APL 2012 Challenge

[jprayze]

Seamonster Thanks and Definitely keep us posted on how the MN works for you!

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA
i know all too well about setbacks, but i am sure you will get it under control. do you know what was the cause? i haven't read up thread yet.

I'm not completely sure. It could be a few things. But if I had tot guess, I am going to say it was waiting to long to DC after I applied henna last week. I didn't finish rinsing the henna out until 1 am last week and I was so tired. So I DCd when I woke up in the morning instead of right after. My hair felt good after the DC but by Tuesday my hair felt a mess and it got worse and worse.

I tried to put my regi back on track last night. And I have 3 months to get it together. So hopefully this is it.

 

[lamaria211]

i woke up and had a few extra minutes so i moisturized root to tip with HE Touchably smooth Split End protector

 

[NikkiQ]

Okay so what graduates do we have so I know who to label on the first page??


*looks at newnyer *

 

[jprayze]

Here's a little more about my game plan and my HHJ. My last relaxer was September 2009, decided to transition shortly after and wore braids until July 2010. I started going to the Dominican salon then and my hair was about to the bottom of my ears. I hit SL about June 2011 (when I joined LHCF) and now progress has not been a quickly as I liked, but being in this Challenge has really helped me to stay focus on my APL goal. I have been almost exclusively going to the Dominican salon for almost 2 years, 1x, sometimes 2x a month. I try to put breaks in ocassionally and do wetsets, twistouts, or buns. I get DC there every other time I go and before I go, I either put a conditioner or prepoo on or something. I feel like my hair is for the most part heat trained and now it takes a short amount of time (and less heat!) to straighten it. Products? I'm new to a lot of products discussed, don't know what works and what doesn't for my hair. I mainly have CD and ORS products in my regimen. And yes, I'm still transitioning. I was hoping eventually I would trim enough and all the relaxed ends would be gone, but some are still there...last trim was end of February.

My goal month for APL is April, so I'm going to do a personal length check around April 30 because I was ambitious enough to also join the BSL 2012 Challenge. So that's my story.

We're all learning together and we're going to reach our goals TOGETHER!

 

[esi.adokowa]

on my way to the salon to get straightened and cut!
I'll post before and after pictures once she's done.

 

[SavannahNatural]

I'm a little anxious about this first check in.

Although I'm trying not to check my length regularly, I have been taking peeks here and there. And I'm sure there isn't much change from my start pic, which I believe was later in the challenge than everyone else.

I also did a small trim with my first flat ironing job of the year and don't believe I've recouped all the trimmed hairs as of yet... Oh, well. I'll post my check-in tomorrow and will continue to care for my hair.

 

[NikkiQ]

^^^a watched pot never boils @blcbuty@ so you may just surprise yourself when you flat iron again

 

[SavannahNatural]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

 

[SavannahNatural]

^^^a watched pot never boils @blcbuty@ so you may just surprise yourself when you flat iron again

I know, and I don't think I'm watching it, but I'm sure I am (hides head).

I won't be flat-ironing this check in, I just be pulling the length, but I will be some time in the coming month, and will post another set of pics then.

 

[diadall]

I love paychecks and length checks!

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Ok so I did my length check. I decided to straighten a section of my hair to get a more accurate idea of where my hair falls. I think I need like 3 more inches or something.

I have a couple of bonus pics of a braidout I did today. Its growing!!!

 

[Khaiya]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

DH took the camera to work with him this morning so i still can't post my update pics yet but i'll answer the question neway I'm gonna finger detangle more, i lose a lot less hair that way, altho i dont lose much with my wide tooth comb neway but less is always better.

I'm also gonna make sure i do my hair in front of a mirror, i find that when i do that, i'm more gentle and patient than when i can't see what i'm doing.

Oh and also to make sure i have some entertainment going to keep me patient thru those long hair sessions, i know, i know, i'm like a child, constantly in need of entertainment or i get restless and start being rough with my hair.

ETA: I'm putting the blowdryer away for a loooong time, i haven't used it in a while anyway but threading is so much easier and i lose way less hair and need no heat.

 

[SavannahNatural]

DH took the camera to work with him this morning so i still can't post my update pics yet but i'll answer the question neway I'm gonna finger detangle more, i lose a lot less hair that way, altho i dont lose much with my wide tooth comb neway but less is always better.

I'm also gonna make sure i do my hair in front of a mirror, i find that when i do that, i'm more gentle and patient than when i can't see what i'm doing.

