Shea Growth And Retention Regimen 2018

Keen said:

I don't post much on this thread anymore. But I wanted to say I was quite impress how thick my cornrow braids are. I don't use SB as much anymore because I want less manipulation. My spray bottle is a variety tea (Henna, Amla and stuff) mixed with melted shea

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fluffyforever said:

Last night I used Aloe Vera Gel on clean damp hair and followed up with whipped shea and then braided in small plaits. Today my hair was so juicy looking after take down... the length looked very dark in color and shiny and smooth. except for my roots though. Maybe I didn't apply products close enough to the roots or maybe they weren't stretched enough. Overall, my hair was soft, but crunchy, if that makes sense. It was my first time trying AVG and i think this will be a keeper. AVG plus whipped shea gave great slip and definition.

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sarumoki said:

I'm not feeling the texture of my current mix. My last one was perfect but this one isn't as fluffy. This is what I get for not writing things down.

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Chicoro said:

This is how I was wearing my braids before. They are hanging loose on my shoulders, with my ends curled up. The rubbing on my clothes and the curls are bad, bad, bad for my hair ends.

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Now, I gather all the braids into one ponytail and tie the ends up, put on baggie and a knee-hi or two over those braids:

View attachment 437039 View attachment 437041 View attachment 437043

So this is the Baggie Method 3.0 for me! Before, I had just one (1) ponytail and then I braided it and rolled up the ends with a rubber band. After the rubber band slipped off and the last 3 inches of that braid turned into a THICK KNOT I had to revisit the baggie method.
Prior to that, I used to have four (4) braids, with the ends rolled up, pulled into a ponytail and with a baggie over it.

I love the baggie method but had to let it go. I'm just getting back to this method after two (2) years of not using it.

I started the No-Comb Method and using Shea butter in 2017 and have continued into and through 2018. I re-started the Baggie Method 3.0 I think in the beginning of October 2018, or the last part of September 2018.

The baggie method is not the sexiest hairstyle, but it WORKS. It helps me save every inch of growth that I get. I had to modify it for my longer hair and changed hair texture. My hair was softer and silkier two years ago. Now, it is becoming coarser again.

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Chicoro said:

Welcome everyone!!!! ​

This is the Shea Growth and Retention Regimen 2018 thread. Come on in! If you are using pure shea butter, a shea butter mix or shea butter with ayurvedic oils and powders or any other mix, you are probably going to get some great results!

Just come by and let us know how things are going for you. I will not be moderating this thread and there aren't any rules, except three: I would ask that we be kind, patient and supportive of one another.

I'm excited! Let's go!​

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https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...-butt-length-hair-3c-4a.742331/#post-20654287

(October 12th, 2014: @ThatJerseyGirl )​

"I know I have said this before, but I will say it again.
Shea butter seems to be the common denominator in hair growth. I can't think of this woman's name, I think Sera or something, but she used shea butter and so does Naptural85 and countless others."

"We should have a sheagrowth challenge with recipes, etc. just a suggestion."


"You know what I've noticed? All 4 naturals who have long thick healthy hair such as Sera, JazB, Naptural85, Africa Export, etc all have in common in terms of growth?
*drum roll*
SHEA BUTTER MIXES.
Im totally convinced that Shea Butter has A lot to do with growth."
(from 2013)​

​

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Edited Jan. 11th, 2018 to add:

The Award: 7 Pounds in a Gallon Pail of Golden Glory!

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Shea-Made Hair Unicorns 2018 Hall of Fame

@caribeandiva - Dec 2017 to Jan 2018 ~ 1 inch of retained hair
@lalla - January 20th, 2018 ~ New avatar 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. (Snatched waist-extra points)
@ElevatedEnergy - January 10th, 2018~ Post # 2201 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. (16 year old body after 4 babies-extra points)
@AbsyBlvd -February 24th, 2018~ Elegant Shea Made Updo identified her as a Shea-made unicorn.~ Post # 2543 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn.
@sgold04 - March 6th, 2018 ~ Post #2794 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. Her colored hair is long, healthy and full.
@ArrrBeee - March 16th, 2018 ~ Post #2990 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. She has made a tremendous shift as it relates to caring for her hair. She totally changed the way she thinks about and how she treats her precious afro-textured hair.
@tapioca_pudding - March 20th, 2018~ Post #3133 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. She had the fattest, juiciest braids you ever did want to see.
@Chicoro - March 22nd, 2018 ~ Post #3215 'outted' her as Shea-made hair unicorn. Actually, it was @FadingDelilah who outted her.
@Daina -April 4th, 2018 ~ Post 2130 in the TBL Thread 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. She went from mid back to waist length in 3 months, using shea butter, AND has almost eliminated single strand knots.
@NCHairDiva - April 16th , 2018 ~ Post #3659 'outted' her as Shea-made hair unicorn. Gorgeous, silky shine from root to tip!
@guyaneseyankee - April 16th, 2018 ~ Post #3641 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. Juicy, thick, scrumptious Shea slathered hair!
@kupenda -April 24th, 2018~ Post #3654 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. Pretty, coily twists in a picture.
@CurlyWhoCrux -April 24th, 2018~ Post #3665 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. Long, thick shed-slathered braids that can't fit into the picture frame.
@Sosoothing -April 24th, 2018~ Post #3690 'outted' her as a Shea-made hair unicorn. Great progress and growth shown on her long, pretty, stretched hair, coily twists in a picture.


