APL 2012 Challenge

[PinkPeony]

Revisiting for the 3rd+ time?
I grew my hair out several times past apl but cut it off for that blunt look.
I'm pretty sure last december I was bsl or in the bsl area but I started transitioning and trimming my ends gradually to SL.

I cornrowed my hair to wear under a wig but decided to wear them out after a few days. Everybody is going crazy over this style and loving it

 

[tiffers]

NewHairWOWeave I never had APL hair as a kid, only after the board did I reach that length. It was amazing.

 

[Nerdstruck]

I posted my picture on page 35. I am an official challenger, HOORAY!! Good luck to all you ladies. I have done the big chop 2 times now. My last BC was a year ago and I am currently a tiny bit past SL. Before cutting my hair off the second time, I was APL Stretched. I aim aiming again for APL Stretched. Things are so different this time around. As a natural for 3 years now I have JUST finally got my staples, seriously. It took 3 years and money out of my holey pockets (trying new products) to come across my HGs that I refuse to stray from unless they become dysfunctional. I feel so lucky that this challenge came along at this time.

tiffers: The magic star is the truth. I have the jumbo size of it. I love it for easy detangling however I realize not all my shed hairs are getting out of my head because the comb is too wide toothed lol. I'm on the hunt for a brush that'll capture my shed hairs without ripping out all the pretty normal ones. Any reccommendations?

 

[GIJane]

I have been APL long b4 LHCF. Its the unobtainable BSL and WL I cannot reach. I was so close one time but I had a setback. Then I was closing in and a dominican stylist didn't like the way my hair was laying, so she cut it. It still didn't lay right afterwards.

 

[NewHairWOWeave]

@NewHairWOWeave I never had APL hair as a kid, only after the board did I reach that length. It was amazing.

Girl!!!! I am thankful everyday that I have found this board. I know I can do it

 

[AryaStarr258]

Okay so I told myself that I'd wait to take my starting picture at the beginning of the year, BUUUUUUUUT I was bored in my room so here it is!

Whooo! Come on, APL!!

 

[newnyer]

My longest length in my life before LHCF was barely touching SL, & I'm already past that right now (YAY!). My biggest challenges will be to not have any major setbacks (I'm notorious for that), learn my hair needs and when it needs it (think I'm progressing, but still trying to figure it out), and find my true product staples. I think I'm still kind of free balling this whole moisture vs protein balance thing, but so far I'm doing aiight I guess.

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[newnyer]

For my fine/thin haired ladies- do you still brush your hair when bunning? I've been trying to chill out on combing a lot except when detangling and scurred to death I'm going to see too many broken hairs if I brush my fragile hair to bun daily. But buns aren't as sleek as i'd like. Whatya'lldoing??

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[kupenda]

Put waaayyyy too much oil on my hair today. It was running down the back and sides of my neck at dinner today. Gross :-/


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[kupenda]

My hair is at the longest it's ever been. I kept it cut short in middle and high school. Like this

And then had a baldy for my first two years out of school


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[newnyer]

Okay so I told myself that I'd wait to take my starting picture at the beginning of the year, BUUUUUUUUT I was bored in my room so here it is!

Whooo! Come on, APL!!

Oooh, you're hair is so sleek and shiny! You will make it to APL for sure girl!

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[faithVA]

Put waaayyyy too much oil on my hair today. It was running down the back and sides of my neck at dinner today. Gross :-/


Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

I've done that. It was miserable. And I think I stayed out until 1 am.

 

[faithVA]

I dusted my ends tonight and I have my wash and twist regimen in place. So I have a fresh start with me ends. I am really ready for this challenge in 2012.

 

[tajaun]

Last night I applied dc, baggy, and went to sleep. Rinse in this am, moisturizer and seal. Apply sulfur mix when dry.
Happy hair growing.

 

[NikkiQ]

Was supposed to wash my hair yesterday,but my wrist has been KILLING me! Damn carpal tunnel

Sent from my SPH-D700 using SPH-D700

 

[kupenda]

Was supposed to wash my hair yesterday,but my wrist has been KILLING me! Damn carpal tunnel

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Aww I'm sorry! That sounds awful :-/


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[Evolving78]

tiffers
i have the Jumbo Rake! i have had it for 6-7 years now. i love it! i use this comb to detangle. i bought it because my cousin and friends are stylists and have been using those combs for years. i broke down and decided to try it out. the combs last very long and are very sturdy! i need to buy a small one.

Girls, I never thought combs made a difference. I used to scoff at the idea of using a 15 dollar comb, when my cheap little shower comb worked just fine, thank you very much.

Buuuut, for some reason, this Black Friday, I decided to order some Hercules Sagemann combs just to prove to myself that there's nothing special about overpriced plastic.

Aaaaand after using them on me and my two girls (who both have natural WL hair) I was amazed to find that the amount of hair in the comb after each use was DRASTICALLY reduced. I mean, I was (and still am) amazed.

I have no idea how these combs do it. They just look like regla old combs, I don't understand!

If you're trying to reduce breakage and/or retain every hair you can, get some HS combs from hotcombs.net.

