Techniques For Hair Growth And Length Retention

[caribeandiva]

@caribeandiva ,
You answered the question that was asked! Thank you for responding. So, as it relates to the Shea butter thread, both you and @Keen and I, found keeping our hair moist with water or a water based product, plus Shea butter in our hair, is a technique that has helped with length retention.

Thus, @ajoke,
The formula or technique that relates to Shea butter and retaining length for us (Carib/Keen/Chic)is:

Moisturized*/Wet Hair + Shea Butter Sealed On Top = Hair That Retains Length

*Moisture is NEVER, NEVER OIL. Oil lubricates. WATER moisturizes. Water is the only thing that moisturizes hair [in 'my' opinion]. SCurl is a water based, glycerin product. Therefore, it can be considered a moisturizer or considered a water based product that moisturizes, because the first or main ingredient is water. It is the water in SCurl that moisturizes the hair, not the glycerin.

I personally saturate my hair with warm water first. I tap my roots with gel. Then, I apply Scurl, then I apply my Shea butter.

Yes!! Keeping my hair moist at all times is more important than *gasp* deep conditioning. Ok now don’t hear what I’m not saying. I never said deep conditioninig isn’t important. It’s a very important part of my hair care regimen. Yet I’ve been deep conditioning religiously since I discovered haircare in 2006 and my hair never got past shoulder length until I started frequent moisturizing AND sealing with a heavy butter. I had an inkling that my old regimen wasn’t the business when the Chebe powder video came out. Those ladies are stunting in the desert with tailbone length hair and they DIDN’T deep condition their hair. How could they when they live in such dire situations? All they did was keep their hair moist at all times with water, some kind of homemade moisturizer (I think) and sealing it all in with the Chebe powder then braided up. That’s it till wash day. That’s when I had a lightbulb moment that I’ve been focusing on the wrong thing all these years. I started looking into heavy sealants, eventually @Chicoro introduced me to real Shea butter and the rest is history.

 

[caribeandiva]

So let me see if I get the technique right: you take down your braids regularly and do the following. 1. wet hair with water 2. moisturise with scurl and 3. coat with Sheba butter.

Exactly!

 

[ajoke]

Exactly!

Thanks. Will be jumping on this bandwagon. Everyday for the next month. Will be back at the end of the week to report after the first week.

 

[caribeandiva]

By the way, I got a shower filter. My husband split the shower head into a section With filter and a section without. A filter is something I also recommend if you have hard water.

I had one for years. It was great but my hair still stayed shoulder length. My current apartment has weird shower heads that are not removable so I haven’t used one in over 3 years. Yet even with the hard water I managed to grow my hair from SL to APL in the past 18 months. That’s because keeping your hair moisturized at all times trumps everything!

 

[caribeandiva]

If you do that every day without washing in between, won’t the Shea butter of precious days preventative moisturizer from penetrating?

Nope. Try it. Then you’ll understand.

 

[caribeandiva]

The purpose of the warm water is that I don't like COLD water

 

[caribeandiva]

Thanks. Will be jumping on this bandwagon. Everyday for the next month. Will be back at the end of the week to report after the first week.

Can’t wait!!

 

[caribeandiva]

Another thing that also clicked for me after I started the Shea journey was how inconsistent I was before. I thought I was consistent and I was with the shampoo and deep conditioning parts. But I was always tweaking my regimen, either by trying new moisturizers or techniques or growth aides. After @Chicoro helped me craft my new regimen I stuck with it but I found myself itching to try new things. She had to remind that if my regimen is working then DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!! Not even the color of your Shea butter if you can help it. That was eye opening for me. Change just for the sake of change (or boredom) is a recipe for disaster. Stick with what works.

 

[Chicoro]

Another thing that also clicked for me after I started the Shea journey was how inconsistent I was before. I thought I was consistent and I was with the shampoo and deep conditioning parts. But I was always tweaking my regimen, either by trying new moisturizers or techniques or growth aides. After @Chicoro helped me craft my new regimen I stuck with it but I found myself itching to try new things. She had to remind that if my regimen is working then DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!! Not even the color of your Shea butter if you can help it. That was eye opening for me. Change just for the sake of change (or boredom) is a recipe for disaster. Stick with what works.

Yep to all this.

 

[Chicoro]

I had one for years. It was great but my hair still stayed shoulder length. My current apartment has weird shower heads that are not removable so I haven’t used one in over 3 years. Yet even with the hard water I managed to grow my hair from SL to APL in the past 18 months. That’s because keeping your hair moisturized at all times trumps everything!

The hard part is determining what 'moisturizing' means for each individual, and for their respective heads of hair.

