2021 Shoulder Length Challenge

KenyafromCT said:
I’m think I may do some crochet braids. I have all this hair in my stash. I had them installed in September 2019(she charged $200). I had them installed a second time by someone who is less expensive and that was in a 2 month period. So I decided to learn how to put them in myself.

What I didn’t know was that I had to keep my hair moisturized. So each time I removed the braids, my hair was super dry/brittle and broken. Now I know better. Lolol. I took my last set out just before the pandemic and didn’t put them back in.

I need to prepare my hair maybe with some hair oiling and an intense deep conditioning session. I know ps’s will help me retain length.
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I was thinking of doing crochet braids but after having an epiphany about my hair and how retention works best for me, I have to remove majority them from my hair repertoire. I can still do individual crochets but not the traditional cornrow and weave in type.
 
B_Phlyy said:
I was thinking of doing crochet braids but after having an epiphany about my hair and how retention works best for me, I have to remove majority them from my hair repertoire. I can still do individual crochets but not the traditional cornrow and weave in type.
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Okay. Please share how retention works for you. I need some tips. Is the traditional way of installing detrimental to the hair?!
 
faithVA said:
I pulled the crown when I shampooed. I think I might make NL by the end of the year. That is good progress for me.

During my lunch break, I shampooed, conditioned, detangled and applied a leave-in. I will put in twist for a twist-out later.

I have an appointment tomorrow to get my ends clipped. I have been having more SSKs in the past few months.
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So, how long is your lunch break? :afro:
 
KenyafromCT said:
Okay. Please share how retention works for you. I need some tips. Is the traditional way of installing detrimental to the hair
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I was legit about to type out a long explanation of how I came to my conclusions, but I don't want to bore you. Basically, my fine, high porosity, low density hair needs lots of protein, low manipulation, and very little weight on my scalp to retain length the best. My hair also needs to be 'stretched' out a but in order for it to take the protein.

So traditional crochet braids where you have cornrow the hair first and then attach the hair with the hook would be the worst thing for my hair right now. The pulling and pushing with the hook is a lot of manipulation. Also, it's pretty difficult for me to thoroughly wash and completely dry. Trying to do a protein treatment sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Only way it could kind of work would be if I only kept them in for 2 weeks. It takes me too long to install to justify just 2 weeks of the hairstyle.

I can do knotless braids or twists but I don't start adding hair until I'm almost finish with the braids. This is how my hair is now. This works because my hair is stretched, there's low manipulation because I recycle my parts, and their is no extra weight on my scalp. I've been able to do all my regular washing and treatments with no stress. Won't know the full extent of my retention until later this week, but I'm pretty sure I did well.
 
August 1st update!!!!
Trying to take measurements is such a pain in the butt. I'm definitely not doing this again until Dec 31st :laugh: Basically half of my hair is flourishing and my bangs and nape are out here struggling :whyme:. Something went wrong in these past 2 months, and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I protective styled for 3 weeks, which I've never done before :confused: . Now I have to backtrack and see if I can figure it out.

8/1/21 (difference since 6/1/21)
Front: 8 (+0.5 :cry:)
Crown: 10.5 (+1.75)
L. Ear: 9.75 (+1.5)
R. Ear: 10 (+1.5)
Nape: 8.5 (+0.5 :cry:)


front060121.jpg June->Augustfront080121.jpg l_ear060121.jpg June->August l_ear080121.jpg nape060121.jpg June->Augustnape080121.jpg
crown060121.jpg June->Augustcrown080121.jpg r_ear060121.jpg June->August r_ear080121.jpg
 
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ckisland said:
August 1st update!!!!
Trying to take measurements is such a pain in the butt. I'm definitely not doing this again until Dec 31st :laugh: Basically half of my hair is flourishing and my bangs and nape are out here struggling :whyme:. Something went wrong in these past 2 months, and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I protective styled for 3 weeks, which I've never done before :confused: . Now I have to backtrack and see if I can figure it out.