Oh and also to make sure i have some entertainment going to keep me patient thru those long hair sessions, i know, i know, i'm like a child, constantly in need of entertainment or i get restless and start being rough with my hair.

ETA: I'm putting the blowdryer away for a loooong time, i haven't used it in a while anyway but threading is so much easier and i lose way less hair and need no heat.

I'm the exact same way @the bolded! I noticed this just last night when setting my hair in twists! I wanted to be out with the public, but I was a lot more gentle the moment I stepped in the bathroom. Guess I'll just have to invite people into the bathroom with me when I'm doing my hair

I always have my laptop in the bathroom with me and am watching a marathon of shows or a movie on netflix/hulu/amazon, etc. It keeps me going every time!

 

[NikkiQ]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

I've been checking my progress every now and then since the cut and I'm pretty pleased with where I am. My reggie is very simple and if it ain't broke...

I shampoo every week or every 2 weeks (depending on if I plan on doing a twist out or not). I've cut out cowashing all together due to laziness mostly but I may impliment them more into my reggie during the summer. I still haven't done a wash n go since August so I may just do that one weekend. DC with every wash, detangle thoroughly and then put my hair into Celies or twists. I think I've retained a little over an inch so far this year. I can't really tell. I just compare my pull test pics.

 

[faithVA]

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?


So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

I haven't officially checked in yet. Will take pics tonight and hopefully get them posted by Sunday (busy weekend).

My biggest challenge is making my ends happy. My ends are really tightly curled and they don't seem to like much of anything (braids, twists, buns, out styles ). I've proteined, moisturized, sealed, hennaed, finger detangled, comb detangled, etc, etc.. They are really fussy.

For the next 3 months, or until I get a warning sign, going to cowash, tea rinse with herbal tea, DC with heat cap, apply leave-in, heat cap again, reapply leave-in, seal my ends and hope for the best.

I am going to work on different styles that can help me stretch my ends.
I think I will stop applying henna to my ends and just do 3/4 of my strand. I'm reducing AO GPB to 1x a month. My hair really doesn't like protein.
I'm reducing the use of oils unless on my scalp.

I've got some work to do

 

[Meritamen]

Whoa BronxJazzy your hair is pretty.
Mmmm so I took pictures last night and promptly managed to lose the camera afterward. I'll post my check in photos when it's found.

 

[pookaloo83]

I might do buns more instead of braidouts. Thinking of alternating weeks braid out one week buns the next.

Sent from my iPhone 4s

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

I didnt see this post before but I want to answer the questions.


Since seeing my progress pics I dont think theres anything I would really like to change. I know that my hair doesnt like heat so I think I will cut out heat for the most part.


My hair is really soft and moisturized but I think it needs some protein so I will incorperate more in my regimen. I need to get more AO GPB. I may do it once a month or so because my hair isnt crazy for protein but I know it needs it.


I also think I will try to do more braidouts instead of wash and gos but the wash and goes are easier on my hair because my ends dont scrape against my shirt so idk. I know it gives me another style to work with because I've just been doing puffs this whole time. Its been working for me but its getting boring.

 

[mamaore]

Missdelicious1 thanks for the tips and sharing your regimen.

I never knew how to wrap my hair. I will watch some youtube videos to elarn how to cross wrap and at my Tu, I will start from my right.
Thanks

 

[jprayze]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

My checkin motivated me to do more protective styling going forward, so that I retain what I've grown so far.

 

[Evolving78]

@blcbuty@
i had a crazy setback, but i still trying to get this whole protective style thing down. this is the third week of protective styling. i figured out a way to moisturize and seal. i figured out how to detangle and wash my hair. i hope what i am doing will work out for the long run.

oh by the way, i ended getting a cast put on. keep praying for my sanity with these kids!

 

[itsjusthair88]

Question for ladies who have checked in already:

Since seeing your progress photographed, what, if any changes will you be making to your regimen from this point on?

I think the reason for check-in's shouldn't just be to ogle at hair (although I love doing this), but to take a moment to reflect and see if what you've been doing has been working for you. Or if your progress is to your liking

So, what works, what doesn't, what are you thinking of changing? (products, styles, treatments, etc)


Thanks for sharing and Happy Hair Growing everyone!

