APL`13 Challenge

[Deziyah]

Girl I did with blow drying it my hair just can't take any form of heat so I will never use it again


I did my first official length check today! Idk what to call it but I will just say sl

Congrats girl!!! Can't wait until I'm fully natural and reaching SL... I hope I get there and more during this challenge.... Becuz Im sure I'm not gonna hit APL... But you Neva know

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

What's all this doubt and sadness going on in here? The challenge has not even started yet, do not be so hard on yourselves! We are doing this together. The triumphs, the weak moments, even the setbacks. Be encouraged, ladies!

 

[BEAUTYU2U]

Oh and ladies, if you thanked the post you are in the challenge. My laptop went belly up and I can't make those kind of edits on my phone.

 

[SincerelyBeautiful]

What's all this doubt and sadness going on in here? The challenge has not even started yet, do not be so hard on yourselves! We are doing this together. The triumphs, the weak moments, even the setbacks. Be encouraged, ladies!

I totally agree! I was a shoulder length for a long time. When I found LHCF I began to take care of my hair. It took a while because I had to get my hair healthy.first before the growth could occur. I'm now at APL and I'm patiently running toward BSL. It takes time ladies and a lot of dedication. I had a minor setback that had me to cut back to SL but I still made it back to APL. All of these events happened within one year so I know I can make another goal happen within next year. I'm in the BSL 2013 challenge and still in this one for my front to hit APL in 2013. Just know we got this ladies!!!!

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

 

[beautyintheyes]

Congrats girl!!! Can't wait until I'm fully natural and reaching SL... I hope I get there and more during this challenge.... Becuz Im sure I'm not gonna hit APL... But you Neva know

Girl I congratulated ever milestone ....I have little lines on my neck that I would use to measure lol you will get there just don't pay attention take care of your hair like its brushing your teeth and you will be there in no time

 

[NaturallyMede]

Count me in!

Current hair length
Just below SL (Big chop to a 1/2 inch in 11/09)
Front: 5.5” , Back (avg): 5.5” , Crown: 7” , Sides (avg): 6.25”

Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning
Natural, Type 4 (b/c??)

Goal Month
APL by 4/2013, BSL by 12/2013

Current Reggie and styling choices
Previously just making it through the day, luckily using a satin scarf regularly & praying for growth :alcoholic

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
- Alternate co-washing and shampooing every weekend (with pre-poo overnight)
- After fortnightly shampoo: moisturize & seal well, large bantu knots to stretch, redo flat twists the next day
- Twice daily growth mixture applied to scalp, concentrating on my poor balding temples! (Mixture ingredients: MN, MTG, MT, WGHO, Bee Mine Mango serum, Emu oil, Castor oil, HTGE- regular pound cake scent, which smells yummy, but then STINKY cz it’s so strong!!)
- Daily spray with water-based solution & moisturizing oils, concentrating on ends
- Monthly edges photo and length check updates to LHCF

Post a beginning picture
TWA: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html
Current: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html

APL: here I come!!

 

[CoiledByNature]

You can try lace closures on your weaves?

Never heard of this! Worth investigating tho

 

[LovLeeLaDee]

I know I'm all up in this challenge lol but I have been doing per poos and deep conditions everyday to get my hair right and I stumbled on my hair actually likening the frequent washing I dont see any broken hair!!! So I'm not sure what to do with this info since I'm a 4a and I assumed I should be doing this

It's good that you found something new your hair could benefit from! Have you tried cowashing? Maybe that could work so your not using your DCs as much. Just a thought.

 

[LovLeeLaDee]

Girl I congratulated ever milestone ....I have little lines on my neck that I would use to measure lol you will get there just don't pay attention take care of your hair like its brushing your teeth and you will be there in no time

Tell it girl! This is why I rock my half wigs. I have hand in hair disease so I gotta stay in braids, except my leave out which I wrap up. Bad thing is once I take off the wig, I'm playin with the leave out! celebrate everything ladies, we've come a long way and every inch, half inch, qtr inch that we retain is a step in the right direction.
Let's get it!

 

[LovLeeLaDee]

Re: Count me in!

