APL 2012 Challenge

[Poutchi]

What happens to your edges really depends on how tight they are braided. If they don't pull your hair too tightly then they may be ok. Also if you are already having problems with your edges starting moisturizing your edges now and massaging that area to help improve the circulation.

And while you have the braids in keep your edges moisturized so they aren't so brittle and easy to snap. You just have to baby them.

Thanks faithVa... I guess I need to be less lazy and actually stick with my regimen when i have braids in...

 

[faithVA]

Thanks faithVa... I guess I need to be less lazy and actually stick with my regimen when i have braids in...

Yes some of us have to up our game when in extensions. My edges do fine but my ends turn out terrible. But it can be done.

 

[Aggie]

Please add me NQ. I had reached APL this year but did not take good care of my hair this year because of work but I am ready to get it all healthy again by starting with a much needed hair cut (about 3 inches).

 

[NikkiQ]

Welcome aboard Aggie!!

 

[Aggie]

Welcome aboard @Aggie!!

Thank you NikkiQ. It's good to be back taking great care of my hair again. I love your prerequistes for the challenge as well - very welcoming.

 

[NikkiQ]

^^^Yay! I wanted to keep the restrictions to a minimum with the challenge. Nothing worse than reaching a goal and finding a challenge for the next milestone only to find it closed to people who hadn't joined already. We're all here for the same goal-healthy hair so why make it difficult?

 

[faithVA]

^^^Yay! I wanted to keep the restrictions to a minimum with the challenge. Nothing worse than reaching a goal and finding a challenge for the next milestone only to find it closed to people who hadn't joined already. We're all here for the same goal-healthy hair so why make it difficult?

I agree. I love open challenges.

Challenge for 2012 that opened in 2010 and was closed before 2011 erplexed... Just a small vent. Carry on

 

[bibs]

Okay ladies...let's do this!!

I wanted to create a thread for us ladies striving to make it to APL next year and to have a great support group to help us reach this milestone. The challenge is being created now so that everyone has another 2 months to decide if they would like to join us on this journey.

Enough with the chit chat. Let's get down to business.

**The Guidelines**

1. Join the challenge by clicking "thanks" on this post and I'll add you to the list.
2. The challenge will officially begin on December 31, 2011 and run til December 31,2012.
3. The challenge is open to join at any time. No cut off date!
4. Post pictures with updates, PS ideas, and and anything else hair related that you'd like to share.
5. STAY POSITIVE!! We're all on a HHJ so let's lift each other up and help out whenever we can.
   
   For challengers wanting to join, after thanking this post answer the following questions.
   
   
   ~Current hair length
   Cbl/full shoulder
   
   ~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd
   Natural with some heat damage that I'm trimming away
   
   ~APL goal month
   My goal is August 2012. I'm a pretty fast grower but having a hard time with retention because of the heat damage.
   
   ~Current Reggie and styling choices
   Cowash twice a week with HE HH.
   Moisturize every other day with elasta qp mango butter and deal with coconut oil then braid or twist hair up. I also plan on getting a few sew ins between now and then.
   I DC with an ors replebishing pack mixed with evoo, honey, and Greek yogurt once a week and shampoo twice a month with a sulfate free poo.
   
   ~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
   Using heat less, manipulating less and protective styling more.
   
   ~Post a beginning pic

1. 
   
   I can't thank right now because I'm on my phone but I want to join! Answers above
   Pictures are from 10-26
   
   
   Sent from my Droid Incredible II

 

[NikkiQ]

I agree. I love open challenges.

Challenge for 2012 that opened in 2010 and was closed before 2011 erplexed... Just a small vent. Carry on

ooooooooooooooh!! Just puttin it all out there huh faithVA??

 

[Evallusion]

I got kinky twists done yesterday. I'm hoping these will last me until Jan 1st.

 

[NikkiQ]

Evallusion how's the relaxed hair treating you??

 

[JazzyOleBabe]

I'm in. Publicly announcing my inclusion in a challenge. Have been in quite a few challanges in private. Leaving lurkdomville behind.

Length; Below neck. Currently resting on bone between neck and shoulder.
Natural
APL Goal: Dec 2012
Current Regimen: Winter - Shampoo once a week. DC after shampoo. Leave in Cond. Moisturize and Twist with(QHemet Burdock Root) and Seal ends with Castor Oil.

Will do these actions as needed. Protein/Moist Cond once a month. Henna once a month.

What do you plan on changing to make it ot APL?
Hiding and protecting my ends more. May purchase a wig. I have never worn a wig before. We"ll see. Will take my vitamins everyday. Currently in Vitamin challenge.

Pictures
Will post pictures when I learn how to do it. I should be ready to show by the end of Dec. Will straighten hair for the holidays and take plenty of pictures then.

Yes. APL will be the longest length for me.

 

[Kerryann]

Well put me down for this missy

~Current hair length
CBL
~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd
NATURAL
~APL goal month
DECEMBER
~Current Reggie and styling choices
COWASH, OIL SCALP, STEAM
~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
NOTHING
~Post a beginning picture
IN DECEMBER

 

[Evallusion]

NikkiQ So far, I'm lovin' it. I haven't had any problems/issues yet. And when I let my hair air dry, it looks IDENTICAL to my blownout fro. So, I guess I'm lovin' the versatility. But I do miss my kinks...a little bit, lol.

