₦airaland Forum

babysmart:
Happy new year to u too. Pls don't forget to paste a link to d blog here
A thread on good hair regimen will b really nice too. Thanks.

Thank you, love! I definitely will

To all the viewers of this post, lurkers and all who have benefited and participated in one way or the other .....

WISH YOU A LOVELY NEW YEAR...FILLED WITH ALL OF THE AMAZING THINGS YOU HOPE FOR AND MORE!!



Much love and warm regards...
Hope to contribute more to building a healthier you next year...I also hope to start my own natural hair and natural skin care blog in the coming year. Lol, I'm so excited about that
Wish you all an accomplishment of all your dreams and wishes for the new year as well.
Kisses and hugs....plenty of them

khadysaggs:
Thank you and I Will but using it is sumthing I will never repeat it turn have of my face burned black nd the rest fair I looked 50years older because of my face,I only used it at night ,but thanks for the advice

I'm quite sorry to hear about it. If the results are as bad as you say, I'd like you to check what Shea butter you have in store. There is a good chance it has been mixed with something else. Unadulterated Shea butter does not work that way.

Still pretty concerned about the state of your face though. I'd pretty much plead that in your quest for what to use to help your face you stick to organic products and try to properly investigate the ingredients of whatever you try. Wish you all the best, dear. Also...

Wish you a lovely new year

Adaobi12:
have started the use of ori. I use a raspberry and pomegranate facial scrub to exfolilate my face. I must confess the ori is working wonders.but I noticed am a bit darker.

op would you suggest I change the cream am using. am using lilo coco butter. I don't have a pix of my face before the use of ori. but will share a pix of it after have started using it.

Hello dear, great to hear from you.
You look very lovely. I especially like that glowing face.

Cocoa butter is pretty heavy. Butters such as cocoa and Shea are heavy oils and will encourage browning in sunlight. I use Vaseline body lotion (Cocoa butter) but I stopped using it on my face because as a heavy cream I knew it had the potential for darkening. Like I mentioned before, I use Pears baby lotion for my face. I find it very light.

However, you could do little experiment of your own just to be sure. Continue to use your regular cocoa butter cream (quite lightly, of course) and observe if it affects your pigmentation. Keep me posted on what you decide and notice.

Wish you a very lovely new year in advance

khadysaggs:
Yes

Hi there, I've been doing a bit of research since you told me about the darker skin issue. Remember my initial description of how Shea butter works in my first post?

Shea butter works to restore the skin to its original pigmentation. When I started using it, I had been using over-the-counter facial creams that had made my face noticeably lighter. With my use of Shea butter, my face returned to its original hue which was darker than the cream-induced one. The sides of my face were quite stubborn and didn't turn as light as the rest of my face previously. When I started using Shea butter though, the varying colours merged. I was not worried about the darkness because I came to realize that was my original colour. The continued use of Shea butter didn't make me darker though. My skin just glowed some more.

If you're not using Shea butter in the sunlight, I pretty much guarantee you that the darker skin tone is not going to be progressive. Your skin will maintain that shade and develop an healthy glow. However, during the day (with regards to our heavy sunlight), be sure to use a light cream. Anything heavy is likely to encourage browning. Exfoliate regularly as well. This will keep the dead skin cells away and reveal the healthy skin underneath.

Thanks for the feedback, dear. It encouraged some more reading. I'll encourage you to read some more about how Shea butter works as well. Keep me posted

I've worn my hair natural since I was a kid. Granted, I spent most of my kid years on low cut. Lol, it was my mom's idea that I needed the time, that would otherwise have been spent styling my hair, on my books. Also, I used to yell my lungs out whenever my hair was being made as a kid.

Fast forward to grown me, I stopped getting hair cuts and grew my hair. I was also determined to not conform to the western idea of "fine" hair. Every head of hair is unique and is a perfect complement to your physical and overall sense of self. I have received lots of compliments on my hair. Funny, these are usually from guys. Most girls ask why I don't get a perm or when I would get a perm. The questions are not only ignorant, but tiring. Oh, I also get asked what I would do if my hubby doesn't want natural hair. I still think that is the stupidest question of all. Hair is a pretty petty thing to base your like/dislike of a person on. Acceptance is also total. A person who loves you for you isn't concerned with such petty issues.