 

[Keen]

*Moisture is NEVER, NEVER OIL. Oil lubricates.

This is where I went wrong for years. It doesn't even make sense to me now.

 

[Chicoro]

I see that Shea Butter Challenge thread got tentacles. Now, we all up in this thread...But nobody told me to come over here and post...wait...@ajoke messed up and tagged me. Wherever me and my hair go, Queen Shea is coming right along.

Let me go see how I can bring up Shea butter in another completely, unrelated to hair, thread. Bye!

Before I go...let me just leave this right here...

 

[caribeandiva]

I see that Shea Butter Challenge thread got tentacles. Now, we all up in this thread...But nobody told me to come over here and post...wait...@ajoke messed up and tagged me. Wherever me and my hair go, Queen Shea is coming right along.

Let me go see how I can bring up Shea butter in another completely, unrelated to hair, thread. Bye!

 

[Chicoro]

I added some Shea after you quoted!

 

[ajoke]

I see that Shea Butter Challenge thread got tentacles. Now, we all up in this thread...But nobody told me to come over here and post...wait...@ajoke messed up and tagged me. Wherever me and my hair go, Queen Shea is coming right along.

Let me go see how I can bring up Shea butter in another completely, unrelated to hair, thread. Bye!

Before I go...let me just leave this right here...

Thanks for humoring me you guys. I am part of the Shea butter challenge too. Maybe this is the year I’ll win my stripes?‍

 

[ajoke]

Another thing that also clicked for me after I started the Shea journey was how inconsistent I was before. I thought I was consistent and I was with the shampoo and deep conditioning parts. But I was always tweaking my regimen, either by trying new moisturizers or techniques or growth aides. After @Chicoro helped me craft my new regimen I stuck with it but I found myself itching to try new things. She had to remind that if my regimen is working then DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!! Not even the color of your Shea butter if you can help it. That was eye opening for me. Change just for the sake of change (or boredom) is a recipe for disaster. Stick with what works.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone about the inconsistency! But seriously, I hope I can stick to this regimen for 3-6 months and see where it takes me.

 

[water_n_oil]

Another thing that also clicked for me after I started the Shea journey was how inconsistent I was before. I thought I was consistent and I was with the shampoo and deep conditioning parts. But I was always tweaking my regimen, either by trying new moisturizers or techniques or growth aides. After @Chicoro helped me craft my new regimen I stuck with it but I found myself itching to try new things. She had to remind that if my regimen is working then DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING!! Not even the color of your Shea butter if you can help it. That was eye opening for me. Change just for the sake of change (or boredom) is a recipe for disaster. Stick with what works.

I feel like this is the most important advice. There's times where I'll unfollow/unsubscribe as not to be influenced on social media. I'm not new to my natural hair at all and I know what works then I'd play myself wondering what's wrong like I didn't just try 50-11 unnecessary things.

 

[ajoke]

I feel like this is the most important advice. There's times where I'll unfollow/unsubscribe as not to be influenced on social media. I'm not new to my natural hair at all and i know what works the I'd play myself wondering what's wrong like I didn't just try 50-11 unnecessary things.

I agree - once one knows what works.

 

[Chicoro]

Thanks for humoring me you guys. I am part of the Shea butter challenge too. Maybe this is the year I’ll win my stripes?‍

Stripes?

You mean horn, as in Unicorn horn, right?!!

We nominate Shea Made Hair Unicorns, baby. Not Shea Made Hair Zebras.

 

[Chicoro]

Yes, just maybe you, too may 'win' your nomination!
@ajoke !

 

[caribeandiva]

The hard part is determining what 'moisturizing' means for each individual, and for their respective heads of hair.

And that where I went wrong for years. When I mentioned upthread that I was following Youtubers with different hair types than mine, it’s not their different hair textures that led me astray, it’s the level of moisture their hair needed versus mine.

 

[water_n_oil]

And that where I went wrong for years. When I mentioned upthread that I was following Youtubers with different hair types than mine, it’s not their different hair textures that led me astray, it’s the level of moisture their hair needed versus mine.

Agreed. Everyone talks about having a super moisturizing leave in conditioner for example but most leave ins leave my hair feeling dry. Water followed by a butter is much better for me.

 

[PlanetCybertron]

I think the biggest technique I have learned is how to handle your hair. Specifically finer hair.

In my opinion, even if you moisturize and seal and use protein, and have the best of the best products, or use products in perfect combinations, if you’re handling your hair in such a way that is counterproductive to retaining length, it won’t matter.

Even if my hair is dry, or severely tangled, I can still bypass that mostly. Especially if I find I have no time for my hair at that specific moment. If I can eventually make it to my shower and completely get my hair wet, I can fix the issue(s).