I'm still not sure if I'm going to start my transition right away. I'm going to start with a 10 week stretch and see how I feel afterward...but I really think I'm gonna just transition now...especially since I'm in kinky twists and plan on keeping my hair in a PS for the entirety of 2012. Thanks for asking!

Thanks for starting up this challenge for us. I can't wait to hit APL. It will be the longest my hair has been in my 26 years on this Earth, lol. Let's get it!

 

[NikkiQ]

I'm so glad so many ladies are joining this challenge. Who knew so many people were in the same boat??? That just makes the support that much better. When we're ready to scream and give up, we can just come back up in here and someone will shake some sense back into us

 

[Aggie]

I agree. I love open challenges.

Challenge for 2012 that opened in 2010 and was closed before 2011 erplexed... Just a small vent. Carry on

true true...I feel your pain!

 

[bajandoc86]

NikkiQ thanks for that tip about making lines on pics for goal lengths. I've been trying to figure out how to do that for the longest time! Since it's been quiet at work tonight I've been making SL,APL and BSL lines all ova my length check pics.

 

[NikkiQ]

^^^ so I guess we can expect lines on your pics from now on???

 

[bajandoc86]

Yep! Well....that might spark people to point out the inaccuracies of my lines and hence my length. Ya know my SL line might be determined to be ear length. imma stop being ridiculous now.

 

[esi.adokowa]

Current hair length
shoulder length

Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Loc'd
relaxed

APL goal month
december 2012

Current Reggie and styling choices
trying to keep it simple.
i have wash days on wednesdays and sundays.
on wash days i shampoo with joico silk result or moisture recovery, condition with apHogee 2-minute or motions cpr for five minutes, rinse, and then deep condition under a shower cap overnight with joico silk result, joico moisture recovery, or CON deep conditioner.
i moisturize and seal as necessary, usually once a day.
i use cantu shea butter to moisturize, and i seal with grapeseed or sunflower oil.

i'm currently in box braids without extensions, and i'll keep my hair styled like this for most of the winter i think.

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
i'm trying to get my protein and moisture balanced, as well as up my vitamin game.
Post a beginning picture

And the list keeps going!!!

Question for the ladies: will APL be the longest your hair has ever been or is this a milestone you are revisiting??

my hair used to be a little long before it was relaxed, but it's been between shoulder length and armpit length ever since then

 

[faithVA]

^^^ so I guess we can expect lines on your pics from now on???

And mine too. I didn't know what people were using and I refused to buy anything.

Going to try it on my SL picture tonight. Thanks NikkiQ

 

[faithVA]

Yep! Well....that might spark people to point out the inaccuracies of my lines and hence my length. Ya know my SL line might be determined to be ear length. imma stop being ridiculous now.

oooh - I'm telling you trying to start some ....

 

[Keedah]

Count me in. I just had a much needed major trim and need to step my game up.

Current length
collarbone length

APL Goal
June 2012

Regimen
Wash, deep condition and flat iron straight every two weeks. Moisturize and seal ends nightly with castor oil and length of hair with coconut oil or grapeseed oil. Style by setting with flexirods nightly. Megatek and castor oil mix on scalp 2-3 times a week. Multivitamin and biotin daily. Hair 360 Smoothing treatment every 12 weeks. Gonna try to incorporate more protective styles like updos and buns but enjoying wearing my hair out for now.

What do you plan on changing
Focusing on babying my ends and wearing it straight more often to combat SSK's and split ends which always force me to trim. Have a smoothing treatment in and also going to a stylist that specializes in haircare once a month. She gave me the bomb fresh fruit and honey deep conditioner last week.

Pics in my avatar and siggy.

 

[NikkiQ]

Keedah welcome aboard. I your hair color!!

 

[afrofaithful]

I'm in! Saving my spot to add pictures and info later...

 

[faithVA]

So I took my SL pictures from April and September and drew the line across them. I either stand crooked or my line drawing abilities is very sub par. But with the line I realize I was not SL in April and was just scraping SL in September. So the line is definitely helpful.

So I will be measuring my progress from SL to APL from September and hopefully will hit it in April. And I will put the line on my starting pic for this challenge.

 

[NikkiQ]

^^The line most def is a big help. I started using the lines when I was transitioning last year to see how much my hair had grown so I know how much NG I had. I think I used one when I claimed SL back in June. I haven't taken any length check pics since then. I probably will today when I blow my hair out. Should be fun seeing everyone's reactions when they see me with a blow out puff ponytail

 

[NikkiQ]

What is everyone doing this weekend with their hair? It's getting colder so I'm getting a bit braver when it comes to POSSIBLY wearing my hair out soon. That's a big maybe though.

 

[kittenz]

I'm going to co-wash, DC and play in my curlies until I have to put it all back in my bun for next week. I'll be 43 weeks post this weekend!

ETA: Maybe I'll straighten it for my birthday next Wednesday....hmmmm I need length shots anyway.....

 

[faithVA]

I have my hair in twists as usual. But whatever I put on my twists last wash day has my hair as straight as when I straighten it So I am in the process of trying to wet it enough to get it to curl up without causing it to tangle. Have a party Saturday night and want to wear a twist out. Curl baby, curl

Then Sunday is wash day for me.