BSL 2012 Challenge!!!

[livinthevida]

Omgoodness how I pray I'm grazing BSL by my TU in 7 weeks! Or at least an undeniable BSB.

Are you ladies shooting for BSL or BSB???

growbaby I think you might be very near! You are very close to BSB and BSL in your siggie too! In this challenge I'm aiming for BSL

Ladies here's a popular image of a Hair Length Chart via our very own trendsetta25's Hair De La Crème showing BSB and BSL lengths!

 

[livinthevida]

4 more mths I think @Onhergrind09 is totally onto something with evaluating our reggies more indepth. I think I'll follow suite. Any of you ladies getting yourself something special or doing any special styles after you reach BSL?

@silenttullip I gifted myself a hair dryer after reaching APL and for starting a good HHJ! now I only use my dryer 2 days a week

When I reach BSL this year I may gift myself a quick hair trim at a natural hair salon. Last time I trimmed my hair was January 2012 this year!

 

[RegaLady]

@silenttullip I gifted myself a hair dryer after reaching APL and for starting a good HHJ! now I only use my dryer 2 days a week

When I reach BSL this year I may gift myself a quick hair trim at a natural hair salon. Last time I trimmed my hair was January 2012 this year!

Oooo! What dryer did you get?!

 

[trendsetta25]

growbaby I think you might be very near! You are very close to BSB and BSL in your siggie too! In this challenge I'm aiming for BSL

Ladies here's a popular image of a Hair Length Chart via our very own trendsetta25's Hair De La Crème showing BSB and BSL lengths!

Awww shoot I done got me a shout out! Thanks!!!

 

[livinthevida]

Oooo! What dryer did you get?!

@RegaLady I went with a very inexpensive hair dryer via Amazon. It's available here Conair Collapsible Hard Hat Dryer ! I started with one hair product for the 1st 5 months of my HHJ then experimented with WGHO for one month and returned to OCO very quickly! I missed OCO too much! I still only use 2 hair products OCO + R&B Hair Moisturizer, workout, rinse, dry & out the door I go. Great investment and easy to store!

Here's my original post over at the APL 2012 Challenge too

 

[cornell34]

Ok so I got my hair straightened after not getting it straightened in forever (1 yr) and I am kinda disappointed in the fact that I am only APL as of September 6 - but I am looking on the brighter side: At least I got to this point b/c frankly, I officially big chopped in march after a long transition of approximately 2.5 years, I have not been following my reggie, and I have been losing a ton of hair.

I've gotten real with myself and realized that wash and gos, wash and go puffs, and wash and go buns may not be the way to go for me all the time - I have been wearing those styles since I last posted and I have experience amazing growth but I have also experienced single strand knots, matting, tangling, (let's just say my shower and sink drains have never been so clogged with hair in my life) etc., causing me to be unable to retain the length that I gain. But this process/BSL 2012 Challenge has taught me that:

1) I am not a slow grower - I just fail to retain length
2) I need to wear more stretched styles to eliminate single strand knots, tangles, etc. and not be afraid to rock what I have been given
3) And I can use heat, I just need to be mindful and not go to often like I did during my transition

As a result of my epiphanies, I have totally modified my reggie that I didn't use and I plan to follow the new one (see new reggie in red below)

What is your goal date for BSL?
December 31, 2012

What brings you to this challenge/whats your length story? (ie. This will be your first time ever being BSL; You were BSL but had a setback, or BC’d or chopped it off for a style and want it back again; You were BSL back in the day and now trying to achieve it again, etc.)

This will be my first time being BSL. I never had hair longer than grazing APL

Whats your current length?
I am currently grazing APL (well past collarbone).

Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Transitioning?

Natural.

Whats your reggie/What are you doing to make it to BSL? ( ie. Protective styling, low heat, stretching relaxers, vitamins, etc)

I will co-wash every day (curly girl method)
I will wash & DC once a wk .
I will bun or wear a wash & go pony everyday until I can grow out my hair to a length where my wash & gos don't look so crazy.
I will apply (alternating) JBCO and peppermint-lavendar-rosemary jojoba mix to my scalp everyday; I will apply JBCO to my edges everyday.
I will do a Henna treatment 2x/mo.
I will improve my diet, exercise more, and drink a gallon of water/day


- Take Viviscal (for fullness), Garlic (for shedding), B12 (for growth), D & a multi-vitamin (for growth and overall health of hair)
- Scalp massages in the am and pm (in the pm with an oil blend of essential oils, MTG, and jojoba)
- Eat healthy, exercise daily (except Sun), and drink a gallon of H20 a day
- DC 1x/w, Henna 2-4x/mo, ACV rinse 1x/w
- Use quality products
- Dust ends every 8-12 weeks
- Stretched styles routine: hot oil treatment, oil detangle, ACV or clarify or reg shampoo, henna, wash, DC, detangle (with fingers then with comb if needed), stretch to dry, braid/twist/braidout/twistout,, keep style 1-2 weeks
- Straightened styles routine: hot oil treatment, oil detangle, clarifying shampoo, henna, wash, DC, detangle (with fingers, then with comb if needed), stretch/apply heat protectant, go to salon to get it blown out and flat-ironed (making sure they use protectant and lower setting on flatiron), keep style 1-2 weeks (straighten every 4+ weeks and/or on holidays, no sooner than every 2 weeks - schedule for remainder of 2012 9/6,9/20,11/7,12/23)
- Most important, be gentle with my hair (fingercomb whenever possible, etc.)

