Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2019

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

I typically just go by pics and what my braids look like on wash day. Since I'm usually doing the same 8 braids it's easy to tell if there has been growth that way. .

same, or unraveling one twist and measuring from a marker on my body (beauty mark etc...) where it falls. I don't know how to measure correctly using measuring tape. I find the results inaccurate because i can tell my hair has grown but will get the same measurement for months...

 

[water_n_oil]

I said this in the 2018 thread but it's worth mentioning again: Shea Butter can be used in so many ways and has the ability to replace other products in your routine. For product minimalists like me, this was like a dream come true. I love when I can find something that can do multiple things as I'm not one who enjoys having multiple items just sitting around.

I use it:
1) To lay down my hair. The hair has to be wet for this, so I havent figured it out on straight hair yet...but my curly hair LIVES for this.

2) As heat protection. I don't blowdry (roller set instead) & I never turn my flat iron higher than 320. Been doing this since last year & not a single strand of damage.

3) As a deep conditioner. I like Shea Nut Oil for this as I feel it rinses out better. I can use this alone, but I like to add Herbal Tea Rinses (scalp health) and a rinse out conditioner (more slip)....but I could use the Shea Nut Oil alone & be satisfied.

4) As a scalp treatment. Just discovered this. I was previously using an Ayurvedic Herbal Oil but mixed the two together and Bam! #Perfection

5) Sealant with a leave in on wash day.

6) And of course....whipped to the GAWDS and slathered on the strands. I rarely pair anything with it after wash day....outside of rose water or distilled water...and the water is only as needed.

Shea holds it down for ya girl!

Totally agree about 1,2,5, & 6. Tell me more about the deep conditioning. Are you applying it over the tea rinse? Highly intrigued.

 

[sarumoki]

Hi all. Lurker turned member here. Shea butter is definitely a girl's best friend. Certainly mine. Chopped my hair to my shoulders (stretched) back in early July out of "tired mom frustration" and now I'm growing it back out. I have two main mixes I like. One is shea and oils (safflower, castor, grapeseed) and the other is shea and glycerin. I like the former from head to toe while the latter is mainly on my hair. I generally alternate between puffs and braids/braidouts.

Profile pic = latest puff. Mix #1 on the length of my hair. DIY Ayurvedic oil on the roots to smooth the ponytail in conjunction with hot water.

File 1 = latest braidout w/ mix #1.
File 2 = Wng from a year and a half ago with mix #2 and eco krystal.
File 3 = Braidout from 2016 with mix #2 (8 braids is my go to).

Anywho, happy to join you all in this shea filled journey.

EDIT: Changed my forum name to match my IG name. Water & oil/shea are the keys to keeping my hair great.

Shea and glycerin, you say? How do the two get along together? How do you use it in your hair?

 

[water_n_oil]

Shea and glycerin, you say? How do the two get along together? How do you use it in your hair?

I love it. Got the recipe from RealQueensRegimen/MikaLishauna years ago (I don't think she's on social media or youtube anymore). She did 8oz of shea mixed with 1/4C glycerin. It always leaves my hair super duper soft. I use it without a leave in. It doesn't separate and I've never run into issues with spoilage.

 

[Chicoro]

I love it. Got the recipe from RealQueensRegimen/MikaLishauna years ago (I don't think she's on social media or youtube anymore). She did 8oz of shea mixed with 1/4C glycerin. It always leaves my hair super duper soft. I use it without a leave in. It doesn't separate and I've never run into issues with spoilage.

I'm a glycerin fiend. Uh oh. You might be startin' something!

 

[Chicoro]

Hmmmm....so instead of using SCURL and Shea butter, you mean I might be able to combine Shea with glycerin?

 

[myhairgrowstoo]

This is what is happening for me. My measurements change often. I can tell my hair is longer but from measuring with a measuring tape, it seems I had a blunt cut of several inches. And the measurements change from higher to lower to higher within the week. I have no idea how long my hair truly is. I am trying to just use milestones

same, or unraveling one twist and measuring from a marker on my body (beauty mark etc...) where it falls. I don't know how to measure correctly using measuring tape. I find the results inaccurate because i can tell my hair has grown but will get the same measurement for months...

