Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018

[Chicoro]

I have been loyal and faithful to my whipped shea butter mix

I rarely apply commercial styling products. Shea is all I need. This is a two day old twist out. I did use kinky curly knot today leave in to detangle each section and then applied my shea mix.

Today I was complemented on the shine and health but this picture can’t seem to do it justice.

I can attest to shea butter and retention. When I washed my hair, there was NOT ONE strand of falling hair. NOT ONE
After I detangled my entire head, my brush had very little shed hair. I attribute that to keeping my hair stretched. Even when I don’t wear it in a puff, it’s still stretched from last hairstyle or will be stretched for the next (does that make sense?)
Shea butter is my best friend after my dog

That hair is getting so long and thick. It looks really pretty. The curls are soft looking and super jet black in color.

 

[Chicoro]

"Hair Feets": Don't cut 'em off at the ankles!


​

The braid to your left is a braid that I had just finished braiding with Shea butter. The braid to your right was braided about 5 minutes prior. Both braids are the same length when stretched.

The blue arrow is pointing to where the hair begins to thin. The hair looks very elongated. My braid is pretty thick until the point where I have the arrow, which is about at bra-strap length.

From the arrow to the end of my braid is about 6 inches of scraggly hair. I'm not cutting my hair, no matter how thin it is starting out. I'm going to leave it be.

"My" hair just does not grow in thick and even. It gets to a new, longer length, strand by strand. If I interrupt that process with a trim, I'll be back at the same old length. Nope, not going to do it.

I've noticed this same 'elongation' with @caribeandiva and her friend's hair, as well. It almost looks like we are all just pulling our braids longer and tighter. But actually, that is how the hair looks gaining length. I'm going to conserve EVERY inch of length and EVERY hair strand I can.

I probably won't even blow out my hair this summer. I think I will do a blow dry, press and trim in December 2018. That is when I will trim my hair. But, I may change. Who knows.

Wherever the bulk of my hair rests in December, that's where I will cut it- if I trim it then.

If I trim that thinness back to my bra-strap right now, yes I will have thick even hair, at bra-strap length. Healthy, thick full ends are beautiful at that length, but that is not my goal.

I'm enjoying my Shea slathered braids and hair. When I feel the need to get fancier while wearing my braids, I just put on one of my wigs.

 

[caribeandiva]

"Hair Feets": Don't cut 'em off at the ankles!

View attachment 427310
​

The braid to your left is a braid that I had just finished braiding with Shea butter. The braid to your right was braided about 5 minutes prior. Both braids are the same length when stretched.

The blue arrow is pointing to where the hair begins to thin. The hair looks very elongated. My braid is pretty thick unit the point where I have the arrow, which is about at bra-strap length.

From the arrow to the end of my braid is about 6 inches of scraggly hair. I'm not cutting my hair, no matter how thin it is starting out. I'm going to leave it be.

"My" hair just does not grow in thick and even. It gets to a new, longer length, strand by strand. If I interrupt that process with a trim, I'll be back at the same old length. Nope, not going to do it.

I've noticed this same 'elongation' with @caribeandiva and her friend's hair, as well. It almost looks like we are all just pulling our braids longer and tighter. But actually, that is how the hair looks gaining length. I'm going to conserve EVERY inch of length and EVERY hair strand I can.

I probably won't even blow out my hair this summer. I think I will do a blow dry, press and trim in December 2018. That is when I will trim my hair. But, I may change. Who knows.

Wherever the bulk of my hair rests in December, that's where I will cut it- if I trim it then.

If I trim that thinness back to my bra-strap, yes I will have thick even hair, at bra-strap length. Healthy, thick full ends are beautiful at that length, but that is not my goal.

I'm enjoying my Shea slathered braids and hair. When I feel the need to get fancier, I just put on one of my wigs.

You’re absolutely right about the thinner ends. That’s exactly what my hair does. One side shrinks up within 5 minutes of braiding it but they’re almost the same length if I pull on them. In the past I used to trim the thin ends because I thought they were split ends. Now I know better. Thanks for teaching me otherwise. I’d undoubtedly stayed at the same length, wondering why my hair isn’t getting longer. This thread is worth its weight in gold.

 

[bjade757]

I must say I haven’t spent this much time on the hair side In yeeeaarrrs! I feel like a newbie again and I love it!

Girl, yes!

