APL 2012 Challenge

[zoeyy]

Welcome @zoeyy. I wish you a very happy hair journey (HHJ).

Thank you so much !!

@indarican @NikkiQ
Uh oh, I hadn't thought about matting and stuff. How are these other ladies keeping their sew-ins in for 3-6 months at a time. My sister keeps her in for 6 months and re-tightens at the 3 month point. (she's been transitioning for over a year. But then again her natural hair has zero curl pattern. I wonder if that has something to do with it. Have no idea how, but her hair grows out straight. Think Sera, but not quite a coarse.)

I appreciate you ladies reviewing this and giving me a reality check. I'll do some more research and reduce my first sew-in to 1 month so I can really learn how to do it. But darn! That means no Brobraz cause that hair is expeeeeeensive and I don't want to put that in for only 1 month. I'll look for something less expensive.

Ya'll have any suggestions on good sew-in reggie tips? Thanks for looking out for a sista

hey, I am wearing sew-ins 100% of the time! If you're a fast- grower like me, you can't keep your weave for 3 months, I have to re- install it like after 6- to 8 week at MAX, cause I 'll have so much new growth by then and it doesn't look good no more if you wear a full head weave and you have too much new growth... But the good thing is, if you by some high quality hair and take good care of it you can always put it back in like I do.. most of my tracks are already like a whole year old.. I wash my hole head once a week, I pre poo the conrows and scalp underneath, then I will wash evrything, my own hair and scalp AND the weave and then I DC my hair underneath and rinse... I also try to moisturize/ seal my hair underneath my tracks everyday.. sometimes it's a little hard not to spread that oily stuff on the weave and it takes some time, but for me it's absolutely worth it!! This way, my hair is not weak at all when i take the weave out and within the last year (when i started to take care of my hair) I was able to retain all my new growth Good luck!!

 

[Charla]

Thank you so much !!



hey, I am wearing sew-ins 100% of the time! If you're a fast- grower like me, you can't keep your weave for 3 months, I have to re- install it like after 6- to 8 week at MAX, cause I 'll have so much new growth by then and it doesn't look good no more if you wear a full head weave and you have too much new growth... But the good thing is, if you by some high quality hair ***what's considered good quality hair? And brand and type suggestions?***and take good care of it you can always put it back in like I do.. most of my tracks are already like a whole year old.. I wash my hole head once a week, I pre poo ***what do you use for your prepoo?*** the conrows ***what pattern do you get your cornrows? And do you add hair to your cornrows. My sister does this to fortify her cornrows. She says because the weave will put less strain on your natural hair.*** and scalp underneath, then I will wash evrything, my own hair and scalp AND the weave and then I DC my hair underneath and rinse... I also try to moisturize/ seal***what do you like to use to M&S, DC and shampoo?*** my hair underneath my tracks everyday.. sometimes it's a little hard not to spread that oily stuff on the weave and it takes some time, but for me it's absolutely worth it!! This way, my hair is not weak at all when i take the weave out and within the last year (when i started to take care of my hair) I was able to retain all my new growth BOOM, that's what I want! Good luck!!

zoeyy That sounds fantastic! Thanks for this info! You know I have questions! I've posted them in red above. I do consider myself a fast grower getting about 0.75" monthly or more (with the use of growth aids.) Sorry for all the questions

 

[chelleypie810]

jeez 23 pgs already.

 

[indarican]

Ugh my hair is starting to shed like crazy.... well im not too bothered with it because when i had a relaxer my hair was coming out in clumps, at least now its full strands and not just pieces. Im going to co wash with some aphogee keratin treatment tomorrow. I have been using moisturizing conditioners to cowash for a while now, no protien.

 

[indarican]

OH YEA I JUST SAW MY TICKER!!!! ONE YEAR FREE!!!! WOOOHOOOOO

 

[Evolving78]

anybody in here that is relaxed and not protective styling? i feel like i need a trim, but last time, the stylist said i didn't need one. i guess i will just wait until my next relaxer. i don't wear my hair straight, so i can't really get around to dusting or can i when i am rollering my hair? i wanna do everything possible to not cause any setbacks. maybe i need to go to the salon and get a flexi rod set.

 

[NikkiQ]

Very cute!!! kittenz

 

[Evallusion]

How r u washing yr kinky twists
Sent from my Eris using Eris

I washed them as I would my regular hair--no special methods. I used my regular shampoo--Suave Shea. And my twists look so much better after the wash.

 

[QUEENJAMES231]

I washed them as I would my regular hair--no special methods. I used my regular shampoo--Suave Shea. And my twists look so much better after the wash.

Thanks!

 

[NikkiQ]

I love how everyone is helping each other out with tips and pointers on how to maintain their PS and to make sure the health of our hair stays on track. LOVE IT!!!