 

[water_n_oil]

I'm a glycerin fiend. Uh oh. You might be startin' something!

Omgosh, yes! Everyone seems to hate it so I rarely find someone else who likes it. I'm out of the aforementioned mix but I'm currently using a mix on my daughters (they're shea heads too of course) that's like the first one I mentioned but with ayurvedic herbs and glycerin too. I like the simpler mix better though.

 

[Chicoro]

Based on our current poll results as of Tuesday, January 15th, 2019 the goal length to breakthrough in 2019 is:

WAIST LENGTH !!!!
(27 %)

(followed closely by bra-strap length: 16. 7 %)

​

 

[Chicoro]

Full speed ahead Shea Saplings and Little Unicorns!!!​

 

[icsonia22]

Okay, let us know how it goes. Please tell me if you think I should a warning on the first page, in the first post that it is not a good idea to grease the scalp with Shea butter.

My situation could be a one off. I think each individual has to try it and see if there's any adverse reactions

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

I've been giving indigo a lot of flack lately for my tender scalp. The pain had just started to ease off a little about a day or 2 ago when I noticed that someone else in the group posted about Shea butter making their scalp sore. I never tied 2 and 2 together so I experimented with a fresh application of Shea butter on my scalp. Sure enough the soreness returned. I had just recently started greasing my scalp with Shea butter but apparently my scalp isn't feeling it. I'll stick to smothering my actual hair with it after moisturizing.

If a pinch of indigo is left on my scalp, it irritates me. The wash day after a henna/indigo....I always apply the shampoo directly to my scalp outside the shower. I put the shampoo in an applicator bottle, part my hair and apply it that way. Let it sit for 5 mins, then wash, rinse, repeat. Indigo is a highly irritating plant to the skin....I mean it is used to dye jeans. I actually really dislike it, but damn the black hair it gives is fire. So don't count the indigo out just yet. Maybe the indigo & the Shea was too much together for your scalp, perhaps?

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Okay, so are going to formally advise against placing Shea butter on the scalp
@icsonia22 and @ElevatedEnergy ?
Meaning:

"It is contraindicated to grease your scalp with your Shea butter mix."

I would just advise to proceed with caution.

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Totally agree about 1,2,5, & 6. Tell me more about the deep conditioning. Are you applying it over the tea rinse? Highly intrigued.

Yes,

Cleanse in the shower. Pour the tea over my scalp/hair. Do not rinse tea out.

Out of the shower:
Shea Nut Oil
Conditioner

I usually Deep Condition overnight. I find that the longer the Shea sits in my hair with the conditioner, it gives my wet hair a better chance to soak up that goodness.

I only do this when I wear my hair curly. When I rollerset, I skip it.

 

[Chicoro]

Yay!!!!

Don't forget to take your starting pictures! I take progress shots of my skin seasonally. That's really how I noticed a difference.

Thank you!

I took a starting picture that SAME day I made my Shea Coffee Butter. That sounds sooooo delicious: 'Shea Coffee Butter'. Le yum! I take photos of myself in bikinis that I NEVER
wear outside of my house. I'm a little chunky right now, so I probably won't be snapping
pics until I get my weight down a little bit.

 

[water_n_oil]

Yes,

Cleanse in the shower. Pour the tea over my scalp/hair. Do not rinse tea out.

Out of the shower:
Shea Nut Oil
Conditioner

I usually Deep Condition overnight. I find that the longer the Shea sits in my hair with the conditioner, it gives my wet hair a better chance to soak up that goodness.

I only do this when I wear my hair curly. When I rollerset, I skip it.

That sounds lovely. I've been wanting to try the oil. Recently I went back to oil rinsing over a regular conditioner. When I deep condition I take the time to sit under my dryer.

 

[MizzBFly]

@MizzBFly
Based on that photo with the line drawn, you don't have far to go to get to waist length. I counted about 4 inches MAXIMUM. It is certainly possible for you to get to waist length by December 2019. This is assuming your retain all your length and that you don't have any major setbacks. See you at waist length!

