1 year anniversary reveal...disappointed :(

afrofaithful

afrofaithful

Well-Known Member
So I've been on this journey for a whole year now!! Yay...I finally straightened my hair but I was disappointed with my growth... :( I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I dont have before pictures but my hair was at chin length when I first started. I had so many knots and splits. So I went and got a trim. This is what it looks like now

6b1a2639-186c-83d5.jpg


I guess it's okay, but I was expecting better results. I'm definitely going to start trimming more often. When I was relaxed I used to trim every other month and my hair was healthy. So I'm going to trim every 3 months. I just dont know what the culprit of all these knots and splits are!! I'm just trying not to be discouraged...tonight I'll be going back to the fro from my flat iron to start anew. Hopefully in three months I'll see some improvement.
 
Are you disappointed with the health of your hair or the length? If it is length, why trim every 3 months?

ETA: I think your hair looks beautiful!
 
I'm sure some of the ladies will be in here soon to give you some sage advice. I understand how you feel though. When I compare my progress with some of the other members progress in the same time period.... :perplexed

Don't give up though. I'm sure you'll find what works best for you. I am FINALLY figuring out my hair and I can't tell you how many times in recent weeks I've heard, "Your hair is really growing!" Once you find your sweet spot you will see and enjoy the results.
 
awww you are so cute! maybe if you incorporate more search and destroys as opposed to trimming you'd get bette results!:yep:
 
French Rouge said:
Are you disappointed with the health of your hair or the length? If it is length, why trim every 3 months?

ETA: I think your hair looks beautiful!
Click to expand...


Because I still have splits, so I want to keep trimming until there all gone. I was going to just cut it all off like twa length just so I can start over...but I'm a drama queen and honestly all that is definitely not necessary.
 
if it's any consolation, your hair looks good and your eyebrows are beautiful!

why not search & destroys like bunnie suggested?

whats your regimen?
 
You're pretty and your hair looks great - so full.

What have you been ding to your hair for the past year?
 
andromeda said:
if it's any consolation, your hair looks good and your eyebrows are beautiful!

why not search & destroys like bunnie suggested?

whats your regimen?
Click to expand...
IDK S&D's I feel like I'm not able to see the hair in the back and on my crown which is the part which is the most damaged.

Lately I've been cowashing everyday. I workout a lot so its kind of necessary, when I don't my hair is dry b/c I sweat a lot. So...

co wash with suave almond and shea butter/aussie moist
kckt leave in
seal w/co or evoo

That's usually the daily. I do a protein treatment when needed and dc when needed.

That's it recently. I use to do all kinds of things, but I feel like this is the easiest and fits my lifestyle, but I wonder if it's working??

Miss*Tress said:
You're pretty and your hair looks great - so full.

What have you been ding to your hair for the past year?
Click to expand...

Thanks!

But throughout the year I've done all kinds of things. I got my first sew in (i hated it), micros, senegalese/kinky twists, for the majority of the time. When I wasn't in braids, I wore cornows and and a puff, twistouts and curlformer sets for the most part. No heat at all. Cowashed at least 2xs a week, shea butter (which I realize my hair hates), all kinds of dcs, just all kinds of time consuming practices. Now that I've finally cut all of them out I feel like my hair isn't where I thought it would be. I felt like I was doing everything right which is why I'm so discouraged. I can't figure it out :/
 
Hang in there. You definitely have thick hair and it is pretty. Maybe you can try washing in sections and keep your hair in stretched styles to keep knots at bay. One thing that helped me with knots is pree pooing and using a leave in condish. Your hair is very pretty!

Sent from my SCH-I400 using Long Hair Care Forum App
 
Maybe you don't need to cowash daily. Not every head of hair can take that. When you work out, perhaps you can just rinse your hair with water instead of cowashing each time. Also, you may want to have a more regular schedule for protein and DCing than just "as needed." That helped tremendously for me in cutting down on my split ends. Last, I'd suggest that you keep your hair in more protective styles. You mentioned that when it wasn't in braids you kept it either cornrowed or in puffs, twistouts or curlformer sets, all of which can be heavy manipulation, especially on the ends.

HTH!!
 
OP - I think your hair looks lovely but understand how you might feel if you were expecting more. I notice you're trimming every 3 months. You might want to cut down or consider if your hair really needs trimming that regularly. Maybe look at the things you're doing now and make some small changes?
 