Anyway, back to the subject. There are lots of reasons why black women may not wear their natural hair. Some have been brought up with the flawed mentality that natural hair isn't cool and they just grow up believing it and not experiencing being natural for themselves. Some are totally against the idea because they think it does not offer the sophisticated appeal that artificial hair has. Some have not learnt how to properly manage natural hair and opt for the common form of hair nearly everyone has an idea how to care for. There are lots of other reasons too.

But even those who are solidly against natural hair, only show an ignorance of how amazing and unique their own natural hair may be if they learnt how to care for it.

khadysaggs:
Used it just like you said and I used pelmer's coco butter during the day

Okay. I'm not sure I know how that particular cream works. However, did you notice this darkening only after you started using Shea butter at night?

jmkbond:
. Thanks so much I appreciate. But I wudnt mind some example of non greasy with sunscreen.

You're very welcome. I use Pears baby lotion or Vaseline body lotion during the day. I like Pears because it's very light in consistency, good for my pores. Vaseline lotion has some sunscreen. There are so many varieties though, so you have a range of interesting options.
Hope this was helpful

For acne prone skin, you should stick with something light or use whatever cream you choose very lightly. Exfoliate regularly as well and clean off make-up carefully at the end of each day.

jmkbond:
Shea butter in the evening for the face , but pls wat moisturiser can u recommend for use during the day. Cos normally I use shea butter after bath in the morning. Howeva I ll try d evening regime. But I need to replace morning regime. Thanks

Hello love, I usually don't recommend specific cream brands. I would suggest you stay away from any Naija cream that specifies "lightening, toning, etc". They seem to use those terms very wrongly and to describe bleaching instead. Anything light and non greasy would be great. It would be a great idea too if it has some sunscreen.

Any simple moisturizing cream will be great. I've come to learn that in facial care, the simpler the better. We don't wanna clog those pores

Wish you a Merry Christmas... in arrears

oniex:
I really need to ask this, I was used shea butter 2 years ago for several months and I must admit it worked wonders. I just discovered later that it wasn't working anymore. ...so I had to stop. Mind you, it was the same one have been using.
Wat could have gone wrong? as I intend to start the therapy again. Thanks

.

Hello there, great to hear from you.

The older Shea butter gets, the more it loses its potency. If you're looking towards facial care, anything you have in store that is longer than 6 months (it would be helpful to ask your seller when he/she got their supply) won't be as effective. The great news though, is that the old one in storage can be used for hair with great results. As a heavy butter, it would help keep moisture locked in your hair and let it retain moisture for longer

Glad to hear about your intentions to start its usage again. Wish you a lovely time, also Merry Christmas... in arrears

ovalrose:
although it has darkened me a bit,shea butter has made my skin smoother. im loving it completely,despite the darkened color.

I'm glad to hear it. Speaking of darkening, did you use it in the sunlight?
Wish you a very Merry Christmas... in arrears

khadysaggs:
This sheabutter stuff does not work anything used it at night like u said and just after 2weeks. Have hyper-pigment all over my face I look so akward cnt evn go out any more

This is quite serious. How did you use it? And what creams do you use during the day?

irynterri:
pls dear,my face gt darker some months back and a frnd advicd me to use shea butter,i used it during the day and of course my face gt soooo dark,then i was advised to use skineal and my face only gt rough wen i stopped and since then i have nt bin able to gt back to ma chocolate skin,the colour of ma ears is so diff. frm dat of ma face talkless of ma laps,pls i nid ur advice,shld i use ur hommemade remedy for my hyperpigmentation issue or shld i opt for toning creams,tanks in anticipation

First of all, sorry about all the trouble. I know, from personal experience, that having issues with your face can be demoralizing on some level.

The problem with over-the-counter skin creams is that they contain such strong ingredients as cortesoid which is a steroid. Although it is cool for short term use, the active ingredients are in themselves addictive so the skin becomes reliant on them. So, the moment you try to stop it, your skin reacts and when you keep using it, the active compounds that were not intended for long term use start to break down the skin in a relentless vicious cycle. The only way to way this circle is to bite the bullet and stop applying such creams. Your skin will revolt, this is quite expected but do not go back to using them again as you'll find yourself back where you started with skin that is progressively getting damaged.

