2021 Let's Talk! APL - BSL/MBL Challenge

What is your 2021 hair length goal??

  • Total voters
    91
  • Poll closed .
toaster said:
New starting picture on the left. My (now former) hairstylist cut way too much of my hair off. I’m not even waist length in the back. APL by end of next year feels like a dream, but I’ll stay in the challenge.
Click to expand...
What length do you think you will need to be in order to have waist length for a wash and go?
 
apple_natural said:
What length do you think you will need to be in order to have waist length for a wash and go?
Click to expand...
Oooh I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever get there. I had a full shoulder length wash and go and most of my hair was past waist length straight. The key for me was that my hair in the front was the same length as my hair in the back. That gave me the fullness I was looking for in my wash and go.

To have a waist length wash and go I think my hair would have to be thigh length.
 
toaster said:
Oooh I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever get there. I had a full shoulder length wash and go and most of my hair was past waist length straight. The key for me was that my hair in the front was the same length as my hair in the back. That gave me the fullness I was looking for in my wash and go.

To have a waist length wash and go I think my hair would have to be thigh length.
Click to expand...
That was a typo sorry lol. I meant APL as a wash and go lol. Thats what I get for responding while I'm supposed to be working
 
Mapleoats said:
Besides length, what’s everyone’s hair focus for the coming year? 2020 I was trying to discover products and a regimen that worked for me, and I think I’ve accomplished that. Next year my focus will be learning to properly care for my ends and prevent knots and tangling. Also learning to care for my crown area. I think these 2 are the last keys I’m missing for great length retention. I retained about 3- 4 inches this year I think. Not bad at all but I’m hoping to retain 6 inches next year, fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

Focus will be four things:

1. Better care and maintenance for nighttime hair. Most days I would have come from work, tie my hair up in a messy bun, shower and jump in bed, sleeping on satin/cotton pillow cases. I think this resulted in more frizzy, single-stranded knots and tangles and affected my retention rate. I will invest in more silk sheets, pillowcases and bonnets in the coming new year.

2. Self-trims and dusting. Every 6 weeks I will dust my ends with a great pair of Japanese shears. I really hated having to wait 6 months to 1 year to trim my hair only for my stylist to claim my ends need to go resulting in a 2-3 inches cut. I will also pamper my ends with JBCO.

3. Getting rid of old products and cheap conditioners for my WNGs. No more Aussie Moist and Suave Conditioners. I realized overtime they caused far too much build up and coating on my hair. Conversely, my hair responded extremely well to Tracee Ellis' Pattern Medium Conditioner for WNGs. I will donate products I really don't use and focus on products that work. Maybe once a year I will support a new black-owned product, but that's about it.

4. Purchases of a Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and the Dyson Airwrap. Enuff said.
 
Mapleoats said:
Besides length, what’s everyone’s hair focus for the coming year? 2020 I was trying to discover products and a regimen that worked for me, and I think I’ve accomplished that. Next year my focus will be learning to properly care for my ends and prevent knots and tangling. Also learning to care for my crown area. I think these 2 are the last keys I’m missing for great length retention. I retained about 3- 4 inches this year I think. Not bad at all but I’m hoping to retain 6 inches next year, fingers crossed!
Click to expand...
  1. This was also my aim this year but I think I'm more serious about it for next year: finding a set of staple products. The novelty of new products is beginning to wear off so I think after my stash is cleared out I'm mostly gonna stick to what I know. I will mostly buy new products on Black Friday or on sale from 1 or 2 brands but that's it.
  2. I want to up my prepoo game a bit. I love my Aussie but I also want to use better ingredients for my prepoo. I also want to introduce some ayurvedic products in my prepoo regimen. I have some bookmarked as I don't want to diy them but I'm gonna wait until I finish my Aussie and my Melanin Leave-in.
  3. I also want to try the maximum hydration method sometime next year.
  4. I want to retain most of my length for next year so I'll be mainly be in low manipulation styles. I also have 2 wigs I want to try out so I don't have to wear my twists and braids out all the time.
  5. I have noticed some thining in the corner my edges lately (?) and I don't like how they look so I want to use some JBCO or HCO to nurse them back to life.
 
Last edited:
apple_natural said:
2020 for me was about was working on my hair perfectionism... my hair-norexia lol. I needed to get out of the mindset that I had bad hair that needed to be cut or hidden all the time. I cut my hair less as the year went on. I got to a point recently when I was not only like "hey this hair is okay actually" to "I LOVE my hair!" Also, I was looking for a good leave-in. I finally found one I really like - Natty Naturals.

2021... I hope that in 2021 I can maintain my routine, which is basically to check it every night and remoisturize as necessary. I prepoo with coconut oil for a day/night once a week followed by a wash day where I do whatever I think is necessary. I also do at least one oil treatment a week with some massaging. I'm happy doing things this way. I get to know what my own hair is doing. I will try to continue doing this and not introduce new things without a reason.
Click to expand...
How do you usually wear your hair after wash days?
 
