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Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natural?

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brittle_hair

brittle_hair

Well-Known Member
Has anyone managed to get to BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natural?

Stretching my relaxer is the one part of the healthy care journey I struggle with the most - 8 weeks is usually my maximum, is it possible to grow long healthy hair in spite of this?

Here's what I am doing (as of beginning of January)
Giving up heat,
DC'ing once a week under the steamer,
using EVOO to seal and set my rollers under the hooded dryer
not combing till wash day
taking my VITS - biotin, MSM, multivitamin, cod liver oil
applying MTG to scalp everyday
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

Protective styling should do the trick. If you get bored with your hair or risk over-manipulation, half-wigs are tha bomb.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

brittle_hair said:
Has anyone managed to get to BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natural?

Stretching my relaxer is the one part of the healthy care journey I struggle with the most - 8 weeks is usually my maximum, is it possible to grow long healthy hair in spite of this?

Here's what I am doing (as of beginning of January)
Giving up heat,
DC'ing once a week under the steamer,
using EVOO to seal and set my rollers under the hooded dryer
not combing till wash day
taking my VITS - biotin, MSM, multivitamin, cod liver oil
applying MTG to scalp everyday
Click to expand...

Yes, I have grown to MBL without stretching, transitioning or going natural. My max is 8 weeks too, although now I'm moving to 6-8 weeks because I was having a lot of underprocessing issues. I don't knock the other techniques mentioned in your post though; I think they are all beneficial depending a person's hair desires and needs.

I also think your reggie is very simple and effective. Mine is similar, but I never did the MTG though.

Here is a recent pic from last week.
1-3-09 length check.jpg
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

hillytmj said:
Yes, I have grown to MBL without stretching, transitioning or going natural. My max is 8 weeks too, although now I'm moving to 6-8 weeks because I was having a lot of underprocessing issues. I don't knock the other techniques mentioned in your post though; I think they are all beneficial depending a person's hair desires and needs.

I also think your reggie is very simple and effective. Mine is similar, but I never did the MTG though.

Here is a recent pic from last week.
View attachment 54056
Click to expand...

Thanks Hillytmj. It seems like the majority of people on here stretch for months on end, or have bc'd to get their length and I don't really want to do either You've just given me hope - you're hair is luscious! What's your regi?
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

brittle_hair said:
Thanks Hillytmj. It seems like the majority of people on here stretch for months on end, or have bc'd to get their length and I don't really want to do either You've just given me hope - you're hair is luscious! What's your regi?
Click to expand...

Thanks so much; I'm glad I can help. :yep:


My reggie is similar to yours:
  • Wash/DC/Rollerset weekly
  • Very little direct heat - I only flat ironed 2 times last year.
  • Low manipulation. I used to do "no combing till wash day" but I've started combing very gently with a wide tooth comb every night or every other night since Nov. with no damage or retention issues. I did this so I would look more groomed, LOL, but it also reduces shedding on wash day.
  • Moisturize/seal daily. I do this before and after I do my nightly combing.
  • Daily vitamins - 1 Geritol Multivitamin (health), 1 Biotion (hair growth) and 1 Super B-Complex (for stress).
  • Trim as needed, approx. every 2-3 months. I do them myself now, so I'm not afraid of trimming or ending up with a chop, LOL!
  • Protect hair at night with a satin scarf and bonnet.
I haven't been the most disciplined with protective styling, but I must say that it does work. From APL to BSL, I wore my my hair in a clip to keep it off my shoulders. My ends weren't tucked away, but I think the daily moisture/sealing protected them. I hit a plateau after BSL, so I start daily bunnning, and it helped me get over the hump to reach MBL. Finally, lots of prayer and patience helped throughout the process. Gotta put that in there too. :-)

Now I wear my hair out a lot because of work, but if I'm alone or at home at night, it's in a bun. I actually like wearing them now.
 
Last edited:
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

Stretching is not for everyone. Your hair can still grow without stretching relaxers as long as you are caring for it.

Your regimen sounds great. I don't think everyone stretches here. A lot of people post about it but there are plenty of non-stretchers who don't post.

Just stick to a healthy regimen and your hair will continue to grow and you will retain that length.

