Dlove: I really do not know what I am and I really do not even want to "type" my hair, but for the sake of this post and after reading the thread yesterday on hair typing, this has been my experience: My hair had the appearance of 4b after I transitioned and my hair was so dry that it shrunk up very tight. After I discovered LHCF and learned the importance of getting moisture into the hair strands and retaining moisture (and proceeded to get moisture into my hair strands and retain it) the "s" shape of my hair strands for the last two-plus years has had the appearance of not as coiled as 4a, but not as loose as 3b, so I would say 3c. In it's present loosened state, the "s" shape is pretty elongated and has the appearance of 3a. However, my hair is retaining even more moisture after these treatments so moisture retention is definitely figuring in this equation as well. How's that for an answer or non-answer (smile)?
Also, I kept the yogurt mixture in for at least 30-60 minutes while either soaking in the bathtub, doing dishes or working on the computer -- not on purpose. I did not have a clue that this would loosen my curl pattern. It was AFTER that happened that I went on this site and did a search for yogurt and came up with lots of posts on the lime and coconut treatment and some saying that the purpose of putting the lime in the coconut milk is to sour it and yogurt and buttermilk is already essentially sour milk. In those posts, I also learned about lactic acid. I just did a search and learned that lactic acid is also present in molasses (as well as sour milk, various fruits and wine) so the molasses may have ratcheted up the potency of my concoction if, in fact, it is the lactic acid that is loosening the curl pattern.
I don't know guys. All of this happened by accident and I was just trying to figure it out and this is what I came up with. The one thing I forgot to add in my first post is that my shrinkage is 50% or less of what it was before the yogurt. I just put the yogurt in it to use it up and it was plain full-fat yogurt. Also, yogurt and buttermilk is protein and I also added whey protein so that was more protein and whey is a milk by-product. I do not know if that contributed to it or not.
NaturalJoy: My herb mix is just a bunch of powdered herbs I've bought over the last few months in four ounce packages. I just got tired of all the little packages and dumped them all into a large container. They are irish moss, rhoussoul clay, oatstraw, kelp, rose petal powder, barley grass, nettle, burdock, rosemary, comfrey, chamomile. I think that is all.