 

[Chicoro]

​

Here's an example with a gorgeous head of afro-textured hair, blown out. I found this picture on the internet at:
http://shelleybean729.blogspot.fr/2011/09/september-blowout.html

The arrow is pointing to the longest part of her hair. It is not the 'bulk' or most of hair length. Most of her hair is at the blue line, above the arrow. Technically, if she wanted her hair to be all the same length, she would cut back to that arrow near her armpits.

But, when trying to gain length, you set a goal, like at the bottom of one's bra-strap. You 'hold' the hair at this length by trimming it, so it doesn't grow past the bottom of the bra.

If I were to blow out my hair, it would probably have this shape. If I were to trim off the last six (6) inches of hair, I would probably have all even hair, at the higher blue line, which is the armpit. That would be a hair "cut".

Neither scenario is bad or good. It's all about what you want for your hair. I hope this makes sense.


Night, night, ladies!

 

[Chicoro]

You’re absolutely right about the thinner ends. That’s exactly what my hair does. One side shrinks up within 5 minutes of braiding it but they’re almost the same length if I pull on them. In the past I used to trim the thin ends because I thought they were split ends. Now I know better. Thanks for teaching me otherwise. I’d undoubtedly stayed at the same length, wondering why my hair isn’t getting longer. This thread is worth its weight in gold.

While you are on the "grow", the hair is going to look awkward, uneven and maybe even thin in some areas. Hair is an organic fiber. It's not plastic wig hair that grows out your hair follicles at the same thickness and length at the same time, like something that comes out of a plastic mould.

That's why I use braids and buns as I'm moving toward my goal length. I don't shape my hair. I don't cut my hair. Because my destination is not the current length I have. My goal is at a longer length.

The more perfect and even I want my hair to look at each step of the journey, the longer it's going to take me to get to my destination. So, I choose styles that support my hair's attractiveness as I grow it out.

Although I am trying to gain maximum lengths in the shortest time, it has absolutely nothing to do with speeding up how 'fast' my hair grows. What I'm NOT doing is cutting back my length, and I am not slowing down my progress.

It's about making decisions as you go along. I choose not to cut or trim unless I have a tangle problem. Right now, I don't have any tangle issues so my hair is free to grow as it pleases.

I would like to emphasize to not have judgment. Just decide what's right for you, and go with that! It's your hair, do what you want to do.

Night, night for real now!

 

[guyaneseyankee]

You are very pretty!

Thank you @caribeandiva

 

[guyaneseyankee]

That hair is getting so long and thick. It looks really pretty. The curls are soft looking and super jet black in color.

Thanks @Chicoro I'm on the grow.

 

[abioni]

Thanks! I trimmed it before the picture.

I completely missed this post. Congratulations on stabilizing your hair and stopping the breakage! Your hair is below your bra- strap. Did you trim it before this photo, or after this photo?

 

[Aggie]

Okay I finally bought some fragrance oils from www.bulkapothecary.com and www.fromnaturewithlove.com for my body and hair Shea Butter blends.

From FNWL I bought:

Birthday Cake
Vanilla Sandalwood
Eucalyptus Spearmint
Frosted Lemon Cake
Ylang Ylang

From BA:

Allure Fragrance Oil
Apple Cinnamon
Cucumber Melon
Dragon's Blood
Eucalyptus Mint
Frankincense and Myrrh
Jasmine Frangipani
Lavender Vanilla
Peony PF
Salted Caramel
Sandalwood 2
Sandalwood Rose
Sandalwood Vanilla

 

[NappyNelle]

Girl they got me too! I was on extreme lurker status, then BAM the shea butter challenge snatched me up!

After 4 YEARS of holding on to my $6.50, yall heauxs done raised me from the dead.

My sister, @caribeandiva inspired me to join this thread. I've been following this method for a few months. I don't have any progress pictures. I'll start from scratch & post a starting pic later this week.

We are thrilled to have you both back!

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@guyaneseyankee
Very Nice 2-Day Old T/O!...

 

[guyaneseyankee]

@guyaneseyankee
Very Nice 2-Day Old T/O!...

Thanks @IDareT'sHair

 

[Taleah2009]

Tips on mixing your Shea butter if you have a standing mixer:

Mix dry first with no oils on low. Scrape the butter off the sides of the mixer and pile the butter to the middle of the bowl. I usually do this for a few rounds.

View attachment 427086

I put the oils I plan on adding into a squirt/applicator bottle and just squeeze the oil into the bowl a little at a time while the blender is mixing. Speed it up to medium.

