Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018

[NappyNelle]

I traveled to another city for a wedding and left my shea mix. Good thing I'll be back tomorrow.

 

[Alma Petra]

Has anybody tried adding something water-based to their mix? I am thinking of adding an ayurvedic tea, if it can blend in well.

 

[Chicoro]

Has anybody tried adding something water-based to their mix? I am thinking of adding an ayurvedic tea, if it can blend in well.

I do not.

Water attracts and breeds microbes. If you add water you will either need to add preservatives, or you will need to keep the product refrigerated, or do both. Remember, Shea comes from a fruit, a food. It is not a synthetic product. By introducing water, it may introduce more maintenance to your mix.

As an alternative, you may be want to consider mixing in your powders in one of the oils, without the water. Then, mixing the oil with your butter. You may get similar benefits from the ayurvedic ingredients with the oil, without the risk of mold in your butter.

 

[Alma Petra]

I do not.

Water attracts and breeds microbes. If you add water you will either need to add preservatives, or you will need to keep the product refrigerated, or do both. Remember, Shea comes from a fruit, a food. It is not a synthetic product. By introducing water, it may introduce more maintenance to your mix.

As an alternative, you may be want to consider mixing in your powders in one of the oils, without the water. Then, mixing the oil with your butter. You may get similar benefits from the ayurvedic ingredients with the oil, without the risk of mold in your butter.

You are right. You make me think of adding a preservative because it seems that getting the essence of the herbs to be released into an oil is very difficult, unlike it is when you boil them in water and make a concentrated tea. You can make a tea in less than 24 hours but it takes 3 weeks to make an infused oil!!

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@ThatJerseyGirl

Very Informative. Thanks Ms. Lady!

 

[Alma Petra]

@ElevatedEnergy how much optiphen do you need to add to a mix to preserve it?

How does mango butter compare to shea butter in your opinion?

TIA

@ Everybody,
Has anyone used a shea mix as a sealant under gel eg for wash and go's or twist outs? How do they mix together? Does the shea cause white balls or flakes when used with gel?

 

[Firstborn2]

Hi Ladies, I'm sooo joining this challenge as soon as I receive my order.

 

[keranikki]

Welllll I was trying hard to stay away from this thread but I hope you ladies are all happy with yourselves now because now I feel compelled to come in here and join this challenge.

So yeah.....I'm in too .

Yes girl, I'm still in lurk mode though but I will most likely join this challenge also.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

@ElevatedEnergy how much optiphen do you need to add to a mix to preserve it?

How does mango butter compare to shea butter in your opinion?

TIA

@ Everybody,
Has anyone used a shea mix as a sealant under gel eg for wash and go's or twist outs? How do they mix together? Does the shea cause white balls or flakes when used with gel?

I don't preserve my butter mixes so I have no clue. I only use oil and butters so it doesn't require preservatives. Also I have never worked with optiphen. I just ordered some, but won't be working with it until next month so I have not researched enough to answer your question.

Mango butter is lighter than shea butter. It is fluffy, uber moisturizing and unlike shea butter requires no whipping/mixing and is quite easy to work with. Meaning once you get it, you can use as is. It's creamy and conditioning. I honestly like it better than shea butter. But when mixed together, they equal a powerhouse.

 

[Alma Petra]

I don't preserve my butter mixes so I have no clue. I only use oil and butters so it doesn't require preservatives. Also I have never worked with optiphen. I just ordered some, but won't be working with it until next month so I have not researched enough to answer your question.

Mango butter is lighter than shea butter. It is fluffy, uber moisturizing and unlike shea butter requires no whipping/mixing and is quite easy to work with. Meaning once you get it, you can use as is. It's creamy and conditioning. I honestly like it better than shea butter. But when mixed together, they equal a powerhouse.

Oh okay. I noticed that you ordered optiphen the other day so I thought that you already use it. I will have to do my own research then lol

Have you ever whipped a mixture of shea and mango butters?

 

[Alma Petra]

So I have found a couple of sources stating that it should be used at 0.5-1.5% of the total weight of the product, after the emulsification process and and at less than 37 degrees Celsius

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Plan to pull out my Nut.ri Bu.llet and whip up some Unrefined SB, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Rice Bran Oil and a drop or two of Glycerin and see how this 1st small batch turns out.

The 2nd small batch I'll use my Homemade DIY Oil which has: Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Spearmint Tea Tree etc......

I'll start off with two very small batches to see how I like them.

 

[Saludable84]

@ElevatedEnergy how much optiphen do you need to add to a mix to preserve it?

How does mango butter compare to shea butter in your opinion?

