Returning lady with type 4a-4b hair

[mstasha]

I am returning to the web site after being absent for about 3 years. I have managed to maintain my hair. It has grown but it could be doing better. It's dull, dry and tangles really bad. I noticed that the last time I was a member I was a true PJ and I still have a lot of that JUNK around the house. What I noticed was for me a lot of the products I was trying probably did not work because of my hair type.


What works for a 2B or 3a will not always work for a 4a-4b.


What I was wondering is what are the 4a-b ladies using on there that is working for them? And also what protective styles are you all doing?


I did the co-washes, the twist out; the braid out and nothing work for me. I figured I was doing them all wrong. I got so disappointed I just stopped everything, the Vitamins, the oils, the treatments, and the love for my hair.
I just want that love back!! With going broke.

 

[secretdiamond]

What works for me is

1. A good conditioner for deep treats like ORS Replenishing Pak &/or Keraphix
2. A good oil to seal in moisture & soften the hair like Wild Growth Hair Oil
3. A good leave-in to detangle and protect like Giovanni's Direct Leave-in
4. A Seamless comb like the Jilbere Shower Comb
5. A protective style like a bun
6. A good water-based moisturizer like NTM leave-in
7. Trims/dustings as soon as they are needed to keep the ends clean
8. DEFINITELY limiting direct heat like flat irons, curling irons, etc

Now these are just the products that I have found work for me. But you can play around with the products you have to see how they can be applied to your regimen.

Now maybe someone else can help with the co-washing b/c I've only done them a few times. I actually felt my hair was more moisturized after my DC's with ORS RP so I stopped due to unnecessary manipulation to my hair. I only wash once a week now. But it does work wonders for a lot of ladies here. HTH & HHG!

 

[Radianthealth]

I believe I have full on 4B hair and the regimen that has been working for me is:
1. Daily conditioning washes. Rinse in the shower (I leave the conditioner in for a long time at least 2 hours while I work out with a plastic cap over my head)
2. Spraying Surge with MN onto Scalp after wash using a seamless comb
3. Applying MTG and Pepermint oil after Surge to scalp using nozzle tip bottle.
4. Moisturizing hair with UBH, Surge Moisturizer or some other moisturizer with Glycerine and no Petrolatum or Mineral oil.
5. Applying a heavier hair "butter" to hair to seal in moisture.(No Petrolatum or Mineral oil)
6. Pulling hair back into a phony pony. (No baggie, but covered with satin)
7. I shampoo twice per week and clarify twice per month
8. I deep condition twice per week once with moisturizing conditioner and once with UBH conditioner which is pretty heavy on the protien.
9. I sleep with a satin scarf and bonnet and pillow.

This is still in the trial period, but so far my hair seems pretty healthy with minimal breakage. The thin edges that I had from wearing braids are filling in and my roots are softer and my hair is more managable when I style while it is wet.

 

[mstasha]

Sorry it took me a while the read the information had a family emergency and I was out of town.

Thank you for the information. I did get some MTG, wild growth hair oil and some surge, actually all of them. I love everything so far.

I have noticed new growth already and I have only been using the mixture for a little less then 2 weeks.

I plan to continue reading and trying to learn from the site and provide information when I have some.

 

[MonaRae]

Lose the comb!

Just my 0.02 cents!
MonaRae

 

[brownsugarflyygirl]

I just wanted to say WELCOME BACK... I am very new and still learning and finding products for my 4a/4b hair...

To avoid PJism...I just try to RESIST the urge to buy everything at once...I try to use ALL of the product that I have on hand..and then make a written assesment of what I think of it...I only try a new product if I am VERY dissapointed in what I have....

When I first started my hair journey via my hair-informed friends not LCHF....I stopped using CON shampoo and my Motions CPR and tried others...only to return...so I have learned that if aint broke..dont fix...only change products for DRASTIC improvements...not minor changes HTH

Oh..and when people rave about products..I always check their hair type in their siggy or profile and only try products that several 4a/4b people who are natural have testified to...

 

[lexi84]

I'm very 4b with some 4a parts, but mostly 4b. I find that products heavy in moisture work best for my hair. Keracare Humecto is the best conditioner I've ever tried. I like my other conditioners, but there's nothing better than my Humecto for my hair. I also love NTM leave in as a daily moisturizer and ORS Olive oil is just as good or better and so is s-curl.

The protective style that renders me the most consistent and drastic results is my phony bun with my baggy underneath. I slap my profectiv Healthy ends on my pony tail, baggy the pony tail, and wear my phony bun right ontop of that. I usually don’t touch my ends for a few days when I do this. It only takes a week or two to see a difference in length if done correctly(A small difference of course). Deep conditioning every other day really helped with dryness…I mean REALLY. I did this for two straight months last summer and BOOM! My hair has never retained so much length in so little time.

I also learned that its not about how fast your hair grows its about how much hair you keep. If your ends are breaking as fast as your hair is growing then whats the point? MTGing and MNing is fine, but learn to pay just as much attention to your ends as you are to your scalp. Your hair is guaranteed to grow(unless you have some sort of medical condition), but your ends aren’t guaranteed to stay around…you have to make them stay put.

 

[gorgeoushair]

I agree with Lexi

 

[mstasha]

Thank You so much ladies! I agree totally with lexi! and I will try the baggie style.
But my only problem is when I wash and don't blowdry my hair look likes hell!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not put on one of those drawstring ponytails unless I put some heat to my hair. The only protective style I can do is the twistout and I am so tired of seeing my hair like that plus that always leaves me with at least 1 or 2 knots. What I need is a new style.
But I'll just keep working at it.
Thanks