caribeandiva
Human being
Thank you!!
Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018
- Thread starter Chicoro
- Start date
VirtuousGal
Well-Known Member
I feel you on getting out of debt...I'm in that same hustle game lol I remember seeing you were doing some of those order apps, can't remember if it was shopping or what, how's that going? Anywho, I used to have super detailed regimens like this, but I will admit I've gotten lazy.I never posted it.I basically follow Chicoro’s regimen with a couple of products swapped out.
Wash day:
Once a week I finger detangle, put my hair in 6 loose braids and do my whole routine in the braids. I only take the braids out at the very end to apply leave ins and style.
-I shampoo and deep condition under the hooded dryer for 15 minutes with Satinique deep moisture shampoo and then the moisturizing hair mask. Full disclosure: I now rep for Satinique as a side hustle to make extra money. I’m getting out of debt no matter what!!
-I towel dry my braids, unravel them and keep my hair in 6 sections to do the LOC methodTo each section, I detangle with my wide tooth comb from tip to roots, apply S-curl to the whole section, Wetline X-treme gel to the roots, then seal with whipped Shea butter from root to tip. Braid then repeat. I airdry in the braids overnight.
The part that has made the greatest difference in my hair retention is the following section:
Daily:
-In the morning take the braids down. Finger comb my hair into a low bun tied with a knee high stocking. I oil my ends with castor oil then tuck them in before I secure the stocking to finish my bun. I lay my edges with the Wetline gel.
-At night I undo my bun, and proceed to moisturize my hair using the LOC method. I do it section by section and end up with 6 sections. I spritz each section with water, apply S-curl, seal with whipped Shea butter and braid. That’s it. This is what I attribute most of my hair’s success to. That and minimizing tangles by banishing wash and gos and keeping my hair stretched wat all times.
Every 6 weeks I do a heavy protein treatment with Aphogee 2 step.
I can also acknowledge that my hair hasn't been in good condition because of this (and thyroid issues) Either way, I'mma invest in some shea butter and take the time to thoroughly detangle and wash every week.. I'm ashamed to say how long I have been going without shampoos as of late lol
And I don't truly detangle because it seems like a never ending chore, but I had to do so recently for a wedding. Lost a lotta hair, but I was able to see my length, which was decent. But had I been giving it some real TLC, I can only imagine how well it'd be doing.
Sidenote, do you get you get your shea butter locally or online? I believe we're in the same city, I was thinking about going to Kim's beauty supply but I am protesting Asian beauty stores lol So if you have a spot I can run to instead of waiting to order online, I'm all ears.
LivingInPeace
Well-Known Member
On Sunday I washed my hair, did a protein treatment, moisturizing deep conditioner then I spritzed my hair with water, put on grapeseed oil and sealed with my Shea mix. My hair is so soft...so very soft. I think it might be someone else’s hair.
Sosoothing
Well-Known Member
caribeandiva
Human being
You remembered correctly. I do Instacart too. It’s personal grocery shopping and delivery. I make really good money doing that. Way better than my day job actually.
As for the detangling, I slack off too. Once I went 2 months without detangling.
Queen Shea to the rescue! In those instances it took me 30 minutes or so to detangle my whole head instead of my usual 5.
metro_qt
Well-Known Member
@caribeandiva I just saw in your regimen that you've banished wash n gos... why and how come?
Did you do them regularly at any point?
I'm asking because I wonder if I'd see a difference if I took a break from wash n gos
Did you do them regularly at any point?
