Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018

Has Shea Butter 'got you'?

  • Let me look over my investment portfolio and see if I have room for shea related stocks.

    Votes: 21 12.8%
  • I've got 8 pounds in the house, I need to order me some more because I don't want to run out.

    Votes: 29 17.7%
  • 1 Day without sealing my ends is just unthinkable.

    Votes: 12 7.3%
  • It works for me for now.

    Votes: 45 27.4%
  • Nah, I can take it or leave it.

    Votes: 12 7.3%
  • Meh, I'm here for the posts.

    Votes: 28 17.1%
  • That stuff just weighs down my hair. No thanks!

    Votes: 17 10.4%

  • Total voters
    164

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Chicoro, sure no problem! Attached below is the picture I posted in the TBL thread. As for the color, my hair is naturally very dark probably close to jet black. I only color the perimeter front and back edges because of gray strands. I don't put the color throughout. I don't have a before perimeter shot but will document better this time around to test my hypothesis/belief set. Typically when I've colored my grays the front would come back first and normally after 3 months. The last time I colored using SM permanent hair color in jet black was in the beginning of November. So by January I would have started to see the grays peeking through. At first I thought my hair had stalled and wasn't growing or doing anything but since starting the SB regimen in January I knew my breakage had stopped and there were minimal ssk's. Just this week I saw my first strand of gray appear and it's been 5 months since I last colored. My pull test shows that my hair did grow because I cut off at least 2-3 inches back in January which took me back to just below MBL and now I'm back to between 19 and 20 inches on my length check shirt. Now that I have a better phone and the app @YvetteWithJoy recommended works great I can document more and take more pictures. Hope this helps and what you were looking for!

Yes, this helps so much!

Now, Shea out here stopping gray hair in its tracks. That is absolutely fascinating!
 

Daina

Well-Known Member
@caribeandiva What a beautiful pail!!! Congratulations @Daina !!! Your hair is gorgeous!!! What does your mix consist of?

@Garner, thank you! My last batch of SB contained the following:
  • Shea butter
  • Mango butter
  • Coconut oil
  • EVOO
  • MSM
  • Honey
  • Vit C
  • Aloe vera juice
  • Pina colada fragrance oil
Next batch I plan to make an ayurvedic version and include amla, maka, brahmi and shikaki.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Garner, thank you! My last batch of SB contained the following:
  • Shea butter
  • Mango butter
  • Coconut oil
  • EVOO
  • MSM
  • Honey
  • Vit C
  • Aloe vera juice
  • Pina colada fragrance oil
Next batch I plan to make an ayurvedic version and include amla, maka, brahmi and shikaki.


WAIT! Can you do us the honor of cutting and pasting your regimen in here so we can see your process getting that fast growing, single-strand knot free hair, please?

If I have missed your posted regimen in this thread, please kindly advise of the post #. If you haven't posted, I'd love to know what your regimen is. It will help other people, too!
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I'm going to do some research to see if I can come up with a technical article related to Shea butter and gray hair. I think we may be on the verge of another 'Shea Discovery'. It won't be happening tonight, though.




I wish you a Sweet, Shea Sleep.

Night, night ya'll!
 

Daina

Well-Known Member
WAIT! Can you do us the honor of cutting and pasting your regimen in here so we can see your process getting that fast growing, single-strand knot free hair, please?

If I have missed your posted regimen in this thread, please kindly advise of the post #. If you haven't posted, I'd love to know what your regimen is. It will help other people, too!