These are the two that I got:

Magic Mini Rake

HS1975

I detangle with the Mini Rake first and follow up with the other. Magic.

I'm definitely getting more combs and a brush or two for Christmas.

 

[tiffers]

The magic star is the truth. I have the jumbo size of it. I love it for easy detangling however I realize not all my shed hairs are getting out of my head because the comb is too wide toothed lol. I'm on the hunt for a brush that'll capture my shed hairs without ripping out all the pretty normal ones. Any reccommendations?

Nerdstruck I'm on the hunt for a good brush too! I've been looking at hotcombs.net and their brush selection. I think I might get one of those Hercules S. square paddle brushes, they look good for getting out shed hair and the the bristles aren't packed too tightly together.

 

[tiffers]

For my fine/thin haired ladies- do you still brush your hair when bunning? I've been trying to chill out on combing a lot except when detangling and scurred to death I'm going to see too many broken hairs if I brush my fragile hair to bun daily. But buns aren't as sleek as i'd like. Whatya'lldoing??

newnyer Back when my hair was long enough to bun I used to comb my hair back and then lightly brush only the top and edges to smooth it out.

I always detangled and smoothed as much as I could with a comb before smoothing (gently) with a brush.

 

[Nerdstruck]

Nerdstruck I'm on the hunt for a good brush too! I've been looking at hotcombs.net and their brush selection. I think I might get one of those Hercules S. square paddle brushes, they look good for getting out shed hair and the the bristles aren't packed too tightly together.

Perhaps I'll have to stick with Hercules Sagman brushes like I do their combs, too. Thank you. I will check out the S or I might just wait for you to buy one and review it before I waste my money.


I've been looking at the modified Denman brush by goody. Cheap and you can take out the rows to customize it. I know Naptural85 on youtube has one as well as kimmaytube and they say it works perfectly.

I decided to go with a new protective style today that I plan on wearing until my next wash. Hopefully it lasts 7 days, I hate manipulating my hair unless it's for wash day. I got the idea from one of my favorite youtubers, she puts it down in terms of styles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ2ATbFEv9M

 

[jayjaycurlz]

Here are my starting pics - APL in 2012 here I come (finally?) My hair was freshly washed and blowdried in this picture. I need about a 1" trim too but I'm trying to transition to natural with out BC-ing.

 

[skraprchik]

Finally got a length shot taken after doing my last flat iron of the year. Please excuse the dirty mirror.

 

[NikkiQ]

Finally got a chance to poo and DC my hair. Got home late so I couldn't twist my hair like I wanted so I am gonna DC overnight and twist tomorrow after work.

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[ynotbd1]

~Current hair length
SL

~Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Loc'd
Transitioning

~APL goal month
June 30


~Current Reggie and styling choices
Deep condition weekly with Coconut Oil on dry hair
Where wigs with protective style (cornrows)
Moisturize natural hair twice a day (morning and night)


~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL?
I will try Monistat to encourage faster hair growth.
Will maybe purchase a steamer...maybe!

 

[tajaun]

Soo far soo good, ive been consistent with my regimen and hair is thickening up. whoop whoop.

 

[newnyer]

OKAY-- I am REALLY feeling crazy right now because I am REALLY thinking of changing my ultimate goal to be full BSB or grazing BSL. I keep looking at all of the pictures on this forum and I'm like....oooh maybe I can actually have hair like THAT! LOL! I mean, I know I'm in the BSL 2012 Challenge already but in all honesty I'm not quite sure I was committed to that goal until RIGHT now...I was just so happy to be close to APL. Who'dve thunk I could even fathom getting to BSL?????!!

So, game plan: Stay ON IT to get to a healthy APL (by March 1st pretty pleeeaassee!). Once I'm there I will probably keep that length until my old crown and nape breakage catches up. That's when my focus will switch to my thickness, or at least the illusion of. Then it's on and popping to BSL!!

(in the words of Jessie from Saved by the Bell) "I'm SO EXCITED!!"

Just wanted to share my revelation with you ladies. Sorry for the ramble.

 

[esi.adokowa]

newnyer, great to see you feel confidence in your hair!
we're rooting for you. :]]

i'm fifteen weeks post today, yay!
hope you all had a great weekend.

 

[NikkiQ]

WTG newnyer!!!

What is everyone's ulitmate goal by the way? I know newnyer says that her's is Full BSB/grazing BSL. Mine is WL stretched.

 

[Charla]

WTG newnyer!!!

What is everyone's ulitmate goal by the way? I know newnyer says that her's is Full BSB/grazing BSL. Mine is WL stretched.

My ultimate goal is MBL. But lately I've been thinking that if/when it grows past MBL, that I'm just going to let it instead of just maintaining at MBL. We'll see. But for sure, I think if it got to WL, then I won't let it go any farther.

 

[BreeNique]

Washed my hair last night and did a twist-out. lookin' good! My hair fwas flat-ironed/ blown out from Thanksgiving to yesterday, so it's nice to have it clean and shiny! Back to my lovely natural shrinkage, and the clumped curls! Twist-out until Wednesday, then wash again, AND TWISTIN ONCE MORE!