Shea Made Hair Unicorn 2018 Hall of Fame of Mixtresses (Added April 23,2018)
@IDareT'sHair recognized on April 23rd for all her incredible mixes and combinations.
@ThatJerseyGirl recognized on April 23rd for sharing photos of her Ayuverdic Shea Mixes.


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ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!​

Edited Jan. 29th, 2018 to add:
Shea-Made Hair Unicorns 2018 Hall of Fame Extravaganza!

Don't Miss This Once in a Life Time Event!

When: December 31st, 2018

Where: On YOUR Head

Entry Fee: 8 ounce Pot of Unrefined 100% Natural Shea Butter*

What: Shea-Made Hair Unicorns 2018 Hall of Fame Extravaganza!
*All Shea-Made Hair Unicorns of 2018 Get in Free!
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Shea Butter 'Discoveries' We Have Made (Recapitulation): Added Feb 24, 2018

• Shea butter can be unrefined or refined. We strongly recommend to use unrefined Shea butter that YOU mix up yourself. Or, if you are not into that Mixtress Life, use products from Cottage Industries like small companies and Etsy made products which are more likely to contain a higher percentage of unrefined Shea butter.

• Shea butter can be gold or beige. The gold butter is mixed with a plant. The beige color does not have the plant or root added. Beware, some butters have been artificially colored.

• Shea butter gets its yellow color from the Borututu Root, in Ghana. It is gives the Shea butter a naturally colored, bright yellow appearance. The Borututu Root has some antioxidant power.

• Shea butter can be Western or Eastern. Shea Nilotica (East African- Oil is more prized, butter is softer and is sub-species of the Shea butter tree.) Most of us can easily get, use and have seen great results with the Western Shea butter.

• Shea butter helps shed hairs slide out. Shea butter lubricates the hair so that that shed hair can be removed easily with finger detangling.

• Shea butter clumps hair and minimizes frizz and tangles. Shea butter has gummy components that seem to clump the hair together. This is great if you don't use a comb or brush and rely on your fingers to detangle your hair. This keeps the hair stabilized and detangled. Tangles are almost completely eradicated.

• Shea butter helps protect hair ends. Shea butter can be a go to product if you have an "Ends Routine" for your hair. If your ends are always dry, Shea butter can add extra lubrication and hold in moisture. It may be just what the ends of your hair need.

• Shea butter strengthens finger nails. It fortifies the nail bed and may prevent nails from splitting. This benefit extends to hair, too. Shea strengthens and fortifies the hair strands.

• Shea butter blends with a greater percentage of Shea absorb better. Your Shea butter blend may absorb faster and be less greasy if you use more Shea butter and add fewer oils to the blend. Ideally, 100% natural Shea butter by itself, on her own, may absorb better than Shea blended with any other oils and/or butters.

• Shea butter - Creamy Mix. If you want a more creamy result, you may want to use a blender to mix your Shea butter blend.

• Shea butter- Fluffy Mix. If you want a more fluffy result, you may want to use egg beater/whipping utensils.

• Shea butter and mineral oil may dull and coat hair. Shea butter does not seem to mix well with products that have mineral oil in them. This may leave the hair coated with a gray cast and dull. It is suggested that no mineral oil based products be placed into your Shea butter mix.

• Shea butter may need to be melted to remove graininess. If you find that your Shea butter mix is grainy, melt it down completely to a liquid. Do not cook it! Use a double boiler method. Then, refreeze the butter until it is hard. Then, blend again. The graininess should be mostly gone, if not totally gone.

