2025/2026 - Journey to SL/APL/BSL Challenge

[faithVA]

Post the following to join in

What length are you now?

What is your length goal for 2025 ?

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?

How can we support you in reaching your goal

Starting Pic:

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Please check in 1x a month to help keep the thread active.


Plan to post your reveal pic by 12/30/2025. You can post earlier if you reach your goal any time in between.

Post as many hair pics as you like because you know we love pics


Important Picture Dates
August 2025 Second length check update
December 2025 Final Reveal

 

[faithVA]

@CoiledOrchids , @25InchesStarting'25, @keranikki

The goal is to support and encourage each other as we journey to our next length goal.

In other threads, ladies have come up with similar practices they want to use to get to their goals. Feel free to partner or offer up mini-challenges.

At the same time lets have some fun while we get out of these shorter phases.

Note: Sometimes I have a lot of free time and sometimes I don't have any. Just know that my absence is temporary and will be back as soon as I can. I will be as active as my schedule allows. I'm not a Chicoro but I will try my best

 

[faithVA]

What length are you now? Most of my layers are grazing SL

What is your length goal for 2025 ? Most of my layers at APL

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?
--Keep things simple
--Cleanse and style weekly in flat twists or 2 strands
--Use K18 once a month
--Keep my ends moisturized with a spray or hair milk mid week.
--Improve my nutrition and increase my exercise
--Include a vitamin regimen
--Blowdry and micro trim at the end of each month


How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal? (not really sure yet)
--Maybe buy a comb attachment

How can we support you in reaching your goal? Just posting regularly is enough.

December 2024

 

[ScorpioLove]

This challenge seems a little more attainable for me. I don’t have huge growth goals but I do think a few just a few more inches will get me back to bsl / grazing bsl with better quality ends (hopefully).

Saving my spot!

 

[faithVA]

This challenge seems a little more attainable for me. I don’t have huge growth goals but I do think a few just a few more inches will get me back to bsl / grazing bsl with better quality ends (hopefully).

Saving my spot!

Welcome. Glad to have you. Will enjoy watching you get back to BSL

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I’ll be in and as soon as I make it back home I’ll fully post my starting details.

Saving my spot.

 

[faithVA]

Here are my blow dried results from April. I will use these to track monthly.

 

[faithVA]

I’ll be in and as soon as I make it back home I’ll fully post my starting details.

Saving my spot.

Woot! Looking forward to it.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Post the following to join in

What length are you now?

I actually am not sure lol I'll let yall decide

What is your length goal for 2025 ?

I dont have a particular length goal in mind, only to keep the hair on my head lol

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?

I plan to go back to maybe mini braids? Or Brists? (Twists started as a braid) imma give the heat and the combs a break cause summer is almost here. Idk it depends on how sweaty I get.

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?

That is a very good question. One that I do not have the answer to currently.

How can we support you in reaching your goal

Check to make sure I haven't cut my hair off every once in a while lol

Starting Pic:

The ends in the middle reminds me of @Chicoro lead hair theory. They need to be cut BADLY, but eventually I'll get around to it lol I don't wear my hair straight too much right now.
This pic was taken in April

==================================================================
Please check in 1x a month to help keep the thread active.


Plan to post your reveal pic by 12/30/2025. You can post earlier if you reach your goal any time in between.

Post as many hair pics as you like because you know we love pics


Important Picture Dates
August 2025 Second length check update

Imma try to straighten my hair but it depends on how hot it is.

December 2025 Final Reveal

Okay got it!

 

[CoiledOrchids]

I'll post a pic and details tomorrow after I go to the salon

 

[faithVA]

I actually am not sure lol I'll let yall decide

I dont have a particular length goal in mind, only to keep the hair on my head lol

I plan to go back to maybe mini braids? Or Brists? (Twists started as a braid) imma give the heat and the combs a break cause summer is almost here. Idk it depends on how sweaty I get.

That is a very good question. One that I do not have the answer to currently.

Check to make sure I haven't cut my hair off every once in a while lol

The ends in the middle reminds me of @Chicoro lead hair theory. They need to be cut BADLY, but eventually I'll get around to it lol I don't wear my hair straight too much right now.
This pic was taken in AprilView attachment 503472

Imma try to straighten my hair but it depends on how hot it is.