This is an excellent question, umm, let me see...I will definitely have to protect the ends of the back layers of my hair ALOT more. A few years ago, I grew my hair to just below APL, transitioning to natural (unknowingly, oh ignorance is bless...then I cut into a mohawk think of how long my freakin hair would be today!!!! But I digress) and I did it wearing constant updo's, I call them "pull n' pin" you are just pulling chunks of your hair and bobby-pinning it, and it worked for me. Now I am trying to get fancy and wear twist-outs and junk and my hair is like

Anyway, the point is, I will definitely go back to updos, I like to rinse and cleanse and moisturize once a week and put it back up. Let's see how my next check-in goes. ALSO, I need to find a better way to retain moisture. I like the Kimmay/Naptural85 method of "water only" but I need one extra thing to keep the moisture in, so I am going back through their videos to see what else they add to their hair to retain moisture. That it all.

p.s. sorry it was so long, retrospect will do that to you.

 

[Khaiya]

Ok, here we go at last, nothing to write home about:

The twists bunched up in the top and front are the ones that i had threaded already, i do that some night to stretch my twists out. I would have definitely been at the 4 if not for my trim. No more trims till i make it!
Oh and also, the 4 is grazing APL for me, the 5 will be full APL
I have some other pics in my album if anybody wants to see: http://s461.photobucket.com/albums/qq340/khaiyat/2012/March/

 

[Ogoma]

It has been 18 months and 9 days since my last relaxer and so far I am fine with my progress. It is nothing magical, but I don't mind normal . I wanted to have (my version of) fun with my hair when I cut off my relaxed ends last June and I have done so. I am looking forward to my one year anniversary this coming June.

I have a little over 2 inches to get to the top of my armpit so I will be here all year as I need to be full APL before I claim it and I am not sure how many inches are needed to get to APL in the back yet.

I don't really plan to change much. I enjoy co-washing and doing my hair daily and will keep that up. I have been using the mudwash once a month and so far so good, but I will experiment with using it 2x a month as it gets warmer. I have been drinking more water, eating healthier, and exercising and I will continue to do all three. I have been taking Viviscal and Biotin since the beginning of the year, but will stop doing so in June and May, respectively, when I run out. I will continue taking multivitamins, iron pills (I am anemic), and MSM. I am on a no-heat challenge and will continue to incorporate ceramide oils.

ETA: edited out picture

 

[NikkiQ]

After my tattoo appointment tonight, I'm gonna take my pull pic for you guys. I may get one of my other friends to take a pic for me tomorrow pulling the back while we're at a baby shower. Get it in somehow dammit!

 

[livinthevida]

When is the last time you used poo? do you ever clarify or feel the need to? and what kind of products do you use during the week? tia

lamaria211 feels like ages ago LOL! my hair doesn't seem to miss it at all:

When is the last time you used poo?
December 2011

Do you ever clarify or feel the need to?
I've yet to clarify since December feel no need to thanks to cool rinses, zero build up, no dry scalp, and no flakes

And what kind of products do you use during the week? tia
I know I know...it feels like I should use something else...BUT my hair is really doing well with Organics Coconut Oil (daily roller set) and every Sunday deep conditioning with Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask

I like keeping it simple even though I have no fast results these have worked so well in just the past few months. Maybe by end of year 2012 I will have enough hair to rock out ::

 

[livinthevida]

Thanks so much for your condolences and prayers ladies. Going home on the first flight out tomorrow so it'll be a tough weekend.

I took pics the other night of my hair. Looks like I will be postponing my touch up for a couple more weeks now...bringing me to about a 13 week stretch. Don't know how much or little of a difference it willl make after the touch up but we shall see. I think I'm going to buy some products while at home to use to avoid any setbacks and just leave them with my mom...she needs some good products in her life anyway. I'm trying to avoid anything more than a dusting when I go back to the salon.

Was looking a little rough in the face so I had to block that out. You can thank me later. lol!

Congratulations on reaching APL newnyer!

Wishing you a peaceful and safe return home

 

[livinthevida]

As I suspected...my bff bailed on straightening my hair for me. Of course I honestly don't know if I even feel like havin my mom flat iron my whole head or not. I may just do a pull test and have it professionally straightened for the check-in in June. I feel like a bad hostess ladies. I'm sorry!

That's aok NikkiQ! as long as we see those pics

I will be using large size bobby pins for tomorrow's check in. I originally planned on using hair clips yet they do not have much weight like the bobby pins do. I buy these at my local Sally Beauty:

 

[sajjy]

Congratulations on reaching APL newnyer!
bronzJazzy you braid out is beautiful and shiny
Just bought my ONYC hair online today super EXCITED!
Oh and the old formula of Mega-tek came in the mail today, yayay!