• Shea butter mixes well with hair conditioners. You can add Shea butter to any conditioner to turn it into a deeply moisturizing and lubricating product.

• Shea butter mixes well with Ayuverdic Powders. Shea butter absorbs and captures the color of powders such as amla, brahmi, etc. Not only are the powders absorbed in the mixes, there is no graininess. These mixes are great for deep conditioning treatments.

• Shea butter sources like Cleopatra's Choice may be a reliable choice. They have small and bulk sizes that can be ordered and the quality of Shea butter and their services have been good thus far. Here is the link: https://www.cleopatraschoice.com/ooa-0043.html

• Shea butter sources like Three CayG may be a reliable choice. They have high quality Shea butter. Here is the link: http://www.3cayg.com/sheabutter

• Shea butter works great on heat straightened hair, too. You can even use Shea butter on your straightened hair styles. Just don't be too heavy handed with the product.

• Shea butter may work better with damp hair and skin. Shea butter may spread better and hold in more moisture when the substrate (hair or skin) is damp.

• Shea butter should have a nutty, earthy smell. If your Shea butter smells 'funky' or there is a 'stench', it is very likely that your Shea butter was made with fermented or rotten Shea nuts.

• Shea butter may darken the hair. Although Shea butter does not turn gray hair black, it can darken the hair in general. It makes the natural, hair color richer, darker along with creating super moisturized hair.

• Shea butter residue can plug your pipes. Be sure to clean your sink and pipes weekly with a mild de-clogging product. Don't wait until you have a clog. Shea butter run off from hands and hair can be quite greasy and gummy. Treat your sink, tub, or shower weekly to avoid clogged drains. If anyone is looking for citric acid in the grocery store it was found and labeled as “sour salt” in the Jewish foods section.

• Shea butter needs time for a scent to 'cure' within the mixture. Fruits, florals, beach, or nature type scents can get very overpowering if too much is used. For a 8 ounce Shea mix, start with 15 drops, mix in good, let it rest for a few days then test it on the hands. If it is not strong enough, add in another 5 drops. However, it is suggested to stop at 15 drops. For sweet, bakery scents, it is suggested to start at 25 drops and follow the same procedure. The scent usually settles in and attaches onto the butter after a few days. It's just like adding fragrance to wax, it needs time to "cure".

• Shea butter seedlings are being successfully cultivated in the Shea Belt, specifically in Burkina Faso. Shea trees have been considered wild and not able to be cultivated. 108,000 seedlings have been cultivated. Although these seedlings have yet to grow into trees and become fruit producing, this is a tremendous and impactful paradigm shift in the production of Shea butter.

• Shea butter may extend the life of your hair color. Some have reported that their color is lasting 2 times longer than usually. The only difference in their regimen was the addition of Shea butter.

• Shea butter may make porous hair greasy. Porous hair is not dry hair. Porous hair is hair that has been damaged by coloring, chemicals or heat. [I, Chicoro] define porosity as either HIGH or NORMAL. Conditioners and leave in products with dimithecone and behentrimonim chloride may change and improve the porosity of the hair. This will allow for Shea butter to better adhere to the hair with less greasiness.

• Shea Butter Overall Hair Benefits (Which is the reason for this thread)
  • Softens hair
  • Stops tangles
  • Hair is easier to detangle
  • Minimizes dry-ness
  • Eliminates knots
  • Minimizes split ends
  • Hair hangs heavier
  • Darkens hair color
  • Infuses hair with moisture (if moisturizing products are applied first)
  • Hair retains more length
  • Thickens the hair
  • It minimizes breakage
  • Beautifies the hair

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TUTORIALS:

Keeping Your Pipes Grease Free!

Chicoro's Process for Plugged Pipes (Plugged with Grease)

Most plumbing has a connection of pipes. Meaning, your kitchen, bathroom and washer and dryer area may be connected. This, you'll have to determine for yourself. In my place, the kitchen sink, shower and bathroom sink are connected. The toilet is separate and not connected.

1. I plug up all the connected pipes except the one I want to unclog. Do this by putting in the stoppers and putting an inch or two of very hot water in the sink. You want to create pressure. If you need to put something in the basins/tubs to hold that plug in place, like a heavy object on top of the plug, do that.
2. Then I use an old fashion plunger (a flanged plunger is high tech if you can find them) and I plunge the stopped up sink to bring up the goop.
3. If more than one sink is stopped up, I may plunge that too.
4. You may have to plunge for 20 minutes to 45 minutes.
5. Once the gunk comes up, put some baking soda and vinegar down the pipe.
6. Then follow up with some very hot water. Be careful, boiling water may mess up your particular pipes.
7. Then, go and release the water where you had it plugged.

