2025/2026 - Journey to SL/APL/BSL Challenge

[faithVA]

I'm almost out of leave-in, so it is time to find a new one. My hair is fine and easily weighed down, so I'm planning to try a leave-in spray versus a regular cream to see how that does. In the past I would not have considered a spray but after using the Prose leave-in, I've been thinking that my leave-ins have been too heavy. I think it is worth a try and if it doesn't work out I can always use the spray for a refresher.

I ordered the Miche Lavish Leave-In. I will be here Friday so I will try it out next wash day.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

This leave in spray surprised me when I tried it. My hair was really moisturized. @faithVA I just don’t like how bottle slip out of my hands with the sprays.

Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner

Transform dry, brittle hair with Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-In Conditioner — lightweight, moisturizing spray that detangles, strengthens, and adds shine.

alikaynaturals.com

 

[B_Phlyy]

My ends still look even but they feel gummy. I don't even remember the last time I did a protein treatment. So the last few days, I've been using a keratin leave in. The full on treatment will probably be Sunday after the gym.

 

[faithVA]

This leave in spray surprised me when I tried it. My hair was really moisturized. @faithVA I just don’t like how bottle slip out of my hands with the sprays.

Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner

Transform dry, brittle hair with Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-In Conditioner — lightweight, moisturizing spray that detangles, strengthens, and adds shine.

alikaynaturals.com

Thank you for the recommendation. I will keep it in mind.

 

[keranikki]

This leave in spray surprised me when I tried it. My hair was really moisturized. @faithVA I just don’t like how bottle slip out of my hands with the sprays.

Lemongrass Leave In Conditioner

Transform dry, brittle hair with Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-In Conditioner — lightweight, moisturizing spray that detangles, strengthens, and adds shine.

alikaynaturals.com

I used to love this conditioner! I forgot why I stopped using it…I don’t think it played well with my other products. I may revisit this product.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

If she made this in a lotion version in a flip top bottle I’d be all over it. I have bad time gripping bottles. @keranikki

 

[Rocky91]

I’m really enjoying the ease of my hair right now, and I just reflected on why that is. I’ve inadvertently focused on styling techniques that attempt to fight shrinkage the past few years—stretching my wash and goes, stretching my twistouts, flexirod sets.

Now that my hair is short, I don’t feel any compulsion to try and stretch it. It’s just gonna be short no matter what, so why bother? I unravel my twists, pick it out, and go. The sweat from my workouts doesn’t bother me because I don’t care if it shrinks. I need to keep that same mindset even as it grows. It’s freeing.

 

[Napp]

I think I need a few more inches to get to full apl . It’s barely touching after my trim. BSL seems like a dream

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Thank you for the recommendation. I will keep it in mind.

@faithVA and @Bette Davis Eyes,

Could you transfer this liquid spray-in in to a spray bottle that's easier to grip?

 

[CoiledOrchids]

still doing my castor oil challenge.

will be washing my braids this afternoon.

loving the rosewater spray! I'm still keeping it simple with my protective styles.

Braids last longer than my bun so I'm sticking with the braids. Going back to my no heat routine has been good for me.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

@Yvette 2.0 I probably could but I’d still use too much because it’s a spray consistency. I was shocked that it moisturized so well but I would love it if it was a lotion/serum type.

It’s the only liquid spray leave in that worked for my loose hair.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

still doing my castor oil challenge.

will be washing my braids this afternoon.

loving the rosewater spray! I'm still keeping it simple with my protective styles.

Braids last longer than my bun so I'm sticking with the braids. Going back to my no heat routine has been good for me.

Glad you're still enjoying braids! I'll probably be back in KBs in Spring

 

[faithVA]

I had ordered the Miche leave-in spray but after I ordered then they gave me this ridiculously long delivery time, so I canceled that. I will just look around during the holiday weekend and do some research. In the meantime I will just combine the spray I have with the hair milk I'm trying to use up.

I took out my twist Thursday and wore a twistout yesterday and today. I rinsed today so I can color my hair tomorow.

