Grow It Long 2020 Challenge

[NaturalShe94]

that's what I'm thinking too. But I just can't let go of my gel noooo. Not with twists, maybe braids but these twists need gel lmao

Then do what works for you girl. If your twists flourish in gel then so be it. I see naturals use Shea Butter for their wngs, not me. I need my gel lol. I'll use it for a bomb braid out though.

 

[syrk]

Hey @syrk your wash day / regimen sounds similar to mine, except I leave my twists in during the week. Are you using the EBW coconut curl cream for your twist outs as well?

Yep. EBW Coconut Curl Cream is my staple cream for my twist outs. Always sandwiched between a leave in and an oil. Hair always comes out soft and defined. Do you/have you used it for your twists?

 

[Honeypot]

I'm not entirely sure shea butter is for me. It makes my hair feel soft which is nice but it seems to build up in my hair quickly and takes all the slip right out my hair as soon as I apply it. Since I leave my hair in twists the majority of the time I don't really lose moisture / it's also really quick and easy to refresh the moisture so I probably don't need such a heavy Sealant anyway.

I like the Leavein-Cream- Gel method I've been using, and adding oils to my twists/ends throughout the week as needed.

Next week I'll experiment with LCG on wash day and adding water and shea butter midweek to my ends. I think my ends can take a heavy sealing better than the length of my hair. Or maybe I'm just using too much shea butter? Or I could also try Leave in, gel and then shea butter???

Not sure.

I can't seal with Shea butter

 

[Mapleoats]

Yep. EBW Coconut Curl Cream is my staple cream for my twist outs. Always sandwiched between a leave in and an oil. Hair always comes out soft and defined. Do you/have you used it for your twists?

Yep it's my staple as well! I sandwich it between leave in and gel . I try new things but I always have it in my stash

 

[Rhealthyhair]

My braider cancelled on me twice! .. Supposed to go see her tonight, I guess we'll see. In the meantime I went to get DUSTING and the hair stylist took an INCH off I could cry. I've had my first set back I think ... My hair is shorter than my starting pic I'm so upset

 

[CurliDiva]

My braider cancelled on me twice! .. Supposed to go see her tonight, I guess we'll see. In the meantime I went to get DUSTING and the hair stylist took an INCH off I could cry. I've had my first set back I think ... My hair is shorter than my starting pic I'm so upset

Sounds like you need a back-up braider!

 

[snoop]

I've been lurking, but I'm finally ready to jump into this challenge.

I've been having issues with my hair over the last two years. At first I thought it was some breakage, but I realize now that I'm also shedding a lot. I think it's due to stress, so I'm working on managing that. My hair is various lengths, but I'm not willing to cut it to one length, at the moment.

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural

Current Length: Almost WL

Goal Length: HL

Plan to reach goal length: Baby my hair as much as possible. Meditation and relaxation to help stop this stress shedding.

Regimen: Wash weekly, moisturize every 1 to 3 days. Exfoliate every other week. Protein treatment monthly. Trim every 3 months.

Protective Styles: Two strand twists are my go to style

Staple Products: Kaolin clay (cleansing), Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner, diluted Giovanni Direct Leave In (daily spray), DIY moisturizer, broccoli seed oil (to seal).

I was also using Komaza Hair Care products, but am now looking at ayurvedic options. The goal is to be as DIY as possible so that I don't get stuck for products, ever again.

 

[GettingKinky]

My braider cancelled on me twice! .. Supposed to go see her tonight, I guess we'll see. In the meantime I went to get DUSTING and the hair stylist took an INCH off I could cry. I've had my first set back I think ... My hair is shorter than my starting pic I'm so upset

I’m so sorry. My stylist is so good about that. She always shows me how much she is going to cut before she snips.

 

[NaturalShe94]

My braider cancelled on me twice! .. Supposed to go see her tonight, I guess we'll see. In the meantime I went to get DUSTING and the hair stylist took an INCH off I could cry. I've had my first set back I think ... My hair is shorter than my starting pic I'm so upset

Awww. I totally feel you, an inch isn't terrible though hun. Any idea how many inches you retain yearly or monthly? I'm surprised she didn't show or ask you how many inches was okay before then. Were your ends in desperate need of a trim?

 

[NaturalShe94]

I've been lurking, but I'm finally ready to jump into this challenge.

I've been having issues with my hair over the last two years. At first I thought it was some breakage, but I realize now that I'm also shedding a lot. I think it's due to stress, so I'm working on managing that. My hair is various lengths, but I'm not willing to cut it to one length, at the moment.

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural

Current Length: Almost WL

Goal Length: HL

Plan to reach goal length: Baby my hair as much as possible. Meditation and relaxation to help stop this stress shedding.