Rastafarai said:
Focus will be four things:

1. Better care and maintenance for nighttime hair. Most days I would have come from work, tie my hair up in a messy bun, shower and jump in bed, sleeping on satin/cotton pillow cases. I think this resulted in more frizzy, single-stranded knots and tangles and affected my retention rate. I will invest in more silk sheets, pillowcases and bonnets in the coming new year.

2. Self-trims and dusting. Every 6 weeks I will dust my ends with a great pair of Japanese shears. I really hated having to wait 6 months to 1 year to trim my hair only for my stylist to claim my ends need to go resulting in a 2-3 inches cut. I will also pamper my ends with JBCO.

3. Getting rid of old products and cheap conditioners for my WNGs. No more Aussie Moist and Suave Conditioners. I realized overtime they caused far too much build up and coating on my hair. Conversely, my hair responded extremely well to Tracee Ellis' Pattern Medium Conditioner for WNGs. I will donate products I really don't use and focus on products that work. Maybe once a year I will support a new black-owned product, but that's about it.

4. Purchases of a Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and the Dyson Airwrap. Enuff said.
Click to expand...
Yes we can be frequent trim buddies lol! I just dusted today, next trim should be mid feb.
 
Mapleoats said:
@HealthyHair2020 do you prepoo with oils? An Ayurvedic oil applied before your prepoo condish might be a good starting point
Click to expand...
I normally use an oil on my scalp and hair with the conditioner. Your idea sounds pretty good. I hadn't considered that.

I bookmarked this ayurvedic oil from Nature's Ego that looks interesting and am gonna try the Camille Rose Cocoa Nibs Oil next which has Brahmi and Alma Oil in it.
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you usually wear your hair after wash days?
Click to expand...
in such a lazy grandma style. Literally split down the middle already from the sections I wash in. Then, I put it in one hand, twist it together and pin down towards the middle on each side.... boom. Its like that now. Let me find a way to post a photo so that you can see this ridiculous style. It's super easy and I always do it though.
 
apple_natural said:
in such a lazy grandma style. Literally split down the middle already from the sections I wash in. Then, I put it in one hand, twist it together and pin down towards the middle on each side.... boom. Its like that now. Let me find a way to post a photo so that you can see this ridiculous style. It's super easy and I always do it though.
Click to expand...
Lmao what i love this style it’s so easy. I do this one all the time, but I guess it does look a bit grandma ish, I don’t mind tho
 
Made my ayurvedic hair mask last night and let it sit overnight. My hair felt so good when rinsing it out this morning.
My mask ingredients:
2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Powder, Fenugreek powder
1 Tbsp Amla, Brahmi
1/2 Tsp Shakakai, Neem Powder
Aloe Vera Juice
Organic Coconut Milk
Honey
Grapeseed Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

After rinsing I cowashed with As I am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner 2x
Now I have in Camille Rose Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard. I sat under the dryer for 10mins.
I plan to do a wash and go later today with Soultanicals Knot Sauce Coil Detangler and Can't Believe Its Knot Butta and Style with Aunt Jackie's Ice Curls then sit under the dryer for 30-40 mins.
 
HealthyHair2020 said:
  1. This was also my aim this year but I think I'm more serious about it for next year: finding a set of staple products. The novelty of new products is beginning to wear off so I think after my stash is cleared out I'm mostly gonna stick to what I know. I will mostly buy new products on Black Friday or on sale from 1 or 2 brands but that's it.
  2. I want to up my prepoo game a bit. I love my Aussie but I also want to use better ingredients for my prepoo. I also want to introduce some ayurvedic products in my prepoo regimen. I have some bookmarked as I don't want to diy them but I'm gonna wait until I finish my Aussie and my Melanin Leave-in.
  3. I also want to try the maximum hydration method sometime next year.
  4. I want to retain most of my length for next year so I'll be mainly be in low manipulation styles. I also have 2 wigs I want to try out so I don't have to wear my twists and braids out all the time.
  5. I have noticed some thining in the corner my edges lately (?) and I don't like how they look so I want to use some JBCO or HCO to nurse them back to life.
Click to expand...
I hope you find staple products this year too. My secret goal is for everyone to have a set regimen, hopefully staple products and clear out the products they don't use by the end of the challenge. We have a month discussing ayurvedic things too. How do you want to incorporate it in a prepoo?

Castor oil will definitely help those edges. I noticed a thicker hair line the other day. I know I didn't have hair there before

Whuupp I was too late I saw this reply lol.. I do this. I use coconut oil on my scalp and hair as a prepoo and even warm it most times. I learned this from a Turkish girl who has the longest hair I have ever seen in real life.

HealthyHair2020 said:
I normally use an oil on my scalp and hair with the conditioner. Your idea sounds pretty good. I hadn't considered that.