*squeals*
My fingers and toes are crossed! I just have to be extremely consistent but the little shine I have in that pic is due to the Shea. I want to wrap my face in my hair

 

[sunflora]

I measured just the other day, and I have 1.5 inches until I hit APL (at least in the front). My hair is pretty blunt so it should be the same, if not less, in the back.

In the best case, that means three months! And you know I will be working to retain every last millimeter to get to a new length goal.

 

[MizzBFly]

I’ve been LCO with the C being Shea butter since last week, tonight I went a bit more heavy handed on my ends since I treated them so bad the last quarter of 2018 smh... and after my very blunt trim....
This week:
they feel great after application but by morning slightly crunchy. I took it way, way back to when I started on LHCF and was tex-laxing so I baggied/GHE on my ends, thanks ladies for this reminder for this technique!

 

[caribeandiva]

@ElevatedEnergy gorgeousness is a holdover from 2018! I have a feeling she's going to outperform herself in 2019. So, let's give her some more time to bake so that she can REALLY shine!

Also, I think we can wait until March 2019 before we start nominating Shea- Made Hair Unicorns. That will give everybody about 3 months worth of time to see if Shea is making a difference for them in 2019. From there, I think the unicorns are going to explode. Also, maybe around then YOU, @caribeandiva may find that you got more time to come around. If not, I do understand. You are working THEM Goals, ain't 'cha, Girl!

So just to give everybody a chance, let's start the nominees in March 2019. Of course there are always exceptions and we can address those as they pop up!

If you all think different, please let me know. I want to level the playing field, hence the nomination starting in March suggestion.

Gotcha. Works for me!

 

[Chicoro]

I measured just the other day, and I have 1.5 inches until I hit APL (at least in the front). My hair is pretty blunt so it should be the same, if not less, in the back.

In the best case, that means three months! And you know I will be working to retain every last millimeter to get to a new length goal.

You KNOW we want to see that! We live for hitting new length goals!

 

[Chicoro]

I can FEEL it!!!!

There are going to be so many length gain barriers broken through in 2019.

So, let me start practicing and strengthening my knees .....



GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL !!!!!!!

 

[PlanetCybertron]

1. No, everyone doesn't have the same timed spurts. (I like to measure my braids and re-measure the same braids each month. That's how I discovered my growth spurts.)
2. Yes, you have to watch and track your own hair to identify your own growth spurts.
3. How best to track is a personal choice. I keep my hair in the same section when I measure. I have eight braids and four on each side. I measure each braid and label them.

Maybe some other ladies can chime in on how they measure their hair?

Don’t mind if I jump in? Lol

1. Completely agree. I find it fascinating that your spurts are in the winter months. Winter is the slowest growing time for myself. My spurts kick in around Spring, and become full blown/cap out in Summer.

2. Also agree. I track my growth monthly, and gauge my spurts in 3 month periods. Mostly just adding up total length within 3 months. Just some quick mental math, to observe if I’m doing my part concerning scalp health and length retention.

3. Once again, I agree.
I think consistency is key. I don’t measure in braids, but like you, I consistently track in certain sections. There’s an area of hair I have just under my crown, and right above my nape from ear to ear, and my bangs, that seem to grow at a quicker pace than any other areas on my head. So I take a small piece on the right side in the back area, and on the right side of my bangs in the front, and use those as markers for my faster growing areas. My crown grows at a normal rate, but is extremely sensitive on the far left and right sides above my ears, so I track a small section on the left side above and slightly behind my left ear to see if I’m slowly learning and making progress on length retention. If I see there’s no noticeable length over maybe 2-3 months, I know that my sensitive areas still need to be worked on. If I even get half an inch in sensitive areas over the same 2-3 month period, I know I’m at least headed in the right direction.

 

[PlanetCybertron]

Ladies, how are you baselining your hair length? How do you initially measure your hair? Do you keep visual, photo records? Do you measure? Do you keep a journal? How often do you measure?

How do you realize/know that you have had growth????????