I also think mastering tension is key. Not every part of your hair can handle tension equally. So knowing just how much force you exert on your hair in certain sections I feel is a good thing to know. Everything from detangling, washing, applying products, sleeping on your hair, and going from wet to dry after wash day are all important elements.

 

[caribeandiva]

I feel like this is the most important advice. There's times where I'll unfollow/unsubscribe as not to be influenced on social media. I'm not new to my natural hair at all and I know what works then I'd play myself wondering what's wrong like I didn't just try 50-11 unnecessary things.

YouTube is the devil sometimes. I had to unfollow some folks over that too.

 

[caribeandiva]

I added some Shea after you quoted!

*in my best T.I. voice* Why’d you have to go and do that?

 

[caribeandiva]

Shhh, don’t tell anyone about the inconsistency! But seriously, I hope I can stick to this regimen for 3-6 months and see where it takes me.

It’ll take you to uncharted territory, where your hair has never gone before! Next thing you know your ears will perk up whenever anyone mentions Shea butter. You’ll be drooling over Shea mixes AND Hamamat’s Shea hunks on Instagram. No one will believe that your new more luscious, darker hair is really all yours. Welcome to the club hon!

 

[caribeandiva]

Yes, just maybe you, too may 'win' your nomination!
@ajoke !

Yep.. I’m polishing your trophy as we speak!

 

[ajoke]

It’ll take you to uncharted territory, where your hair has never gone before! Next thing you know your ears will perk up whenever anyone mentions Shea butter. You’ll be drooling over Shea mixes AND Hamamat’s Shea hunks on Instagram. No one will believe that your new more luscious, darker hair is really all yours. Welcome to the club hon!

Thanks ladies! Very excited. This is my year, I feel it in my bones.

 

[blazingbeauty]

I think the biggest technique I have learned is how to handle your hair. Specifically finer hair.

In my opinion, even if you moisturize and seal and use protein, and have the best of the best products, or use products in perfect combinations, if you’re handling your hair in such a way that is counterproductive to retaining length, it won’t matter.

Even if my hair is dry, or severely tangled, I can still bypass that mostly. Especially if I find I have no time for my hair at that specific moment. If I can eventually make it to my shower and completely get my hair wet, I can fix the issue(s).

I also think mastering tension is key. Not every part of your hair can handle tension equally. So knowing just how much force you exert on your hair in certain sections I feel is a good thing to know. Everything from detangling, washing, applying products, sleeping on your hair, and going from wet to dry after wash day are all important elements.

It’s nice that you bring up finer hair, even just thinking about older ends that have weathered over time.

What do the finer haired ladies do to avoid breakage when applying product (those small wispy pieces that can end up in your hands while moisturizing). Is it avoidable?

I try to combat it by manipulating (i.e moisturizing) my hair once a week and washing every two weeks. Aphogee Treatments really help but have not completely stopped it.

 

[PlanetCybertron]

It’s nice that you bring up finer hair, even just thinking about older ends that have weathered over time.

What do the finer haired ladies do to avoid breakage when applying product (those small wispy pieces that can end up in your hands while moisturizing). Is it avoidable?

I try to combat it by manipulating (i.e moisturizing) my hair once a week and washing every two weeks. Aphogee Treatments really help but have not completely stopped it.

That’s exactly the same thing that happens to me. I’ve found that when I moisturize out of the shower, I will inevitably find a few of those very very fine hairs in my hands.

However when I completely drench or hydrate my hair completely in the shower, and then let it air dry to a damp state, I virtually see not a single hair in my hands if I feel like I need a light coat of whatever leave in I choose.

I think with hair, concerning each individual strand, not every bit of moisture coats evenly despite trying to evenly apply it. And not every part of that strand of hair is has the same strength, porosity, or thickness. The middle of a strand of hair can be a lot more resilient, but let’s say just above it, it is a lot more weaker, or even finer, and you go to moisturize and apply just enough force or tension that ends up breaking it.

I think situations like that happen all over my head. And I think there’s a difference between fully hydrating, and moisturizing. I try to mostly get my entire head of hair wet, or completely hydrate it all at one time, and then let my hair air dry, until it’s very feathery and fluffy in its damp state. Since my hair is fine, it’ll compress and get stuck together almost immediately, so I try to keep it separated, and apply leave ins to the best of my ability until wash day as well.

I don’t think it’s completely avoidable, and I don’t think it solely happens to fine haired ladies, but I do think with fine hair it’s a bit more of a recurring issue.

So long as you can manage to mitigate it, or grow hair fast enough to outweigh the small bits of breakage, i think it’s a normal thing.