I'm asking because I wonder if I'd see a difference if I took a break from wash n gos
caribeandiva
Human being
I didn’t realize you were local! Cool! We should do a meetup! I get my Shea locally. I’ve bought at Kim’s before. If you’re avoiding Asian bss then you can go to Beauty Depot on Fowler and 15th st. That’s where I got my first ever tub of Shea butter. I don’t think they’re Asian owned.
caribeandiva
Human being
I’ve been natural for 8 years now. I wore wash and gos exclusively for the first 5 years. I absolutely love my hair curly. Then I started noticing that I was stuck at the same length all that time. I had a Komaza hair analysis done around that time. The verdict was more protein treatments and professional hair trims every 4 months. I still kept wearing my wash and gos but thought regular trims at the salon and deep conditioning treatments would save me. Nope. Year 6 I finally figured out that I get massive tangles every time I do wash and gos. The ends of my curls tangle up like crazy every time. Thus breaking my hair and keeping me at shoulder length all these years.
I started keeping my hair stretched in buns and using the Chic natural’s shampooing method on YouTube (shampoo in section to minimize tangles). Saw a little progress but not a lot. Another year went by. I resigned myself to the fact that I’m just a slow grower. I had a lightbulb moment when I saw the video of the African ladies using the Chebe powder on their tailbone length hair. They weren’t deep conditioning at all yet they had longer hair than me who was deep conditioning every week! I was so focused on deep conditioning that I didn’t focus enough on daily moisturizing much less sealing my hair. I thought it’d be enough. So I started looking deeper into keeping my hair moisturized and locking that moisture in. Enter @Chicoro and her wisdom and here we are a year later. She totally revamped my hair regimen, helped me see exactly where I was going wrong all these years and to kick my wash and go habit for good. For me daily moisturizing and sealing with Shea butter was the game changer my hair needed. I have super dry, thick hair. It was just thirsty all these years.
caribeandiva
Human being
On Sunday I washed my hair, did a protein treatment, moisturizing deep conditioner then I spritzed my hair with water, put on grapeseed oil and sealed with my Shea mix. My hair is so soft...so very soft. I think it might be someone else’s hair.
VirtuousGal
Well-Known Member
Yes ma'am! And Ok, I think I know what you're talking about, not that far from the USF area. I didn't think about that place but yassss, I will grab some tomorrow. And I'd love to meet an LHCFer in person. I have never gone to a meetup and I've been on this board for well over a decade lol Better late than never!
Chicoro
5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I sort of did it once. My hair was more elongated but dry to the touch. She said it takes a month for the process to work.
Keen
Well-Known Member
@caribeandiva Much props to you for your daily routine. I can't commit to anything that requires me to take my hair down and put it back up daily. As long as I seal with SB, I don't feel like I need to moisturize daily anymore. I also started washing my hair every other week instead of weekly (unless I sweat or feel yucky).
I feel very accomplished this year. For the first time I don't feel like my hair is always dying of thirst. My routine is simple:
I feel very accomplished this year. For the first time I don't feel like my hair is always dying of thirst. My routine is simple:
- Wash days: Henna gloss
- Wet detangle: SB
- Dry detangle: I was using this store bought olive oil lotion. I will switch to xcel 21 cream
- Weekdays style: I wear a wig to work
- Weekend style: Phony pony puff. Both xcel 21 and SB does a great job smoothing down my edges (as long as I tie edges for a few minutes right after. )
caribeandiva
Human being
I’ve been to a meetup 10 years ago. It was in Orlando at the Mall of Millenia. There was about 10 of us who went. It was so fun. Some of the ladies had tailbone length natural hair! I was floored! Funny story: as we were leaving I ran smack into Kevin Hart! I literally ran into him as I was on the sidewalk and he was behind me. This was around the time Soul Plane came out and I loved that movie. I’m 6 ft tall and was wearing my 4 inch heels. So I didn’t even realize he was there until someone yelled: hey it’s Kevin Hart! I turned around and looked down and saw him. I didn’t realize he was that short until then. He was super nice and had his girlfriend with him. They were holding hands. They smiled at me and left. The end.
Can I tell ya'll about a shea mistake I made?? Cause I think I accidentally created a Shea Lotion...
Ok, here's how it went down.
Same old same old, I melted my buttahs and oils.
Business as usual.
Threw that bad boy in the fridge.
But theeeeeeen....kinda forgot about it.