*I know this is detailed but I do this with all my goals in life (work,marriage,family), why not with my hair?

What do you plan to do once you make BSL? (ie. treat urself to a flat iron or blow out and swang it til u get whiplash, wear it out more, stay disciplined and focused on MBL and WL, etc)

Get my natural hair cut into a nice shape by a professional and probably get my hair straightened - I will post pics before the 1st of the year.

 

[Evolving78]

did a twistout. it doesn't look bad, but i am going to fix it. i am just going to put some big twists in and rod the ends. it needs more body. i think curly ends will help. my hair is soft though and no frizz so far.

 

[ProtectiveStyling]

Hey ladies! I haven't been in this thread in a minute. I really believe I would have been BSL by now if I didn't have many setbacks this year with hair salons. I lost so much length but I'm happy because my hair is healthy. I have layers now and color. I don't think I will make BSL this year, but I hope to be close. Here's an update picture.

 

[ProtectiveStyling]

Couldn't add a picture to the post above, so heres one

 

[growbaby]

Just ordered me some flexirods Tryna see how long I can continue this no heat thing. 2.5 months and counting!

 

[jprayze]

Just ordered me some flexirods Tryna see how long I can continue this no heat thing. 2.5 months and counting!

Good idea!!! I need to give mine a try again! What size did you get?

 

[lamaria211]

I can't wait till my next length check I should be very pleased I've gotten some great growth in these minis

 

[TruMe]

OK, I know I am WAYYYY late but here is my length check. The individual photo is from the May length check-in (I have also quoted my last check-in because the photo is kinda small). All other photos are from this past Friday. Definitely see some growth all the way around. Layers are growing good so now my shortest layer is just starting to touch the bottom part of my sports bra. I think I may be able to claim it but not sure if I want to move on just yet. I think the end of the year will be great!

Length check:

1st pic - Starting length
2nd, 3rd and 4th pic - Where I was a month ago (mistakenly did a length check)
5th, 6th and 7th pic - Last night (6th and 7th will be in next post)

6th and 7th from ^

I can definitely see thickness between last month and this month.

 

[coolsista-paris]

OK, I know I am WAYYYY late but here is my length check. The individual photo is from the May length check-in (I have also quoted my last check-in because the photo is kinda small). All other photos are from this past Friday. Definitely see some growth all the way around. Layers are growing good so now my shortest layer is just starting to touch the bottom part of my sports bra. I think I may be able to claim it but not sure if I want to move on just yet. I think the end of the year will be great!

nice curls. and i think you will be claiming it. it looks bsl already

 

[growbaby]

Good idea!!! I need to give mine a try again! What size did you get?

I got 10mm I think? They're on the small side, but I'm going for the small tight curl look. I'm hoping that they a springy enough to curl above my shoulders so I won't have to worry about my ends rubbin on my clothes, & be able to wear the style worry-free.

 

[livinthevida]

Ok so I got my hair straightened after not getting it straightened in forever (1 yr) and I am kinda disappointed in the fact that I am only APL as of September 6 - but I am looking on the brighter side: At least I got to this point b/c frankly, I officially big chopped in march after a long transition of approximately 2.5 years, I have not been following my reggie, and I have been losing a ton of hair.

I've gotten real with myself and realized that wash and gos, wash and go puffs, and wash and go buns may not be the way to go for me all the time - I have been wearing those styles since I last posted and I have experience amazing growth but I have also experienced single strand knots, matting, tangling, (let's just say my shower and sink drains have never been so clogged with hair in my life) etc., causing me to be unable to retain the length that I gain. But this process/BSL 2012 Challenge has taught me that:

1) I am not a slow grower - I just fail to retain length
2) I need to wear more stretched styles to eliminate single strand knots, tangles, etc. and not be afraid to rock what I have been given
3) And I can use heat, I just need to be mindful and not go to often like I did during my transition

As a result of my epiphanies, I have totally modified my reggie that I didn't use and I plan to follow the new one (see new reggie in red below)

Very pretty cornell34! Nice shine and smoothness here

 

[livinthevida]

Couldn't add a picture to the post above, so heres one

Very close IndifinableJoli! & your hair is very full here very much like Farrah's!

