First Quarter of '09 is Almost Over, How Did You Do With Your Goals?

[princessdi]

Not sure yet. I'm hoping to have at least 1.5" of growth or more, but I haven't done my relaxer yet. I'll check back in later.

Hope everyone is meeting their goals!

 

[Carrie A]

Pretty well in terms of growth. I think my nape should reach APL by the end of the month. I'm still having issues with ?breakage ?shedding. I bought some garlic but haven't taken any. My attemps at tea rinsing failed. I have decided that I do need to add protein to the mix and am figuring out how to add this to my regimen.

 

[Lady Esquire]

I felt like my hair wasn't growing for awhile but I kept up with my reggie and then *bang* I was washing one day and I could definitely tell there was more hair. My hair is currently the longest and healthiest it has ever been (I can stretch it across my armpit and I think I am set to be undeniably APL by May).

I regained my moisture/protein balance with caramel treatments and I seriously simplified my reggie. I think that I am on the right path now and I am looking forward to trying a keratin straightener and doing my first official length check in May!

Caramel treatments? Do tell.

well my hair is still growing nicely and its much stronger. i know what works for my hair and what doesnt work. i did get a small trim friday so im back to 2 inches under apl but my hair is growing so nicely that im not mad.

Yeah, trimming and losing length sucks, but healthy hair is the name of the game. So I will probably have to trim soon too.

Can't complain...I got almost 2inches of ng in 10wks...I will update this weekend for my 2yr hair anniversary with details

That's great progress.

well,

i snipped off some because i had neglected my hair in 2008. i just became really lazy with my hair after getting my job last year.

i decided to go back to protective styles, super low manipulation and hidden ends.

hopefully i'll start to see great improvements

can't go wrong with a low-mani regimen.

so-so. i finally broke out the scissors, which i desperately needed to do, and a month later my ends were messed up again. i know that at least part of it was due to the frequent detangling associated with my wash n gos, so i started twisting it up under wigs and then i wore it straight for 2-3 weeks while i worked up the endurance for a marathon braiding session. right now, i'm just trying to decide what i will do down the road after the twists come out, cause i definitely thought i would be APL by now. between what I trimmed and what probably was breaking off unbeknown to me, i would have been. maybe i will texlax...don't know yet. on the plus side...i'm still almost APL so i proved that my hair CAN grow past SL.

I am very happy.

I'm at my goal length, and I'm getting more acquainted with my natural hair texture...which leads me to my problem. The only thing bugging me out right now is deciding if I should start transitioning now instead of next year like I planned. lol.

It's lovely.

 

[ajacks]

Well I attempted to incorporate Henna in my regimen which was a major disaster. I had lots of breakage in the middle and sides. So now I am back in a sew-in and I'm in extreme nurture mode to get this hair back on the right track. I did get about an inch of growth the last two months so even with a trim to compensate from the breakage, I should still reach APL by August I hope.

 

[topnotch1010]

Henna was vey rough on my hair too. I am also in nurture mode to recover. I had some breakage, not major though. Other than that, its been smooth sailing. I've finally got my reggie down and I am sticking to it. No more bandwagons for me.

Well I attempted to incorporate Henna in my regimen which was a major disaster. I had lots of breakage in the middle and sides. So now I am back in a sew-in and I'm in extreme nurture mode to get this hair back on the right track. I did get about an inch of growth the last two months so even with a trim to compensate from the breakage, I should still reach APL by August I hope.

 

[prospurr4]

Hi LadyEsquire! I'm doing great...thanks for asking. My hair is making progress; I should be WL by September. Thank God, I've had no setbacks. I'm still practicing the same regimen and wearing the same hair styles...kinda boring, but I'm gonna keep it up until I reach WL, then I'll trim and add some variety.

More importantly, how are you doing? Have you been able to get that shedding under control? Your hair looks lovely in your siggy.

 

[Lady Esquire]

Hi LadyEsquire! I'm doing great...thanks for asking. My hair is making progress; I should be WL by September. Thank God, I've had no setbacks. I'm still practicing the same regimen and wearing the same hair styles...kinda boring, but I'm gonna keep it up until I reach WL, then I'll trim and add some variety.

More importantly, how are you doing? Have you been able to get that shedding under control? Your hair looks lovely in your siggy.

Prospurr4, you know I love your hair, right? Well, now you know. Post pics when you make WL.

The postpartum shedding is still in full effect. So, I am just playing the waiting game. In the meantime, I am doing a low-mani regimen.

I'm so proud of you, you're consistency has paid off, chica.