It got too hard. So I melted it back down, put it in the fridge again.
Watched it closely. Got impatient. Started doing other things. Froze too hard again.
Lets just say, for arguments sake I did this...about 2 more times.
So finally I said enough is enough!
I gotta soften this badboy up and whip it. 
So I put it on my electric stove warmer indirectly to get it just soft enough, then I whipped it.
The texture? Was more like anhair lotion than a heavy butter. So I said ok I'll just put them in containers and put hem in the fridge again, no big deal. Well the viscosity is till lotion like. I've been using it as a Leave in, I've used it in a DC mix when I ran out of my personal DC concoction. The list goes on.
Safe to say, I think the water droplets from constantly putting it into the fridge and defrosting it got into the original mixture and changed it from butter to lotion. I'm eventually gonna transfer it from the jars and into some hand pumps for better handling.
Just thought y'all would like to know that fun fact.
Ok, here's how it went down.
Same old same old, I melted my buttahs and oils.
Business as usual.
Threw that bad boy in the fridge.
But theeeeeeen....kinda forgot about it.
It got too hard. So I melted it back down, put it in the fridge again.Watched it closely. Got impatient. Started doing other things. Froze too hard again.
Lets just say, for arguments sake I did this...about 2 more times.
So finally I said enough is enough!
I gotta soften this badboy up and whip it. So I put it on my electric stove warmer indirectly to get it just soft enough, then I whipped it.
The texture? Was more like anhair lotion than a heavy butter. So I said ok I'll just put them in containers and put hem in the fridge again, no big deal. Well the viscosity is till lotion like. I've been using it as a Leave in, I've used it in a DC mix when I ran out of my personal DC concoction. The list goes on.
Safe to say, I think the water droplets from constantly putting it into the fridge and defrosting it got into the original mixture and changed it from butter to lotion. I'm eventually gonna transfer it from the jars and into some hand pumps for better handling.
Just thought y'all would like to know that fun fact.
SunkissedLife
basking in the sun
5 inches in 10 months wow! That is some incredible retention!! And the braids are noticeably fuller at the ends. Thanks for sharing your routine !!
caribeandiva
Human being
Thank you! Gurllll I wouldn’t believe it myself if I hadn’t kept records and documented everything regularly. Not all areas of my hair got that much. Some got 3-4 inches (my nape). I guess it grows slower.
caribeandiva
Human being
Same!!
I’m not gonna lie. Some days I get lazy and don’t take the braids down. I pull them back into a bun, slick down my edges and go to work like that. My hair stays moisturized in the braids so I skip my night routine then. I usually don’t do that 2 days in a row because my hair is naturally very dry and craves moisture above all else. Not to mention I don’t feel cute when I wear my hair like that. Some ladies can moisturize once or twice a week and be fine but not me. I can’t go 3 days without moisturizing or I’m asking for trouble. I know that because that’s what I did all these years and my hair went nowhere.
ItsMeLilLucky
NotLucky no mo' just blessed.
Ooh! Shea lotion! Sounds delicious. I,Can I tell ya'll about a shea mistake I made?? Cause I think I accidentally created a Shea Lotion...
Ok, here's how it went down.
Same old same old, I melted my buttahs and oils.
Business as usual.
Threw that bad boy in the fridge.
But theeeeeeen....kinda forgot about it.
Watched it closely. Got impatient. Started doing other things. Froze too hard again.
Lets just say, for arguments sake I did this...about 2 more times.
So finally I said enough is enough!
So I put it on my electric stove warmer indirectly to get it just soft enough, then I whipped it.
The texture? Was more like anhair lotion than a heavy butter. So I said ok I'll just put them in containers and put hem in the fridge again, no big deal. Well the viscosity is till lotion like. I've been using it as a Leave in, I've used it in a DC mix when I ran out of my personal DC concoction. The list goes on.
