APL 2012 Challenge

[Nerdstruck]

~Current hair length: A little past shoulder length
~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd: Natural.
~APL goal month: December
~Current Reggie and styling choices:
I wash 1x week with a cleansing conditioner and then a rinse out condish. I put a leave-in in my hair and proceed to style with the cream of my choice for twists or braids. I leave these twists or braids in my hair until my next weekly wash and I mist them as needed with my spray bottle full of my water/aloe mixture along with Oils for sealing. I henna once a month and follow with a deep conditioning. Styling choices will be buns, twists and braids for winter, pretty much anything I can conceal beneath my hat. As of Mid-December I will be installing my first full yaki weave.

~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
Begin to baby my hair.

 

[kupenda]

Alright. I'm due for a touch up December 9th but I really dont want to manipulate my hair more than necessary. I honestly would rather get braids and leave it alone for the test of the month. So I think I will get a set of goddess braids and hope they last all month. What do you ladies think? I've never had them before and I'm trying not to spend more than $100 this go around. I'll be willing to put out more money near the end of January. Also hoping to add about eight weeks to my stretch so I will wear my bun or ponytail for the rest of the week and then maybe go under my half wig to help with retention starting next week


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[esi.adokowa]

esi.adokowa Rossy2010 GIJane

I'm 6 weeks into a 62 week stretch. I have NEVER done this before but being as though I plan on being in a Protective style for the entirety of 2012, I am hoping I can pull it off. Either way, I know who to PM if I have issues, lol.

wow 62 weeks!
that's amazing.
i would definitely also pm beans4reezy, she is the stretching QUEEN. i think she's at 70+ weeks right now.

I am currently deployed. I do not know how to braid. I use a wig when the braids start looking old and I can't get noone to freshen it up. For my dc I use a mixture of dpr-11, shea moisture masque and coconut oil.

i love wigs, but i live in nova scotia and the selection is definitely sub-standard haha.

@Rossy2010, what made you want to stretch?

@esi.adokowa, I want to thicken my strands but secretely Im contemplating on transitioning.. only time will tell.

Really? so this might become a long-term stretch/transition for you?

 

[Evolving78]

i thought my last touchup was in the middle of October. so now i gotta try to wait until December 28th? i don't think i can make it that long. but we will see.

 

[NikkiQ]

shortdub78 how often do you get touch ups?

 

[GIJane]

I'm so excited that the year is wrapping up soon. Why? B/c I'm a total reveal pic junkie and can't WAIT to see everyone's reveals in other threads...and then everyone can post them in here as their starting pic. I'm gonna make my appointment today to have mine flat ironed and trimmed by an actual professional stylist. Haven't been to one of those since 2007. Needless to say, I'm scared out of my freakin mind.

NikkiQ. I am also a reveal or length pic junkie. But I am terrified to do my own. I am so scared of heat damage or someone else causing some type of damage. But I love to see other's. I live vicariously thru them. LOL

 

[Evolving78]

shortdub78 how often do you get touch ups?

i try to push for 8 weeks, but for some reason my new growth is out of control right now.

 

[esi.adokowa]

shortdub78, how long is your new growth?
are you using a growth aide that's making it grow faster?
details?!

 

[NikkiQ]

@NikkiQ. I am also a reveal or length pic junkie. But I am terrified to do my own. I am so scared of heat damage or someone else causing some type of damage. But I love to see other's. I live vicariously thru them. LOL

I'm deathly afraid of heat damage too, but my best friend is natural and SWEARS by this stylist who specializes in natural hair so if anything happens to my hair....not only will I burn that salon to the ground, but I'm gonna find my friend and take a flat iron to it

 

[NikkiQ]

Had to change the OP a bit. After adding all the names, it said that I had too many characters. Oops! But I got it all figured out. If your name isn't on the list of challengers, please let me know. I don't want to leave anyone out.