8/1/21 (difference since 6/1/21)
Front: 8 (+0.5 :cry:)
Crown: 10.5 (+1.75)
L. Ear: 9.75 (+1.5)
R. Ear: 10 (+1.5)
Nape: 8.5 (+0.5 :cry:)


View attachment 474551 June->AugustView attachment 474553 View attachment 474561 June->August View attachment 474563 View attachment 474569 June->AugustView attachment 474571
View attachment 474555 June->AugustView attachment 474557 View attachment 474565 June->August View attachment 474567
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Wow. Nice length. Sorry to hear about the set back. Let us know where it went left.
 
ckisland said:
August 1st update!!!!
Trying to take measurements is such a pain in the butt. I'm definitely not doing this again until Dec 31st :laugh: Basically half of my hair is flourishing and my bangs and nape are out here struggling :whyme:. Something went wrong in these past 2 months, and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I protective styled for 3 weeks, which I've never done before :confused: . Now I have to backtrack and see if I can figure it out.

8/1/21 (difference since 6/1/21)
Front: 8 (+0.5 :cry:)
Crown: 10.5 (+1.75)
L. Ear: 9.75 (+1.5)
R. Ear: 10 (+1.5)
Nape: 8.5 (+0.5 :cry:)


View attachment 474551 June->AugustView attachment 474553 View attachment 474561 June->August View attachment 474563 View attachment 474569 June->AugustView attachment 474571
View attachment 474555 June->AugustView attachment 474557 View attachment 474565 June->August View attachment 474567
Click to expand...
And I need to take pics like this. Post. It’s a new month.
 
ckisland said:
August 1st update!!!!
Trying to take measurements is such a pain in the butt. I'm definitely not doing this again until Dec 31st :laugh: Basically half of my hair is flourishing and my bangs and nape are out here struggling :whyme:. Something went wrong in these past 2 months, and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I protective styled for 3 weeks, which I've never done before :confused: . Now I have to backtrack and see if I can figure it out.

8/1/21 (difference since 6/1/21)
Front: 8 (+0.5 :cry:)
Crown: 10.5 (+1.75)
L. Ear: 9.75 (+1.5)
R. Ear: 10 (+1.5)
Nape: 8.5 (+0.5 :cry:)


View attachment 474551 June->AugustView attachment 474553 View attachment 474561 June->August View attachment 474563 View attachment 474569 June->AugustView attachment 474571
View attachment 474555 June->AugustView attachment 474557 View attachment 474565 June->August View attachment 474567
Click to expand...
Is it possible that your hair just grows at different rates and varies by season? If you aren't noticing breakage maybe its just that.
 
I just got finished oiling my ends. Wash day is tomorrow. I’ve gotten lazy. I used a bringraj oil that I got from an Indian supermarket. It was $4.99. The smell reminds me of. 2 day old collard greens pot liquor.
 
Planned to dye my hair over the weekend only to discover I forgot to purchase developer.

So I just did a regular wash, DC, and porosity treatment. My hair is now in chunky twists that I smoothed into a bun.

Will try to dye again this upcoming weekend. I'm ordering the developer in another tab right now.
 
Just got finished oiling my hair. Left side my diy herb oil. The right basic sunflower oil. I wanted to see which oil works best. I must say that as I applied each oil! My hair began to tangle and it became difficult to manipulate with my fingers. Had some hair shed. Popped a plastic cap on to baggy it. Should I have added water? I can’t remember if I did last time. I’ll rinse it in an hour or so.

UPDATE- oiling my hair. Didn’t really notice a difference this time. I’m sure my hair benefitted in come way. I didn’t do my onion/garlic scalp rinse. Didn’t feel like it and I want to see how my scalp does without it. I then washed and baggyed my hair and sat under steamer. I used Soultanicals shamp/conditioner.
 