Not sure if I'm going back into 2 strands or into flat twists. Whatever I do I'm going to try to get it done early in the day so I can enjoy the rest of my Sunday.

 

[faithVA]

Less than 45 days until the end of the year. Time is moving so fast.

I finally colored my hair. I won't be doing it again before the end of the year so my end of year pictures will be featuring some gray

Since I plan to just blow dry and trim for the pictures, it won't be that big a deal. I will do the whole color to flat iron when I think I'm at APL.

Last night I rinsed and detangled and put my hair into 6 Bantu Knots to be ready to color today.
I colored today. Since I'm out of leave-in, I used the Camille Rose braid conditioner with the Mielle hair milk. I definitely won't repurchase the hair milk. I'm not sure about the Camille Rose. I may try a few things that are sprays.

I had ordered the Mielle leave-in spray but it was going to take more than a month to get her. But I'm glad I canceled. Since I don't like the hair milk, maybe that was a sign that I don't like that brand at all.

I put my hair in 6 Bantu Knots. I will make them smaller later today so they can dry.

Tomorrow I will apply something, not sure what, before I put in my flat twist.

I think I will leave the two strands for Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[Napp]

I am going to try moisturizing and sealing twice daily. My ends are fresh and I want to keep as much length till my next trim. I bought some products specifically are to keep split ends at bay and I will use them daily while protective styling as much as possible. I am getting past apl by 2026 gosh darn it

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

I am going to try moisturizing and sealing twice daily. My ends are fresh and I want to keep as much length till my next trim. I bought some products specifically are to keep split ends at bay and I will use them daily while protective styling as much as possible. I am getting past apl by 2026 gosh darn it

Yes you can!

I'm loving cold pressed argan oil for moisturizing and castor oil to protect ends

 

[faithVA]

I came across a FB group by a stylist from Cleveland. She suggested that if the hair feels good after shampoo but starts to feel dry after rinsing out the conditioner and feels dry after styling, then the hair is probably dehydrated and the hair needs a hydrating shampoo, conditioner and leave-in until the hair is rehydrated.

During covid, I switched from an all-purpose shampoo to a moisturizing shampoo and that really improved the condition of my hair. But I didn't realize that there was even a hydrating shampoo/conditioner. But after doing more research, it stated that the hydrating products pull moisture in the hair and the moisturizing products lock the moisture in the hair. Very interesting!

I did some basic research and Coco & Eve were highly rated on Amazon and I could get them today. I ordered the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in. I used them today and I think this may be a game changer for me. My hair felt so much better starting with the shampoo. My hair felt so soft. After putting on the leave-in my hair still felt soft. And usually after putting in the leave-in, I have to make sure I put it up quickly so it doesn't dry out. But I could tell that I didn't have to worry about it. My hair felt soft and fluffy.

I used a style cream, which I don't remember the name of, and put my hair in Bantu Knots. Will see how it dries.

I'm going to use this for each wash at least through mid December. I am feeling very optimistic about this product line.

I think I'm going to need a nice trim for December, but if these products are good then I will have a fresh start.

I'm definitely SL and I think I'm 4" from APL.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

I think @Yvette 2.0 has mentioned this Youtuber on the board before, but my inspiration for this grow-out process is the OG Youtuber Pashtash, who almost exclusively wore twistouts. I think she has an above-average growth rate, but even still I'm really trying to copy some of her practices for length retention:
1) regular salon trims (on blowdried hair--no flat irons at the salon for me ever again!)
2) low manipulation w/ twistouts 1x a week. Honestly, I'm going to do 2x/week while my hair is super short.

It feels good to be back on track with my hair I was really down in the dumps about my heat damage for a while, and I'm so glad I just went ahead and cut it for a fresh start.

Here's an example of the kind of length Pashtash attained in 18 months. Man, I miss the old Youtube days.

The YouTuber below reminds me a bit of Pashtash. I don't know if Seleana (below) mainly grew her hair out with twistouts, but WOW did she retain over the years.