Only a dermatologist should be prescribing such creams for you and with a specific usage and duration.

My recommendations, that is, steaming and the oats 'n' honey facial mask works to heal the skin. The duration of the healing period will depend on the extent of the damage. But you will begin to notice a difference in a very short period (about 2 days). Because it works to heal, hyper pigmentation is also one of the things it caters to.

I would never recommend an over-the-counter face cream to anyone. I would rather suggest you take the patience to nurturing your skin and returning it back to its original beauty and even better. It is basically your choice, love. Do you want your skin to get better? You know what to do.

Be careful not to use Shea butter in the sun if browner skin is not what you're hoping to achieve. Also, Merry Christmas....in arrears

bree01:
I have been applying shea butter on my face for about a month. Recently, I used baby oil in my hair and suffered tremendous acne breakout. Most of it is gone. I washed my hair thoroughly and have stayed away from the baby oil.
A few days ago, I noticed that my facial skin is tender. I continued with the shea butter but added cocoa butter to it for some relief. I use black soap too to wash twice daily. Lemon Sugar scrub about once in 3 days when I can't stand the bumpiness.

Is there something I am doing wrong?. I still have breakouts and spots, I am beginning to accept that these will be there at every ovulation period.
All products are raw, unrefined.

Also, I sometimes apply lemon on the spots and breakouts. The tenderness is actually on the smooth areas.

Hello love, I'm sorry to hear about it.
I also find that when I apply heavy oils in my hair and it comes in contact with my face, I have breakouts. There are a host of oils out there, many of them petroleum based. Natural oils like coconut oil have smaller molecules as to be absorbed into skin (or hair) and not block the pores. When the pores are blocked and unable to breathe (get exposed to air), the result is dirt and oil deposits forming under the skin, aka breakouts. I would advise that you stay away from anything petroleum based or what passes as heavy oils on your face. In fact, anything capable of blocking your pores is a no-no. Light and non-greasy is the way to go.

You spoke of feeling tenderness in some areas of your face. And you also spoke of using black soap twice a day. I once tried black soap for my face (both the more popular Dudu Osun and the traditionally mixed black soap), I found that it was way too intense for my face. My face hurt afterwards and I had these tiny rashes that is my face's way of saying "No, we definitely don't like this". I stopped immediately after the first wash and my skin recovered. What I'm trying to draw out of this is that the face prolly has the most delicate skin of all and the regular skincare routine may be a little different in that area. I would like to suggest something though. Could you stay off the black soap for a week and observe what happens, especially to those tender areas?

Concerning the spots and breakouts, I would recommend steaming. It works to melt off blemishes, literally off your face. Please, check a previous post in this thread for detailed description of how to do that. Do this during the period you decide to stay off black soap. Let me know what you notice. Hope to hear back from you shortly. Great about using natural, organic products.

Wish you a Merry Christmas, in arrears

Sircomeference:
Yeah tnx a lot .....
I got d castor oil for #400.... Here is d picture:

PS: sorry it came super late ..... But its just DAT am a HUGE procrastinator biko

Thank you so much for the picture
Turns out it's the exact one I'm using as well. Funny, I got mine for #350, another friend got hers for #300. I guess different pharmacies have different price ranges for the same product.
How are your edges coming along? Keep me updated on your progress
Wish you a wonderful Christmas... lol, in arrears

vascey:
Uncle Rockos

*Ruckus. Glad to see a fellow "The Boondocks" fan though

Lol
I received the same message twice...from different (foreign-looking) numbers.
Whatsapp didn't have issues like this until Facebook purchased it. I really hope this isnt the beginning of annoying, pointless and random messages. They really should find a way to fix their spam settings. This is a new (and very unwelcome) kind of crap.

