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

[25InchesStarting'25]

What length are you now?

-about neck length

What is your length goal for 2025 ?

- shoulder length

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?

-Get back to the regimen I used when i grew my hair out to APL back in highschool.
-wash 2x a week:
Wednesday: -moisture d/c with Joico K pack overnight
-moisturize and seal
Sunday: -moisture shampoo
- protein d/c with Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor
- moisture d/c loreal expertise extraordinary oil
-moisturize and seal
-moisturize and seal atleast 3-4 times a week as I will be gluing down my humain hair wig for 2 days at a time max due to dance classes.
-utilize wild growth oil when i moisturize and seal or after shampooing and conditioning
-will be wigging it for the whole year as hair is really short in the nape and can't bun the way I did when i first grew my hair out to APL.


How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?

- a new designer purse or dyson airwrap tool to use on my human hair wigs.

How can we support you in reaching your goal?

- support when it comes to hairstyles and products to maximize hair growth and health. Also just by everyone posting their updates, that's great motivation for me to get back to a healthy hair routine.

*I will post a length picture next month after I relax. Don't have updated length pictures yet and don't want to use heat on my hair at the moment due to growing out damage.

@Etherbunnny, Welcome! We're about the same length, should be exciting to see what lengths we can reach by the new year

 

[Etherbunnny]

@Etherbunnny, Welcome! We're about the same length, should be exciting to see what lengths we can reach by the new year

@25InchesStarting'25 Thanks for the welcome It should be exciting indeed!

 

[faithVA]

I've relegated any type of length checks to the end of each quarter. I'm pretty sure I'm retaining something but right now I can't tell whether I am making progress with my lower layers. And I really don't want to get obsessive about it. Instead of doing length checks, I've decided to measure progress in other ways, like being able to do 2 Bantu Knots in the back instead of the 4 I currently do. This makes more sense, because what I really ant is to be able to do certain styles with my hair.

I don't do much with my hair once I put it up for the week. I put on my cap at night and take it off in the morning. That is about it. But if I wear a barrette or banana clip to hold my twists, I may or may not take it out in the evening.

Last night I took out my barrette while sitting on the coach watching television. I was just playing around with the twist and thought, hmm, let me braid these all together. So I have 10 or so twists that I braided together and then was able to tuck the ends under. That is definitely progress because I know 6 months ago I could not do that. The braid is about 4 inches long.

I wouldn't wear it out or anything but it was nice to see that I can do that.

I don't know if I will make it this year but my 2 goals are
1. To be to just put in 2 strand twist and pull them all up into a bun. If I can get to even just the majority of the twist in a bun with leaving the front that would be a good milestone as well. But this would allow me the opportunity to rinse in twist.

2. Styling my flat twist all towards the back and then able to pull them together whether into a twist or braid or barrette and tuck them under.

Looking forward to what my hair achieves in the next 5 months.

 

[faithVA]

What length are you now?

-about neck length

What is your length goal for 2025 ?

- shoulder length

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?

-Get back to the regimen I used when i grew my hair out to APL back in highschool.
-wash 2x a week:
Wednesday: -moisture d/c with Joico K pack overnight
-moisturize and seal
Sunday: -moisture shampoo
- protein d/c with Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor
- moisture d/c loreal expertise extraordinary oil
-moisturize and seal
-moisturize and seal atleast 3-4 times a week as I will be gluing down my humain hair wig for 2 days at a time max due to dance classes.
-utilize wild growth oil when i moisturize and seal or after shampooing and conditioning
-will be wigging it for the whole year as hair is really short in the nape and can't bun the way I did when i first grew my hair out to APL.


How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?

- a new designer purse or dyson airwrap tool to use on my human hair wigs.

How can we support you in reaching your goal?

- support when it comes to hairstyles and products to maximize hair growth and health. Also just by everyone posting their updates, that's great motivation for me to get back to a healthy hair routine.

*I will post a length picture next month after I relax. Don't have updated length pictures yet and don't want to use heat on my hair at the moment due to growing out damage.

Welcome to the challenge. We are glad to have you. We will support you in your journey and we can't wait to see your fabulous results.

 

[keranikki]

I've relegated any type of length checks to the end of each quarter. I'm pretty sure I'm retaining something but right now I can't tell whether I am making progress with my lower layers. And I really don't want to get obsessive about it. Instead of doing length checks, I've decided to measure progress in other ways, like being able to do 2 Bantu Knots in the back instead of the 4 I currently do. This makes more sense, because what I really ant is to be able to do certain styles with my hair.

I don't do much with my hair once I put it up for the week. I put on my cap at night and take it off in the morning. That is about it. But if I wear a barrette or banana clip to hold my twists, I may or may not take it out in the evening.

Last night I took out my barrette while sitting on the coach watching television. I was just playing around with the twist and thought, hmm, let me braid these all together. So I have 10 or so twists that I braided together and then was able to tuck the ends under. That is definitely progress because I know 6 months ago I could not do that. The braid is about 4 inches long.

I wouldn't wear it out or anything but it was nice to see that I can do that.

I don't know if I will make it this year but my 2 goals are
1. To be to just put in 2 strand twist and pull them all up into a bun. If I can get to even just the majority of the twist in a bun with leaving the front that would be a good milestone as well. But this would allow me the opportunity to rinse in twist.

2. Styling my flat twist all towards the back and then able to pull them together whether into a twist or braid or barrette and tuck them under.

Looking forward to what my hair achieves in the next 5 months.

It’s awesome that you are able to see hair growth in other ways than through a length check. I think it helps from becoming discouraged, especially if you had a setback.

 

[keranikki]

I’m currently still at CBL and my ends are still breaking off in little bits. I thought it was the Skala DCs that were adding too much protein to my hair, but it was my Aloe Hibiscus Rinse that is the culprit. I stopped using the DCs and used the rinse as a daily refresher.
I have now stopped using the rinse and I’m back to using diluted Infusium 23. My hair looks healthier with my new black hair, but I know I’m going to have to cut my hair at some point. For now I’m babying my ends and will keep my hair hidden in protective styles.

 

[faithVA]

It’s awesome that you are able to see hair growth in other ways than through a length check. I think it helps from becoming discouraged, especially if you had a setback.

I agree. The back of my hair grows so slowly and not consistently month to month. Finding any other way keeps me motivated.

 

[faithVA]

I’m currently still at CBL and my ends are still breaking off in little bits. I thought it was the Skala DCs that were adding too much protein to my hair, but it was my Aloe Hibiscus Rinse that is the culprit. I stopped using the DCs and used the rinse as a daily refresher.
I have now stopped using the rinse and I’m back to using diluted Infusium 23. My hair looks healthier with my new black hair, but I know I’m going to have to cut my hair at some point. For now I’m babying my ends and will keep my hair hidden in protective styles.

Glad you found the culprit. Was it the aloe?

 

[keranikki]

Glad you found the culprit. Was it the aloe?

It was the hibiscus powder used in the rinse. It has a strengthening effect. It’s great for my scalp and roots, but not for the older portion of my hair.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

@keranikki I alternate the infusium with a moisture spray. One day moisture. The next day infusium.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

@faithVA ive been doing un stretched length checks when I take my braids down.

I noticed my two space buns looking fuller lately and that made me happy.