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I just posted about this last night. I'm reducing the heat (eliminating it completely for 6 months), but keeping my hair stretched in PSs like cornrows and Senegalese twists. Other than that just wash, condition, and moisturize.
The last time I was just leaving my hair alone it was working really well. Its only been about a month of this so I guess I wont' really be able to tell for a while. I'm shooting for APL by the end of March.
 
Aviah said:
I just posted about this last night. I'm reducing the heat (eliminating it completely for 6 months), but keeping my hair stretched in PSs like cornrows and Senegalese twists. Other than that just wash, condition, and moisturize.
The last time I was just leaving my hair alone it was working really well. Its only been about a month of this so I guess I wont' really be able to tell for a while. I'm shooting for APL by the end of March.
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IMO, keeping the heat to a minimum helps quite a bit. I have heat used on my hair once per month. I also still wear protective styles (PSs) because I like to keep my ends in good shape (haven't needed a trim since June 12, 2010, just had a few dustings in 2011), and I happen to like PSs. I also think leaving the hair alone does great at retaining length. When I do my hair in a protective style, I can keep it like that (neatly) for five to seven days. It looks like you're on the right road. Oh yeah, I think deep conditionings help (when I do mine, I don't use heat, just a plastic cap while in the shower).

I'm not claiming to be a hair expert, but I was able to grow my hair to waist length when I was relaxed (and it was in good shape). Now I'm natural (and loving it), and my hair is approaching tail bone length. I just want to offer help and information to others (which is why we're all here). :)
 
After all this time I finally got the right formula for me... But it took lots of trial and error! Your hair is really stunning by the way.
 
truequeen06 said:
Low heat. I flat iron 4 times a year to dust my ends. Also, protective styling (I love doing a conditioner bun with hair sticks. I tend to pull my hair too tight with scrunchies and hair ties)
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Well, it looks like you already have long hair, so this is definitely working out well for you. :) Try to refrain from pulling the hair back too tight. Maybe you can find another way to smooth the hair (like placing a scarf on your head for a few minutes) vs pulling the hair too tight with a scrunchie or hair ties. A lot of people run into problems with their edges when they pull the hair back too tight. It's good to be gentle on our edges. :)
 
Allandra said:
IMO, keeping the heat to a minimum helps quite a bit. I have heat used on my hair once per month. I also still wear protective styles (PSs) because I like to keep my ends in good shape (haven't needed a trim since June 12, 2010, just had a few dustings in 2011), and I happen to like PSs. I also think leaving the hair alone does great at retaining length. When I do my hair in a protective style, I can keep it like that (neatly) for five to seven days. It looks like you're on the right road. Oh yeah, I think deep conditionings help (when I do mine, I don't use heat, just a plastic cap while in the shower).

I'm not claiming to be a hair expert, but I was able to grow my hair to waist length when I was relaxed (and it was in good shape). Now I'm natural (and loving it), and my hair is approaching tail bone length. I just want to offer help and information to others (which is why we're all here). :)
Click to expand...


Thank you I really appreciate you takin the time to give advice to those who are striving to be the length you are at. I love ya hair and every time I see your siggy I think to myself maybe one day..lol!
 
this year, i'm trying out no heat until November *gulp* and as little manipulation as possible. so far so good :yep:
 
So far this year I've been wearing my hair in braids. For January I wore cornrows under my wig and now I have yarn braids. I M&S daily, dc weekly and shampoo weekly. I use heat once a month to check my length but that may move to every two months. I also henna, was twice a month, now it'll be each time I take down my braids.
 
I'm taking prenatal vitamins, keeping it simple, trying to have a ceramide/moisture/protein balance, and limiting the use of protein to only after my relaxer. I recently had a setback in January prior to doing my relaxer on the 20th of that month and also had a setback the previous relaxer before that one. As a result, my stylist had to cut off a lot of length, putting me back at MBL. I went back to get a relaxer redone on February 8th because my hair didn't take and my hair grew back so quickly, now it's less than an inch to WL. I pretty much owe it to the prenatal vitamins and not doing anything else to mess up my hair aka not trying to load it with protein. :look: I'm planning to follow this routine until I relax my hair in the next 3-4 months in which I expect GROWTH and a cleaner cut.
 
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What I've been doing:

-no/low heat. I haven't used heat since Christmas Eve 2011. I use heat once or twice a year

-low manipulation hair styles. I love protective styles. My hair is usually in a bun or some sort of updo.

-religiously moisturizing and sealing my hair.

-deep conditioning weekly

Honestly, this is the first time I've SERIOUSLY been consistent about a regimen for my hair. My hair has been stuck at APL-BSL for a while. I hope to see some results by the end of the year.
 