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I dyed my hair on Friday night and did a set of mini braids with my own hair on Saturday. Today for work, I put them in a ponytail with some marley hair extensions to make a bun.

Will probably leave these in for a month until my vacation.
 
KenyafromCT said:
Just got finished oiling my hair. Left side my diy herb oil. The right basic sunflower oil. I wanted to see which oil works best. I must say that as I applied each oil! My hair began to tangle and it became difficult to manipulate with my fingers. Had some hair shed. Popped a plastic cap on to baggy it. Should I have added water? I can’t remember if I did last time. I’ll rinse it in an hour or so.

UPDATE- oiling my hair. Didn’t really notice a difference this time. I’m sure my hair benefitted in come way. I didn’t do my onion/garlic scalp rinse. Didn’t feel like it and I want to see how my scalp does without it. I then washed and baggyed my hair and sat under steamer. I used Soultanicals shamp/conditioner.
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I’m oiling my hair now. It’s been in since 11am. I’ll rinse in 20 minutes. And This time I wet it first. Not too wet. Just nice and damp. I’ll use Sunny Isle JBCO shampoo/deep conditioner. My first time using it. I’m nervous. When I used Giovanni(early July) my hair didn’t respond well. So we’ll see what happens with this combo.
 
Shampooed, conditioned and put my hair into 2 strand twists for the week. I think my twist look longer than when I started in August.

I did a pull test in the shower but I can never remember where my hair is :lol: So it didn't do much good. I think my hair is gaining a little length. I think my hair growth slows a bit as the weather gets cooler and then ramps up in the spring. I'm not going to bother taking any length pictures until I get my hair done in November.

For December, I plan to blow it out and really get a look at my hair. Glad to finally have enough hair to blow out.
 
ckisland said:
August 1st update!!!!
Trying to take measurements is such a pain in the butt. I'm definitely not doing this again until Dec 31st :laugh: Basically half of my hair is flourishing and my bangs and nape are out here struggling :whyme:. Something went wrong in these past 2 months, and the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I protective styled for 3 weeks, which I've never done before :confused: . Now I have to backtrack and see if I can figure it out.

8/1/21 (difference since 6/1/21)
Front: 8 (+0.5 :cry:)
Crown: 10.5 (+1.75)
L. Ear: 9.75 (+1.5)
R. Ear: 10 (+1.5)
Nape: 8.5 (+0.5 :cry:)


View attachment 474551 June->AugustView attachment 474553 View attachment 474561 June->August View attachment 474563 View attachment 474569 June->AugustView attachment 474571
View attachment 474555 June->AugustView attachment 474557 View attachment 474565 June->August View attachment 474567
Click to expand...
I agree. It is a pain, especially when it isn't the length you really want. I don't plan to do any real checks until December.
 
Over the long weekend, I ended up installing some braid extension with pre stretched hair. It took me 14 hours. I'm never doing this again. Going to just do some over time or something so I can pay someone else.

My hair looks cute though. I'll probably keep these in for a month then take them out so I can take my progress pic.
 
B_Phlyy said:
Over the long weekend, I ended up installing some braid extension with pre stretched hair. It took me 14 hours. I'm never doing this again. Going to just do some over time or something so I can pay someone else.

My hair looks cute though. I'll probably keep these in for a month then take them out so I can take my progress pic.
Click to expand...
It takes me too long to braid too. Idk what I be thinking when I buy braiding hair.
 
I did my hair tonight. I thought I could put it off but I went to Float Therapy and even after rinsing my hair my hair was white, white, white with salt :lol: It was crazy. So I shampooed 3x to make sure it was good. I just put in flat twist because I want to wait until closer to the weekend to put in 2 strand twist. My hair is definitely growing because I can do flat twist all around my head and hair isn't sticking out. Glad to see some progress. Now I have a back up style when I don't feel like doing 2 strands.

I thought about doing a wash and go but that thought lasted all of 15 minutes :lol:
 
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