Regimen: Wash weekly, moisturize every 1 to 3 days. Exfoliate every other week. Protein treatment monthly. Trim every 3 months.

Protective Styles: Two strand twists are my go to style

Staple Products: Kaolin clay (cleansing), Giovanni Smooth as Silk Conditioner, diluted Giovanni Direct Leave In (daily spray), DIY moisturizer, broccoli seed oil (to seal).

I was also using Komaza Hair Care products, but am now looking at ayurvedic options. The goal is to be as DIY as possible so that I don't get stuck for products, ever again.

Yayyyy!! Despite the shedding, your twists look really good!

 

[mayoo]

Girl, you asking the right & wrong person cause I'm a product junkie lol. I have so many deep conditioners, it's not funny. And none of them are cheap. I think my cheapest are the Shea Moisture ones. My favorite? Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Masque, but that joints pricey on another level. Second fave (cheaper): Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil DC or Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Marufa Oil Intense Hydrating DC (I say both for 2nd bc I rotate between the two for protein & moisture) . If I come across anything cheaper and works great, I'll let you know.

Thank you!! I will try your SM recommendations!
The morrocan oil Masque is a little too steep for me £££-widlse but I might try it as a one-off.

My interest is now peaked

 

[apple_natural]

Myself as well, but not just for my hair but because Ive gained a lot of weight in general since I had my girl. My hair growth may have slowed down a little bit. I stay at 1000 to 1100 calories a day until Ive reached my prepregnancy weight.

You have a lot more willpower than me. My hair is the only thing that makes me stick to my diet. Now, I make sure I'm eating regularly and getting all my nutrients lol.

 

[NaturalShe94]

You have a lot more willpower than me. My hair is the only thing that makes me stick to my diet. Now, I make sure I'm eating regularly and getting all my nutrients lol.

You dont have to diet for your hair, just make sure you’re adding in a ton of water and fruits and veggies somewhere throughout the day... Everything you eat adds nutrients and nourishment to grow your hair from cookies and cakes to fruits and veggies. I recommend eating healthier foods for the sake of your own health but Id be lying if I said those not so healthy things dont help your hair grow. I found this out couple years back. When I ate whatever I wanted (and most of it was crap) my hair grew so fast, whenever I dieted, my hair growth slowed down a lot.

 

[ckisland]

I washed my hair Monday, and I lost a little less hair than I did the wash before. I was supposed to set my hair in braids to air dry before I flatironed, but I ended up unconsciously adding a styler to my hair . So that turned into a 4 braid braidout. I wasn't feeling it the first day, but I slept in 2 braids last night and it's super cute today. I haven't seen any breakage either.

 

[Kiaray8]

I’m doing my masters atm & exam period just came up so I just had to bun my hair for the week which I hate doing but alas. I can’t wait to do my monthly length check as I’ve never done one so I’m interested to see how long my hair actually grows per month. I need to jump back onto the healthy eating too!

 

[NaturalShe94]

I finally washed yesterday but to moisturize, instead of using Scurl like usual, I used SM Raw Shea Extra Moisture Detangler as my leave in because it has the best slip I have ever come across among any leave in I have ever used. I used to use it every wash day but when I got introduced to Scurl and Scurls’ lovely price, I just stopped using everything else. As much as I love Scurl and I truly believe it played a big role in my length retention, it lacks slip and with these new lengths and milestones, I absolutely need slip in my products to reduce breakage as well as prevent tangles and knots. Think Ill be putting down the Scurl for a good while.

 

[snoop]

I'm currently pre-pooing with a random mix of oils, butters, and ayurvedic herbs. I'm taking down these twists after 4 weeks. My hair was feeling so soft and lush, but I'm looking forward to finally washing my hair.

 

[Mapleoats]

I'm currently pre-pooing with a random mix of oils, butters, and ayurvedic herbs. I'm taking down these twists after 4 weeks. My hair was feeling so soft and lush, but I'm looking forward to finally washing my hair.

How do you maintain your twists for so long?

 

[apple_natural]

i washed my hair last night because I missed wash day Saturday. I got to it super late in the week, but my hair seems okay.

I'm planning to apply the aphoghee 2 step this weekend and I'm thinking of twists as a style of at least the next week instead of replacing the braids.

This is because I have twists in right now to preserve my parts. They're in a bun. To make the front neat, I twisted a few with one of the million gels that my mom bought me last year (and I haven't made use of, but I did keep for the right time) and I LOVE IT! They look so neat and nice. Thank you mother!

I will keep my current parts by use two sections for one twist.... i feel like a genius.