This is how I know when the Shea mix is ready:
With each round I lift the mixer to scrape off butter, less butter clings on to the whip attachment.

It goes from this:
View attachment 427088

To this:

View attachment 427090

To this:

View attachment 427092

See how the butter is moving away from the whip attachment on its own? This is the point where I add my fragrance oils and I turn the blender up to the highest speed. I cover the bowl with saran wrap and let the butter rest for a few days to allow the fragrance to "cure" or settle in.

View attachment 427094

Test on my hands. If I feel any lumps still mixed in Shea, I re-whip on high for a few minutes. If the fragrance is not as strong as I'd like, I add a few extra drops and re-whip again.

Ssshhhhh! My Shea baby is resting for the night. She needs to adjust to the lovely fenugreek infused avocado and apricot oil that I added to her. I will test her later to see if she is whipped enough to become a Princess. If her fragrance is settled in and good, she will then be added to the throne to become Queen Shea. Good night Shea siblings.

I am going to do this. The last time I melted my butter first and I don't think I whipped it long enough. I will mix a new batch this weekend.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

"Hair Feets": Don't cut 'em off at the ankles!

View attachment 427310
​

The braid to your left is a braid that I had just finished braiding with Shea butter. The braid to your right was braided about 5 minutes prior. Both braids are the same length when stretched.

The blue arrow is pointing to where the hair begins to thin. The hair looks very elongated. My braid is pretty thick until the point where I have the arrow, which is about at bra-strap length.

From the arrow to the end of my braid is about 6 inches of scraggly hair. I'm not cutting my hair, no matter how thin it is starting out. I'm going to leave it be.

"My" hair just does not grow in thick and even. It gets to a new, longer length, strand by strand. If I interrupt that process with a trim, I'll be back at the same old length. Nope, not going to do it.

I've noticed this same 'elongation' with @caribeandiva and her friend's hair, as well. It almost looks like we are all just pulling our braids longer and tighter. But actually, that is how the hair looks gaining length. I'm going to conserve EVERY inch of length and EVERY hair strand I can.

I probably won't even blow out my hair this summer. I think I will do a blow dry, press and trim in December 2018. That is when I will trim my hair. But, I may change. Who knows.

Wherever the bulk of my hair rests in December, that's where I will cut it- if I trim it then.

If I trim that thinness back to my bra-strap right now, yes I will have thick even hair, at bra-strap length. Healthy, thick full ends are beautiful at that length, but that is not my goal.

I'm enjoying my Shea slathered braids and hair. When I feel the need to get fancier while wearing my braids, I just put on one of my wigs.

You’re absolutely right about the thinner ends. That’s exactly what my hair does. One side shrinks up within 5 minutes of braiding it but they’re almost the same length if I pull on them. In the past I used to trim the thin ends because I thought they were split ends. Now I know better. Thanks for teaching me otherwise. I’d undoubtedly stayed at the same length, wondering why my hair isn’t getting longer. This thread is worth its weight in gold.

My hair "feets" looks very similar @Chicoro I noticed it while transitioning but chocked it up to have thinner processed ends in comparison to my unprocessed natural hair. Well to my surprise, my hair feets looked the same after becoming fully natural. It did bother me for a long while, but then I one day I just decided that I am not continuously trimming my hair chasing a look just to turn around and have the same process happen again in a few months.

 

[NCHairDiva]

While you are on the "grow", the hair is going to look awkward, uneven and maybe even thin in some areas. Hair is an organic fiber. It's not plastic wig hair that grows out your hair follicles at the same thickness and length at the same time, like something that comes out of a plastic mould.

That's why I use braids and buns as I'm moving toward my goal length. I don't shape my hair. I don't cut my hair. Because my destination is not the current length I have. My goal is at a longer length.

The more perfect and even I want my hair to look at each step of the journey, the longer it's going to take me to get to my destination. So, I choose styles that support my hair's attractiveness as I grow it out.

Although I am trying to gain maximum lengths in the shortest time, it has absolutely nothing to do with speeding up how 'fast' my hair grows. What I'm NOT doing is cutting back my length, and I am not slowing down my progress.

It's about making decisions as you go along. I choose not to cut or trim unless I have a tangle problem. Right now, I don't have any tangle issues so my hair is free to grow as it pleases.

I would like to emphasize to not have judgment. Just decide what's right for you, and go with that! It's your hair, do what you want to do.

Night, night for real now!