 

[Evolving78]

i believe i have a 1/2 inch of new growth. i use Ovation, but only for a protein treatment, not for growth, but maybe that could be it? i know that may not sound like a lot of growth, but my hair is bone straight, so the new growth doesn't really mesh well.

oh and i have only been using Ovation for the past three weeks. i using get 1/4-1/2 of growth a month. i think it has a lot to do with being bonelaxed. that's why i did the Aphogee 2 step treatment.

shortdub78, how long is your new growth?
are you using a growth aide that's making it grow faster?
details?!

 

[faithVA]

Had to change the OP a bit. After adding all the names, it said that I had too many characters. Oops! But I got it all figured out. If your name isn't on the list of challengers, please let me know. I don't want to leave anyone out.

You have sooooo many challengers you are running out of room?

And the year hasn't even started yet.

 

[NikkiQ]

You have sooooo many challengers you are running out of room?

And the year hasn't even started yet.

I know!!! Crazy huh? I had to take myself off the challengers list to make room

 

[faithVA]

I know!!! Crazy huh? I had to take myself off the challengers list to make room

Well you might have to create a new challengers page. Then you can put a link in the original page to the new challengers page. You are definitely going to have more challengers come on board.

 

[NikkiQ]

Well you might have to create a new challengers page. Then you can put a link in the original page to the new challengers page. You are definitely going to have more challengers come on board.

I might do that or turn one of my posts closest to the OP into a second half of the challengers list.

 

[NewHairWOWeave]

Revamped my routine

Salon relaxed using a lye relaxer and stretching for at least 8-10 weeks.
Clipping my ends EVERY 3 months
I go to the salon 2X a month and I wash my hair at home 2X a month and DC after every wash.
I moisturize daily and cover my hair at night with a silk scarf.

VITAMINS: GNC Hair Nails and Skin Vitamins, Alter Ego Herbal Drops (after wash)
SHAMPOO: VO5 Clarifying shampoo, Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo, Nexxus Therapee
CONDITIONER: Nexxus Humectress, Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner
DEEP CONDITIONER: CON ARGON OIL packets, Queen Helene Cholesterol w/EVOO, ORS Hair Mayo w/ EVOO
PROTIEN: Mega Tek mixed with oils to my scalp at least 1X a week. Aphogee Treatment 6-8 weeks
MOISTURIZE: Neutrogena Triple Crème, ORS Olive Oil Crème

 

[chelleypie810]

Finally was able to air dry hair and was able to put my high bun up and not look like a frizzy mess. no I can wash hair halfway thru the week or wear hair up one week and go get a roller set at salon the next.

 

[faithVA]

Finally was able to air dry hair and was able to put my high bun up and not look like a frizzy mess. no I can wash hair halfway thru the week or wear hair up one week and go get a roller set at salon the next.

I am looking so forward to that.

So what did you do differently?

 

[chelleypie810]

I used my wen of course and then used protein (aphogee 2min) which is something I don't normally do and then deep condition with silk dreams vanilla silk for 30 mins. Then rinsed and came out with soaking wet hair. Didn't towel dry or ring out. Combed my leave ins and then let it dry. That night I put my hair in a pony tail put in frizz free leave in and put scarf on, this morning I just pinned the bun down w Bobby pins. There still a little poofiness in bun but only enough or prolly only me to notice.

 

[NikkiQ]

chelleypie810 which Wen did you use??

 

[growbaby]

ME ME ME!! yay my first challenge!

~Current hair length
Shoulder length

~Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Loc'd
Relaxed

~APL goal month
May 2012

~Current Reggie and styling choices
DC 1x a week, Cowash 1x a week, moisturize and seal 2x a day, vitamins ... & BUN IT UP!

~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
Nothing at all, just try to stick to my Reggie.