 

[livinthevida]

OK, I know I am WAYYYY late but here is my length check. The individual photo is from the May length check-in (I have also quoted my last check-in because the photo is kinda small). All other photos are from this past Friday. Definitely see some growth all the way around. Layers are growing good so now my shortest layer is just starting to touch the bottom part of my sports bra. I think I may be able to claim it but not sure if I want to move on just yet. I think the end of the year will be great!

Congratulations TruMe! You do look BSL here!

I believe cornell34 & IndifinableJoli are pretty close to BSL here too if they do a pull test! Congratulations Ladies!

 

[Onhergrind09]

So tweaking my regimen has already yielded improvements in how much hair I lose while washing and/or DCing. I'm excited for what that will mean for me over the long term. I just prepared my henna mix today and I will be applying it tomorrow.

 

[Fhrizzball]

I'm just dropping in to say hi as I have just resubscribed after being MIA for eons (so lovely to see pictures again!). I'll include my current length though it hasn't progressed at all it seems and I don't think I'm officially in this challenge. Not sure I will reach BSL by year's end as this is the point that my retention gets bumpy. I'm in mini twists now (or rather my version of them) and plan to keep doing these until Christmas. Hopefully I can reach BSL by then.

 

[Onhergrind09]

I just rinsed out the henna that I applied to my hair last night and I've discovered another area where I can tweak my regimen. No more sleeping with henna on my head. I'm too wild a sleeper to do that, it's just asking for unnecessary breakage.

 

[ImanAdero]

Okay help.

My hair seems to shed like crazy. I don't know if it's because I just have so much hair I lose the average amount or f something is really going on.

I literally lose what seems like clumps of hair.

Now, I am pretty low maintenance, so I don't want to HAVE to do something like a black tea rinse... I care about my hair, but not that much.. I have probably a more than adequate protein intake and my diet is decent.

I just dunno... Any help or remedies would be beneficial.

 

[trendsetta25]

Okay help.

My hair seems to shed like crazy. I don't know if it's because I just have so much hair I lose the average amount or f something is really going on.

I literally lose what seems like clumps of hair.

Now, I am pretty low maintenance, so I don't want to HAVE to do something like a black tea rinse... I care about my hair, but not that much.. I have probably a more than adequate protein intake and my diet is decent.

I just dunno... Any help or remedies would be beneficial.

I recently had the same problem. I think it was because of the change of weather. After buying a seamless comb and drinking more water, the shedding stopped. But I also got a major growth spurt. I really think the shedding was just a sign that my hair was entering a new stage in the growth phase.

I was loosing a lot of hair when I combed but the thickness remained the same. I tried garlic conditioner and tea rinses and nothing helped. I kept my hair in a bun or braid out and still saw shedding.

I would say, try using or buying a seamless comb. I bought mine from hotcombs.net

 

[Onhergrind09]

My hair update, lower manipulation seems to be reaping results.

 

[JerriBlank]

Here is my most recent update. Hair blown out for a flat iron. I had to trim it a bit,even though people were telling me I didn't need one. I probably won't make bsl this year. Sucks,since I feel like I should have way more hair than this...I'll post pics after I straighten too.

 

[Evolving78]

i might not make bsl either, but i wear my bra really low. it would actually be MBL. i am really trying for BSB. i am going to try to post some pics today.

sorry about the black shirt.

 

[livinthevida]

I'm just dropping in to say hi as I have just resubscribed after being MIA for eons (so lovely to see pictures again!). I'll include my current length though it hasn't progressed at all it seems and I don't think I'm officially in this challenge. Not sure I will reach BSL by year's end as this is the point that my retention gets bumpy. I'm in mini twists now (or rather my version of them) and plan to keep doing these until Christmas. Hopefully I can reach BSL by then.

Nice twists Fhrizzball! You are very close to reaching BSL!

 

[livinthevida]

Okay help.

My hair seems to shed like crazy. I don't know if it's because I just have so much hair I lose the average amount or f something is really going on.

I literally lose what seems like clumps of hair.

Now, I am pretty low maintenance, so I don't want to HAVE to do something like a black tea rinse... I care about my hair, but not that much.. I have probably a more than adequate protein intake and my diet is decent.

I just dunno... Any help or remedies would be beneficial.

@ImanAdero I second trendsetta25! Your hair might be going through a growing phase I learned a lot about phases this year during my first HHJ!!!

If you post your current reggie we can all take a look and see if there's something to tweak that may help reduce shedding a bit?

 

[livinthevida]

Nice ponytail Onhergrind09!

Great hair JerriBlank! So close!

shortdub78 I bet you are very near to BSB by now!

 

[ManiiSweetheart]

I have been neglecting this site as well as my hair.... haven't had a break in the 8 weeks since school started..... but i have a week break next week i hope i can love my hair up enough then.... planning on a hard protein treatment sunday and hydrating DC Mondayish