I bookmarked this ayurvedic oil from Nature's Ego that looks interesting and am gonna try the Camille Rose Cocoa Nibs Oil next which has Brahmi and Alma Oil in it.
Click to expand...
 
Mapleoats said:
Lmao what i love this style it’s so easy. I do this one all the time, but I guess it does look a bit grandma ish, I don’t mind tho
Click to expand...
I do too! i was embarrassed to say. It doesn't put tension on my hair, which is my goal. I can keep it moisturized and everything. Its great. Sometimes I put in a side part. Today, I have a middle part.
 
naturalagain2 said:
Made my ayurvedic hair mask last night and let it sit overnight. My hair felt so good when rinsing it out this morning.
My mask ingredients:
2 Tbsp Aloe Vera Powder, Fenugreek powder
1 Tbsp Amla, Brahmi
1/2 Tsp Shakakai, Neem Powder
Aloe Vera Juice
Organic Coconut Milk
Honey
Grapeseed Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

After rinsing I cowashed with As I am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner 2x
Now I have in Camille Rose Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard. I sat under the dryer for 10mins.
I plan to do a wash and go later today with Soultanicals Knot Sauce Coil Detangler and Can't Believe Its Knot Butta and Style with Aunt Jackie's Ice Curls then sit under the dryer for 30-40 mins.
Click to expand...
Awesome!!! That sounds like a really great mask. Did you make enough to freeze?
I love As I Am cowashes. I have one for dry scalp or something, which I don't actually have but I really like it
 
Rastafarai said:
Focus will be four things:

1. Better care and maintenance for nighttime hair. Most days I would have come from work, tie my hair up in a messy bun, shower and jump in bed, sleeping on satin/cotton pillow cases. I think this resulted in more frizzy, single-stranded knots and tangles and affected my retention rate. I will invest in more silk sheets, pillowcases and bonnets in the coming new year.

2. Self-trims and dusting. Every 6 weeks I will dust my ends with a great pair of Japanese shears. I really hated having to wait 6 months to 1 year to trim my hair only for my stylist to claim my ends need to go resulting in a 2-3 inches cut. I will also pamper my ends with JBCO.

3. Getting rid of old products and cheap conditioners for my WNGs. No more Aussie Moist and Suave Conditioners. I realized overtime they caused far too much build up and coating on my hair. Conversely, my hair responded extremely well to Tracee Ellis' Pattern Medium Conditioner for WNGs. I will donate products I really don't use and focus on products that work. Maybe once a year I will support a new black-owned product, but that's about it.

4. Purchases of a Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and the Dyson Airwrap. Enuff said.
Click to expand...
What kind of shears do you use? They sound really nice
I dont know anything about the Dyson Airwrap. What do you like about it?
 
apple_natural said:
Awesome!!! That sounds like a really great mask. Did you make enough to freeze?
I love As I Am cowashes. I have one for dry scalp or something, which I don't actually have but I really like it
Click to expand...

No I had just enough to give to my son who's been begging to use my mask to help his hair grow lol. I want the try the other As I am Cowashes. They are a good price for the amount you get. My hair loves the Coconut cowash.
 
Mapleoats said:
Besides length, what’s everyone’s hair focus for the coming year? 2020 I was trying to discover products and a regimen that worked for me, and I think I’ve accomplished that. Next year my focus will be learning to properly care for my ends and prevent knots and tangling. Also learning to care for my crown area. I think these 2 are the last keys I’m missing for great length retention. I retained about 3- 4 inches this year I think. Not bad at all but I’m hoping to retain 6 inches next year, fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

1. Protective Styling/Low manipulation Styling: I want to focus on doing more buns this upcoming year, particularly in the warmer months when slapping a satin line beanie/beret over my twists may not be feasible.
2. Consistency with Trimming- I've been doing well with trims in the latter half of 2020 doing them ever 8 weeks. Going to stretch it to 12 weeks this year
3. Incorporate Ayurveda- I want to get back into using fenugreek seeds and try my hand at neem again

Also @apple_natural I added my starting pic to my original post!
 
Neomorph said:
1. Protective Styling/Low manipulation Styling: I want to focus on doing more buns this upcoming year, particularly in the warmer months when slapping a satin line beanie/beret over my twists may not be feasible.
2. Consistency with Trimming- I've been doing well with trims in the latter half of 2020 doing them ever 8 weeks. Going to stretch it to 12 weeks this year
3. Incorporate Ayurveda- I want to get back into using fenugreek seeds and try my hand at neem again

Also @apple_natural I added my starting pic to my original post!
Click to expand...
I like that you keep up with your trim date in your signature. I'll have to borrow that idea if you do not mind ma'am.

How do you want use the fenugreek and neem?
 
@Mapleoats

My focus for the year is to get in my groove and stop focusing so much on hair! I’ve been natural since 2010 and this is the first time I’ve been wearing my hair out/down not stretched.

I’ll be working from home at least until April, and I hope by then I have the confidence to wear my wash and go to work!

But also my other focus is length LOL
 
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