Henna was vey rough on my hair too. I am also in nurture mode to recover. I had some breakage, not major though. Other than that, its been smooth sailing. I've finally got my reggie down and I am sticking to it. No more bandwagons for me.

Yeah, I had a henna issue too. But I learned how to do a henna gloss, which is merely 30 mins or so, as opposed to leaving it on for hours. Hope it recovers.

Well I attempted to incorporate Henna in my regimen which was a major disaster. I had lots of breakage in the middle and sides. So now I am back in a sew-in and I'm in extreme nurture mode to get this hair back on the right track. I did get about an inch of growth the last two months so even with a trim to compensate from the breakage, I should still reach APL by August I hope.

Your hair in the siggy is beautiful.

 

[AtlantaJJ]

So far so good, I'm hanging in there with my protein, still in protective styles. I'm retaining my growth by using Chicoro's washing / detangling method so that was the best new habit I could pick up this year. I have also managed to keep my PJness in check, I only want Milcreek or Joico products now for the most part.

I'm working on my diet and supplement reggie, I added Chlorella,and that was a BIG health, hair growth boon for me. I would say that my results and progress so far this year is better than expected

 

[gymfreak336]

I've bought less products which is a nice change

My hair is much stronger and I got better at my flat ironing technique. My major goal has been accomplished, even if it meant cutting more than I had expected, which is a blunt length. No more layers Its weird because even though my hair has been this short before, now all the hair is the same length so even though it shorter, I still can enjoy some of the benefits of longer hair like ponytails. My nape has filled in some and doesn't seem as dry and unmanagable as it usually is. Very happy with that. I have also cut my regime time in half without seeing negative effects in my hair so I think I am doing really well so far.

 

[apemay1969]

I flatironed today to check length. I haven't compared pics so I can't say. I always feel like it's still the same. I have to remember that I did a bc in September. I can't expect to have bsl hair. I'm a 1/4 incher, it seems so I'm working on retaining. I was using MT and my hair felt good. It's thicker than I'm used to.

I had a regimen set up with dc weekly, cowash weekly and flattwist on each of these nights and wearing a twist out the days in between. My hair is very healthy and I feel confident with my 4a springy coils. My husband also has his nouveau negro naturalista back. I also get the clear people getting crushes on my curly fro at work. Hee-hee-larious.

Even with that, I am still disatisfied with my progress. I'm going to have to trim because I think that I still have some ratty relaxed ends left over. My ends are frizzy even after the flatiron so tomorrow, I'll take pics and then do a dusting.

I have to say that whenever I'm feeling funny because I'm nappy, I check in here and look at you natural sisters and I get my mojo back. Not to take it from the relaxed sisters. If you can keep your hair healthy with a relaxer, you got something special going on.

Well, my hair grows better in the summer like plants. I am 40 and I will graduate this summer with my bachelors degree. I look forward to my graduation hair photos.

 

[WriterGirl]

This quarter is going good for me. I got a pixie cut a few years ago, since my sides are still shorter. They'll probably won't catch up--which is cool. Still striving for full SL.

I think I finally got my protein/moisture balance going and I'm air drying now and using less heat. Also washing 2x a week since I use a non-SLS shampoo. This is the trick for me.

Plus, I can actually wrap my hair now--haven't been able to do that since 2006. Yay!

Hope to have some good progress pics in June!

 

[ajacks]

Henna was vey rough on my hair too. I am also in nurture mode to recover. I had some breakage, not major though. Other than that, its been smooth sailing. I've finally got my reggie down and I am sticking to it. No more bandwagons for me.

I am a little disappointed b/c I wanted the Henna to work. I need more thickness and I thought this would be the answer.

Congrats on finding a regimen that works for you. I agree with no more bandwagons. I am happy with the products I am currently using, but I may try to incorporate supplements in my regimen as well.

 

[hothair]

Not ecstatic, I was past shoulder length Nov (well on my way to my APL goal) and then my hair broke off at the back to neck length! I think it was a combination of things including slacking off massively on my reggie, not logging on regularly for inspiration and not protecting my ends, the front (which was always a problem area) is now nice and full and I had to trim it to blend better with the back. I've gone back to regular DCs and daily moisturising and protective styles (cornrows/ weaves) no more braids now my front hair is thriving don't want to tempt the devil. I'm now hoping for full shoulder by August INS ....

 

[Tee]

I have been doing the same things but I have slacked some. I want to find and create more updo's that are pretty. I am on one of the longest stretches for me; so I am not sure what all is really going on growth wise.