@Chicoro, absolutely but prepare to be underwhelmed! I don't really have an elaborate regimen, it's really simple to be honest. My hair flourishes the best when I simply leave it be. This winter I have been cleansing bi-weekly. I typically do the following:
  • Co-wash with Wen 613 or As I Am
  • Once a month use Redken cleansing cream to chelate and clarify
  • On the week I clarify I do a Cassia gloss and include honey, AVJ, EVOO, grapeseed oil, and sometimes amla, shikaki, brahmi and maka powders. I use Wen 613 as my conditioner in the gloss
  • DC is a must and I do it every time I cleanse without fail. I have multiple that I like and typically will use heat for at least 30-45 minutes
  • Post cleanse and DC, I always LCOB and my DIY Queen Shea is always my butter of choice
  • For styling I mainly wear buns, french braids or twists. Occasionally I will blow dry on cool to do a stretched twist out like in my earlier pics
  • In the summer same routine as above except I cleanse weekly. Also 1 or 2 weeks per month I will do a WnG. Most of the time in the summer I wet or damp bun
  • 2-3 times a year at most I will flat iron my hair. This year I will flat iron for the first time for either Mother's day or in June. I'm not against heat I just don't really like my hair when it's straight anymore. I leave it straight for 3-4 weeks then it's back to my curls
As I said not very exciting but it works for me. One new thing I tried this last week was a bentonite clay wash that I made and I really liked it. I'm new to clay washing so I will see how I can incorporate that into my routine.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Chicoro, absolutely but prepare to be underwhelmed! I don't really have an elaborate regimen, it's really simple to be honest. My hair flourishes the best when I simply leave it be. This winter I have been cleansing bi-weekly. I typically do the following:
  • Co-wash with Wen 613 or As I Am
  • Once a month use Redken cleansing cream to chelate and clarify
  • On the week I clarify I do a Cassia gloss and include honey, AVJ, EVOO, grapeseed oil, and sometimes amla, shikaki, brahmi and maka powders. I use Wen 613 as my conditioner in the gloss
  • DC is a must and I do it every time I cleanse without fail. I have multiple that I like and typically will use heat for at least 30-45 minutes
  • Post cleanse and DC, I always LCOB and my DIY Queen Shea is always my butter of choice
  • For styling I mainly wear buns, french braids or twists. Occasionally I will blow dry on cool to do a stretched twist out like in my earlier pics
  • In the summer same routine as above except I cleanse weekly. Also 1 or 2 weeks per month I will do a WnG. Most of the time in the summer I wet or damp bun
  • 2-3 times a year at most I will flat iron my hair. This year I will flat iron for the first time for either Mother's day or in June. I'm not against heat I just don't really like my hair when it's straight anymore. I leave it straight for 3-4 weeks then it's back to my curls
As I said not very exciting but it works for me. One new thing I tried this last week was a bentonite clay wash that I made and I really liked it. I'm new to clay washing so I will see how I can incorporate that into my routine.

Your regimen has all the hallmarks of one to grow afro textured hair to waist length. The things needed to grow to tailbone length and beyond are different. They are different in that the routine is more rigid.

Hallmarks of Long (Waist Length) Hair Routine
  • Low manipulation styles
  • Low use of heat
  • High use of protective styling
  • Protein treatments (cassia gloss)
  • Deep conditoning EVERY wash
  • Moisturizing and lubricating hair regularly.
 

Daina

Well-Known Member
Your regimen has all the hallmarks of one to grow afro textured hair to waist length. The things needed to grow to tailbone length and beyond are different. They are different in that the routine is more rigid.

Hallmarks of Long (Waist Length) Hair Routine
  • Low manipulation styles
  • Low use of heat
  • High use of protective styling
  • Protein treatments (cassia gloss)
  • Deep conditoning EVERY wash
  • Moisturizing and lubricating hair regularly.

@Chicoro please share when you get a chance on the things/regimen needed to go to TBL and beyond. While I think maintaining at HL is my mindset right now, going to TBL might be an option as well. TIA!
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Chicoro please share when you get a chance on the things/regimen needed to go to TBL and beyond. While I think maintaining at HL is my mindset right now, going to TBL might be an option as well. TIA!

I put everything in the next post below, post # 3558.
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Chicoro please share when you get a chance on the things/regimen needed to go to TBL and beyond. While I think maintaining at HL is my mindset right now, going to TBL might be an option as well. TIA!

