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SmilingElephant's Hip-Tailbone Challenge 2026

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SmilingElephant

SmilingElephant

Well-Known Member
So you want long swinging hair in the next year? Well this is the place to be!

Ideally this challenge is for those of us starting in the BSL-WL area :look: but all are welcome to join!

I'm gonna try to make this easy...we can do length checks every 3 months. So since it's now March we can do our starting pics now.

March 2025 Starting Pic

June 2025 Check In Pic

September 2025 Check In Pic

December 2025 Check I'm Pic

...and so forth and so on.

Once we hit 2026 I will update this post with 2026 Pic posting dates :yep:

So with your Starting Pic, include the regimen you will follow to get to Hip Length or Tailbone Length in 2026.

This challenge will end December 31, 2026!

:weird:LET'S GO LADIES!! :weird:
 
So this will be my start pic. This was taken sometime in February. I had a trimmed off an inch after taking this pic and so I'm pretty much in the same spot

IMG_20250203_173152233.jpg

My regimen is:

Co-Wash on Tues, Thursday, and Saturday
Shampoo and Deep Condition on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Monday and Friday are "rest days".

I'm using up a LOT of products so I'm rotating and don't have a set of products that I'm sticking to right now.
 
I'm in!! :D

Starting length: BSB

But I just installed some mini twists so I won't have my starting pic until either the end of March or first week of April bc:

Regi-
Bound hair 95% of the time
Rock mini twists/braids, refreshing every 4-6 weeks
OR
Rock straight back cornrows, refreshing every 1-2 weeks
M&S daily and cover with mens satin skull cap under a bandana or satin scarf
Apply homemade scalp tonic + MT 3-4x a week
GHE 3x a week
Wash and DC monthly (working my way to biweekly)
Shower wash with homemade Ayurvedic cleanser and condish at will.

Texlax every 6-9 months
Blow dry 1-2x a year
Maybe flat iron once a year.

Heavy sealing ends and keeping them tucked away is my goal this year.
Hoping to hit WL early 2026 and then HL or close to it at the end of 2026.
My end goal is WHIP length so I'll be happy with anything close to HL. lol

I'll come back and update this post with my starting pic!
 
So let's get it poppin' up in here...up in here! :happydance:

What are your plans for your hair as it gets longer?

I'm looking forward to longer curly ponytails and working on a thicker hemline. I think when I get to Hip I might do a 2 inch trim and then grow to TBL but I don't know.
 
Ready to put in the work for health growth! :)

STARTING PICS
Front-Side-Back3.9.25.jpgNape LC 3.9.25.jpg
Did low heat on flat iron since I wasn't flat ironing all my hair
I created a homemade LC shirt to track progress
The longest lines are the major mile stones. I'll add WL and WHIP when I reach APL to BSL
I. SL II. APL III. BSL
*It might look like I have breakage at my nape area, but I don't. I have an "inverted widow's peak" on nape line

REGIMEN:
DC or Detox Clay Mask 1X/WK
Use Shampoo 1X/WK
Use Homemade Co Wash 1X/WK
Co Wash with store bought conditioner 5X/WK

Flat Iron 1X/WK Max if needed
Majority of the time RevAir or Wet bunning
Silk Scarf and Satin pillow case nightly
Massage scalp daily
Growth oils/pomades daily
+30oz Water daily
Vitamins daily

SU S-CW
M S-CW
T H-CW
W S-CW
R S-CW
F S-CW
SA W

*S-CW (Store bought conditioner) H-CW (Homemade Co Wash)
 
Last edited:
SmilingElephant said:
So let's get it poppin' up in here...up in here! :happydance:

What are your plans for your hair as it gets longer?

I'm looking forward to longer curly ponytails and working on a thicker hemline. I think when I get to Hip I might do a 2 inch trim and then grow to TBL but I don't know.
Click to expand...
Since I have the shortest hair in the group there isn't much I can do for awhile :laugh:

First thing I'm looking forward to is getting Knotless Braids when the front of my hair gets a little longer. I like Knotless Braids when they look very natural. I like them on the thinner side, they look so pretty to me that way. After get KBs, I'm looking forward to all my hair reaching SL for me to do Dry Bunning with 1 bun. Right now I'm wet bunning with 3 buns. I like to wear dry buns and want to experiment with different styles. Waiting patiently :)
 
25InchesStarting'25 said:
Since I have the shortest hair in the group there isn't much I can do for awhile :laugh:

First thing I'm looking forward to is getting Knotless Braids when the front of my hair gets a little longer. I like Knotless Braids when they look very natural. I like them on the thinner side, they look so pretty to me that way. After get KBs, I'm looking forward to all my hair reaching SL for me to do Dry Bunning with 1 bun. Right now I'm wet bunning with 3 buns. I like to wear dry buns and want to experiment with different styles. Waiting patiently :)
Click to expand...
Your regimen seems pretty solid :yep: keep it up and you'll get there in no time!
 