Okay got it!

You don't have to straighten you hair for the quarterly checks. Measure it however you see fit.

From your pics the majority of your strands are between full SL and APL. You have a section moving towards BSL.

Since you don't wear your hair out just let it be. Thereno need to even it up until you are ready. And sounds like you need to stay away from scissors.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

You don't have to straighten you hair for the quarterly checks. Measure it however you see fit.

You are so right, I was trying to have some type of continuity lol

From your pics the majority of your strands are between full SL and APL. You have a section moving towards BSL.

Yay! I think this is the longest my hair has ever been. I did have a lot of hair when I was natural for 5 years straight one time but I never got it straighten before I shaved half it off lol I don't even remember how long it was.

Since you don't wear your hair out just let it be.h

True, im trying to turn my twists into brists cause just twists is not working lol. They have puffed up at the roots leaving the rest of my hair looking like it need some milk. Also might go back to stretching my relaxers.

Thereno need to even it up until you are ready. And sounds like you need to stay away from scissors.

I do for real though

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

What length are you now?
Have no idea, hair is in layers. I just say its short until a decent amount of hair reaches SL

What is your length goal for 2025 ?
BSL

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?
Wear Protective + Low Manipulation Styles (Knotless Braids) until at least BSL. Daily hydration for accelerated growth
-Scalp Cleanse Daily
-Water Rinse Daily
-Aloe Spray Daily
-Massage Daily
-Fenugreek Growth Spray Daily
-LOG (Liquid, Oil, Gel)
- +5 Week Infused Oils
-Rice Water Mix
-Henna and Hair Masks
-Nutrient Dense Snacks/Meals
-Vitamins
-Daily Fitness
-No Trimming During Challenge

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?
Work on the next goal WHIP

How can we support you in reaching your goal
Being active on the thread to support each other

Starting Pic:
Lightly straightend in large sections

Nape Completly Straighted

 

[keranikki]

@CoiledOrchids , @25InchesStarting'25, @keranikki

The goal is to support and encourage each other as we journey to our next length goal.

In other threads, ladies have come up with similar practices they want to use to get to their goals. Feel free to partner or offer up mini-challenges.

At the same time lets have some fun while we get out of these shorter phases.

Note: Sometimes I have a lot of free time and sometimes I don't have any. Just know that my absence is temporary and will be back as soon as I can. I will be as active as my schedule allows. I'm not a Chicoro but I will try my best

No worries! I’m thankful you started the thread and we’ll support each other in keeping the thread active! I will post my details a little later.

 

[MzSwift]

Ooohh, another thread to lurk!

Don't mind me, ladies. I'll just be here... lurking.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I'll be back to participate

 

[faithVA]

My scalp felt dry and itchy so I decided to do my cleanse today instead of tomorrow. The only down side is I'm definitely not twisting it up tonight. So will need to do something with it in the morning and then wet it tomorrow night before I twist it up.

Didn't do anything special. I shampooed, conditioned with Prose Shampoo and Conditioner and used their leave-in. I sprayed some Camille Rose spray on the ends and put my hair into 12 Bantu Knots.

It will probably still be wet in the morning so I will have to figure out how to wear it during the day.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

My scalp felt dry and itchy so I decided to do my cleanse today instead of tomorrow. The only down side is I'm definitely not twisting it up tonight. So will need to do something with it in the morning and then wet it tomorrow night before I twist it up.

Didn't do anything special. I shampooed, conditioned with Prose Shampoo and Conditioner and used their leave-in. I sprayed some Camille Rose spray on the ends and put my hair into 12 Bantu Knots.

It will probably still be wet in the morning so I will have to figure out how to wear it during the day.

Love Bantu Knots! Hope you come up with something you like

 

[ScorpioLove]

What length are you now?
APL

What is your length goal for 2025 ?
BSL

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?
Frequent conditioning products applied daily, hot oil treatments 1-2x a week, deep conditioning with heat at least once a week, more Rollersets

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?
Probably use of a flat iron


How can we support you in reaching your goal
Accountability and hair pictures from everyone’s progress


Starting Pic:

Realistic length check pic because I know I wouldn’t straighten it the same as a salon and my hair is curled which looks better on me.