Original Thread title:
How To Care For Tbl Real Hair In Protective Styles

Link:

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...ir-in-protective-styles.808475/#post-23495089

Post #7

My observations pertain to hair that is squarely in the 4 range, or hair that looks like mine (3 range) and "acts" and grows like it is type 4 hair. I dislike hair typing but it helps to cut to the chase to get everyone one the same page quickly during a discussion.

My observations for many tail bone length women with afro-textured hair:
  1. Hair is rarely washed more than 1x per week
  2. Hair is washed in braids or twists or sections(one on one attention is given to either each section and/or each braid in that section). This one may seem obvious and well known. But the difference is that these women don't take all braids/twists out at once and combine the hair on a regular basis. Either they undo the hair and leave it in its own section, or they wash, condition and leave all hair in braids/twists. To detangle and comb out, they do one braid at a time, leaving the rest braided or twisted or sectioned but tend to not combine all the hair together.
    • Note: I overlooked this. I have always washed and conditioned my hair in braids. But after I detangled a section, I would combine it with the other sections. Hence, I would always need to use a comb to detangle it and get it back into sections. With these ladies, fingers are used more than the comb.
    • Also, I realized that I have been damaging my hair NOT at the detangling stage, but before, during my braiding and unbraiding. I pull and snatch my hair apart and the force or tension maximized at the ends of my hair causing tangling and breakage. I have been damaging my hair before I even began the detangling process.
    • For the first time EVER in my hair care process, I did not need to use a comb because I washed, oiled and conditioned my hair in braids. I carefully and gently undid a braid, while leaving the rest braided. I put in my leave in and gently re-braided that one braid. Surprisingly, the unbraiding/leave-in/braiding took a long time even without detangling with a wide, toothed comb.
  3. Hair is sectioned / done in sections-See detail above, point #1.
  4. Hair is stretched before it is styled (bantu knot, banded, heat stretched). Some women let there hair dry in
    • braids or twists
    • bantu knots
    • banded hair
    • put on rollers
    • Some women lightly blow dry
  5. Hair is kept stretched after it is styled (These ladies tend to gather their twists and pin around their heads or combine the twists creating some kind of stretching on the hair.)
  6. Shea butter is often used (protects hair and organic tissue like hair and skin from the break down of proteins on the exposed surface by the environment, specifically protects against the sun.) It may not be used throughout the entire journey, but during significant time frames or points in the journey (transitioning only, washing, sealant, etc)
  7. Extremely low maintenance styles (For me, low maintenance styles are not necessarily protective styles! I define low maintenance styles as those where the hair is manipulated as little as possible.)
    • Some braid or twist hair until it dries and leave it for three days to a week, then undo the hair to wear braid outs or twist outs until the next wash day.
    • Some leave the twists or braids in until the next wash day.
    • Some do up do's
  8. Specific daily hair end regimen (or frequent as in 2 or more times per week, ends given special attention)
    • Even if the entire braid or twist is redone , they tend to have a specific regimen for the ends
    • Ends are wetted or spritzed with water, an oil is added (Water + oil) (Usually castor oil or shea butter).
  9. Protective Styles (For "me" , protective style is determined by what you are doing with the ends of the hair. If the ends are not up and out of the air, I do not consider the style protective.)
    • Ends are twisted up, covered, tucked and/or kept from the air like Wanakee Pugh taught years ago
    • Hair ends or the entire head is kept covered or protected during the day and/or at night
      • Head scarves for night
      • Tucking or hiding hair during the day or night
  10. Trimming
    • Trimming done on a fairly regular basis
    • Trims tend to be done in braided or twisted styles (Unevenness not an issue as most of these women rarely or ever wear heat straightened hair styles)
  11. Time :timer: (2 to 8 year journeys. The average seems to be 5 years.)
That's all! It's enough, I know!

Edit: Forgot some form of protein is used whether be in a commercial product, treatment or DIY. Frequency depends on the head of hair.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
:brainy:Discovery:

The Wheat Germ Powder, Wheat Germ Oil & Emu Oil SB-Blend left a bit of a "greenish" tinge to my hair. It's a good thing I'm under a wig.