TIA

@ Everybody,
Has anyone used a shea mix as a sealant under gel eg for wash and go's or twist outs? How do they mix together? Does the shea cause white balls or flakes when used with gel?

I use optiphen. Depends on how much you are making. I use roughly 5-7 grams for an 8 ounce mixture. I also use optiphen only because I cannot guarantee I won’t get water in my mixture since I’m likely to use it in the shower.

Also, I like mango butter, but I’m not really wowed by it’s performance. I also find it to be too light. It is a good Shea Butter alternative if you find shea to be too heavy.

 

[Aggie]

I use optiphen. Depends on how much you are making. I use roughly 5-7 grams for an 8 ounce mixture. I also use optiphen only because I cannot guarantee I won’t get water in my mixture since I’m likely to use it in the shower.

Also, I like mango butter, but I’m not really wowed by it’s performance. I also find it to be too light. It is a good Shea Butter alternative if you find shea to be too heavy.

Great post @Saludable84 . Thanks for sharing hon.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

Plan to pull out my Nut.ri Bu.llet

Okay. So this didn't work for me.

I had to pull out my Hand.Held Mixer. It whipped it up nicely.

Decided to buy a small one for these hair concoctions and not use the one I use specifically for cooking.

 

[NappyNelle]

Using shea mix on my length.

 

[Saravana]

Last year, for about 6 months, while I wore braids, I coated each strand of my hair with shea butter from roots to ends. As a result I retained a lot of growth along with strong and healthy hair. I need to do that again.

So please add me to the challenge, Chicoro.

 

[Chicoro]

@ElevatedEnergy how much optiphen do you need to add to a mix to preserve it?

How does mango butter compare to shea butter in your opinion?

TIA

@ Everybody,
Has anyone used a shea mix as a sealant under gel eg for wash and go's or twist outs? How do they mix together? Does the shea cause white balls or flakes when used with gel?

@Alma Petra , looks like Saludable84 has some very specific and good suggestions for you. Because of your question, it looks like there are new possible ways to mix down one's Shea butter being explored. Regarding gel, I have found that gel works better under shea butter. First I dab on gel, then I put on Shea butter. Like most things, perhaps you may want to try it the way you asked, shea + gel, and tell us how it worked out for you. Good luck!

I use optiphen. Depends on how much you are making. I use roughly 5-7 grams for an 8 ounce mixture. I also use optiphen only because I cannot guarantee I won’t get water in my mixture since I’m likely to use it in the shower.

Also, I like mango butter, but I’m not really wowed by it’s performance. I also find it to be too light. It is a good Shea Butter alternative if you find shea to be too heavy.

@Saludable84 ,
It looks like Alma Petra 's question is helping to get new information out there and posted about what one can do with a shea mix.

 

[Chicoro]

Last year, for about 6 months, while I wore braids, I coated each strand of my hair with shea butter from roots to ends. As a result I retained a lot of growth along with strong and healthy hair. I need to do that again.

So please add me to the challenge, Chicoro.

Hi @Saravana ,
Come on in! The Shea mixes are warm, fluffy and comforting and inviting. How wonderful that you have already had the experience of great results from using Shea Butter. That means you have a good idea about what to expect.

What mix did you use during those 6 months? Did you get your hair re-braided? Or did you retain the same braids the entire 6 months? How big were the braids? Did you have extensions?

 

[mzteaze]

You are right. You make me think of adding a preservative because it seems that getting the essence of the herbs to be released into an oil is very difficult, unlike it is when you boil them in water and make a concentrated tea. You can make a tea in less than 24 hours but it takes 3 weeks to make an infused oil!!

You can create infused oils a little faster if you use gentle heat in the process like @ThatJerseyGirl does. She details in one of her posts how to do it in a slow cooker overnight.

I, coincidentally, made vanilla extract that way instead waiting 6+ weeks for traditional cold infusion. I popped it into my Instant Pot for 30 minutes, boom it was done.

 

[Chicoro]

You can create infused oils a little faster if you use gentle heat in the process like @ThatJerseyGirl does. She details in one of her posts how to do it in a slow cooker overnight.

I, coincidentally, made vanilla extract that way instead waiting 6+ weeks for traditional cold infusion. I popped it into my Instant Pot for 30 minutes, boom it was done.

@mzteaze ,
Girl, Yum to that home made vanilla extract!

How did that vanilla extract come out? Do you have the recipe? It would be a dream come true for me to make a vanilla scented Shea Butter! How did you make it?

Do you perhaps have the link for us about the post you are referencing regarding @ThatJerseyGirl ? If so, can you post that link for us here in this thread?