Ideally, I suggest you do something EVERY TIME you do your wash and condition process as this is when the largest amounts and quantities of greasy gunk goes down the sink.

Weekly Preventive Maintenance (Or monthly, etc...depending on how often you wash your hair)

1. Do hair.
2. Pour in some baking soda and white vinegar.
3. Boil some water and let it cool.
4. Pour it down the sink to move the greasy gunk through.

Ceramide Rich Oils and Shea Butter Tutorial (courtesy of @ElevatedEnergy )
Sure! You know I got my Shea Siblings!

I love Ceramide rich oils and have been using them consistently in my routine for close to 3 years after being inspired by this particular thread and the OP documenting her progress.

https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...mony-and-the-evolution-of-my-bun-pics.488440/

And this:

http://www.bellemocha.com/2010/01/stronger-cuticle-layer-with-ceramides.html

I would highly recommend reading those but for a quick wrap up of them both:

Ceramides are the "glue" that bind the cuticle and the cortex of the hair together. It helps in the prevention of split ends.
Ceramides help protect the cuticle layer of the hair which in turn slows down moisture and protein loss. They are high in linoleic acid and helps to flatten the cuticle. When cuticles lay flat; hair is shinier, retains moisture better, feels smoother, porosity and elasticity are improved.


For my own personal experience, the biggest change I noticed right away was the difference in my split ends. I was transitioning and was dealing with tons of splits. Once I started using the ceramides, it was almost as if the splits just repaired themselves and I haven't had an issue with splits since.

Then I added Ayurvedic powders a year and a half later to my routine and I noticed my need to do protein treatments was almost non-existent. So ceramides plus Ayurvedic powders equal a lovely fortifying and strengthening treatment. (Particularly Brahmi or Bhringraj)

Then I added Mango Butter a few months later and I noticed my need to moisturize in between washing was few and far in between. Its high fatty acid content makes it an intensive moisturizer for hair.

Then around the fall of last year, Shea butter hit the scene and my hair journey has been a wrap. Ceramides, Ayurvedic powders & butters have been my hairs saving grace.

So ceramides are great alone but when used with certain ingredients are almost magical.

How I use them:
*In an Ayurvedic Herbal Oil
*A Ceramide Buttercream Hair Treatment
(I use this pre-wash on the last 6 inches of my hair after spritzing my hair with very warm water. I leave the treatment in overnight) It has a Ceramide Oil, Mango Butter, Shea butter, An Ayurvedic powder, Argan oil & Coconut Cream Concentrate (which has a high fat content & also has the ability to penetrate deep within the hair strands to plasticize the cortex, making hair stronger)
*In my Shea Butter Blends

My favorite Ceramide Oil hands down is Safflower Oil and I use it on my hair and face. However, here is a list of some Oils and their ceramide percentages:

Safflower oil 78%
Grape seed oil 73%
Poppy seed oil 70%
Sunflower oil 68%
Hemp oil 60%
Corn oil 59%
Wheat germ oil 55%
Cottonseed oil 54%
Soybean oil 51%
Walnut oil 51%
Sesame oil 45%
Rice bran oil 39%
Pistachio oil 32.7%
Peanut oil 32%
Canola oil 21%
Egg yolk 16%
Linseed oil 15%
Lard 10%
Olive oil 10%
Palm oil 10%
Cocoa butter 3%
Macadamia oil 2%
Butter 2%

Tightening the Skin

• Dry brush your body
• Cover body in wet clay and let it dry
• Apply pure Shea butter or a mix of Shea butter and castor oil

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VictoriousBrownFlower said:

Is that first pic wet or dry hair? Beautiful Chicoro (but you already knew that)

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jerseygurl said:

My hair is slowly but surely growing thanks to shea butter.

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cocomama said:

Thank you for mentioning the Shea butter brands. I purchased the threeCayG brand and now I realized that I never had the real thing

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Chicoro said:

Because Keen's hair has thickened from Shea butter, her wig rides up like in the front.

Glad to hear those ends are responding with Shea butter!

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dyh080 said:

LOL, that pic is how I feel I look in wigs....ridiculous. I have TRIED to wear curly or kinky wigs( straight wigs gross me out), made curly and kinky wigs that people could not distinguish between it and my hair and I STILL feel like an imposture.