 

[Charla]

Ugh my hair is starting to shed like crazy.... well im not too bothered with it because when i had a relaxer my hair was coming out in clumps, at least now its full strands and not just pieces. Im going to co wash with some aphogee keratin treatment tomorrow. I have been using moisturizing conditioners to cowash for a while now, no protien.

indarican

MSM and aloe vera juice have my shedding in the "below normal" shedding range.

 

[faithVA]

Its crowded in here.

 

[Loves Harmony]

OMG This cold air is killing my hair. Ive been co washing and dc all week. I hope it gets better... lol lol Still looking for a good leave in or hair milk.

 

[kupenda]

Been daydreaming about going natural. I blame you NikkiQ ! It was YOUR amazingly gorgeous puff upthread that has me making a pros and cons list for BCing vs transitioning. I love your curls!!!! And I stopped to drool over them yesterday


ETA what's your hair type, if you follow that trend

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[esi.adokowa]

NikkiQ has a gorgeous puff!
I love her curls!

Dusted my braids yesterday. My ends feel great now. I think I'll add bimonthly dusting to my regimen.
How often do y'all dust? (if you do, that is)

 

[Ogoma]

I think my hair grows in spurts. I measure it monthly for the last two months and barely see any growth then I wake up one morning and my hair is 1.2 inches longer? Is this normal?

This all new to me. Prior to my decision to 'go natural', I never cared about growth. I kept cutting my hair because I hated it touching my shoulder when it was down . Now I am obsessed with getting my hair into a loose bun or ponytail so I can ignore it . It is beginning to drive me mad. This is my first winter/year as a full natural (last relaxer -Sept 2010, BC- June 2011) and I didn't start reading boards and learning what to do until 2 months before my BC so I want to keep learning my hair through all the seasons and don't want to braid it up.

 

[NikkiQ]

Been daydreaming about going natural. I blame you @NikkiQ ! It was YOUR amazingly gorgeous puff upthread that has me making a pros and cons list for BCing vs transitioning. I love your curls!!!! And I stopped to drool over them yesterday


ETA what's your hair type, if you follow that trend

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

@NikkiQ has a gorgeous puff!
I love her curls!

Dusted my braids yesterday. My ends feel great now. I think I'll add bimonthly dusting to my regimen.
How often do y'all dust? (if you do, that is)

Really??? Thanks so much ladies! That made my morning . If I had to catagorize my curls, I would say I was mostly 4a with a few 3b curls around my ears. I'm starting to embrace my hair more and more now that it's getting a bit longer. There isn't much hang time yet, but it's getting there.

 

[Firstborn2]

OMG This cold air is killing my hair. Ive been co washing and dc all week. I hope it gets better... lol lol Still looking for a good leave in or hair milk.

Yeah same here, I plan to steam once aweek throughout the winter.

 

[zoeyy]

@zoeyy That sounds fantastic! Thanks for this info! You know I have questions! I've posted them in red above. I do consider myself a fast grower getting about 0.75" monthly or more (with the use of growth aids.) Sorry for all the questions

***what's considered good quality hair? And brand and type suggestions?***
I can't tell a brand, but I'm usin indian remy and brazilian virgin hair! it's pricey , but it lasts.. when I started weaving, I used the cheapest asian human hair, but it tangled and felted after a while and i wasn't able to reuse it that often..
***what do you use for your prepoo?*** extra virgin coconut hair, an ayuverdic oil, which contains coconut, sesam, castor, amla and some more stuff and I just ordered some argan oil
***what pattern do you get your cornrows? And do you add hair to your cornrows. My sister does this to fortify her cornrows. She says because the weave will put less strain on your natural hair.***
what do u mean by "pattern"? and yeah, my beautician adds hair to the cornrows. I think that's better, too!
***what do you like to use to M&S, DC and shampoo?***
for moisturizing I use Profectiv Mega Growth anti breakage strengthener Growth Lotion and profectiv growth renew growth restoration oil stimulant and coconut oil for sealing!
for DC I use Creme of nature Argan Oil Intensive conditioning treatment, profectiv growth renew root rebound deep conditioner and profectiv mega growth deep strengthening conditioner, sometimes I blend some oils to my DCs. for shampoo I use a german natural cosmetics brand (I live in Germany, it's not even for black hair but no SLS or ALS, no cones etc and it's pretty mild)

I hope this helped ya, so if you have more question, just go ahead and ask me!! Oh and don't get me wrong, when ever I don't tell u a brand , it's just because it's somethin just sold in Europe (like my indian remy hair is an italian brand and so on..)

 

[Charla]

zoeyy thanks so much for taking the time to help! I really appreciate all you ladies! By braid pattern, I meant I saw some braided in like a behive or straight back etc. But then I realized (I think) that you get it braided based on how you want the weave to fall.

 

[Charla]

I think my hair grows in spurts. I measure it monthly for the last two months and barely see any growth then I wake up one morning and my hair is 1.2 inches longer? Is this normal?