Current hair length
Just below SL (Big chop to a 1/2 inch in 11/09)
Front: 5.5” , Back (avg): 5.5” , Crown: 7” , Sides (avg): 6.25”

Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning
Natural, Type 4 (b/c??)

Goal Month
APL by 4/2013, BSL by 12/2013

Current Reggie and styling choices
Previously just making it through the day, luckily using a satin scarf regularly & praying for growth :alcoholic

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
- Alternate co-washing and shampooing every weekend (with pre-poo overnight)
- After fortnightly shampoo: moisturize & seal well, large bantu knots to stretch, redo flat twists the next day
- Twice daily growth mixture applied to scalp, concentrating on my poor balding temples! (Mixture ingredients: MN, MTG, MT, WGHO, Bee Mine Mango serum, Emu oil, Castor oil, HTGE- regular pound cake scent, which smells yummy, but then STINKY cz it’s so strong!!)
- Daily spray with water-based solution & moisturizing oils, concentrating on ends
- Monthly edges photo and length check updates to LHCF

Post a beginning picture
TWA: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html
Current: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html

APL: here I come!!

Welcome NaturallyMede! Please pass that growth mix!!! You are NOT playin, you comin for growth huh!? lol j/k but ain't no way you won't make your goals of APL and BSL, shoot maybe even grazing MBL! Have you been using this mix since last year? Has it contributed much to your growth?

 

[beautyintheyes]

It's good that you found something new your hair could benefit from! Have you tried cowashing? Maybe that could work so your not using your DCs as much. Just a thought.

I plan on doing that when my bangs come back to life im thinking they need a little protein cause it's just a poof lol and the conditioner I'm using isn't all that Its all natural but it doesn't make my hair feel like much but I have to much to throw it out and how did your your come out after flat ironing it pics please lol

 

[LovLeeLaDee]

I plan on doing that when my bangs come back to life im thinking they need a little protein cause it's just a poof lol and the conditioner I'm using isn't all that Its all natural but it doesn't make my hair feel like much but I have to much to throw it out and how did your your come out after flat ironing it pics please lol

I get it, give them bangs some TLC, it must be workin since you have no breakage. I just flat ironed the back for a mini length check. One pic is my avatar and here's my other one.




Please excuse my crooked shoulders! lol I like how it came out, I used a brush instead of comb with the comb chase method. It came out much smoother and no frizz at the ends. This will be how I straighten from now on.

 

[GWtheVoice]

Thanks for starting this challenge! I just joined the site so this will be my first one.

I wish all of you ladies the very best on your hair journey with this challenge. I look forward to sharing stories! Sending out peace, patience, and love...

Current hair length - SL

Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Transitioning - Natural, 3 yrs post relaxer

Goal Month - Tomorrow! Just kidding!! ... June 30, 2013

Current Reggie and styling choices - Wash/style my hair in 4 sections: Cowash weekly, style with Curl Junkies Curl Rehab Strawberry Ice Cream Scent and Eco styler gel Argan oil. Seal with Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade. At night I either do twists or medium size braids and cover with a cap. To refresh my hair ("next day") I do L.O.C - spritz with water, apply whatever oil I have & smooth it over my hair, then I finish with Oyin Handmade Hair Dew.

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL? Going to start exercising regularly. I already include fresh fruits & veggies in my diet so this I will continue but increase to daily. I plan on experimenting with styles to protect my ends and keep them from rubbing on my clothing.

Post a beginning picture - Will do!

 

[NaturallyMede]

Re: Count me in!

Welcome @NaturallyMede! Please pass that growth mix!!! You are NOT playin, you comin for growth huh!? lol j/k but ain't no way you won't make your goals of APL and BSL, shoot maybe even grazing MBL! Have you been using this mix since last year? Has it contributed much to your growth?

Thanks LovLeeLaDee! Yups- I want that length! Been using a homemade shea butter mix I learned about from naptural85 on YouTube (I love her videos!!) for just about a year and a half. When I was relaxed I tried to grow out my hair for like a decade & it stayed just around SL so comparitively it's grown like crazy since I went natural.

Shea Butter Mix Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3Ok14CgADM
Also: http://www.naptural85.com/

 

[Ashawn Arraine]

I'm in...