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VictoriousBrownFlower said:

i only apply my shea mix on freshly washed hair to "double seal" as i call it. My hair stays moisturized until the next wash day that way and i don't get build up. I know others need to moisturize at various times throughout the wk but I don't apply much either. Just like a dime sized amount. I wash with reg old sulfate shampoo with every wash though so that may also help. IDK...

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Keen said:

I need to do it in between wash. My hair also respond better to SB on wet hair. That's why I spray it first. I only put it on dry hair if I'm trying to detangle right before washing my hair.

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Chicoro said:

Enjoyed tippie toe-ing through your blog. I liked your video on YouTube, too. You, your skin and your hair are lovely!!!!! Oo, I can't forget to mention those huge doe eyes, either. Just beautiful!

What is your hair length? Are you beyond waist length?

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flyygirlll2 said:

@Chicoro My ends are ver coily/curly and tend to tangle and knot terribly. Lately I started experimenting with using flaxseed gel mixed with a little bit of AVG to my ends first, followed by Castor oil and then SB. Instead of leaving my ends as is after applying, I bantu knot the ends only in order to get some stretch and enable them to not be exposed.

I’m going to trial it for a while to see if becomes beneficial. I started baggying my ends again but I will only do it overnight, so by morning I will wear my twists pinned up.

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Chicoro said:

YEAH!!!!!!!

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Chicoro said:

It sounds like you have a good plan, @flyygirlll2 ! How long do you intend to trial this process before you deem it a success or not? It seems like you have put in a lot of thought about how to proceed. Thus, I think you will be rewarded with some very well preserved hair ends when you complete your trial run!

If the intention is to grow or retain afro-textured hair, it really is important to have an Ends Routine. There are so many variations an iterations within what an Ends Routine can or should be for a head of hair, it can be overwhelming finding one's way. But thankfully, most Ends Routine are comprised of the same main processes and steps. It's about analyzing your situation and understanding how to proceed.

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Silverstreaks said:

I’ve been sold on Shea butter for a couple of years now. I mix mine with coconut oil and castor oil to soften it some while still remaining fairly solid at room temperature. I find it really does help with moisture retention. And since I started a regular trimming schedule, it seems to be helping with length retention also. A tried and true staple.

I’m also experimenting with it by creating a deep conditioner with it, adding the aforementioned oils, a little henna, amla, bhringraj, hydrolyzed keratin, keratin amino acids, glycerin, panthenol, bamboo extract and strained fenugreek seed gel/water. Used it last week and so far, no tweaking needed. Rinses out without making my hair feel like it’s caked up. Going to use it as a pre cleanse and post cleanse to see which works better, and to determine whether or not I develop an issue with buildup over time. I also make a fenugreek spray to help with detangling, which has also been really good for my hair.

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Sosoothing said:

@Chicoro

Thanks. I appreciate how generous you are with information.
I have never used tbe baggie method. Might have to think about it. Currently I'm just waiting for my postpartum shedding to subside.

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Chicoro said:

I didn't acknowledge your issue. How is the postpartum shedding coming along? Also, how old is that new baby?

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Sosoothing said:

Shea butter bun!

View attachment 437461

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Chicoro said:

Do you mix with a fork or with a blender or an electric whisk? I see that long hair in your avatar. I SEE you with all that hair! Trying to sneak in under the radar...[/QUOTE

I first melt the Shea butter using the hot water method. Then I add the castor oil and melted coconut oil (I melt the coconut oil the same way). I use a hand held blender to mix it all together - just a few quick pulses until it’s thoroughly mixed. Then I put it in the freezer for about 15 - 30 minutes to solidify. And that’s pretty much it.

As far as length, I’ve gained a lot of insight from your book and newsletters. Yes, I wanted to learn from a master grower! That hair in my avatar, I think that was after I cut it; I removed about 3 inches of unevenness last December to start on my new challenge to trim every 3 months to keep my ends from getting too wispy; I have very fine hair and relatively low to medium density. So far, it seems to be working. Also, the area along my center part is shorter than the rest of my hair, so that’s an area I concentrate most of my save-at-all-costs efforts by doing occasional search and destroys in those spots and between where needed. The more even my hair is, the better it looks. I can’t wait to publish an avatar with my actual goal length - classic, and beyond! Never had long hair at any point in my life until I started this journey almost 10 years ago. I could use all the help I can get as long as everything is simple. I just don’t do complicated . But, it is growing back nicely. Hope to show it off soon!

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