Other than that, I whipped up nicely and felt good. Might make a Great Pre-Poo Treatment.

What specific ingredient, in your blend, do you think made the hair turn green?
 

prettydarkthing

Well-Known Member
Just lurking and thought one of you ladies might have a quick answer to my question about shea.

Silly question, but I have a 1 lb tub of shea butter that says processed. DH bought it because he was near a store I sometimes buy shea from, but I'm not sure if this is safe to use on my hair. I'd like to use it some way because he was excited and wanted to surprise me. It looks white and doesn't smell nutty at all, has anyone used processed butter effectively?

I'm not being a butter snob, but a few months ago I purchased butter online and that was the toughest butter ever, and it was off white, but so hard, I almost believed it was cocoa butter and it didn't have much smell, very hard to mix. I saw a recommendation from someone here and purchased a softer, better butter online. So I'm weary of "off" grades of butter.

In other news I took a hiatus from using shea butter because of ...drain issues:cry3:, my hair has not been the same, wash days seem more of a struggle and my hair doesn't have any sheen or long lasting moisture. I'm buying that drain opener this weekend, I tried a natural enzyme one and that shea buildup barely budges. (Now I'm thinking, if I moved somewhere very warm, I could do wash days outside and not get any butter in the drain.:look:)
 

prettydarkthing

Well-Known Member
See the first post of this thread, under Discoveries. There is a bullet about drain issues. Regarding the butter, I'm an unrefined snob all the way. But that was very kind and thoughtful of your man to buy you some Shea butter. Can you use it to make a body butter?

Thanks, found it and a lot of other good info!

Yes, I'll try using the processed for a body butter.
 

Daina

Well-Known Member
Original Thread title:
How To Care For Tbl Real Hair In Protective Styles

Link:

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...ir-in-protective-styles.808475/#post-23495089

Post #7

My observations pertain to hair that is squarely in the 4 range, or hair that looks like mine (3 range) and "acts" and grows like it is type 4 hair. I dislike hair typing but it helps to cut to the chase to get everyone one the same page quickly during a discussion.

My observations for many tail bone length women with afro-textured hair:
  1. Hair is rarely washed more than 1x per week
  2. Hair is washed in braids or twists or sections(one on one attention is given to either each section and/or each braid in that section). This one may seem obvious and well known. But the difference is that these women don't take all braids/twists out at once and combine the hair on a regular basis. Either they undo the hair and leave it in its own section, or they wash, condition and leave all hair in braids/twists. To detangle and comb out, they do one braid at a time, leaving the rest braided or twisted or sectioned but tend to not combine all the hair together.
    • Note: I overlooked this. I have always washed and conditioned my hair in braids. But after I detangled a section, I would combine it with the other sections. Hence, I would always need to use a comb to detangle it and get it back into sections. With these ladies, fingers are used more than the comb.
    • Also, I realized that I have been damaging my hair NOT at the detangling stage, but before, during my braiding and unbraiding. I pull and snatch my hair apart and the force or tension maximized at the ends of my hair causing tangling and breakage. I have been damaging my hair before I even began the detangling process.
    • For the first time EVER in my hair care process, I did not need to use a comb because I washed, oiled and conditioned my hair in braids. I carefully and gently undid a braid, while leaving the rest braided. I put in my leave in and gently re-braided that one braid. Surprisingly, the unbraiding/leave-in/braiding took a long time even without detangling with a wide, toothed comb.
  3. Hair is sectioned / done in sections-See detail above, point #1.
  4. Hair is stretched before it is styled (bantu knot, banded, heat stretched). Some women let there hair dry in
    • braids or twists
    • bantu knots
    • banded hair
    • put on rollers
    • Some women lightly blow dry
  5. Hair is kept stretched after it is styled (These ladies tend to gather their twists and pin around their heads or combine the twists creating some kind of stretching on the hair.)
  6. Shea butter is often used (protects hair and organic tissue like hair and skin from the break down of proteins on the exposed surface by the environment, specifically protects against the sun.) It may not be used throughout the entire journey, but during significant time frames or points in the journey (transitioning only, washing, sealant, etc)
  7. Extremely low maintenance styles (For me, low maintenance styles are not necessarily protective styles! I define low maintenance styles as those where the hair is manipulated as little as possible.)
    • Some braid or twist hair until it dries and leave it for three days to a week, then undo the hair to wear braid outs or twist outs until the next wash day.
    • Some leave the twists or braids in until the next wash day.
    • Some do up do's
  8. Specific daily hair end regimen (or frequent as in 2 or more times per week, ends given special attention)
    • Even if the entire braid or twist is redone , they tend to have a specific regimen for the ends
    • Ends are wetted or spritzed with water, an oil is added (Water + oil) (Usually castor oil or shea butter).
  9. Protective Styles (For "me" , protective style is determined by what you are doing with the ends of the hair. If the ends are not up and out of the air, I do not consider the style protective.)
    • Ends are twisted up, covered, tucked and/or kept from the air like Wanakee Pugh taught years ago
    • Hair ends or the entire head is kept covered or protected during the day and/or at night
      • Head scarves for night
      • Tucking or hiding hair during the day or night
  10. Trimming
    • Trimming done on a fairly regular basis
    • Trims tend to be done in braided or twisted styles (Unevenness not an issue as most of these women rarely or ever wear heat straightened hair styles)
  11. Time :timer: (2 to 8 year journeys. The average seems to be 5 years.)
That's all! It's enough, I know!