1. I baseline my hair length as a total unit. I know many ladies break up their length in different areas, like crown length, nape length, and front length, but I start at my hairline, put the tape measureer over my head and go all the way down to the very ends of my hair. I’m more or less lazy in certain aspects, so just having one whole unit of hair to measure makes it easier on myself with less room for error.

2. I initially measure my hair with a stretched photo at the beginning of the month. Usually using the right side of my longest hairs. Then I use a tape measure at the end of the month to Keep a very rough estimate of things, since my pictures can sometimes look exactly the same from month to month.

3. So yea. Measure once a month, along with a picture once a month, and I keep photos in an album on my phone, and keep measurements on a few notes I have in my phone app.

4. My body milestones are the only sure fire way I can physically see if I’ve retained any length. So I rely on stretching my hair, as most of us do. My measurements tend to be moderately accurate, but even the slightest movements can throw off my measurements with a tape by a full inch sometimes. With practice I’ve learned how to position myself properly, so the measurements tend to be in order. But photos are a good progress tracker that I like to use. I stand in the same spot, in the same place, with the same lighting.

 

[GettingKinky]

I used to get my hair straightened every 8 weeks and I would take length check pictures then. But I haven’t straightened my hair in over a year so I need a new way to track my growth. I have no idea if I’m retaining length or not. The ends of my hair get knotted all the time so I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve lost length. I really need to take better care of my ends.

 

[water_n_oil]

Buttered up the babies before bed last night. Four braids for my 1 year old and six twists for my 4 year old. I feel like my 4 year old could benefit from a leave in underneath but her hair is soft nonetheless.

 

[metro_qt]

I know you didn't ask me, but I know that I have growth spurts in the winter. I just always have since I've been alive, so I expect them then. I think if you have a hard time noticing what your growth rate is, you can try measuring every month and record these measurements in a journal. Do this for as long as you want until you see a trend.

I take a lot of pictures of my hair now and keep them filed so that I can easily follow along, as I am more of a visual person. Even just random phone pictures helped me realize what my trends were earlier on, as each year I'd find a picture of my hair past my collarbone in the winter and in a bob in the summer (I used to cut my hair a lot). HTH.

ETA: No, we don't all have the same growth spurts or similarly timed at all. Most people say that they have theirs in the spring or summer. I think mine is attributed to all of the curry and chai I eat and drink in the winter LOL. But yeah everyone's different.

thanks @sunflora , this was totally helpful,
my hair grows upwards and outwards, so it's hard to see if it's grown, I might stretch a wash and go and make it taller and fluffier, or wear it compact the next month, and it looks like my hair has shrunk.

I only measure occasionally with a ruler, and I've never thought to chart when my hair grows the fastest.
I always assumed it was in the summer, but I will be watching out now.

 

[metro_qt]

1. No, everyone doesn't have the same timed spurts. (I like to measure my braids and re-measure the same braids each month. That's how I discovered my growth spurts.)
2. Yes, you have to watch and track your own hair to identify your own growth spurts.
3. How best to track is a personal choice. I keep my hair in the same section when I measure. I have eight braids and four on each side. I measure each braid and label them.

Maybe some other ladies can chime in on how they measure their hair?

I'm going to get more serious with my hair tracking method and visuals in order to see my growth and how shea effects my hair.
I actually dyed/highlighted my hair last weekend, (yes, i have pics, and yes, I will be posting in the thread soon)
and I think this will be a great method for tracking my hair growth as well, as the highlights grow out.

 

[metro_qt]

I love it. Got the recipe from RealQueensRegimen/MikaLishauna years ago (I don't think she's on social media or youtube anymore). She did 8oz of shea mixed with 1/4C glycerin. It always leaves my hair super duper soft. I use it without a leave in. It doesn't separate and I've never run into issues with spoilage.

@water_n_oil when do you use this in your wash day routine or your weekly routine? is this a daily leave in?

 

[water_n_oil]

@water_n_oil when do you use this in your wash day routine or your weekly routine? is this a daily leave in?

Wash day. I usually t-shirt dry for like 20min then on each section (8) I apply some of it before doing a braid.