Sircomeference:
ok tnx. i started using it on friday, i use it in the morning and night (just few drops around the edges and little on the scalp).

i am planning on using it everyday,,,,,, pls am i on the right path?

and for how long should i expect changes?

thanks in advance

You're very welcome
Yes, you are using it as you should, although using it every other day will work out the same results and help your castor oil last longer.
You may also try to massage your edges after applying your castor oil to encourage better blood circulation, which would ultimately help your pores breathe better and grow hair better as well. Massaging with the tips of your fingers for about 2-3 minutes is adequate. Another added benefit of the massage is that it helps to relieve light headaches and makes you feel relaxed. So, double score
You should notice remarkable growth in a few months (about 2-3). Consistency will ensure that your results are truly remarkable. To better notice the difference, take a picture now and another in a few months to compare. Keep your fingers crossed..:-)

I'm interested in knowing what brand of castor oil you purchased and for how much. A picture would be great. Thank you in advance

Sircomeference:

pls can normal castor oil also be used for hair edges revival,,,,,, couldnt find the jamican one at all,,,,,

Yes, definitely. You can use the regular castor oil to achieve the same effects. It has essentially the same helpful properties. My current bottle of castor oil was bought from a pharmacy. I've heard a lot about Jamaica Black Castor Oil too but I've never used it. Maybe I'll try it at some point in the future but the regular Castor oil works fine for now.
You sound flustered. Sorry about that. Keep me posted on your progress.

bequicollinz:
waoh! i followed ur post about d shea butter therapy. i tried it and it worked for me. i'm dry skinned so i dont hv issues wit pimples but i notice some patches dat looked like rashes and burn on my face but i hv bin using all manner of anti fungal creams which suppress it nd after it will cum bk again. i wanted to carry out a skin test to knw wat is responsible (i work in a lab) my said it looked like fungi infection which takes a long period wit expensive drugs to treat. then i came across ur post nd decided to try it. i bought shea frm a yoruba woman who sells black soap cos dts what i use. she recommended d ghana type. i was consistently steamin my face after i hv my bath every evenin den i apply shea butter as my cream at nyt den vaseline during d day. i stopped usin any makeup not even powder to be sure. my dear it took 2wks of consistency but it worked my face is radiant now, my skin feels smooth now wit an even tone. i was worth it.Thanks to ur therapy nd to God who made it work

You're welcome, love! You have no idea how happy this makes me feel for you
This is great, I'm glad I was able to help.

My goodness. These are all very lovely.....Babyosis (funny name, I'm curious as to its origin), Cococandy, the guys that are representing (quite impressively, if I may add) and all of the other amazing folks....you guys rock!

I came across the thread a few days ago and I must say, far from getting bored, I'm getting excited as I go. Really miss being home. I'm currently in another state, staying with my uncle...he's got cooks and housekeepers that monopolize the kitchen. I miss cooking :-( The excitement.... the fails...the wins...the pride at creating awesome dishes. Can't wait to move back home or to my own place ;-)

Moving back home will mean I'll have to contend with my mom whose idea of food is something familiar to be eaten at once (yeah, she doesn't play with her food). My dad loves cooking and is the fun one. I suppose I took after him. He's lots better and excellent at it than my mom too.

Enough of my ramblings..lol. I shall retreat to the shadows once more to watch the exciting stuff going on here. Please, keep them coming....:-)

I had a similar experience in 2012 at a First Bank ATM during service year at Kebbi. I was using my NYSC issued account - Access Bank. I put in a withdrawal of N4000 and the machine stalled for so long I was even afraid my card was stuck. After a long period of "Transaction in Progress", my card popped out without the money. That day was passing out day and I was headed back to Lagos in the morning on the first bus. I went into First Bank to make a complaint, I was asked to check with my bank. I did. The guy who handled my complaint took my phone number and gave me his and said it would be rectified in a few days and I could travel rest assured.

Fast forward to a few weeks after, my account had not been credited. I called the guy and he apologized profusely and promised it would be rectified before the end of that week. I think I made 3 more calls after that when it didn't happen and I got more empty promises. In fact, at some point, the dude began to hit on me, asking me questions totally unrelated to the issue at hand. It was at this point that I gave up. Funny enough, I still use that account and haven't had any troubles since. Oh wait, my account was once debited in the amount of 1 grand but that was rectified before I even left the banking hall.

This post has got me thinking about that bad experience in the past. The bank you choose owes you the duty of keeping your money safe and rectifying issues that come up. It's annoying when I read cases of people being embarrassed over the bank's own mistake. It is simply appalling. I hope that the bad publicity they generate will ensure they do something fast to save their image.