Join the ChallengeI
Current hair length:

Chin Length in the Front
Shoulder Lenght in the back

Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning

Natural

Goal Month

June 2013

Current Reggie and styling choices

Wash once a week with As I Am Cleansing Pudding

Deep Condition once a week with AORM or AOGPB

Moisturize and seal daily

Flax seed Gel as my styler

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?

More updo's and buns. Wanted to where my twist but I just don't like where they shrink up to and I am on a personal no heat challenge (except for deep conditioning). Continue to take my vitamins and attempt to increase my exercise (currently only when I feel like it lol)


Post a beginning picture

Will post pic later

 

[SincerelyBeautiful]

Baggied overnite and this morning I put it up in a bun. Hope to retain a lot of length this way.

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

 

[Hyacinthe]

Baggied overnite and this morning I put it up in a bun. Hope to retain a lot of length this way.

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

do you baggy your whole head or just your ends?

Sent from my GT-I9100G using LHCF

 

[boundlessbeauty]

I want to join. I want to be APL by the time my husband gets back from deployment. (May)
Current hair length: collarbone??
Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning: Natural
Goal Month: April 2013
Current Reggie and styling choices: protective styling is my styling choice; braids, twists, buns. I cleanse my scalp as needed and co-wash [depending on the style i am wearing) bi-weekly.
What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL? Moisturize my ends way more. Increase my water intake. Use my vitamin supply. Trim my ends as needed.

Beginning pic:

 

[SincerelyBeautiful]

do you baggy your whole head or just your ends?

Sent from my GT-I9100G using LHCF

I whole head baggy. I haven't tried just baggying my ends yet but I may do it to see if I like whole head baggying less or more.

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

 

[beautyintheyes]

I want to join. I want to be APL by the time my husband gets back from deployment. (May)

Beginning pic:

You look there to me in the back if not by the end of the year!

 

[GWtheVoice]

I'm increasing my water intake also. I've been using a free app (Android) called Water Your Body to track my water intake. When I first started using it I was drinking a lot less water than I should have been. It was next to nothing really. So I'm going to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and monitor the differences I see and feel.

 

[Deziyah]

Girl I congratulated ever milestone ....I have little lines on my neck that I would use to measure lol you will get there just don't pay attention take care of your hair like its brushing your teeth and you will be there in no time

Thanks I know... I an actually proud of far I have made it without a relaxer!!! Because of this forum my attitude about my new growth has changed so much, I'm more confident with my hair not being bone straight... So I want to say thank you to all of you ladies!!! And I'm gonna try not to be so doubtful and just go into this challenge with the mindset that I will make APL by Dec '13

 

[CoiledByNature]

I get it, give them bangs some TLC, it must be workin since you have no breakage. I just flat ironed the back for a mini length check. One pic is my avatar and here's my other one.

Please excuse my crooked shoulders! lol I like how it came out, I used a brush instead of comb with the comb chase method. It came out much smoother and no frizz at the ends. This will be how I straighten from now on.

Wow I really like the texture of your natural hair plus how it gets really straight..**scrolling up to see what you did ***

 

[CoiledByNature]

Current hair length
Just below SL (Big chop to a 1/2 inch in 11/09)
Front: 5.5” , Back (avg): 5.5” , Crown: 7” , Sides (avg): 6.25”

Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning
Natural, Type 4 (b/c??)

Goal Month
APL by 4/2013, BSL by 12/2013

Current Reggie and styling choices
Previously just making it through the day, luckily using a satin scarf regularly & praying for growth :alcoholic

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
- Alternate co-washing and shampooing every weekend (with pre-poo overnight)
- After fortnightly shampoo: moisturize & seal well, large bantu knots to stretch, redo flat twists the next day
- Twice daily growth mixture applied to scalp, concentrating on my poor balding temples! (Mixture ingredients: MN, MTG, MT, WGHO, Bee Mine Mango serum, Emu oil, Castor oil, HTGE- regular pound cake scent, which smells yummy, but then STINKY cz it’s so strong!!)
- Daily spray with water-based solution & moisturizing oils, concentrating on ends
- Monthly edges photo and length check updates to LHCF

Post a beginning picture
TWA: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html
Current: http://s1338.beta.photobucket.com/user/NaturallyMede/media/IMG_0529-ForLHCF-TWA2010.jpg.html

APL: here I come!!