Safe to say, I think the water droplets from constantly putting it into the fridge and defrosting it got into the original mixture and changed it from butter to lotion. I'm eventually gonna transfer it from the jars and into some hand pumps for better handling.
Just thought y'all would like to know that fun fact.
too, often forget about stuff
caribeandiva
Human being
Sosoothing
Well-Known Member
I see. I don't think I want to wait a month. I mostly wear my hair in a bun or large braids anyway.
Chicoro
5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I didn't either, so I just did it that one time. I like braids and I like my wet, greasy SCURL.
Sarabellam
Well-Known Member
Since the year is finally coming to an end I figured that it is a good time to show what Queen Shea has done for me.
My hair was completely ruined two years ago as a result of going to a bad stylist in preparation for my wedding. Even my roots were pin straight is some areas. I had 6-8 inches cut during via stylists and myself in the first few months following the incident. I used a combo of protein treatments, clay mashes, and henna which helped to nourish my damaged hair.
Returning to shea butter was a game changer for me. Now two years later my hair feet’s are a few inches longer than it was prior to the damage.
First pic:
Sep 2016: My hair after the first stylist’s silk press and very bad cut. My hair went from almost belly button length to an uneven MBL. Some hair strands grazed WL. I then had to go to another stylist a week later who curled my hair for the wedding and evened the ends. I don’t remember my exact length at that point, probably a more even MBL. The pictures brought up old negative emotions about the whole thing so I’ll just leave it at that.
Second pic:
Dec 2018: I think my hair growth slowed a bit during a stressful period in my life. It seems to be back to normal now. I’m letting it grow in a bit before I do anymore major cutting. I’ll need to get someone to help me take a pic to get all of my hair in frame. Now my precocious strands are at the bottom of my belly button, ~2 in from the top of my “hip bone”.
My hair was completely ruined two years ago as a result of going to a bad stylist in preparation for my wedding. Even my roots were pin straight is some areas. I had 6-8 inches cut during via stylists and myself in the first few months following the incident. I used a combo of protein treatments, clay mashes, and henna which helped to nourish my damaged hair.
Returning to shea butter was a game changer for me. Now two years later my hair feet’s are a few inches longer than it was prior to the damage.
First pic:
Sep 2016: My hair after the first stylist’s silk press and very bad cut. My hair went from almost belly button length to an uneven MBL. Some hair strands grazed WL. I then had to go to another stylist a week later who curled my hair for the wedding and evened the ends. I don’t remember my exact length at that point, probably a more even MBL. The pictures brought up old negative emotions about the whole thing so I’ll just leave it at that.
Second pic:
Dec 2018: I think my hair growth slowed a bit during a stressful period in my life. It seems to be back to normal now. I’m letting it grow in a bit before I do anymore major cutting. I’ll need to get someone to help me take a pic to get all of my hair in frame. Now my precocious strands are at the bottom of my belly button, ~2 in from the top of my “hip bone”.
Attachments
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Chicoro
5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I, Chicoro, hereby nominate and induct @Sarabellam , into the Shea Made Hair Unicorn Hall of Fame, on this 13th day of December, 2018.
That's some super length and super growth! AND, it's not even straight! There's still a whole bunch of texture from your shoulders to your roots!
@caribeandiva , do your thing, Babygirl!
She outted herself in post 5153.
Please share how many inches you gained because of Queen Shea, in 2018. Could you share your routine, too?
Her hair feets
have walked on by and have bypassed her prior longer lengths!
That's some super length and super growth! AND, it's not even straight! There's still a whole bunch of texture from your shoulders to your roots!
@caribeandiva , do your thing, Babygirl!
She outted herself in post 5153.
Please share how many inches you gained because of Queen Shea, in 2018. Could you share your routine, too?
Her hair feets
have walked on by and have bypassed her prior longer lengths!
caribeandiva
Human being
caribeandiva
Human being
Shoot, I’ll take your damaged hair any day!!
Sarabellam
Well-Known Member
Awe thanks!