This all new to me. Prior to my decision to 'go natural', I never cared about growth. I kept cutting my hair because I hated it touching my shoulder when it was down . Now I am obsessed with getting my hair into a loose bun or ponytail so I can ignore it . It is beginning to drive me mad. This is my first winter/year as a full natural (last relaxer -Sept 2010, BC- June 2011) and I didn't start reading boards and learning what to do until 2 months before my BC so I want to keep learning my hair through all the seasons and don't want to braid it up.

Ogoma

I've noticed a pattern in my growth too. I get a growth spurt toward the end of each month. It's like my growth is slow and steady for the first 2/3 of the month, and then it says, "Oh, shoot, end of the month is around the corner! We better show this girl some progress!"

 

[LilMissSunshine5]

Ogoma- I struggle with the same thing It can be really discouraging I got NO NOTICEABLE growth for 2 months, then BAM over an inch the next time I measured SMH I grow in spurts and fall seems to be my biggest growth spurt time...so you are not alone

 

[LilMissSunshine5]

This thread ALREADY has 24 pages...well shoot...let me go back and read through it I'm already behind and the challenge hasn't even officially started

 

[skraprchik]

I was so tempted to flat iron today, but I resisted. I put my hair in a twisted style, which I haven't done in over a month because my hair seems to have more tangles with twists.

Anyway, I can definitely see that my hair has grown, since the very bottom set of twists are sitting on my shoulders and my bangs are in my eyes now. I'm relieved, since I felt like it had stopped growing.

 

[Ogoma]

Ogoma

I've noticed a pattern in my growth too. I get a growth spurt toward the end of each month. It's like my growth is slow and steady for the first 2/3 of the month, and then it says, "Oh, shoot, end of the month is around the corner! We better show this girl some progress!"

Ogoma- I struggle with the same thing It can be really discouraging I got NO NOTICEABLE growth for 2 months, then BAM over an inch the next time I measured SMH I grow in spurts and fall seems to be my biggest growth spurt time...so you are not alone

Good to know I am not alone!

Going forward, after the December 31 length check for this challenge, I am only going to do checks at the end of every quarter.

 

[Charla]

Good to know I am not alone!

Going forward, after the December 31 length check for this challenge, I am only going to do checks at the end of every quarter.

Me too!

 

[NikkiQ]

Sounds like a good idea Ogoma! I'm only doing checks for updates for this thread.

I was very tempted to dye my hair again today. It's been 6 months since the last time I did it and its time to handle up on these roots...might do it tomorrow.

 

[KaramelKutie803]

I just saw that I was added to this challenge lol. But I'll take an update pic sometime tonight or later this week and i'll include all my stats then too. But just a little info, I transitioned for 14.5 months, BCed on March 19, '11. I am currently sitting with a DC mix I threw together just to try and noticed that with conditioner in my hair I can actually get my hair into a nice sized ponytail. However I've never used rinse out conditioner as a leave-in and would like to try it so I can wear a ponytail tomorrow. Anyone ever use V05/Suave as a leave-in? If so how much do you use? Do you mix it or dilute it with water?

 

[JustGROWwithIt]

***what's considered good quality hair? And brand and type suggestions?***
I can't tell a brand, but I'm usin indian remy and brazilian virgin hair! it's pricey , but it lasts.. when I started weaving, I used the cheapest asian human hair, but it tangled and felted after a while and i wasn't able to reuse it that often..
***what do you use for your prepoo?*** extra virgin coconut hair, an ayuverdic oil, which contains coconut, sesam, castor, amla and some more stuff and I just ordered some argan oil
***what pattern do you get your cornrows? And do you add hair to your cornrows. My sister does this to fortify her cornrows. She says because the weave will put less strain on your natural hair.***
what do u mean by "pattern"? and yeah, my beautician adds hair to the cornrows. I think that's better, too!
***what do you like to use to M&S, DC and shampoo?***
for moisturizing I use Profectiv Mega Growth anti breakage strengthener Growth Lotion and profectiv growth renew growth restoration oil stimulant and coconut oil for sealing!
for DC I use Creme of nature Argan Oil Intensive conditioning treatment, profectiv growth renew root rebound deep conditioner and profectiv mega growth deep strengthening conditioner, sometimes I blend some oils to my DCs. for shampoo I use a german natural cosmetics brand (I live in Germany, it's not even for black hair but no SLS or ALS, no cones etc and it's pretty mild)

I hope this helped ya, so if you have more question, just go ahead and ask me!! Oh and don't get me wrong, when ever I don't tell u a brand , it's just because it's somethin just sold in Europe (like my indian remy hair is an italian brand and so on..)

what growth aids do you use?

 

[JustGROWwithIt]

Does anyone have doubts about hitting APL? I want to reach this goal SO BAD! It will be the longest my hair has ever been...EVER! But I'm not sure if I can get there. My hair is doing great right now and my regimen is wonderful, but I still have doubts that I'll ever have long hair like I want. Am I alone in feeling this way?