Hopefully you can figure out what was causeing the damage and knots so that you will like your next aniversary better :)
A fresh start always helps. And the cut is really cute.
 
Looks great! Don't be too hard on yourself. You may have had what you feel are some set backs lengthwise, but your hair looks healthy. Since you have gotten rid of the knots & splits, hopefully you will be onward toward your hair length goals.
 
:hug: Your being a bit hard on yourself. The length your at right now is about right for 1 year natural. I was about that length for my 1 year anniversary. What you have to keep in mind is that this is a WHOLE NEW head of hair so of course it wont be down your back yet. But its beautiful. u look great!
 
I'm sorry you didn't get the results you were looking for, but hang in there and don't give up. I get down sometimes too, but I tell myself patience is important along with all this protective styling, growth aides, and taking vitamins. I decided to just work on perfecting my regimen and listening to my hair to figure out what it likes and doesn't like, I figure once I have done all that the length will eventually come.
 
Your hairs looks healthy. You mentioned that you have been growing it for a year now and you also mentioned some of the ways you've worn your hair during that past year. I, too, did not experience much growth during my first year, but I had to get to know my hair and what worked for me. I learned that I cannot wear my hair in twistouts and puffs without suffering from SSK's and split ends. I must keep my ends protected and baggying helps a lot. Take this time to listen to your hair--examine what you are doing and make adjustments accordingly--by this time next year you will be full APL or beyond. :rocker:
 
Hugs for you. Don't be disappointed. I'm a slow grower and I was also unhappy with my length the first year as well. I start at SL and thought I would hit APL in one year. But after sharing my disappointment with the ladies here, they helped me to realize that my hair DID show improvement. We are so used to seeing all of these beautiful lengths on the board that we don't realize that in the real world... a healthy SL and beyond makes ppl think we're mixed or have "Indian in our family". If you started @ CL and your now SL....I think that's improvement.

Keep smiling and going on with your journey....your beautiful and so is your hair. Patience is virtue. Stick to the important steps in your HHJ and "try" not to stress the rest. Like everyone said, your first year is the trial and error year. Finding what works and what doesn't. Stick to low manipulation styles, be patient with detangling, and try not to trim as often. I use a product from Redken called "Extreme Anti-Snap" maybe that can help your ends from splitting : /

Congrats on getting this far! :-*
 
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Aww. Your hair looks so healthy though! Now that you've gotten rid of those ends, you can focus on length. I know it sucks not getting the results you expected, but focus on the next chapter, knowing that your hair is growing.

P.S. You're so cute!
 
Hey,
your hair look really healthy and full. Maybe your hair growth is just less than average, but i is healthy and gorgeous.
i effectively started looking after my hair in Nov 10 after suffering from post partum, every time i use to see those knots, i will just take my scissors and cut my ends (later on discovered it is called ssk:grin:). Now i have learned to live with them, and educated myself how to minimise them (thanks to this board).
please don't be discourage and keep the good work!!!!

Be blessed
 
Your hair looks cute but I understand how it feels to expect one thing but to see another. Did you start with a twa?

Also, how are you styling your hair, I have found that if ever I try to wear a wash'n go, at end of the day i'm left with knots and tangles. Stretched styles work best for me, you may want to explore this. HHG
 
Your hair looks healthy but I understand your disappointment. It took me a full year to get my regime together & to discover, for instance, that my hair hates cowashing. Year #2 should be better retention-wise now that you've discovered what does not work. HHG!
 
:bighug: :bighug: Aww! I'm sorry sweets!!! The ladies have given some great advice...Sort through it, maybe try some new things, and hopefully some things will change. Please keep us posted and btw...Your hair really does look good!
 
((HUG)) Hang in there. It sounds like you're still trying to figure out what works for your hair. You said you tried to do everything right, but it seems like you've just been trying everything. Try doing one thing for at least 3-4 months at a time to see how it's really working for you.

I know that with my hair, sometimes health comes before length. I wouldn't see amazing length results but my strands would be strong, bouncy and shiny.

IA with the lady who advised you to keep your hair stretched. That has helped to decrease tangles and knot for me. I also agree that perhaps you can try water rinsing instead of cowashing. GL in finding what works for you. Once you do, you'll feel much better about it :)
 
you are on the mark for one year. and your hair looks great! you need to find a low mani style that can be incorporated with your lifestyle and use the search and destroy method, and try finger detangling. it sucks, but it could help.
 
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