Hello palebobe, you may need to see a dermatologist before starting any form of medications/products. The first step to take when dealing with skin disorders is to identify it for what is it. That would be a huge determinant for what treatment is appropriate. Wish you all the best in dealing with this, dear.

pretydiva:
fnks dear,rily do appreciate ur effort

You're welcome, love

iamord:
Okay I get. Well I have a hair shampoo I use on my hair two times a week. I also relax my hair once in a month. And braid it. I use only the ori as my hair cream. I just want my hair to grow longer . Of which it is a bit long and full for a guy. But the growth process has been slow and I have been having breakage, but I will give the castor oil a try ..people have recommended the same product. Thanks

Great, this is what I was hoping for.
First, what kind of shampoo do you use for your hair? Does it contain sulphate? Sulphate is quite common in shampoos which is unfortunate in that it isn't great for your hair. It strips the hair too much of its natural oils and the resulting brittleness can lead to breakage. I would recommend a cheap conditioner for washing your hair. I use Hair fruits, it is quite cheap and smells great. This method is called cowashing (which basically means conditioner washing). Alternatively, black soap is also great for hair wash. It contains great natural ingredients that are nourishing to your hair.
Secondly, as regards retouching your perm. Only your new growth needs to be permed. The use of relaxer on the already permed part of your hair weakens it so much that it would thin and break easily. I would recommend waiting for a minimum of 3 months between perms. This would ensure that you have enough new growth to relax and the already relaxed part doesn't get damaged.
Thirdly, massaging your scalp with castor oil every couple of days would lead to a noticeable increase in hair growth. I am currently using castor oil to grow my edges and I'm realizing great results.
Deep conditioning treatments are also a great way to fortify your hair and ensure healthy hair.
Shea butter (ori) is great as a hair cream. You may also need to add olive oil/coconut oil or both (I use both) to make a great hair mix.
Great to hear from you

expozey:
Great job @ OP. Good to know there are many people out there who prefer natural remedies to chemicals.

Would like to get to know you more as I am also in the beauty line. Thanks

I'm flattered, dear. Would be glad to hear from you and swap experiences.

pretydiva:
@starx, u said smtin abt oat,pls is it quake n oat?

Yes, Quaker oats is a brand of oats that is great. Any brand of oats would be great too.

queenlabisi:
dnt use shea butter on ur face if u hv got oily skin, talking from experience

I quite understand where you're coming from. I have very oil skin on my face too. Well, used to...until I started learning about skin care. Our skin is naturally programmed to produce more oil when it feels dry. The resulting overcompensation leads to oily skin. But if you are careful to moisturize your skin regularly, your skin adapts and reduces its oil production.

iamord:
I had a hair growth cream, I can't remember the name. Cos I threw it away after weeks with no result. Now I use pure shear butter only . but my hair still grows slow.. Am open to any idea thatt could b of help

When I say "hair regimen", I mean how do you care for you hair? Your wash routine, styling and products you use.
Shea butter is a great sealant. It helps seal moisture in your hair, thereby making it less brittle and less prone to breakage. But, it does not cause your scalp to produce more hair than usual.
One major oil for hair growth is CASTOR OIL. Products that claim to promote hair growth usually contain castor oil. Castor oil is anti fungal and promotes blood circulation in the scalp, which in turn allows the scalp to produce hair as it should.
Castor oil can be bought at any pharmacy.
It also goes without saying that a healthy diet with lots of protein aids hair growth, as hair is basically protein strands.
I still need to know what your current care regimen for your hair looks like.
Hope this was helpful

mysteriouxx:
Hello starz . Pls does shea butter spoil? If yes how long should it stay b4 been disposed of.?

Shea butter does not "spoil" in the general sense but, the longer it's left unused, the more its potency reduces. Try to use up your Shea butter within 6 months after purchase. Also, asking your seller about when he/she made a purchase of his/her stock would be a great idea.
However, don't rush up the use of your Shea butter if 6 months has nearly elapsed. Little goes a long way for facial care. Your hair can always benefit from any remaining Shea butter in store.
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