This make so much since to me. Ive been told to trim the ends if they look thin because they must be damaged. (I keep it in a protective style so I always wonder why are they damaged) but I am always in a constant state of trim. SMH I am truly grateful for this amazing info. Im done trimmig until the end if the year. Im on the grow and will let my hair do its thing. Amazing information.

 

[icsonia22]

I have been using my whipped Shea butter to seal in moisture on individual braids that I wear under my wigs. I'm in the process of taking down the braids and I must say that the Shea butter has eliminated knots and tangles. The shed hair is able to slide right out. My goal for 2018 is to make apl. This is the longest my hair has ever been! After going natural and having to big chop multiple times, I'm finally getting it right.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Here's another discovery I made with Shea butter, but have been fighting because I felt the need to do it:

Using Shea butter has eliminated the need for me to stretch my hair on wash day. My hair does not require to be twisted, braided or roller set for it to be stretched. It now just hangs. It also does not take on the shape of the before mentioned styles anymore. Shea butter clumps my curls so well together that even after manipulating it with braids, it still holds the shape of my original curl pattern. So I've decided to stop fighting that too. After it air dries on wash day, I still either throw it in a bun or one big braid. However, I'm no longer twisting, braiding or roller setting to stretch on wash day. I'm loving the ease of less manipulation. Queen Shea strikes again!

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Here's another discovery I made with Shea butter, but have been fighting because I felt the need to do it:

Using Shea butter has eliminated the need for me to stretch my hair on wash day. My hair does not require to be twisted, braided or roller set for it to be stretched. It now just hangs. It also does not take on the shape of the before mentioned styles anymore. Shea butter clumps my curls so well together that even after manipulating it with braids, it still holds the shape of my original curl pattern. So I've decided to stop fighting that too. After it air dries on wash day, I still either throw it in a bun or one big braid. However, I'm no longer twisting, braiding or roller setting to stretch on wash day. I'm loving the ease of less manipulation. Queen Shea strikes again!

I noticed this too. I thought I was bugging but when I did a wash and go using shea and gel my hair was waaaaayyyyy more elongated and the curls more defined. My wash and go was at least an inch longer but i thought my hair just grew. Deep in my heart I knew it was queen shea!!!

 

[Chicoro]

My hair "feets" looks very similar @Chicoro I noticed it while transitioning but chocked it up to have thinner processed ends in comparison to my unprocessed natural hair. Well to my surprise, my hair feets looked the same after becoming fully natural. It did bother me for a long while, but then I one day I just decided that I am not continuously trimming my hair chasing a look just to turn around and have the same process happen again in a few months.

I know. I'm right there with you on this, too.

Trimming is how I got messed up in the first place. I never wear my hair out heat straightened or natural. Thus, there is not point to having perfect ends. It's not about wanting length so bad that I'm so desperate and hold onto to thin, unhealthy hair. Nerp. I know you can't gain length if you are cutting back your growth.

Deep cuts and perfectly trimmed ends have their place in my hair regimen. But that will come when I reach my desired length and I want to maintain my hair at that particular length. Until then, I got a long way to go.

Me and my lil' hair feets got awhile until we hit Ground Zero.

​

Freshly trimmed ends are a priceless jewel in the currency of afro-textured hair. If you cut your ends and jack them up because you don't know what you are doing or needing to do to keep them healthy...you know what? You are going to have to trim them again.

Raggedy ends can be good practice fibers. My ends aren't raggedy, but the hair on the ends is scraggly. Those are two different things.

 

[Chicoro]

Here's another discovery I made with Shea butter, but have been fighting because I felt the need to do it:

Using Shea butter has eliminated the need for me to stretch my hair on wash day. My hair does not require to be twisted, braided or roller set for it to be stretched. It now just hangs. It also does not take on the shape of the before mentioned styles anymore. Shea butter clumps my curls so well together that even after manipulating it with braids, it still holds the shape of my original curl pattern. So I've decided to stop fighting that too. After it air dries on wash day, I still either throw it in a bun or one big braid. However, I'm no longer twisting, braiding or roller setting to stretch on wash day. I'm loving the ease of less manipulation. Queen Shea strikes again!

So it elongates and hangs straight? I'm not sure I understand. Does this mean it doesn't ever get tangled anymore due to using Shea butter? I know your hair is pretty no matter what it is doing.