I’ll bite. I love a good ole hair challenge. As a loose natural: I made it to tailbone, chopped, made it to waist…chopped, now I’m all loc’d up & my hair just started rubbing on my shoulders. I’m like okkkkkkk, I was kinda not feeling growing long hair again…but I like all the nostalgic feels that are coming back. And Lordt knows, I miss my high buns!

However, like someone up thread noted, I may not make it to hip by the end of 2026 but I’mma be somewhere in the vicinity lol.

Currently washing & deep conditioning every 2-3 weeks. Re-twisting seasonally.

IMG_2515.jpeg


IMG_2519.jpeg


IMG_2374.jpeg

Products: I’m old school so products feel old’ish lol

Giovanni Tea Tree shampoo/conditioner set

Shea Moisture deep conditioners (I just grab the small travel sizes…1 pack lasts 3 washes with its thicccc self) I have to water them down but the moisture lasts so long!

Leave in/Moisturizer
Kinky Curly Knot Today. I use a watered down small amount on wash day and the same once or twice a week in between wash days.

I color my hair a soft black whenever it’s retwist time. I’ve been using the Garnier brand and it’s fire.

Happy hair growing!!!!!!!



IMG_3593.jpeg
 
I don't and won't have a starting picture for this month unless I take my twists out, so I'll start with pictures from January, instead.

I'm photo dumping here so that I have the comparative shots handy, depending on how I do my future updates.

InShot_20250110_172612594.jpg LHCF_Jan2025_5.png

LHCF_Jan2025_8.png LHCF_Jan2025_2.png

I'm going to add another one or two of me pulling on my twists.

Goal:
  • HL or full HL

My regimen (should I choose not to be lazy):
  • Weekly babassu oil pre-poo followed by ayurvedic clay washes
  • Moisturize with DIY lotion + seal with herbal oil + tallow blend

What I would like to add/be consistent with this year:
  • Drinking water and bamboo leaf tea daily
  • Taking omega oils daily
  • Moisturizing and sealing every other day
  • Daily massages and brushing (using goat's hair brush)
  • Being carefree and having fun as much as possible
  • Exercise daily

Areas that I'd like to improve:
  • The back middle section of my hair is consistently shorter than the rest of my hair. I'm not sure what specifically is happening there. Maybe it's just how my hair grows, or maybe it's how I style my hair.
  • Playing around with bound styles that are not two strand twists. (Not mandatory)


* I still can't believe the picture in the purple shirt. I like pulling on my twists in the shower because they feel long, but I'm scared to take another picture in case that one was a fluke. Never would I ever have thought that could be my hair. Kinda feeling imposter syndrome or some such thing right now.
 
snoop said:
I don't and won't have a starting picture for this month unless I take my twists out, so I'll start with pictures from January, instead.

I'm photo dumping here so that I have the comparative shots handy, depending on how I do my future updates.

View attachment 501923 View attachment 501929

View attachment 501931 View attachment 501927

I'm going to add another one or two of me pulling on my twists.

Goal:
  • HL or full HL

My regimen (should I choose not to be lazy):
  • Weekly babassu oil pre-poo followed by ayurvedic clay washes
  • Moisturize with DIY lotion + seal with herbal oil + tallow blend

What I would like to add/be consistent with this year:
  • Drinking water and bamboo leaf tea daily
  • Taking omega oils daily
  • Moisturizing and sealing every other day
  • Daily massages and brushing (using goat's hair brush)
  • Being carefree and having fun as much as possible
  • Exercise daily

Areas that I'd like to improve:
  • The back middle section of my hair is consistently shorter than the rest of my hair. I'm not sure what specifically is happening there. Maybe it's just how my hair grows, or maybe it's how I style my hair.
  • Playing around with bound styles that are not two strand twists. (Not mandatory)


* I still can't believe the picture in the purple shirt. I like pulling on my twists in the shower because they feel long, but I'm scared to take another picture in case that one was a fluke. Never would I ever have thought that could be my hair. Kinda feeling imposter syndrome or some such thing right now.
Click to expand...
In the purple is exactly my goal length, congrats!

How can you not believe, it's reality. Accept the good in your life and stay happy :)
 
snoop said:
I don't and won't have a starting picture for this month unless I take my twists out, so I'll start with pictures from January, instead.

I'm photo dumping here so that I have the comparative shots handy, depending on how I do my future updates.

View attachment 501923 View attachment 501929

View attachment 501931 View attachment 501927

I'm going to add another one or two of me pulling on my twists.

