would you say you use on each braid? Do you ever go over an already braided section with more Shea butter for added protection?

Hey,
Yes, you know I write book long posts. Of course I can detail it!

I run my braid under warm water and soften the hair. I unbraid my hair and apply more water, tap the roots with gel, then I apply about 2 teaspoons of Shea butter from root to tip. I may dip in my jar and hit my ends again and coat them until they are straight from all that greasy butter!

When I was first starting to incorporate Shea this year, I would go over the braided hair with more Shea butter. But my hair likes to unravel and loosened hairs were being tangled around my braid with that way. So, now I just unbraid the whole braid and re-do when I want to add more Shea butter.

Applying Shea butter to my hair is such a pleasure in itself, I re-braid my hair every day sometimes just so I can goop on more Shea butter!