I don't fit your criteria but I'm sure there are other ladies here that do.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

hillytmj said:
Thanks so much; I'm glad I can help. :yep:




My reggie is similar to yours:
  • Wash/DC/Rollerset weekly
  • Very little direct heat - I only flat ironed 2 times last year.
  • Low manipulation. I used to do "no combing till wash day" but I've started combing very gently with a wide tooth comb every night or every other night since Nov. with no damage or retention issues. I did this so I would look more groomed, LOL, but it also reduces shedding on wash day.
  • Moisturize/seal daily. I do this before and after I do my nightly combing.
  • Daily vitamins - 1 Geritol Multivitamin (health), 1 Biotion (hair growth) and 1 Super B-Complex (for stress).
  • Trim as needed, approx. every 2-3 months. I do them myself now, so I'm not afraid of trimming or ending up with a chop, LOL!
  • Protect hair at night with a satin scarf and bonnet.
I haven't been the most disciplined with protective styling, but I must say that it does work. From APL to BSL, I wore my my hair in a clip to keep it off my shoulders. My ends weren't tucked away, but I think the daily moisture/sealing protected them. I hit a plateau after BSL, so I start daily bunnning, and it helped me get over the hump to reach MBL. Finally, lots of prayer and patience helped throughout the process. Gotta put that in there too. :-)


Now I wear my hair out a lot because of work, but if I'm alone or at home at night, it's in a bun. I actually like wearing them now.

Thanks for posting your reggie, I think I need to start ditching the hair salons too, last time I was there I ended up with a lopsided trim/cut.
Click to expand...
ceebee3 said:
Stretching is not for everyone. Your hair can still grow without stretching relaxers as long as you are caring for it.

Your regimen sounds great. I don't think everyone stretches here. A lot of people post about it but there are plenty of non-stretchers who don't post.

Just stick to a healthy regimen and your hair will continue to grow and you will retain that length.

I don't fit your criteria but I'm sure there are other ladies here that do.
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed I get there I'll be posting the results at the end of March. Thanks for the vote of confidence.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

I made MBL without stretching...i relax at 6-8 weeks, after that my hair starts breaking too much.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

I am natural but my sisters good friend is bsl and has her relaxers done at the salon every 4-6 weeks. I just saw her on 12/28 and her hair is still long and looks healthy.

Her trick is protective styling in braids styles. I most often recall her in goddess braids.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

dachsies_rule! said:
I made MBL without stretching...i relax at 6-8 weeks, after that my hair starts breaking too much.
Click to expand...

naturalmanenyc said:
I am natural but my sisters good friend is bsl and has her relaxers done at the salon every 4-6 weeks. I just saw her on 12/28 and her hair is still long and looks healthy.

Her trick is protective styling in braids styles. I most often recall her in goddess braids.
Click to expand...

This is soooo good to know! I was beginning to feel really guilty for relaxing evry 6-8 weeks! It's good to know there is some room for manoeuvre, and it seems PS'ing rather is the best way forward
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

I never use to stretch and my hair grew from EL to APL in 1 1/2 years. Now I'm trying to get back to APL and I am giving stretching a try to make my hair stronger. every strand of hair has a weak point at where the relaxer is overlapped. Overlapping, even a little bit, is unpreventable.

All that said(LOL), I never stretched or wore protective styles the first time I grew my hair. I lost most of my length after the birth of my second child.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

I have, i'd keep up with my relaxing regimen and my hair grows regardless, one thing is I just need to keep up with my trims because by the time I decide to trim my ends I end up back at square 1 sl/apl :(. my hair always grows back to full apl/bsl and yes with relaxing every 2 months.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

Well, Ive been on all ends of the spectrum! I've stretched for 16w 1 yr, 12w 1 yr, then 8w this past yr. Went from EL to SL the 16w yr but it was very difficult managing the 2 textures. I went from SL/APL to MBL the 12-13w yr, then went from MBL back to SL/APL the 8-9w yr.

Those are just my results and I admit that being reckless in other areas may have attributed to the loss but overall my hair thrives and managment is not so bad at 12-13w...No more experiments, lol.
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

I guess I will have to start stretching eventually, but it would be easier if I had more length - a long luscious rollered ponytail would draw attention away from my poofy spong head! If I could just nake it to APL first...
 
Re: Has any1 managed 2 get 2 BSL/beyond w/o stretching past 8wks/texlaxing/going natu

Thanks beans4reezy, I'm trying my best - was up at 5am on monday doing a rollerset!
 
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