Goal:
  • HL or full HL

My regimen (should I choose not to be lazy):
  • Weekly babassu oil pre-poo followed by ayurvedic clay washes
  • Moisturize with DIY lotion + seal with herbal oil + tallow blend

What I would like to add/be consistent with this year:
  • Drinking water and bamboo leaf tea daily
  • Taking omega oils daily
  • Moisturizing and sealing every other day
  • Daily massages and brushing (using goat's hair brush)
  • Being carefree and having fun as much as possible
  • Exercise daily

Areas that I'd like to improve:
  • The back middle section of my hair is consistently shorter than the rest of my hair. I'm not sure what specifically is happening there. Maybe it's just how my hair grows, or maybe it's how I style my hair.
  • Playing around with bound styles that are not two strand twists. (Not mandatory)


* I still can't believe the picture in the purple shirt. I like pulling on my twists in the shower because they feel long, but I'm scared to take another picture in case that one was a fluke. Never would I ever have thought that could be my hair. Kinda feeling imposter syndrome or some such thing right now.
Click to expand...
GIRL, YOU ALREADY THERE!!! CONGRATULATIONS :congrats:



I've been thinking about trying tallow on my hair and yucca shampoo. Since I'm on a no buy I wanna try everything but I really want a set small collection of products to use faithfully.
 
snoop said:
I don't and won't have a starting picture for this month unless I take my twists out, so I'll start with pictures from January, instead.

I'm photo dumping here so that I have the comparative shots handy, depending on how I do my future updates.

View attachment 501923 View attachment 501929

View attachment 501931 View attachment 501927

I'm going to add another one or two of me pulling on my twists.

Goal:
  • HL or full HL

My regimen (should I choose not to be lazy):
  • Weekly babassu oil pre-poo followed by ayurvedic clay washes
  • Moisturize with DIY lotion + seal with herbal oil + tallow blend

What I would like to add/be consistent with this year:
  • Drinking water and bamboo leaf tea daily
  • Taking omega oils daily
  • Moisturizing and sealing every other day
  • Daily massages and brushing (using goat's hair brush)
  • Being carefree and having fun as much as possible
  • Exercise daily

Areas that I'd like to improve:
  • The back middle section of my hair is consistently shorter than the rest of my hair. I'm not sure what specifically is happening there. Maybe it's just how my hair grows, or maybe it's how I style my hair.
  • Playing around with bound styles that are not two strand twists. (Not mandatory)


* I still can't believe the picture in the purple shirt. I like pulling on my twists in the shower because they feel long, but I'm scared to take another picture in case that one was a fluke. Never would I ever have thought that could be my hair. Kinda feeling imposter syndrome or some such thing right now.
Click to expand...

Rapunzel length hair and real life inspo
 
25InchesStarting'25 said:
In the purple is exactly my goal length, congrats!

How can you not believe, it's reality. Accept the good in your life and stay happy :)
Click to expand...

A few years ago, I had a big setback that I still haven't gotten over. And I only really realized through pictures. I'm not going to claim this length until I can hold or surpass it. It's taken me about 3 years to get out of it. Without the setback, I could have possibly been at classic length by now. Instead, when I went to measure and check for WL, it turns out that I was at MBL, maybe shorter.

After that setback, I've been trimming and micro-trimming my ends, but I've never done anything to even out my hair. I've just let my hair grow and fill itself in naturally. So, if I can hold this hair until December, then I think the nape sides will fill in a bit more.

I can't find where I last posted about what my hair looked like, so I'll post this picture again.

LHCF_2022_1.png


My hemline looks like I asked a rat to chew through it.

I'm re-posting a "now" photo for easier comparison.

InShot_20250110_172612594.jpg

I don't quite do things with my hair as I "should" (i.e. I didn't big chop, I'm on a "no poo"/no combs routine, I'm pretty much fully DIY, and I don't use a rinse out conditioner), but I think that if I didn't have ANY fun with my hair then I'd probably have to shave it.
 
Last edited:
snoop said:
A few years ago, I had a big setback that I still haven't gotten over. And I only really realized through pictures. I'm not going to claim this length until I can hold or surpass it. It's taken me about 3 years to get out of it. Without the setback, I could have possibly been at classic length by now. Instead, when I went to measure and check for WL, it turns out that I was at MBL, maybe shorter.

After that setback, I've been trimming and micro-trimming my ends, but I've never done anything to even out my hair. I've just let my hair grow and fill itself in naturally. So, if I can hold this hair until December, then I think the nape sides will fill in a bit more.

I can't find where I last posted about what my hair looked like, so I'll post this picture again.

View attachment 501943


My hemline looks like I asked a rat to chew through it.

I'm re-posting a "now" photo for easier comparison.

View attachment 501945

I don't quite do things with my hair as I "should" (i.e. I didn't big chop, I'm on a "no poo"/no combs routine, I'm pretty much fully DIY, and I don't use a rinse out conditioner), but I think that if I didn't have ANY fun with my hair then I'd probably have to shave it.
Click to expand...
Amazing growth!

I have a lot to look up to, thanks for the inspiration :)
 
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