Yay!! Someone who's using MTG!!!! I'm just below shoulder length too so I'm excited to see the hair growth results.... I'm also In a sew in (where I get my most growth) plus I'm taking hairfinity, washing and conditioning with mane and tail weekly. Applying JBCO to my edges (burnt out) every night as well. I also do the Greenhouse effect religiously
Also using avocado, coconut and grapeseed oil over might before wash day (sat)


I've had my sew in for a weak and today's the first day someone said something at work about the MTG smell!! Lol Idc tho i proudly say "it's my hair" without telling them it's a product for horses lol.
My weave is starting to get greasy and smelly I guess (it looks really pretty tho from the grease lol)
Washing tomorrow.. Which I will do weekly so I can deal with people at work smelling it once a week
I'm drunk so hopefully making sense

Can't wait to see our hair growth results. I seriously think the MTG will be the most effective in growth.

 

[NaturallyMede]

Yay!! Someone who's using MTG!!!! .... Applying JBCO to my edges (burnt out) every night as well. I also do the Greenhouse effect religiously

We've basically got the same routine- as I type my hair's cooking under a few layers of plastic wrap & I'm waiting for some JBCO in the mail!

I've had my sew in for a weak and today's the first day someone said something at work about the MTG smell!! Lol Idc tho i proudly say "it's my hair" without telling them it's a product for horses lol.

Started putting just as much MTG in the scalp lotion as I can mask the smell & using a ton of it in the weekly overnight pre-poos to catch up

I'm drunk so hopefully making sense

Can't wait to see our hair growth results. I seriously think the MTG will be the most effective in growth.

Right on! It's so close I can taste it!!

 

[abbygirl]

Are you color treated? If so has that changed what your hair needs?

oh, sorry girl, i am just seeing your question.

yes, i am colour treated and my hair now loves protein in small doses , so i use eggs in my pre- poo mix or mayo in my deep conditioner. occasionally i also use Aubrey organics GPB deep conditioner but eggs/mayo mostly.

 

[gvin89]

I plan to install some braids to finish out the year...may go through the first quarter as well. My hair usually thrives when I do nothing to it...will cowash weekly and moisturize daily.

 

[Hyacinthe]

I whole head baggy. I haven't tried just baggying my ends yet but I may do it to see if I like whole head baggying less or more.

Sent from my iPad using LHCF

when I just started my HJ I used to baggy my whole head,after I started protecting my relaxed ends before a relaxer and leaving a bit of texture in my hair,I noticed that when I would baggy my whole head it would be a tangled mess especially when Im a couple weeks post.
so now I concentrate on my ends.
still trying to figure out whats more effective sandwich bag or plastic cap or both lol.

 

[Hyacinthe]

Ive been shedding like crazy and a bit of breakage...well maybe not crazy but if I dont nip it in the bud who knows....
so I used Affirm 5 in 1 my holy grail when it comes to getting my hair back on track and surprise surprise it didnt do squat for my shedding just stopped the breakage tbh the breakage was very minimal,its the shedding that has my paranoid.
I think i will try a black tea rinse next wash.
any suggestion ladies will be greatly appreciated.

ETA: I kinda rushed judgement with my beloved affirm.
It did stop the shedding,I adore affirm 5 in 1 can't nobody tell me nuttin about it lol.

 

[LovelyBwonderful]

okay so I haven't been treating my hair very badly. but I got back on track yesterday

shampoo: trader joes TTT
protein: nexxus emergencee and let it marinate for about 45 min
deep condition: vatika
leave in: herbal essence color me happy
sealed: EVCO/Amla oil mix
style: smaller two strand twists and left in overnight for a twist out

I'm going to try to get my hair health up and start retaining more. I REALLY want to APL by new year. so I'm going to *try* to use no heat and just wear my staple twist outs because u think that's probably when u retain the most since my hair will be ultra moisturizer (benefits of using reg condish as a leave in) and low manipulation