APL or beyond ladies.

[Poranges]

If you're APL or longer, natural or chemically treated, any hair texture, what did you do to reach these longer lengths, if you want to go into even greater detail, what did you do to reach each length (APL, BSL etc).

I'll start:

APL:
-LOW manipulation.
-Wash & DC every 2 weeks.
-Mild Protein at least 1x monthly.
-.5% to 0% heat usage.

I just blunt cut so I'm a blunt APL.

How about you guys?

 

[LunadeMiel]

I'm natural. My longest layer is BSB

I didn't really do anything special. For the first 1 1/2 years, I wore a wash and go daily. Now I wash once a week and then rollerset. I guess I was protective styling without really trying to. I also make sure to stay on top of knots and split ends.

 

[lovenharmony]

I'm transitioning and my longest layer is APL. What I did to get there is protective style with a bun everyday, clarify and use porosity control each wash (to make sure moisture gets and stays in), airdry and no direct heat.

 

[Aviah]

Natural, SL- almost BSB layered.

I Moisturized 1-2x daily
Satin Scarf at night
Wash no SLS shampoo and DC with moisture weekly
Airdry 95% of the time
Low manipulation/braids
MN

 

[beans4reezy]

Layered, growing out bone straight ends and switching to texturized hair. My longest layer is APL. Things that got me there:

Protective Styling
Co- Washing
Weekly DC's with Protien and Moisture Conditioners
No Direct Heat
Moisturizing and Sealing 2x daily
Stretching Touch ups (For me it feels like the more my hair is growing out the bone straight ends and is becoming more natural, the better I retain).

 

[nymane]

I'm Between APL & BSL

Up to 9/10 weeks post: I DC weekly & roller set (I keep it cross-wrapped unless I'm going out)

11 weeks and beyond: DC weekly, co-wash 1-2x weekly, air dry in braids (I leave it in 6-8 braids, when I go out I rock a braid out).

I Dust every 4 months
I don't use direct heat
I M&S daily
I use Aphogee every 6-8 weeks
I Shampoo weekly

 

[loolalooh]

Natural and grazing Layered BSB:

What I changed:
*Protective styling (twists for 3-4 weeks)
*Using coconut oil for prepoo
*Detangling regularly (not too frequent; not too infrequent)

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

I'm APL and relaxed (but, my longest layer is skimming bsl). While I always had long hair, I focused on a major regimen to keep it healthy.

Here it goes:
Co-washing
Low manipulation
Protective styling
Air drying
Deep conditioning at least once a week
Relaxing only 3x a week (stretching 15 weeks each period)
Trim as needed
Moisturizing/sealing at least once a day with either avocado or coconut oil
Wash once a week

 

[SHEANITPRO]

Co-washing
Nightly Baggying with castor oil
Low manipulation
Protective styling
Air drying
Deep conditioning bi-weekly
Stretching 15 to 20 weeks
Dusting every 6 months
Wash every 12 to 14 days

 

[Janet']

Thanks ladies, keep em coming...

 

[DMJ's Mom]

Natural Longest layers APL
Cowashed almost daily (except in winter)
Wore a bun 5 days out of the week
Air dried 97% of the time

 

[sunnieb]

Great thread!

Relaxed 4a/b

I've always been able to get to SL with no problem. I've just never been past that point in my life until now. Here's what LHCF taught me to get over the SL hump:

Cowashing at least 2x a week
Daily moisturizing with the right moisturizer for my hair (especially the ends)
Protective Styling
No direct heat at home (only at salon)
Protein/Moisture balance
Stretching relaxers to 12 weeks
Clarify every 2 weeks (very important since I use a no lye relaxer)
Sleep on satin pillowcase

Here's what I did pre-LHCF and I just continued:

shampoo/DC 2x a week
sleep with satin/silk scarf or bonnet or sometimes both
Airdry

Oh, my length is a little past APL. I'm dealing with 11 weeks worth of newgrowth now, so I can't wait for my relaxer next week!

 

[SEMO]

I'm natural and my hair is currently WL (maybe a little longer). The biggest things that helped me reach this length are: not over trimming my hair, and an easy but effective hair regimen that I stay consistent with.

I believe that low manipulation, wearing a protective bun or ponytail, and proper moisture also factor in heavily. For anyone that's interested, the long-winded version of what I do to my hair can be found on the "About Me" page of my fotki: http://members.fotki.com/semora/about/

 

[I Am So Blessed]

well first let me say, that having long hair feels just like a dream. somtimes cant believe my hair is this long. it seems like yesterday i was at SL. i just stoped paying attention to the growth and let it do what it do.

kept hair in buns, twist outs, never left hair dry. always had some moisturizer slaped on it.

and thats it. i wasnt even DC at the begining of hair journey, actually for the first 5-6 months i was hiding under a wig soaked with care free curl lol.

never trimmed either. one time i stoped paying attention to myhair sooo much that i developed dreads, good thing they were able to be untangled. and that was only a year and half ago

i say this all the time in this forum, i saturate with care free curl all the timeeeeee. moisture moisture moistureee. thats why i dont flat iron, cuz how you gonna keep hair moisturized when flat ironed? just my op. so thats why i texlaxed so that my hair could be straight while i pour cfc on it lol, so glad chemicals dont revert lol.

 

[equestrian]

I used to be there. Low manipulation is my best explaination. Pigtails, individual braids etc.

 

[MonaRae]

Great thread! Taking notes!

 

[Prettymetty]

Bump***
I stopped trimming after each relaxer.
I stretched my relaxers to 3 months.
Eventually I went natural.
Deep condition once a week.
Moisturize ends as needed.
Protective styles really helped the most I think. I wore a bun for about 3-6 months

 

[Froreal3]

I’m MBL and still perceive my hair as meh in length...so looking at this thread asking on how to get past APL is mind blowing. Lol

 

[metro_qt]

I’m MBL and still perceive my hair as meh in length...so looking at this thread asking on how to get past APL is mind blowing. Lol

I know what you mean.
I'm natural, my back layers are at bsl, but my hair shrinks up to my ears in my wash n go.

I'm going to need to be at waist length to get shoulder length curly hair.

To get there, I'm going to have to step up my deep conditioning game, my moisture game, and watch my detangling process, to not lose more hair and keep the length while it grows.
I'm also colour treated, so I really have to watch my ends

 

[keranikki]

I’m APL, which is the longest my hair has ever been. I got to this length with the help of whipped Shea Butter.
How I’m currently maintaining:

Cowash as needed (I workout)
Shampoo/DC weekly
Protein 1x/month
Layering for moisture (leave-in, whipped Shea, styling products)
I only detangle under running water. I’m losing less hair this way.