JUST BC'd and feeling quite smug!

Hey everyone. I am very new to this site and wanted to add my two cents. I recently BC'd on February 5th 2010..and although I shed some tears in the barber shop and cried again when I finally looked in the mirror at home...I'm actually quite happy with my new look. Just like every woman I have always had insecurities about my physical appeal. I always felt like no matter how "fierce" my outfit was my hair was always the one thing throwing it off.

Let me back track....
I never really thought about doing the BC because I truthfully didnt "dare to be bare"...lol. Aside from that I figured that I could simply let my hair grow out and cut the relaxed ends....wrong wrong wrong...After having a slight inner crisis, and after three years of being natural, I once again relaxed my hair and all H$$L broke loose. Whether it was the weather, the relaxer, loads of stress, the not-so-recent birth of my son, or just plain old bad luck. The relaxer left me with extremely damaged hair. (Truthfully I never really "took care" of my hair to begin with so I probably shouldn't blame it on the relaxer.) Trying to salvage whatever I had left, I braided my hair into kinky twists. After having those in for almost a month. I began to realize the braids were falling out. Upon further inspection, I found that I had a balding patch where the braids were falling out. Although I couldn't see my scalp, there was hardly any hair there. After two nights of contemplation, I asked my fiance to take me to a barber shop. And off it all went! Now a week and 4 days later...I'm excited about learning how to care for my hair and getting my hair regimen correct this time around....(who am I kidding...I mean creating a hair regimen)! Wish me luck.

One question though...I have been reading alot about shea butter mixes and I am trying to figure out how to keep the shea butter smooth...not whipped after I mix in my oils....would love the help...Thanks ladies.

Congratulations ...

THANKS!

Congratulations! You sound like me in that I've never had a set regimen for my hair, but you are in the right place to learn how to get one set up. I have learned so much from the ladies on this site. Everyone is so helpful and nice.

Congratulations on you big chop!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] However, I can't give any input on Shea Butter mixes. My hair doesn't do well with straight shea butter; only with products that has shea butter as one of the ingredients.

If you look in the Butter'n'Bars challenge forum you will find a lot of ladies that posted their shea butter recipe. You might find what you are looking for there.

Good Luck and welcome to the Natural Community!!!!

If i want to keep the shea butter smooth, I just add oils and stir it by hand. I prefer that to the whipped texture. Congrats!

congrats!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm in the same boat as you. I don't have a regimen either and I think it would really benefit my hair and length retention. Hopefully we can both figure out a routine that works for us

Congrats [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Way to go! It feels like a new start

Thanks for the encouragement and advice ladies!

Thanks KinkyNappyHappy...I'll look into that.
Thanks Erica5417...I have just started experimenting with different oils....so far so good.

Before adding jojoba oil to my unrefined shea butter, I warmed the the butter in the microwave and blended with an electric mixer.

I also just started mixing my own shea butter mixture. Normally i first mix the shea butter with olive oil with an electric blender and then mix in essential oils. So im also trying out different ways to get the mixture smooth.

I saw a youtube video where a lady had completely melted the shea butter down and then mixed it with a hand blender. Then afterwards placed it in a freezer just for a few minutes and then mixed it with a blender again and it looked very smooth to me.