BSL/MBL 2014 Challenge

[ktwatkins]

I'm in! Also I'm on IG ktwatkins ~Current hair length About two inches from BSL ~Relaxed/Natural/Texlaxed/Loc'd Natural ~Goal month March for BSL August for MBL ~Current regime and styling choices I haven't been doing what I need to do lately. I should be cowashing at least twice a week, washing once a week, and DC, and using more protective styles. I do moisturize and seal daily. ~What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to BSL/MBL? Going back to the basics and not making things more complicated. I also, plan on incorporating carrot juice in my daily diet along with my hairfinity and msm pills. ~Post a beginning picture

 

[Angelbean]

I want to try some ayurvedics to add into my regimen. Maybe some Brahmi oil or Amla oil. Anyone else uses Ayurvedics? If so, which ones and how do you use it?

OAN: I had a wonderful dream that I was MBL! My hair was thick and full of body. I looked in the mirror and was shocked. I was swanging and slanging that hair lol but then I awoke and realized I was still BSB smh oh well dreams are just that, dreams lol

Hey! Since switching my regimen to a heavily Ayurveda my hair has responded so well! I shampoo with shakaki powder and my hair gets clean but still feels soft after...I also pre poo with vatika oil or mustard oil... And I also henna once a month...I use a lot of the powders and oils...I would say try to incorporate one I the oils in your regimen slowly to see how your hair responds

 

[ImanAdero]

2014 starting photo:

Starting at BSL again, hope to be MBL by April. I'll say May to be safe. I have about 2 inches.

 

[Kerryann]

In still in my wig from Thanksgiving. I don't have anyone to braid my hair for right now so I'm not taking down my hair to do a length check until some time in January.

I did just oil my scalp and hair now I'm gheing

 

[coolsista-paris]

Hey! Since switching my regimen to a heavily Ayurveda my hair has responded so well! I shampoo with shakaki powder and my hair gets clean but still feels soft after...I also pre poo with vatika oil or mustard oil... And I also henna once a month...I use a lot of the powders and oils...I would say try to incorporate one I the oils in your regimen slowly to see how your hair responds

i used to use (i might do it again as everything is in the bathroom):

amla prepoo
shikaki to wash.
henna mixed with amla powder,olive oil,eggs strenthéns my hair so well and leaves it so soft!

i ran out of mustard oil. i was usin it to massage scalp like indians do. but i forgot to repurchase.

i ve been relaxed for only 4 weeks now, so everything i did as a natural, i havent tried them on my relaxed hair ( scared) :-/

i wonder if any relaxed heads use only natural products....

 

[Froreal3]

i was about to trim before coming în here again!

do you mean everyone always have some splits here and there no matter what??? if so... im then normal.

i retained when natural ,only when i started dusting. every 8-10 weeks. and only if my hair was tension blow dried. when left curly i had breakage.

ok so, i will then try to forget the scissors, and take them out for a dust every 8-10 weeks.

i need to calm down.

i want to make it to bsl next year. i will be gradualy correcting this hair bu dusts.

crossing fingers for 2014!

coolsista-paris Yes, take a deep breath. They are part of the territory, at least with fine hair imo. Make sure you're protective styling, moisturizing, heavy sealing those ends at least every other day with something emollient. That will keep the splits at bay. If blow drying was working, you should have stuck with it. Some ppl blow dry every other month or so to keep it stretched. What about roller setting to avoid too much heat?

Also, what is your porosity? How is your protein/moisture? Whenever I get breakage, I know I need a protein boost...then my breakage stops or slows. My fine hair seems to tolerate protein well. I am rooting for you. Really want to see you reach your health and length goals.

 

[silverbuttons]

Starting Picture

 

[silverbuttons]

i used to twist the other sections or use like 3-4 hairbànds per section to stretch. ( like africans do with thread).

I twist the sections and pin them up when I'm done.

Thank you ladies. I have twisted, but haven't pinned them up. I have definitely been thinking about threading or banding, but it looks like so much work lol.