 

[snoop]

How do you maintain your twists for so long?

My twists were really frizzy at the roots because part way through I started moisturizing with glycerine. I usually wash my hair each week and keep my twists in for two weeks at a time, but this time I went 4 weeks without washing them.

 

[apple_natural]

I usually... keep my twists in for two weeks at a time...

How do you detangle when you are ready to take them down? Do you wear it in any certain way, especially at night? I have my own in a top bun right now

 

[snoop]

How do you detangle when you are ready to take them down? Do you wear it in any certain way, especially at night? I have my own in a top bun right now

I finger detangle. I'm only just learning that a mix of oil and conditioner is the way to take them down to reduce breakage.

When I'm at home I throw my hair into a twist/updo (in the pictures). Basically, I two strand twist my twists and then tuck the pony tail part underneath. I don't need elastics and there is no tension. Sometimes I sleep this way, but mostly I just wear my twists down to sleep and just tie the scarf loosely in the back so it kind of acts like a loc soc.

 

[periwinklepeach]

@NaturalShe94 Thank you for making this thread! You have 25+ challengers so far... I think... if I got everybody

1. NaturalShe94
2. syrk
3. apple_natural
4. PlanetCybertron
5. GettingKinky
6. pinkchocolatedaisy
7. BeautifulRoots
8. ckisland
9. Nightingale
10. Mapleoats
11. Bun Mistress
12. Kiaray8
13. CurliDiva
14. Rhealthyhair
15. faithVA
16. Napturallypretty1908
17. Victorian
18. keranikki
19. nyeredzi
20. guyaneseyankee
21. alanaturelle
22. BlackRinse
23. long.hair.dont.care
24. Honeypot
25. water_n_oil
26. metro_qt
27. mayoo

I don't see me on here! Can you add me please?

 

[nyeredzi]

Welp, I've done something wrong. My hair is either the same length or shorter this month than it was a month ago. :/ Perhaps I left the detangling too long. I got all excited at this new wash-3-time-detangle-once regimen, and went even longer between each wash. I ended up going 5 weeks without detangling. It took more force to detangle, I didn't even do it as thoroughly as I want, and I had breakage. I told you guys I noticed breakage a couple weeks ago too. So frustrating.

Okay, I'm going to have to detangle all the way next week, and blow dry again with my attachment. Manipulation or not, I need to get my hair thoroughly detangled to get back on the path of being able to go multiple washes without detangling. But after that, I'll try to be better and not leave it as long. I'll wash weekly and then detangle after the 3rd wash, meaning detanling after 21 days, instead of 35 like I did this past time.

 

[ckisland]

My little braidout life seems to be working out!! I still have breakage, but much much less than before. Only a few pieces when I go through my hair. My hair is also looking really voluminous which I love. When I wash this Tuesday or Wednesday, I won't stumble into doing another braidout by accident .

 

[GettingKinky]

My hair is a bit messy in my January pic, but here’s my update for the month.

 

[NaturalShe94]

My hair is a bit messy in my January pic, but here’s my update for the month.

View attachment 454999

Is your hair shorter in the front than in the back? The December pic looks longer than January but then I realized you’re stretching two different parts of your hair.

 

[NaturalShe94]

Welp, I've done something wrong. My hair is either the same length or shorter this month than it was a month ago. :/ Perhaps I left the detangling too long. I got all excited at this new wash-3-time-detangle-once regimen, and went even longer between each wash. I ended up going 5 weeks without detangling. It took more force to detangle, I didn't even do it as thoroughly as I want, and I had breakage. I told you guys I noticed breakage a couple weeks ago too. So frustrating.

Okay, I'm going to have to detangle all the way next week, and blow dry again with my attachment. Manipulation or not, I need to get my hair thoroughly detangled to get back on the path of being able to go multiple washes without detangling. But after that, I'll try to be better and not leave it as long. I'll wash weekly and then detangle after the 3rd wash, meaning detanling after 21 days, instead of 35 like I did this past time.

You dont get more breakage detangling every 3 weeks vs every wash day or weekly?

 

[GettingKinky]

Is your hair shorter in the front than in the back? The December pic looks longer than January but then I realized you’re stretching two different parts of your hair.

I think it is longer in the back. Ever since I stopped straightening my hair I’ve been really bad at length checks.

 

[nyeredzi]

You dont get more breakage detangling every 3 weeks vs every wash day or weekly?

Can't say for sure, but I don't think so. At the end of last year I retained 2 inches in 3 months detangling once every 2-3 washes and extending the time between my washes as well. But the main driver for trying to extend my detangling is time. I don't have a lot of time to devote to my hair.