 

[faithVA]

Love Bantu Knots! Hope you come up with something you like

Thank you. I actually did come up with something. I flat twisted the back and burned the rest. Not sure why I'm just thinking of this.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Thank you. I actually did come up with something. I flat twisted the back and burned the rest. Not sure why I'm just thinking of this.

View attachment 503554View attachment 503556

The two twists in the back are really cute!

 

[faithVA]

The two twists in the back are really cute!

Thank you. This is going to be a life-saver while the back grows out.

 

[Napp]

Ill join. I think im apl but I airing to do a length check in may or june

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I plan on taking my latest protective style down on Saturday and getting my hair rebraided on Sunday. I’ll have a latest length check and starting post then

 

[faithVA]

I’ll be in and as soon as I make it back home I’ll fully post my starting details.

Saving my spot.

Remember to update your post with your starting details.

 

[faithVA]

I'll post a pic and details tomorrow after I go to the salon

Remember to come back and update your starting post.

 

[faithVA]

Going to change my regimen slightly for May and give this a try. I thought I was going to do 2 strands for May but I'm feeling unmotivated to twist my hair.

I think when I was wearing wash and gos when I would switch to flat twist, I would rinse out the conditioner, apply the gel as if I was going to do a wash and go and then just put in flat twist. This I would do every 3 to 4 days.

I plan to revisit this. Why? Wetting my scalp more frequently has many benefits.
1. My hair feels more moisturized
2. My hair feels softer
3. My thin areas start to fill in
4. I can remove shed hairs more frequently
5. My hair looks better

I'm debating on whether to use a leave-in and gel or just use the gel. I will try both. I think I will try to do the complete cleanse and style in the shower.

1. Will rinse out conditioner
2. Apply leave-in (test this out)
3. Apply water and comb through
4. Apply gel
5. Squeeze in more water
6. Twist up

My plan is to reset on the weekend and then once midweek. I will leave any intricate styling to the weekend and then do basic 2 twists midweek to keep styling short.

 

[Rocky91]

Thank you. I actually did come up with something. I flat twisted the back and burned the rest. Not sure why I'm just thinking of this.

View attachment 503554View attachment 503556

This is super cute!!

 

[Rocky91]

I need to join this challenge. 2025 is my year of being back on the boards and joining all the challenges. I'm just gonna embrace it.

What length are you now? I think that I am full SL or maybe approaching CBL.

What is your length goal for 2025 ? I want to be approaching APL. It's kind of unclear to me where that is on the shirt I'm using because it looks like that would be all the way down at the #7. Hey, put it this way...I need that hair to at least start touching the darn numbers on the shirt If it gets to the #3 line by the end of the year, I'll be ecstatic. This picture is from April 18th.

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal? Actually sticking to low manipulation and embracing way more buns than I ever have in the past. Shampoo and deep condition twice a week, maybe some cowashing in the summer. Going to ONE stylist that I trust for a silk press and trim every three months. This might honestly be the most important change I've made this year. I used to hop around from chair to chair for my trims, and that isn't the way to retain length, at least for me.

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal? If I reach my hair and weight loss goals this year, I'm going to go re-pierce my belly button like I'm a young hot 21-year-old again, maybe even wear some crop tops to show it off.

How can we support you in reaching your goal? I just love the community of striving for something together. I feel a little lonely being somebody who has been on this board for so long and doesn't have WSL or even BSL length hair to show for it due to constantly getting in my own way, so it's nice to gather with other ladies who are striving for lengths that others might consider short, but heck...it'd be an accomplishment for me.

 

[Rocky91]

I'm serious about my goals this year, so I'm actually embracing buns. That's a new one for me because I've been stubbornly resisting protective styling forever, but I'm so busy right now, I don't even have the extra time for my usual low manipulation styles.

Here's the bun I'm wearing today, just a simple middle part tucked ends bun, no bobby pins necessary. I was inspired by this video from Hairlicious. Her bun videos are beautiful and since my stretched out natural hair gets close to resembling her airdried relaxed hair, I love getting ideas from her. I know it looks kinda tight, but that's just the edge control/gel.