~Post a beginning picture
I will as soon as i figure out how to do that lol

 

[LilMissSunshine5]

I'm deathly afraid of heat damage too, but my best friend is natural and SWEARS by this stylist who specializes in natural hair so if anything happens to my hair....not only will I burn that salon to the ground, but I'm gonna find my friend and take a flat iron to it

@NikkiQ- This is my fear as well! I am also going to someone a couple of my natural friends recommended and I hope this doesn't end our friendship I haven't gotten my hair flat ironed and trimmed by a stylist since last December and she screwed me over by cutting INCHES off my hair My SL angled bob became a NL blunt bob I get mad just thinking about it and it is a year later and I BC'ed most of the hair off anyway But she didn't cause heat damage, so I should count my blessings... I guess

 

[NikkiQ]

^^^I think I'll be bringing my own heat protectant with me when I go and she can give me the side eye all she wants to. It's my hair and this woman ain't bout to mess up my 19 months of progress!!! lol

 

[faithVA]

NikkiQ and LilMissSunshine5 and any other ladies going to salon,

Listen to your intution, your gut, your instinct or whatever you want to call it. If you get there and they don't talk to you right, look at you right, or anything else, please don't sit in the chair or get up from the chair and take yourselves home.

I don't want to read another story about well she did this and she did that and I got there and this happened and then I sat in the chair and it didn't feel right and she burnt off all my hair

You ladies know a lot about hair. Trust yourselves. And if they get their feelings hurt

 

[Evolving78]

i finally rinsed the conditioner out! i put in my leave-in in and now i am about to roll! i wish i could just put it back up in a clip, but i can't keep walking around looking a hot mess.

 

[kristaa.10]

y'all. i am so in.

~Current hair length
my hair is naturally layered. the longest layer is CBL- three inches from APL
the sides/crown are NL and the front is halfway past my lips.

~Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Loc'd
natural


~APL goal month
June 2012 for the back layer, and December 2012 for the sides and front. Should I join the BSL challenge for my back layer or do I have to wait until all my layers hit APL? let me know what you think ladies!
oh, and this will be my first time ever being at APL that i know of. i'm not exactly sure but where i am now is longer than i ever remember it being.

~Current Reggie and styling choices
i cowash or wash once a week, DC, use a leave-in to make fat twists, then wear a twistout bun for 3-4 days then a puff for a few days before doing it all over again

~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
being gentler with my hair, getting my product regimen down, wearing puffs less often and buns more, and moisturizing and sealing more often. my ends tend to get dry. im still trying to find the balance between low manipulation but moisturizing and sealing often enough.

~Post a beginning picture

sorry about not having my armpits in the picture it was so hard to get someone to help me take the picture as it is lol, i'm not even mad they didn't get it right

so excited to start a challenge with you ladies!
thanks NikkiQ and faithVA

 

[chelleypie810]

NikkiQ WEN Ginger Pumpkin. The tingle on my scalp= PHENOMENAL! SERIOUSLY.

 

[esi.adokowa]

NikkiQ and LilMissSunshine5 and any other ladies going to salon,

Listen to your intution, your gut, your instinct or whatever you want to call it. If you get there and they don't talk to you right, look at you right, or anything else, please don't sit in the chair or get up from the chair and take yourselves home.

I don't want to read another story about well she did this and she did that and I got there and this happened and then I sat in the chair and it didn't feel right and she burnt off all my hair erplexed

You ladies know a lot about hair. Trust yourselves. And if they get their feelings hurt

@ this.

ps.
ladies, how long is a your hair, measured root to tip?
i measured a section from in front of my ear today and it was ten inches long, but still so far away from apl.

 

[skraprchik]

ps.
ladies, how long is a your hair, measured root to tip?
i measured a section from in front of my ear today and it was ten inches long, but still so far away from apl.

Mine's only 7.5 inches. It has been growing faster since I started using sulfur massages, but still barely shoulder length. If I'm not mistaken, I need it to be about 12 inches root to tip to begin grazing APL.

 

[esi.adokowa]

skraprchik, i need about 12 inches too!