 

[CoiledOrchids]

washing my braids early friday morning. I'll do a hot oil treatment as well.

still oiling my scalp with castor oil. I'm getting lots of new growth!

 

[faithVA]

I took my flat twist out to apply my oil and massage my scalp. My hair is acting like I blow dried it. I put it up into a few twist for tomorrow.

I plan to reset tomorrow and see if I have similar results.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Two weeks in this crochet. Two weeks to go.

 

[faithVA]

Reset today: Used the Coco & Eve shampoo/conditioner and leave-in. Although the Mielle Hair Milk would be considered more hydrating than moisturizing, I figured I would try it out and see how it works. I plan to reset on Sunday, so if it doesn't work the 3 days won't hurt anything.

I thought about blow drying but I will save that until my check-in. Just put in flat twist towards the crown and used one of the oils on my ends to help use it up.

I am curious to see how my hair does with the hair milk versus the gel.

Oh, and I got my Denman 38 Paddle Brush. I like it so much better for my hair versus the Unbrush Plus and the Felica L brush. My hair just laughed at them and they didn't get the shed hairs out. But I think this brush is promising.

Looks like a lot of new things in store for 2026

 

[faithVA]

Reset tonight. Let's see if this holds for a week.

I used the Coco & Eve shampoo, conditioner and leave-in. I used the Mielle twisting souffle as a styler and a little oil on my ends.

Last week I tried the hair milk. It was OK but obviously not the right product. Im still trying to figure out how to use it. And I was too heavy handed with the oil last time so I went much lighter today.

My hair is in Bantus while it dries. Not sure how i will style it tomorrow.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Hello!

I will join. I'm ready to grow my hair back.

Hair back story:

I just got a major cut and got color for the the first time. I got the cut so that I could wear my hair curly (I was a straight-haired natural for years) and remove curl-pattern-loosened hair from all the straightening.​

The cut was so needed: My hair actually looks good in a wng now. I miss my hair, though.​

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The color is awesome. It makes me enjoy wearing my curly hair like never before.​

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Salon woes:

I'm getting weary of salons. I handle my hair much better. I need a stylist for color, even trimming, shaping. I can silk press my own hair, but they do a much better job. I feel that if goal is retention while wearing my hair curly, I need to avoid salons. The exception is Her Growing Hands Salon, but it's very expensive. That all said, I need to learn to trim my own hair. I just can't tell what I'm doing to the shaping when it's blown dry . . . and I can't tell what needs to be cut due to damage/thinning when it's curly. I'm concerned that while I dive in and learn how to trim, I'll take off too much and/or ruin the shape/cut. I will start very conservatively, then.​

Hair characteristics:

Length: Layers due to the cut (sad face). Longest strands are probably a little past APL, shorter strands are probably chin-Length.​

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Type: 4b (I guess) with some loosening due to having been a straight-haired natural​

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Density: mid to high​

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Courseness: very fine​

Regimen:

- finger detangle in warm shower water,​

- shampoo,​

- fully detangle with (1) mask or deep conditioner or (2) regular conditioner,​

- squish to condish with leave-in​

- exit shower and apply foam or gel or a combo of the two​

- diffuse hair​

- wear hair sock overnight to preserve style​

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I typically, wash and go every 3-5 days. The color is very new to me, and I'm noticing that my hair is not as moisturized. I'm thus doing my hair more frequently at every 3-5 days.​

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Due to the color, I'm making changes in my regimen. I will not clarify until my hair "asks." I will use a moisturizing shampoo mainly. I have begun using a strengthening mask. I'll see how that all fares. I will be using salon-grade, highly moisturizing products once I find the ones that work for me.​

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Favored products:

Alba Ramos's DermaE line: shampoo, deep treatment, conditioner, leave-in​

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The Doux Crazy Sexy Curl foam, The Doux Chief Rocka mousse, Ecoslay Jello Shot gel, Innersense I Create Hold gel​

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Alodia Length Retention Nourish Hair and Scalp Oil​

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Ouai Hair & Body Mist​

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I'll add a pic after my silk press this Saturday.​