2023 - SL/APL Challenge

[B_Phlyy]

Mid year update. My completely shrunken afro on the left and a very rough blow dry on the right. We are regularly in the 80s with >60% humidity so doing a flat iron is out of the question.


My hair is currently in mini braids and I'm going to keep them in until NYE. I'll redo them as needed, but they will be my protective style of choice for this 6 month stretch.

 

[faithVA]

Mid year update. My completely shrunken afro on the left and a very rough blow dry on the right. We are regularly in the 80s with >60% humidity so doing a flat iron is out of the question.


My hair is currently in mini braids and I'm going to keep them in until NYE. I'll redo them as needed, but they will be my protective style of choice for this 6 month stretch.

It is looking good. Even with afro vs. blowout, I can see some good progress there. Hope the mini braids give you the retention you are looking for.

 

[faithVA]

I didn't get up early enough to do a curly reset so I just rinsed and put in flat twists. I didn't put any product in it so it won't last until the weekend. I may just rinse and repeat on Friday and then on Saturday, try a curly reset.

I think keeping water on my scalp during this hot weather is important. And i parted my hair differently to see if I can help that thinning spot recover.

 

[sunnieb]

Hi ladies! Here's my mid-year update!

I relaxed last night at almost 17 weeks post. My next relaxer will be in November, so my year end update will be a little early.

Pics!

Starting Pic December 2022


Today:

 

[faithVA]

I had my curly maintenance appointment today. With all the humidity I can't see any growth from February in its curly state. I was going to take a picture but it isn't going to show anything. August is the next check in, so I will take some type of picture for that. It will probably still be curly but maybe there won't be so much humidity

I found a stylist that I plan to have shampoo, condition and blow dry my hair in November or December for my check in. Her prices are so reasonable, I figured I wouldn't bother doing all of that. I will just flat iron it when I get home. I will color it before I go and that will make the whole process simpler.

Looking forward to having someone else do my hair.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Me and the mini braids are hanging in there. I wash and condition them every 2-3 days and spray leave-in every day. I have been having to redo some of the perimeter braids more often so I may redo my whole head over the long Labor Day weekend.

 

[faithVA]

My hair is lower density in the back so I feel self-conscious when I wear twist because it looks sparse. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my hair now that I have to go back to the office. I thought about wearing it in twist for a few days and then wearing it in a twist out when I have to go to work. But I've decided I want to leave my twist in for at least 10 days and then just do a water rinse during that time frame to rehydrate.

So I did my twist over the weekend and made sure to not look at the back of my hair And I wore my twist into work yesterday. I think getting over that first day back was enough to get me over the initial reluctance.

With the exception of a September wedding, I plan to retwist my hair every 10 days and just let it ride until it is time for my check-in in December.

And sometime in the fall switch between two-strand twists and flat twist as needed. But I'm going to stay in twist for a very long time. That's the plan!

 

[faithVA]

Rinsed my twist tonight, added gel and now letting it air dry a bit before I put on a bonnet of some type.

Not sure what they will look like tomorrow but I love the ease of this routine.

 

[faithVA]

I have no idea what I finally did with my hair the last time I posted. Time is just a blur.

I shampooed and deep conditioned on Sunday and put my hair in a puff while I ran errands. My plan was to rinse out the conditioner and put in 2 strand twist but that never happened. I wore a hair wrap Monday and today But tomorrow I need to go into the office, so I finally got around to doing something with it. I rinsed out the deep conditioner, followed with a rinse out. I put gel on in the shower and then doused two sections with a lot of water. Put in my old faithful flat twists and have a microfiber towel on my hair now trying to dry up some of this water. I will have to sleep with a microfiber on tonight since it is so wet. But it should help my twist lay better.

Plan on coloring over the weekend, so will check back in on the weekend.

 

[GettingKinky]

I have no idea what I finally did with my hair the last time I posted. Time is just a blur.

I shampooed and deep conditioned on Sunday and put my hair in a puff while I ran errands. My plan was to rinse out the conditioner and put in 2 strand twist but that never happened. I wore a hair wrap Monday and today But tomorrow I need to go into the office, so I finally got around to doing something with it. I rinsed out the deep conditioner, followed with a rinse out. I put gel on in the shower and then doused two sections with a lot of water. Put in my old faithful flat twists and have a microfiber towel on my hair now trying to dry up some of this water. I will have to sleep with a microfiber on tonight since it is so wet. But it should help my twist lay better.

Plan on coloring over the weekend, so will check back in on the weekend.

I remember when people used to use coloring on this forum as euphemism for another activity, so I was confused for a minute when I read the end of your post.

 

[faithVA]

I remember when people used to use coloring on this forum as euphemism for another activity, so I was confused for a minute when I read the end of your post.

I guess it was old sounding

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

I remember when people used to use coloring on this forum as euphemism for another activity, so I was confused for a minute when I read the end of your post.

The fact that you said that and your name is what it is lol

 

[ckisland]

I remember when people used to use coloring on this forum as euphemism for another activity, so I was confused for a minute when I read the end of your post.