 

[Chicoro]

I noticed this too. I thought I was bugging but when I did a wash and go using shea and gel my hair was waaaaayyyyy more elongated and the curls more defined. My wash and go was at least an inch longer but i thought my hair just grew. Deep in my heart I knew it was queen shea!!!

I don't know. Shea butter just might be putting them inches on your hair!

 

[Chicoro]

I have been using my whipped Shea butter to seal in moisture on individual braids that I wear under my wigs. I'm in the process of taking down the braids and I must say that the Shea butter has eliminated knots and tangles. The shed hair is able to slide right out. My goal for 2018 is to make apl. This is the longest my hair has ever been! After going natural and having to big chop multiple times, I'm finally getting it right.

Congratulations to you!!!!! What a satisfying accomplishment. Your hair looks THICK, too. That is only ONE of many braids you have on your head.
How long have you been Shea Sliding' ?

 

[Chicoro]

This make so much since to me. Ive been told to trim the ends if they look thin because they must be damaged. (I keep it in a protective style so I always wonder why are they damaged) but I am always in a constant state of trim. SMH I am truly grateful for this amazing info. Im done trimmig until the end if the year. Im on the grow and will let my hair do its thing. Amazing information.

Hold my shears until December 2018, too!

 

[Chicoro]

I got a tiny, tiny, tiny little 20 strand section of hair that has dropped in length. I've never seen my hair this long before.

I always say, "If one strand can get there, the rest can get there!" Come September/October, I hope to have a significant amount of hair at this newer length.

Yes!​

Go, hair feets!

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

I know. I'm right there with you on this, too.

Trimming is how I got messed up in the first place. I never wear my hair out heat straightened or natural. Thus, there is not point to having perfect ends. It's not about wanting length so bad that I'm so desperate and hold onto to thin, unhealthy hair. Nerp. I know you can't gain length if you are cutting back your growth.

Deep cuts and perfectly trimmed ends have their place in my hair regimen. But that will come when I reach my desired length and I want to maintain my hair at that particular length. Until then, I got a long way to go.

Me and my lil' hair feets got awhile until we hit Ground Zero.

View attachment 427362​

Freshly trimmed ends are a priceless jewel in the currency of afro-textured hair. If you cut your ends and jack them up because you don't know what you are doing or needing to do to keep them healthy...you know what? You are going to have to trim them again.

Raggedy ends can be good practice fibers. My ends aren't raggedy, but the hair on the ends is scraggly. Those are two different things.

Oooooh weeee...now those are some real hair feets! LOL

So it elongates and hangs straight? I'm not sure I understand. Does this mean it doesn't ever get tangled anymore due to using Shea butter? I know your hair is pretty no matter what it is doing.

It doesn't hang straight. It is still very much curly but the pattern is more elongated. I still get tangles, but not many and the ones I do get can be worked out with just a bit of added oil since my hair is already very much lubricated from Shea butter. I wish I had before and after of my wet hair pictures to show the comparison but I never think to take pictures of my wet hair. Maybe the change is a combination of things...henna, Shea butter and also never really stripping my hair with harsh cleansing agents? I do know that this change didn't really come about until Shea entered the scene and had been used for a few months though.

 

[scarcity21]

My hair "feets" looks very similar @Chicoro I noticed it while transitioning but chocked it up to have thinner processed ends in comparison to my unprocessed natural hair. Well to my surprise, my hair feets looked the same after becoming fully natural. It did bother me for a long while, but then I one day I just decided that I am not continuously trimming my hair chasing a look just to turn around and have the same process happen again in a few months.

@ElevatedEnergy , @Chicoro are y'all saying what I think you're saying? Lemme make sure I understand y'all correctly. So I've been battling with this hair issue I like to call upside down V or upside U or W where my hair on the left and right get to armpit length and the middle is much shorter like neck or shoulder length. I've been dealing with this for over 10years and I keep cutting the left and right sides to be even with the middle although I almost never wear my hair straight. Should I stop trimming and just keep babying it until I get to my goal length?
Thanks ladies

 

[scarcity21]

Also for ladies that use glycerin leave in like scurl with their Shea butter, have you tried whipping both and applying as one mixture versus applying one and then the other? Just thinking out loud....I believe I did a while back and my hair liked it...I just added too much oil so my hair was a bit greasy

 

[NappyNelle]

Applied my shea mix to the length of my hair. I got a lot of compliments on my braidout today while I was in the hospital.

 

[Flourishnikov]

Anyone in the dmv know where I can pick up some authentic unrefined Shea butter?