Have you been at this for 2+ years and are still unsatisfied/disappointed

[klb120475]

Yep! I'm disappointed....I had a major set back dis time last year which was totally my fault. So now I feel like I'm startin ova....

 

[newflowers]

I started in December 2006 with 2-4" jagged, ragged, dry breaking inches - today I am a couple inches below shoulder length. My hair is not perfect, but I love it. I love knowing how to take care of it; I love that is doesn't break; I love using my fav products and trying new ones. Recently, I was feeling vain. Hair styled, bought a flat iron, used it on my relaxed hair with no heat protectant, and had to go in for a half inch trim. Immediately back to roller sets for down hair on date night and the bun for daily wear.

I love my hair; it's not perfect, but I love it, and I have the ladies of LHCF to thank for thank.

 

[determined_to_grow]

YES!!!!! I was able to make it a little below BSL and then silly me decided to get BRAIDS which totally KILLED my hair... I had to chop it all off ...

Well, that being said here we go again...

 

[HairQueen]

On the one hand I am amazed and delighted with the progress my hair has made its is sooo much thicker and healthier than when i first started - its like a different head of hair!

The thing that gets me the MOST frutsutrated is my layers, I feel they are the the thing that slows me down becasue every time I get a trim it is always more than I want cut off because I am trying to get rid of the layers.

 

[HairQueen]

YES!!!!! I was able to make it a little below BSL and then silly me decided to get BRAIDS which totally KILLED my hair... I had to chop it all off ...

Well, that being said here we go again...

Why did the braids kill your hair? Was it becasue your hair was getting too dry underneath them?

 

[prettypuff1]

This is me.. I joined in 06 Nov. I saw all the great progress ladies were making, and I thought I can achieve this too. I saw ladies going from sl-apl-bsl in8/9 months. I thought i could at least make APL by Nov 07... I didnt. i was still hovering around SL, no trims, no breakage, no set backs, no reason why. I just didn't see the growth that everyone else did. By summer of 08, i still wasn't APL, so I went ahead and did the BC. I wanted a new start. I know that i made some progress, and I was doing it all right, but i just didn't see the progress that everyone else did..

 

[caramelma]

I think that everyone will have setbacks until they learn healthy hair habits and actually care that their hair is healthy, like myself I blame me for my setbacks because I was too lazy for all the work that it takes to have healthy hair and after two hair cuts that I didnt want but the stylist saying that my hair looks thicker when its short because I have soft fine hair. O and I wont forget those micros and kinky twists that set me back this year. All I know is that I wont give up, I WILL HAVE HEALTHY LONG HAIR! and thats my word.

 

[caramelma]

YES!!!!! I was able to make it a little below BSL and then silly me decided to get BRAIDS which totally KILLED my hair... I had to chop it all off ...

Well, that being said here we go again...

I too had to learn about braids the hard way

 

[determined_to_grow]

Why did the braids kill your hair? Was it becasue your hair was getting too dry underneath them?

I think because it was done extremely small and tight *(not micro but not exactly as big as they should be according to the crown and glory method). Also, my hair was in a weak state as it was - I did not have the proper moisture/protein balance to begin with and the braids made it extremely dry. That being said when I took out the braids - it was way below BSL however EXTREMELY thin so I had to chop.

 

[determined_to_grow]

I too had to learn about braids the hard way

Yup. I tried it as a easy fix only to see that it actually set me back by 2.5 years

 

[Glitter]

Wait -- first, lexi I have to say I have always loved your hair. You are one of the reasons why I joined this board.

Am I upset? Sometimes. I get mad because I still haven't gotten over my hand in hair habit (a nervous tick) and it's still eating up my edges. But I know I can do it. I see this as a continuing journey.

 

[nicki6]

First, thank you Lexi84 for starting this thread

Yes, I am disappointed. I am almost ashamed to admit it considering how much longer and healthier it is from when I started

I suppose my disappointment is due to comparing my hair to others here with 'fairytale' hair. My first 2 years were spent absorbing info and trying different techniques. The problem was that I was still allowing my beautician to CHOP off my progress with each relaxer

I got serious mid 2006 and I finally made APL in August....and sad to say..I think its my terminal length
It took me TWO years to get here and that was with 95% protective styles

I'll just concentrate on thickening it up and having full APL...no end date in sight

 

[Angelicus]

I know you all are complaining but everyone who has posted in this thread has better looking hair than they did 2 years ago. Cut yourself some slack, ladies. So what if you still have the same length, or the same color-- Everyone's hair is thicker, prettier, and soft to the touch. Sometimes we fall off the wagon but this board proves that if you get back up again it'll thrive.

 

[Nightingale]

I'm not satisfied with my growth (and won't be until I'm WL), but I am not disappointed at all. When I found LHCF I was shoulder length and relaxed bone straight. Now I'm texlaxed and past BSL. Great progress which I owe to this site.

 

[gabulldawg]

I wouldn't say my hair is perfect but i'm satisfied with my progress. I have had a really good hair journey thus far.

This is exactly how I feel. I haven't quite been here two years yet, but I am so happy with my progress. I have noticed a change in my hair for the better. i can see it getting longer and healthier. I have gained SO much knowledge from this site and know that it's already paying off! I've made it to APL from thin/wispy shoulder-length hair in about 16moths and for the first time I feel that BSL is within my reach!

I guess a big reason why I am satisfied is that I expected that it would take time to notice progress. Everyone worth having takes time!

 

[yuriko]

I am sorry to hear all this damage with braids. Braids actually work for me. But i do tend to moisturize my braids with spray bottle everyday. And micros are never really good for your hair no matter how you look at it. I will be very careful next time I am getting braids

 

[tocktick]

When I had unrealistic expectations, I always saw the negative because I didn't measure up. As thus, I was always disappointed. I got more realistic about things and took measures to make sure that I wasn't short-changing myself (i.e - I took better care of my hair, ate better and exercised). I just stopped putting pressure on myself. Now I'm not disappointed. I've found that it helps me immensely to protective style too.