 

[Highly Favored8]

Hair is doing very well. I am 26 weeks post. My hair is doing very well since my last relaxer since Sept.16,2008.

 

[Tee]

Hair is doing very well. I am 26 weeks post. My hair is doing very well since my last relaxer since Sept.16,2008.

Let me zip my lips. You go Highly Favored. My last relaxer was Nov 3 or 4th and it's getting real hard!

 

[EMJazzy]

My hair is doing pretty well. I've finally figured out what my hair and scalp likes and every since then my hair has been thriving. I'm not big on taking frequent pics anymore as they were more discouraging than encouraging to me. I plan on doing length checks maybe twice a year, the next set of pics will be in June 09 I "should" be at (or past) that elusive APL by then

 

[Denise11]

My hair is growing nicely.I've grown a few inches since October, when I started. Because my hair doesn't have breakage, I keep all of my growth. So I'm happy. Although my hair is growing great, I'm still so impatient, and I want to reach my hair goals now!

 

[prospurr4]

Prospurr4, you know I love your hair, right? Well, now you know. Post pics when you make WL.

The postpartum shedding is still in full effect. So, I am just playing the waiting game. In the meantime, I am doing a low-mani regimen.

I'm so proud of you, you're consistency has paid off, chica.

Awww..thanks, Lady, I love your hair, too. I'll be sure to post pics when I reach WL. I'm still amazed at how long you are able to stretch your touchups...I can never get past 14 weeks. Keep up that low-mani regimen, and I hope the shedding tapers off soon.

 

[mariofmagdal]

During this quarter, I did the best thing ever, I have gone GREEN! I added Chlorella, Spirulina, and Chlorophyll to my daily diet. It is awesome! I have experienced hair growth, weight loss, renewed energy and overall well being. I am green for life.

Secondly, I did purchase a set of rollers and everything I need for a rollerset. Not sure when I will get to it, but I have a wedding to attend in June and have been warned not to wear my signature bun, so I am at least prepared to honor the request. ;0)

Otherwise, everything else is the same.

 

[MonaLisa]

So far, so good..

January 1, 09 - I finally trimmed off what I considered damaged, relaxed ends all around after a bad stretch..at the time...I thought it was two inches...once I did it...I kept a lock and realized it was more.. ...and why I went crying to my lhcf cousins

I did a light heat check to see how bad it was... not the same as before but it was my starting point for the year to work with for my comeback..

Right now, 12 weeks post and hair is behaving well. Seems a little bit thicker looking after that trim.

Don't plan on using any heat and in no rush again to add heat to take a progress pic. May or many not have one by the summer. Just trying to continue to be low mani and it seems to be working as well as not venturing too far from products that seem to be working consistently. Just remembering to rotate the products so the effectiveness isn't lost. Will switch up again after touch up.

Shout out to Lav, Gym, Sylver and JanuaryNoir..

 

[Simply_Kelz]

I did a spontaneous, overdue, one-inch(ish) trim a couple of weeks ago, the first since January 2008. Will do one official length check in a couple of weeks, and then another at the end of the Summer. Will continue using my staples, tried and true products and techniques, and will cowash through the track season and the summer.

 

[melodies815]

I BC but I know I am right where I should be. I should have done this a while ago. Now...I have healthy hair to work with and I will get better retention as well...

Even with the relaxer, I did low to no heat and low manipulation. Now that I am rocking a TWA, the heat is ZERO and the manipulation is lower. I think I will do fine by year's end...

cj

 

[MonaLisa]

 

[HollyGolightly1982]

I am at BSL which I am very excited about. I really hope to be MBL by the end of next quarter

 

[tenderheaded]

I cut what turned out to be 4 inches My hair definitely looks thicker. My hair grows better during warm weather, so I should recover. This time I won't do a 6 1/2 month stretch.

 

[miss Congeniality]

I'm surprised that I have stayed in protective styles as long as I have.

 

[MonaLisa]

..........................

 

[kismettt]

i just discovered the twistout. when done correctly, it looks great. i've been wearing that style for the past 3-4 days.
i tried the egg treatment a few days ago. been co-washing daily since then & decided to blowdry (for the first time since my relaxer) & flat iron today.
my hair is AH-MAZ-INGGGG. it feels soft, light, strong moisturized, i am so in love.

i have NEVER been able to get my hair looking this nice.

been using VS So Sexy line. my bf is so in love with the smell

 

[TheQueenBeeMaya]

I made a thread about it, but I guess i'll post pictures here too!

January 09

February 09

March 09