I guess I just learned how strongly I prefer my natural curl pattern. Losing the vitality of my 4b curls made me feel like someone took away a piece of me.
Sarabellam
Well-Known Member
Thank you @caribeandiva and @Chicoro!
I measured my hair at the beginning of the year but I can’t find the notes anywhere.
I remember being pleasantly surprised that my hair was inching towards belly button length during the last winter. So I’ve retained 2-3 inches in roughly a year.
I’m not complaining! I consider my heat damaged hair to be a buffer and styling aid for my “good hair” that is slowly growing in. I’ve been surprised by how much it has grown by just being gentle and nourishing it.
I can post my regimen later today!
flyygirlll2
Lioness mane
Beautiful hair! @Sarabellam
Sarabellam
Well-Known Member
Thank you @caribeandiva and @Chicoro!
I measured my hair at the beginning of the year but I can’t find the notes anywhere.
I remember being pleasantly surprised that my hair was inching towards belly button length during the last winter. So I’ve retained 2-3 inches in roughly a year.
I’m not complaining! I consider my heat damaged hair to be a buffer and styling aid for my “good hair” that is slowly growing in. I’ve been surprised by how much it has grown by just being gentle and nourishing it.
I can post my regimen later today!
Thank you @flyygirlll2 !
I hope that this is helpful for someone.
The part of my routine that has been consistent over a long period of time is:
Washing on average once per week. ( a year ago I washed every 1-2 weeks. Now I wash 1-2x per week and my scalp is much happier)
- I focus on my roots and scalp with actual shamppoo. Now I’m using j.r. Liggets shampoo bar but I’ve used neutrogena anti dandruff shampoo or Kinky-curly come clean back when I shampooed less frequently. My length does not have suds placed directly on it unless I am trying to optimize the efficacy of a treatment such as aphogee or henna.
- I most often finger detangle after cleansing and conditioning. KCKT has been great for this! My previous favorite was a slightly doctored Giovanni direct leave-in.
- Finish by sealing my hair with Shea butter and stretching in a braided style. I’ve gone from 4 braids to 2 to most recently 1 braid that contains 6 chunky twists. I wear my current style throughout the week and tangles are significantly reduced.
My real “aha” moment for my hair actually occurred years ago. I got the idea of stretching a strand of my hair to check for moisture protein balance from the ladies on this board. I was babysitting my niece-in-law who has pin straight hair that grows to her bum without any effort. I tried to stretch a strand of her shed hair wrapped around my two index fingers and it would not break without a lot of effort, rewrapping, and the pressure pinched my finger. I tried a strand of my hair and it broke effortlessly and did not pinch at all. I began experimenting with techniques from LHCF with the end goal of giving my hair some resiliency on the pull test. My hair can’t get her results as it is very fine in diameter. However, I know that my new optimal dry state can cause a pinching sensation when pulled. I consider my hair as being “off” unless it can achieve that result. This helps because I can identify a suboptimal state before my hair begins to behave differently during washing and styling. It also gives me a better system for assessing how a treatment affects my hair.
My hair fortifiers that I turn to are:
Aphogee 2 step (strength)
Henna (strength and strand thickness)
Mud wash (balancing/ moisture )
Camille rose algae renew DC (moisture)
Mielle organics babassu oil and mint deep conditioner (mild protein and moisture conditioner)
I take vitamins for overall health:
Trader Joe’s high potency multi-vitamin chewable (highly recommend)
Rainbow light iron (highly recommend if you need iron)
Trader Joe’s vitamin D
MSM (on and off for fun and will occasionally had to liquid topicals)
Other aids that I’ve used:
-Xcel21 (inconsistent)
-Massaging (inconsistent frequency and technique)
-Scalp oil (castor + safflower) with rosemary, lavender, thyme, and cedar wood. Previously used 2-3x per week. Now it is a pre-poo scalp treatment. I use it occasionally on my hair length.
Please excuse the typos. This was written on my phone.
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