Edit: Forgot some form of protein is used whether be in a commercial product, treatment or DIY. Frequency depends on the head of hair.

@Chicoro, thank you for reposting! I'm glad to see of all the things you posted I am actually doing all of them! If I am blessed to get to HL I'll have to reevaluate TBL. When I was close to whip length last year and my hair was straight I was always worried about it pulling, snagging on my clothes etc...HL might be my compromise so I can still enjoy my hair and not be worried all the time. Good problem to have so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
@Daina ,
I woke up this morning thinking about what you said about since using Shea butter, your hair color has extended. You've not had to color in six months as opposed to three months.

Shea butter has protective properties such as those in sunscreen. Those same properties would also protect the color. That makes sense. I am getting a better understanding of the reason why now. I am still going to go and put this in the Discovery section. I believe what you say has a tremendous amount of merit. My gut says I'll find something to substantiate this very idea, at some later date.

Because of you and your experience and information, this is what I added in the Shea 'Discoveries' section:

Shea butter may extend the life of one's hair color. It has been reported that hair color is lasting 2 times longer than usual. The only difference in the regimen was the addition of Shea butter. Shea butter does have sunscreen, protective properties, specific to sunscreen. Thus, as it relates to preserving the color from dyes, this is very feasible.
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I was headed out to the store this Saturday morning and I saw these three (3) cuties on Rue Emile Zola in Lyon, France, today.

Cuties1.jpg Cuties2.JPG

I stopped them and asked about their gorgeous heads of hair. They told me they use Cantu and mustard seed oil. But they were going in the opposite direction and I didn't want to hold them up too, long. I don't know if they use Shea butter. They were so elegant and poised and confident.

They were very kind and accommodating of my messed up French. And indulged me by letting me take 2 pictures of them and their hair.
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
Shea Butter is made up of = Saponins + Triterpenes
I know that not all triterpenes are made equal, but I did want to share triterpenes have very powerful medicinal and healing agents.

"Triterpene derivatives were analyzed for anti-HIV-1 activity and for cellular toxicity. Betulinic aldehyde, betulinic nitrile, and morolic acid derivatives were identified to have anti-HIV-1 activity. These derivatives inhibit a late step in virus replication, likely virus maturation."

from the article entitled,

"Triterpene Derivatives that Inhibit Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication"

Queen Shea got an M.D. now!

 
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