 

[coolsista-paris]

coolsista-paris Yes, take a deep breath. They are part of the territory, at least with fine hair imo. Make sure you're protective styling, moisturizing, heavy sealing those ends at least every other day with something emollient. That will keep the splits at bay. If blow drying was working, you should have stuck with it. Some ppl blow dry every other month or so to keep it stretched. What about roller setting to avoid too much heat? Also, what is your porosity? How is your protein/moisture? Whenever I get breakage, I know I need a protein boost...then my breakage stops or slows. My fine hair seems to tolerate protein well. I am rooting for you. Really want to see you reach your health and length goals.

thank you.
since being relaxed i dont use heat.
last porosity test i was natural: hair stayed up on the water( low porosity).
ive just realized that my leave in had protein ( giovanni direct leave in) + i always use protein as pre poo or conditionner... it maybe is too much, and causing breakage.

im looking for a moisturizing leave in without protein. dont know any. maybe aubrey organics?

i pulled my hair and there is almost no elasticity. i guess im using too much protein and not enough moisture.
im gonna incorporate ceramides though.
im also planning to use henna again.( did so well for me)!

 

[Froreal3]

thank you.
since being relaxed i dont use heat.
last porosity test i was natural: hair stayed up on the water( low porosity).
ive just realized that my leave in had protein ( giovanni direct leave in) + i always use protein as pre poo or conditionner... it maybe is too much, and causing breakage.

im looking for a moisturizing leave in without protein. dont know any. maybe aubrey organics?

i pulled my hair and there is almost no elasticity. i guess im using too much protein and not enough moisture.
im gonna incorporate ceramides though.
im also planning to use henna again.( did so well for me)!

Sounds like you need a few good moisturizing dc sessions. Have you tried any online brands like Silk Dreams? I don't know about France, but I know a lot of people swear by Silk Elements (Sally's brand). BTW, a lot of ppl don't find the water test all that accurate.

 

[coolsista-paris]

Sounds like you need a few good moisturizing dc sessions. Have you tried any online brands like Silk Dreams? I don't know about France, but I know a lot of people swear by Silk Elements (Sally's brand). BTW, a lot of ppl don't find the water test all that accurate.

the water test is the only one i tried :-(

im gonna check if i can find silk elements anywhere here. i have the dark and lovely amla masque that is soft and smells yummy. it leaves my hair soff.it says to leave it in 3-5 min though so i guess its not a dc. but it has no protein and thats good.

 

[jennwantslonghurr]

coolsista-paris
I have low porosity hair. Another way to tell is if you run your finger and thumb up and down your stand it should feel smooth both directions because the cuticles lay flat.

My hair is funny but I use qhemet biologics for leave in and moisture. I seal with grapeseed oil or safflower oil and gained elasticity. It took a few months but my hair is no longer brittle and soft to the touch (my hair is coarse). If I need to strengthen my hair I use silk dreams avacado deep condonitoner. Hope that helps.

 

[SkySurfer]

Ok...you guys know i'm tired of these braids. They're irritating my edges, so I'm just taking them out and going back to my trusty crochet braids, for the remaining 7 weeks I had.

 

[Froreal3]

the water test is the only one i tried :-(

im gonna check if i can find silk elements anywhere here. i have the dark and lovely amla masque that is soft and smells yummy. it leaves my hair soff.it says to leave it in 3-5 min though so i guess its not a dc. but it has no protein and thats good.

Hmmm...admittedly I'm not too familiar with on the ground/BSS dcs as much as I used to be.

What about Elasta QP DPR-11, Cantu Shea Butter Naturals Deep Conditioner?

 

[ckisland]

i was about to trim before coming în here again!

do you mean everyone always have some splits here and there no matter what??? if so... im then normal.

i retained when natural ,only when i started dusting. every 8-10 weeks. and only if my hair was tension blow dried. when left curly i had breakage.

ok so, i will then try to forget the scissors, and take them out for a dust every 8-10 weeks.

i need to calm down.

i want to make it to bsl next year. i will be gradualy correcting this hair bu dusts.

crossing fingers for 2014!

Dusting was exactly what I was going to suggest. We have length goals to hit!!! We won't ever get there if we keep cutting our hair off. You and I are going to pledge to dust instead of trim, okay? I'll join your dusting schedule, and we'll keep each other accountable

 

[ckisland]

thank you.
since being relaxed i dont use heat.
last porosity test i was natural: hair stayed up on the water( low porosity).
ive just realized that my leave in had protein ( giovanni direct leave in) + i always use protein as pre poo or conditionner... it maybe is too much, and causing breakage.

im looking for a moisturizing leave in without protein. dont know any. maybe aubrey organics?

i pulled my hair and there is almost no elasticity. i guess im using too much protein and not enough moisture.
im gonna incorporate ceramides though.
im also planning to use henna again.( did so well for me)!

