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APL`13 Challenge

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The best advice I can give is to put your hair up for a while. As long as your hair is out, you will be constantly length checking and tracking. When your hair is in a short term PS, like braids or twists, you can't length check every day or even every week. :yep:

As far as a hair reggie, when I first stated my journey back in 2009, I read everything under the sun by Sistaslick (now newer youtube "gurus" have taken the place of reading :lol:). As a relaxed/texlaxed head, I keep a protein shampoo and conditioner, a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a DC, a leave in, a daily moisturizer, and an oil. Oh, and a hard core proteing product used every 6-8 weeks to keep major breakage away.

What products to use is determined by how your hair feels and behaves.

I was able to grow my hair from NL to MBL in about 2.5 years (and then I got careless with long hair and started blowing drying and flat ironing too often and my hair disintegrated :look: :nono:).

Can you elborate on what you mean by nape maintenance? Is your nape constantly breaking?

Yes. It's always looking rough back there. I dust my hair regularly and my nape always needs more than the rest of my hair.
 
Nearing SL once again

We're at almost the same length... You hair might be slightly longer than mine. It's nice to see someone who is at the same place as I am. What is your goal month to reach APL? For me, it's december, but I don't know how realistic that is. What is your regi like? Relaxed or natural?
 
Are you sealing after you moisturize? Don't be discouraged it will grow!

I use aveeno positively nourishing leave in conditioner and extra virgin coconut oil(EVCO). I hear the EVCO is actually a moisturizer because it is the one oil proven to penetrate the hair... But don't know if I have to seal after using it since it's already an oil.
 
The best advice I can give is to put your hair up for a while. As long as your hair is out, you will be constantly length checking and tracking. When your hair is in a short term PS, like braids or twists, you can't length check every day or even every week. :yep:

As far as a hair reggie, when I first stated my journey back in 2009, I read everything under the sun by Sistaslick (now newer youtube "gurus" have taken the place of reading :lol:). As a relaxed/texlaxed head, I keep a protein shampoo and conditioner, a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a DC, a leave in, a daily moisturizer, and an oil. Oh, and a hard core proteing product used every 6-8 weeks to keep major breakage away.

What products to use is determined by how your hair feels and behaves.

I was able to grow my hair from NL to MBL in about 2.5 years (and then I got careless with long hair and started blowing drying and flat ironing too often and my hair disintegrated :look: :nono:).

Can you elborate on what you mean by nape maintenance? Is your nape constantly breaking?

Neck length to midback length in 2.5 years. That is so inspiring. Did you get discouraged at times? I think I need to buy some products, but when I go into the drugstore, I have no idea what to look for, I'm trying to look for products with no cones and minimal alcohol, but most products I see usually have alcohol as the 2nd or 3rd ingredient.

I heard that Scurl is a very good daily moisturiser, should I take my chances on that or do I stick with EVCO? Also, some of the products I hear you guys talk about are a little hard to find here in montreal. Also, when it comes to protein treatments, is it best to do a homemade one with eggs or should I buy one. I tried doing the egg one a few times, each time it left my hair SUPER hard. Ugh!!! Maybe I didn't do it the right way.

Anyway, I'm super happy with the encouragement I'm getting from you guys. Now I remember why I joined this site :)
 
BShamWow
We can have a box braids support group. Lol
They are indeed a godsend of a PS.

What regimen do you plan on doing for the 6 weeks?

I did the CUTEST pinup style with them yesterday night.
I will try to recreate it for the wedding im attending today.

I'll post pics later
 
4 weeks in my twists. i love them. they fit my style and my face. they are very easy. i will be spitting the size of the back ones in half within the week. i have done the majority of the top already.
 
Trying to just have fun with my hair until my next length check which is July 1st and found out this morning doing a WNG in the shower is easiest! I do all the product and activity in the shower with a
fogless mirror. Only took 15 minutes and I like the results. Will do this every other day and see what happens. I did loose puffs most of the time but getting bored so will do this for June.
 

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yaya24 I plan on washing once a week with some diluted shampoo that I put in an applicator bottle with a nozzle. Moisturizing everyday with a AVJ, Water, tea tree oil, grape seed oil mix. Sealing with coconut oil. And applying castor oil to my edges like normal.

Are you DCing while in braids? If so, how??? I don't want to miss my DC sessions, but scared I won't be able to rinse it well.

Please post pics of your updo. I have 3 weddings coming up in the next 6 weeks. My friends don't have anything else to do but get married apparently lol
 
We're at almost the same length... You hair might be slightly longer than mine. It's nice to see someone who is at the same place as I am. What is your goal month to reach APL? For me, it's december, but I don't know how realistic that is. What is your regi like? Relaxed or natural?

I'm natural. When I joined this challenge my hair was longer than it is now but the ends were soooo bad that I had to cut 2-3" off in January. I went all the way back to neck length.

Don't really have a real regimen... I've been wearing wigs for most of the year so far. I DC every week, moisturize, seal, cornrow my hair then put on my wig. I cowash 2 to 3 times a week when working out. I had a sew in for 3 weeks then went back to wigging it for 1.5 months. Now I'm back in a sew in. I just installed it tonight. I need to figure out a regimen for my sew in. I don't think I'll make apl this year but I'm staying in the challenge.
 