 

[Alma Petra]

Thank you very much @Saludable84. I feel more confident in using optiphen now. Smart thinking because I do everything hair in or just beside the shower too.

@Chicoro thank you! I will try using the shea mix below and on top of gel and I will report back to you guys..

@mzteaze you make me feel very hopeful and I second Chicoro in wanting to know everything about the vanilla recipe. Is the slow cooker and the instant pot the same thing?

 

[Saravana]

Hi @Saravana ,
Come on in! The Shea mixes are warm, fluffy and comforting and inviting. How wonderful that you have already had the experience of great results from using Shea Butter. That means you have a good idea about what to expect.

What mix did you use during those 6 months? Did you get your hair re-braided? Or did you retain the same braids the entire 6 months? How big were the braids? Did you have extensions?

I did my braids myself and I rebraided as needed. I used Janet Xpressions types of braids to make individual braids, not too thin but not too thick.

I might have used some oil but not necessarily. I made sure to coat each piece if my hair to the point that my hair was slippery from the weight of the shea. So it became like a " Chebe " kind of coating on my hair sealing the moisture in for weeks.
I went to the pool a few times. Zero damages. Zero dryness. The shea acted as a protective sealer.

And even though the shea coating made my hair slippery, the texture of the braids which is close or similar to my kinky hair made it unlikely for the hair to slip off the braids.
The only drawback: as a diy, it was not the most professional, the sharpest looking hairstyle but I didn't care.

I will try to find some pics to show you

 

[mzteaze]

@Chicoro & @Alma Petra

Making vanilla is very very easy. You can cold infuse using vanilla beans & your chosen liquor (or vegetable glycerin). Add beans and shake container at least once a week for 6 weeks. Store in a cool, dark place.

Or, if you have an Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker), you can read the very detailed post for how to make in about 30 minutes plus prep time. This details how to do it: https://tidbits-marci.com/pressure-cooker-vanilla-extract-and-faq/

I made my first batch with vodka but plan to make the next batch with bourbon.

When I get home I will find @ThatJerseyGirl 's post. It was very detailed & well worth reading.

 

[Alma Petra]

@Chicoro & @Alma Petra

Making vanilla is very very easy. You can cold infuse using vanilla beans & your chosen liquor (or vegetable glycerin). Add beans and shake container at least once a week for 6 weeks. Store in a cool, dark place.

Or, if you have an Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker), you can read the very detailed post for how to make in about 30 minutes plus prep time. This details how to do it: https://tidbits-marci.com/pressure-cooker-vanilla-extract-and-faq/

I made my first batch with vodka but plan to make the next batch with bourbon.

When I get home I will find @ThatJerseyGirl 's post. It was very detailed & well worth reading.

Thank you very much for this info!

Do you think it could be dangerous to use oil in the cooker instead of vodka?

TIA

 

[Alma Petra]

@Chicoro how about using ready made vanilla extract?

 

[keranikki]

@Chicoro & @Alma Petra

Making vanilla is very very easy. You can cold infuse using vanilla beans & your chosen liquor (or vegetable glycerin). Add beans and shake container at least once a week for 6 weeks. Store in a cool, dark place.

Or, if you have an Instant Pot (electric pressure cooker), you can read the very detailed post for how to make in about 30 minutes plus prep time. This details how to do it: https://tidbits-marci.com/pressure-cooker-vanilla-extract-and-faq/

I made my first batch with vodka but plan to make the next batch with bourbon.

When I get home I will find @ThatJerseyGirl 's post. It was very detailed & well worth reading.

Thank you ma’am!

 

[mzteaze]

Thank you very much for this info!

Do you think it could be dangerous to use oil in the cooker instead of vodka?

TIA

Since you are placing the oil or vodka in a canning jar first and using a lid, I doubt it will be an issue. Just be sure to use a trivet and at least a cup of water.

 

[tapioca_pudding]

Watching/lurking in this thread... I just recently discovered that my hair likes shea butter, when whipped. Right now I'm using my whipped hair butter to seal and really keep my ends lubricated. My hair is fine so whipping my butter is key for me.

I've been melting my butters down on low heat but next batch I will try just whipping them when they're solid to see how that goes. I didn't get any grit in my mix but I'm down to try a different method.

 

[mzteaze]

@Chicoro & @Alma Petra

Here are the links:

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...-hair-growth-oil.816155/page-16#post-24304279 - see post #479

https://longhaircareforum.com/threads/nov-2017-what-did-you-buy-this-week.826653/#post-24333683 - see post #28

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...egimen-challenge.825277/page-21#post-24400401 - see post #610