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I have been doing cornrows under a wig. I used to have problems with tangles if I wear my hair in cornrows for more than a week but using gel and wetting it before I take it out reduces the tangles up to 90%. The gel feels slippery when wet, so my hair unravels easily. I had my last cornrows for 3 weeks (The first time in a year) and it didn't tangle up even though I sprayed it with my conditioner mix twice a week. I’m so glad I discovered this; it is helping me a lot to reduce tangles and breakage. Hopefully, I will retain more this way.
 
Aireen, What kind of prenatal vitamin are you taking?

Aireen said:
I'm taking prenatal vitamins, keeping it simple, trying to have a ceramide/moisture/protein balance, and limiting the use of protein to only after my relaxer. I recently had a setback in January prior to doing my relaxer on the 20th of that month and also had a setback the previous relaxer before that one. As a result, my stylist had to cut off a lot of length, putting me back at MBL. I went back to get a relaxer redone on February 8th because my hair didn't take and my hair grew back so quickly, now it's less than an inch to WL. I pretty much owe it to the prenatal vitamins and not doing anything else to mess up my hair aka not trying to load it with protein. :look: I'm planning to follow this routine until I relax my hair in the next 3-4 months in which I expect GROWTH and a cleaner cut.
Click to expand...
 
I dont use heat on my hair except for diffusing and it's on low heat. And I usually wear my hair up in a bun or in twists. And I TRY to deep condition once a week but sometimes I dont have time or I just forget lol I cut my hair to CBL in mid December and now its an inch away from APL! Woo! I'm trying to grow pretty much as long as possible. Aiming for WL in 2013.
 
I've been keeping my natural hair pulled low in a chignon during the week for work and at home in the evenings I run aloe down my scalp then rub castor oil on the top. Keeping it simple - no heat at all, very little styling.
 
Using CG method (no cones/sulphates), low-heat (I plan to straighten 4 times this year to dust/trim my ends, with the first trim due next month), and keeping the protein/moisture balance in check. I'm really loving using hemp seed oil to seal, leaves my hair feeling soft/moisturized.

Sent from my iPad using LHCF
 
*Moisture, Moisture, Moisture

*Low to no heat - The first time I flat ironed my hair was in December and that was after a year

*Twists and buns - It helps the hand in hair syndrome stay in its place

*Keeping it simple - no product junkyism, no extraordinary measures (just letting it grow)
 
Cowashing and bunning. Sealing with olive oil.
Thats it. Maybe a random DC when I want to treat myself, or noticing when my hair's elasticity is lessening.
I took a pic Jan 20th and just took one early this morning to see if cowashing/bunning daily was helping, because I was noticing a few ssks. [sigh]
Looks like I got an inch. I'm ecstatic!
 
Here's what I'm doing:

-No heat. I haven't used my blow dryer since I don't know when. I haven't flat ironed in 2 years. I used a heat protectant when I did use heat.

-Low manipulation. I twist my hair after washing and conditioning, and I keep my hair in a twistout all week.

-Taking my time detangling every week, starting at the ends and working my way up.

-Using tools that are gentle on my hair. My Magic Star Jumbo Rake comb is great. And I use a Denman brush but I don't brush from the roots - I just brush the ends to get the shed hair out.

-Deep conditioning, leaving the DC in for at least 30 minutes.
 
I keep heat to a minimum most of the year. Winter I use heat weekly or biweekly by flatironing my airdried hair.

I wear protective styles fairly often: buns, twistsed updos, etc.

I moisturize my ends religiously and moisturize/DC my hair tons.

Yes this works well for me. It's what got me to hip length last year and what's going to get me back there again.
 
g.lo said:
low heat, i can't even remember the last time i blow dried my hair!!! focusing on moisture-protein balance, stretching my hair and being very gentle! so far so good! I am hoping to hit MBL by end of the year! I am APL now and last year this time I was NL.
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Way to go. What type of hair styles are you wearing?
 
alive said:
this year, i'm trying out no heat until November *gulp* and as little manipulation as possible. so far so good :yep:
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This sounds like a great plan. I know you're probably already keeping up on top of moisturizing. What type of hair styles are you wearing?
 
longhairdreaming said:
So far this year I've been wearing my hair in braids. For January I wore cornrows under my wig and now I have yarn braids. I M&S daily, dc weekly and shampoo weekly. I use heat once a month to check my length but that may move to every two months. I also henna, was twice a month, now it'll be each time I take down my braids.
Click to expand...
Is M&S moisturize & style? Do you change your style daily or do you just like to do your hair daily? I wonder if I'm the only one that styles their hair on Sunday and keep it that way until the weekend. :look: Do you do henna to strengthen your hair?
 
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