So I went to the salon to be styled...had one of the best shampoos. I guess after 10 weeks in braids (although I washed them), it felt good to get a massaged and light scratching of the scalp after so long. I didn't get a protein treatment but will do that myself next week. My hair is midway between shoulder & arm pit length. I was initially hoping to be apl by now but didnt get much growth with my pregnancy but gained thickness. I'm not too caught up on length...just playing it by ear. Plan to stick to protective styling and add cowashing to my regimen.
 
Hello everyone! I hope no one minds if I jump in! Just took down my sew in and decided that I might possibly be close enough to APL to jump in for this year. Ignore my fat back please. I am working on that also!! :-)

[*]Current hair length. Not really sure. I guess in between SL and APL?? Maybe 3 inches from APL??

[*]Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning
Texlaxed and possibly transitioning. Last texlax was 2-17-13.

[*]Goal Month
December 2013

[*]Current Reggie and styling choices
Protective styling via sew ins
Wash and condition once a week
Moisturizing under my sew in every other day
No heat
Leaving it ALONE!!!! :-)

[*]What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
Nothing. Doing the minimum to make it there!

[*]Post a beginning picture



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Since the next check in is scheduled for June 30, This will be my picture update for June. Im getting another sew in next week and my hair wont be out until August/September. I will be wearing a half wig until the end of next week.

I will have 3.5 months before my next check in. Good luck everyone and I hope everyone is making their goals.
 
@BShamWow

Sorry for the late reply. I ended up not going to the wedding on Saturday ... and because of school, I am just getting back on this thread. Please see my responses in red below.

yaya24 I plan on washing once a week with some diluted shampoo that I put in an applicator bottle with a nozzle. Moisturizing everyday with a AVJ, Water, tea tree oil, grape seed oil mix. Sealing with coconut oil. And applying castor oil to my edges like normal.

Are you DCing while in braids? If so, how??? I don't want to miss my DC sessions, but scared I won't be able to rinse it well.

Yes I am still DC, Just with diluted conditioner.. I have not used heat to DC yet. I am only washing 1x a week - 1x every 2 weeks.


Please post pics of your updo. I have 3 weddings coming up in the next 6 weeks. My friends don't have anything else to do but get married apparently lol


Although I skipped the wedding :look:..
Here are some updo tutorials that I have bookmarked:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2xdWjzXXnM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoPKgdVuDAg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p612L5CND0
 
I'm natural. When I joined this challenge my hair was longer than it is now but the ends were soooo bad that I had to cut 2-3" off in January. I went all the way back to neck length.

Don't really have a real regimen... I've been wearing wigs for most of the year so far. I DC every week, moisturize, seal, cornrow my hair then put on my wig. I cowash 2 to 3 times a week when working out. I had a sew in for 3 weeks then went back to wigging it for 1.5 months. Now I'm back in a sew in. I just installed it tonight. I need to figure out a regimen for my sew in. I don't think I'll make apl this year but I'm staying in the challenge.

I have to say, it's the same for me. Before my breakage, my hair was much longer (nearing bsl) however, the ends were dry and straw-like. I'm not happy I had this hair breakage, but it sure woke me up. Now I'll be able to grow healthier relaxed hair.
I'm not crazy about weaves and wigs, so I usually wear my hair in a high or low pony tail and tuck in the ends.

You never know, we might make APL by December. It's better to aim high, and strive to get there than to aim low. Plus I heard that a lot of people get a growth spurt in the summer. So I'm definitely looking forward to that.

What do you use to deep condition? I went to the pharmacy, but every deep condition I could find has silicones. I'd love to make my own deep conditioner, it would be much simpler.
 
I have to say, it's the same for me. Before my breakage, my hair was much longer (nearing bsl) however, the ends were dry and straw-like. I'm not happy I had this hair breakage, but it sure woke me up. Now I'll be able to grow healthier relaxed hair.
I'm not crazy about weaves and wigs, so I usually wear my hair in a high or low pony tail and tuck in the ends.

You never know, we might make APL by December. It's better to aim high, and strive to get there than to aim low. Plus I heard that a lot of people get a growth spurt in the summer. So I'm definitely looking forward to that.

What do you use to deep condition? I went to the pharmacy, but every deep condition I could find has silicones. I'd love to make my own deep conditioner, it would be much simpler.

I used organix awapuhi ginger repairing conditioner to DC. I agree..lets be optimistic!
 
I know its not length check time but i beenreally good so this is a treat!
 

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washed scalp with CON w/argan oil, conditioned with suave humectant, and now air drying in 3 flat twists with coconut oil.

I love coconut oil!
 
Hi girls, i think im almost there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:shocked: :gorgeous: :amen:
APL_ALMOST_zps3d0480ee.jpg
 
It's so cute to see everyone's SO or DD/DS helping with those length check pics :grin: It's a bigger bonus when there is a side shot of them in the picture from the mirror.
 
I'll be washing my braids today.

This will be my first time in 2 weeks..
they smell bad..:blush:
 
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