So far all the things I used when I was natural have worked on my relaxed hair. For DCs Eden Body Works Jojoba Monoi DC, Aubrey Organics Blue Camellia/ White Camomille/ GBP are awesome. If it comes down to it, bananas + molasses + coconut and other oils used to be my absolute favorite DC. I've been using AO White as my leave-in along with Aphogee Green Tea spray on wash day. I think Cantu was working okay, but it has protein.

 

[ilong]

i feel like its the only way to get rid of splits!! i cant stand seeing them! its so annoying lol.

ive been so much feeling like it again lately. i look at the scissors then rush out the bathroom quick!!!! lol

<lol> I'm sorry you're going through this. I wish I had some good advice but I don't think I am knowledgable enough in this area. Froreal3 has offered what I think, is sound advisement. Perhaps some additional ladies knowledgable in this area can chime in.

Hide the scissors - send them on a vacation - to someone else's home!

 

[Froreal3]

coolsista-paris I forgot Aubrey's HSR did me good.

 

[g.lo]

coolsista-paris, in 2012 I didn't retain at all, due to split end. I had mid ****, split ends, tree shape splits, all sorts, I figured out after trial and error:
-my fine dry, high porous hair, can't Stanton bagging or overnight Dc, so I stopped that.
-coconut oil is my friend, I use an ayurvedics herbs infused coconut oil as a prepoo
-embarrassed oil rinsing
-added ayurvedics In forms of oil rinsing, tea rinse or a masque.
-low manipulation and only finger detangling
-protein is my friend, once a week I make sure to dc on dry hair with AO GPB and followed by a moisture Dc ( not faithfull to any

 

[ImanAdero]

Actually just finished my hair with my sister in law's help.
The left front side is cornrowed.

Edit: I also just realized that my braids in the back are APL. When my braids are BSL my hair will truly be long. (Don't know if I wanna get there though).

 

[Jace032000]

Just did a honey/coconut oil pre-poo….my hair felt great afterwards and extra moisturized once I did my shampoo/condition.

 

[AyannaDivine]

Im in!

Current Stats:
-APL
-Natural
-goal month: September for full BSL
-regimen: wash biweekly with CON shampoo & condition overnight with BASK YAM. Protein treatment 1x monthly with BASK whiskey soak.

Im looking for some cute half wigs for protective styling.

 

[jennwantslonghurr]

I've been giving myself scalp massages before bed and moisturizing and sealing my hair from the point of relaxed hair down. My natural hair has thickened up trying to revert slightly since straightening on Christmas. I flat iron on 250° in a deep stretch. I will relax tomorrow evening with about 4 inches of new growth!

 

[theNaturalWonders]

Have been away for a minute but I have been growing☺

Current Stats:

-Between APL and BSL. Longest layer lands on top of bra line (when straightened)
-Natural
-goal month: September for full BSL
-regimen:
Body: increase water intake, add more vitamins, green smoothies 1x a day
Products: Clarifying 1x a month with Aztec clay, DC with steamer, sealing ends with GSO and baggying them, moisturizing hair 2x a day, oiling scalp 1x a week
Protective Style: cornrows underneath wigs. Will take down cornrows at 5 weeks and redo again

 

[theNaturalWonders]

My hair straightened and trimmed a few months ago



My wish picture

 

[jprayze]

DCing. I want to twist for twistout but I'm just too tired . I know I will mad at myself in the am.

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Blowout from December 23rd 2013 was MBL now Full BSL as of December 28th (Trimmed off a inch all around)

 

[FollicleFanatic]

Happy hair growing ladies! Tis all

 

[Froreal3]

Blowout from December 23rd 2013 was MBL now Full BSL as of December 28th (Trimmed off a inch all around)

Very nice. Your results are very straight. Now no more cutting. We.....I mean you are trying to maintain at WL remember?! EnExitStageLeft

 

[SincerelyBeautiful]

Hey! Since switching my regimen to a heavily Ayurveda my hair has responded so well! I shampoo with shakaki powder and my hair gets clean but still feels soft after...I also pre poo with vatika oil or mustard oil... And I also henna once a month...I use a lot of the powders and oils...I would say try to incorporate one I the oils in your regimen slowly to see how your hair responds

Thanks for your response! Which oil should I start out with?