 

[Filmatic]

No I am not disappointed overall. I am very thankful that I am not bald in the front from dying my hair white. My hair is in a healthy state that it hasn't been in alot of hair. I really can't complain, because I started my journey at the very top of shoulder length and I'm now an inch from BSL.

 

[Curlee_lurker]

I like to cut...a lot. I had a major setback April 2006, like a month after my join date. Went from waist to chin. I cut about 4-5 inches in November of 2007 to about shoulder length. Before I moved down to ATL I got a slight trim, probably an inch or so off. I'd gotten to probably a bit past bsl last week and I chopped it again. I am in love with how my hair looks and feels after a cut.

I'm vowing not to get another cut until winter 2010 or until the winter after I get married, whichever comes first.

ETA - I thought that my setback was in 2006...but it was 2007. I've hair 2 haircuts since then. I am more scissor happy than I thought.

 

[*Muffin*]

I voted "no, I'm not disappointed, but my hair could use some improvement" because I feel there's always room for improvement, atleast with most of us. I know that my hair is healthy and that it grows no problem, but I've developed some bad habits that I feel overtime could make it difficult to achieve my ultimate length goal (WL). These things are overmanipulation (I tend to play in my hair, comb it a lot, etc...) and hair dehydration (from the hard water I have). I've been taking steps to remedy these problems (For about a month I have not been over manipulating my hair and I've installed a shower filter in my bathroom and that's helped with moisture retention) and I'm gradually becoming more satisfied with my hair. There's still room for improvement, though .

 

[choconillaprincess]

Girl! I am rite there with you! My hair got to almost BSL and I just thot I was the bizniz blowdryin and straightening and all that... n guess wut? I'm still right there six months later... I haven't even been on lhcf in forever! but the seasons are changin and i'm kickin it back in gear for the winter time girl! I'ma be gettin ma growin on!

 

[Determined22]

I'm not where I want to be, but a lot of it is my fault.

I joined in Jan 2007, but I was still blowdrying and flatironing. It wasn't until November 2007 that I finally gave up the direct heat and started co-washing. So that was almost a year that I wasn't really taking care of my hair.

In Jan 2008 I got my Pibbs so I've been rollersetting and DC'ing with heat and my hair has gotten a lot better, but I'm still not at APL and next month will make 1 year of healthy haircare. I'm a bit saddened that I probably won't make my goal but I'm gonna continue to try. My biggest obstacle right now is babying my ends and finding that perfect moisturizer.

 

[lexi84]

Yup. I tried it as a easy fix only to see that it actually set me back by 2.5 years

Oh my God! Thanks for this, I'll remember not to do that....and I was thinkin about getting braids too.erplexed

 

[lexi84]

When I had unrealistic expectations, I always saw the negative because I didn't measure up. As thus, I was always disappointed. I got more realistic about things and took measures to make sure that I wasn't short-changing myself (i.e - I took better care of my hair, ate better and exercised). I just stopped putting pressure on myself. Now I'm not disappointed. I've found that it helps me immensely to protective style too.

Girl everytime I see your natural 4b hair, I'm amazed. Its so thick and pretty and it really makes me want to go natural. My hair would probably look just like yours.

 

[ycj]

I'm definitely unsatisfied - but, then, I didn't expect to be fully satisfied with my hair at this point on the journey - I'm not even 1/4 of the way through it!

I'm actually kind of surprised at how well my hair has done, and how much healthier it is. It's definitely been a learning process, these last two years, so my hair didn't progress as fast as it can, but for what I knew and did, we've done good.

Hi Justkiya, this is really off subject but I wrote to you about 2 days ago to see if you still have the MTG that you mentioned you no longer want, and I will gladly take it off your hands. My zip is 61103 just let me know Thanks

 

[ycj]

When I had unrealistic expectations, I always saw the negative because I didn't measure up. As thus, I was always disappointed. I got more realistic about things and took measures to make sure that I wasn't short-changing myself (i.e - I took better care of my hair, ate better and exercised). I just stopped putting pressure on myself. Now I'm not disappointed. I've found that it helps me immensely to protective style too.

I definately love love love your hair!!! That was mine before the relaxer!!!!

 

[morehairplease]

Great thread lexib! I am somewhat mad but not completely disappointed(if this makes any sense). I would have been bsl by now if I had not texturized/relaxed when I first when natural in 2006. After graduating from college, I got my first real job and it drained the heck out of me and my hair. I am back at square one now but I am more determined than ever to reach my goal of bsl length by 2012.

 

[Misseyl]

I've been on this trek since December of 2003 and I'm still not where I want to be. I guess my hair had a lot of issues coming in. Right now it's resting comfortably on my shoulders/collar bone when wet but when is it going to take off. I haven't had any setbacks and I've learned what works products for my hair so I don't know why it hasn't reached armpit length as yet. My edges are shot and it doesn't have the thickness I would dream of but I'm going to stick with it and see what happens. I'll continue to take care of it and hopefully, eventually it will reach armpit length.

 

[Brees_hair]

A little, I have been a member since Feb 2006 and lurking since dec 05, however I didn't become serious with my routine and regimen until oct 07 in which from then to now there is a huge difference in length, thickness and overall health of my hair. I no longer have a "deadline", I will get there when I get there!!

 

[JustKiya]

Hi Justkiya, this is really off subject but I wrote to you about 2 days ago to see if you still have the MTG that you mentioned you no longer want, and I will gladly take it off your hands. My zip is 61103 just let me know Thanks

Ah, yeah! PM'ing you....