I thought the same thing!!! Too funny!!

 

[B_Phlyy]

Going to take out my mini braids over the weekend. Will give my hair a little breather and then install some mini twists with extensions next weekend.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Going to take out my mini braids over the weekend. Will give my hair a little breather and then install some mini twists with extensions next weekend.

You taking yours out, and I'm putting mine in

 

[B_Phlyy]

Going to take out my mini braids over the weekend. Will give my hair a little breather and then install some mini twists with extensions next weekend.

See what had happened was...

I had terrible nail breaks on half my fingers and so my finger tips were/are very sensitive. Adding extra hair with the extensions would have been so painful so I just twisted up my natural hair. Shrinkage is still the devil but I can make a pitiful bun to keep my hair up.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

See what had happened was...

I had terrible nail breaks on half my fingers and so my finger tips were/are very sensitive. Adding extra hair with the extensions would have been so painful so I just twisted up my natural hair. Shrinkage is still the devil but I can make a pitiful bun to keep my hair up.

Oh no, that's terrible. I hate that for you.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Oh no, that's terrible. I hate that for you.

Me too. I was considering being a witch for Halloween and wanted long nails I could paint in a creepy polish color. Now, I'm probably going to be in a skeleton onesie

 

[Blessedwithabundance14]

I flat ironed my hair for family photos and the back is past my shoulders.

 

[B_Phlyy]

@Blessedwithabundance14 Love those thick ends

 

[faithVA]

@Blessedwithabundance14 , Your hair looks great. Congratulations on getting to SL. You will have an even lovelier update picture in December.

 

[faithVA]

Life is a world-wind right now so haven't been posting much, nor doing much to my hair.

I did finally color my hair about 2 weeks ago for a wedding I attended last weekend. I decided to just do a twist out for the wedding and I am glad I did. There was nowhere in the details that the wedding was outdoors and it was hot. My twist out lasted nicely. I am actually still wearing it and will reset tomorrow.

I don't plan on having anymore events this year so from here on out, I will try to do two strand twists every 10 days until my length check in December.

I don't see SL in my December future but hopefully I made some decent progress from December 2022.

 

[GettingKinky]

I have given up on a SL wash n go. I’m just going to take care of my hair and see what happens. Maybe one day if my hair gets to floor length I can have SL curly hair

 

[B_Phlyy]

I have given up on a SL wash n go. I’m just going to take care of my hair and see what happens. Maybe one day if my hair gets to floor length I can have SL curly hair

I have been watching The Wheel of Time and the character Nynaeve has a tailbone length French braid that dream are made of. I know my hair would have to be to the floor to make it but I can still deep condition and watch in awe.

 

[faithVA]

I have given up on a SL wash n go. I’m just going to take care of my hair and see what happens. Maybe one day if my hair gets to floor length I can have SL curly hair

Maybe since you are getting trims on straight hair that will help you get their faster.

In the meantime, just enjoy your beautiful head of hair. You have a great wash and go. You have a full head of hair. It is healthy. It is still your natural color. So many things to enjoy.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Did an overnight pre-poo and currently sitting with several ounces of castor oil on my hair. Going to attempt a rollerset and flat iron for a length check tonight. Key word: attempt

 

[faithVA]

I am due a wash. Haven't done anything to my hair since before the wedding a few weeks ago. I want to take care of it today but it is soooo cold. I don't know how we are in fall already

 

[B_Phlyy]

*Deep sigh

Had a set back and I honestly don't even know when or what happened. The pic on the left is from April and the right is this morning. I'm managing to keep my thickness but I can tell the left side is considerably shorter now. It was past my shoulder but now it's back above.


My regimen is the same and while I'm still a PJ, I use quality products. The only thing that really changed was the the April pic was taken after 6 months of wigs as a protective style. I've been wearing protective styles since then but not with my whole head covered like with the wigs.

q

 

[MzSwift]

@B_Phlyy


Yes, it absolutely looks thicker!! Are your roots fully straightened? You know sometimes they can fool us. Also, what are you doing to your hair when you switch up styles? Are you wearing it out between PSing? Do you think mechanical damage may be an issue?

And IA with you that nothing gives better retention for me than a full head PS - particularly wigging. There is progress with other PSing but not to the level that a full head PS gives. This year, I've been cornrowed up in order to wear wigs but I've been skipping the wigs. I've been seeing pretty good retention that way as well. Maybe if you get tired of wigs, you can still cornrow up but rock turbans/head wraps or even a curly crochet instead? That way you can still benefit from the full protection.

 

[faithVA]

@B_Phlyy,

It is hard to tell from the pic whether you lost anything. You have your lean on a bit with your head. Your hair is definitely thicker. And it is possible that maybe your roots are puffy or that you just have more thickness now so the hair can just hang straight down like it did before.

Did you pull the left side and the right side with your hands to see if they really are different?

On another note, did you lose weight? You look much smaller in your latest pic.