Grow It Long 2020 Challenge

[nyeredzi]

I'm posting pics, but no progress this check in. In fact, a little regression, now back to just a little past 17". I'm not surprised, as I said earlier

I have not been doing right by my hair. Just don't have the energy and time.

My hair got really matted as I posted earlier:

Some parts of my hair are so matted, at the root. I've ended up washing my hair a couple of times in twists because it's itched a lot. I've now gotten Head and Shoulders dandruff shampoo and it's helped a fair bit, but sometimes it itched so bad I couldn't wait until I had time to detangle properly. Full time work and 2 young kids means I hardly have any time at all, so sometimes I have to wash when I don't have time detangle, and my hair is very prone to tangling in such situations. I did have just enough time to unravel the ends and coat in flaxseed gel and oil, which helped keep the ends from tangling. But the roots! Especially I got this itchy scalp cream that I would apply between washes, and adding moisture and goo and not detangling also increases matting. One of the 20 twists I had took me 30 minutes to get through, finger detangling and then following up with my Yellow Bird. I did 5 other twists, thank goodness none were as bad as that one. That section was especially itchy and I applied more cream there, which I'm sure increased matting. The other ones take about 10 minutes each.

I'll be doing 2 or 3 twists at a time until I'm through with the other 15. Hopefully I can get through them all by the time my head is so itchy that I feel I have to wash again. I guess that gives me another 5 days or so. :/

And it took me a long time to recover from that, and took a lot of physical manipulalation. I wanted to cornrow my hair and put in crochet braids. But my hair is so tangly, it is hard for me to cornrow it. Every time I try pull my finger through to grab a new part of hair, my finger gets caught in tangles. So I blow dried with attachment every week for the last 3 weeks, and once a couple weeks before then. Despite all my combing, blow drying, my strands are so resistant to letting go of one another. They are like zippers. Anyway, with much effort, and breakage, I did manage to get my hair into cornrows and put in passion twists today. The gods willing, I can keep them in for 1 month. I do have to wash once every 7-10 days, though, because of my itchy scalp. I'll attach a pic of that, too.

 

[ShortyDooWhop]

I’ve been silently lurking. I straightened my hair last night for the first time in a while (maybe a year or more), and realized how thin my hair is. I cut off about 1 - 2 inches, after previously cutting about 4 inches on one side due to a flat iron length check mishap (why my plats look lopsided). I’m natural and wear protective styles (wigs) 99% of the time. All of that being said, I‘m at lower back, but it’s So thin. Any tips on How to thicken thin/fine hair?

 

[NaturalShe94]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.

 

[GettingKinky]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.
View attachment 464331

I’m drooling. You have beautiful mermaid hair

 

[Daina]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.
View attachment 464331

Ummm yes Sis that is definitely TB length!!! Just beautiful and looks really healthy!

 

[water_n_oil]

Your hair looks incredible!! @NaturalShe94

 

[mayoo]

Are you still using the 22nd century natural Products?

Hey girl,

Sorry I'm late.
I finished my shampoo bar, and started using the Aunt Jackie's shampoo once a week instead and honestly I don't see that much difference. Plus it's liquid so it's easier to use and can get to my scalp easier.

Becuase of that, I haven't Re-bought the bar yet. Not sure if I will yet~~

I also had her gel that I bought last year but I left it out of the fridge and it was filled with mould after the summer so I had to get rid of it.

I may repurchase some of her stuff in the future though

 

[mayoo]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.
View attachment 464331

 what do you meeannnn. Defo tbl length! Think you're even heading to mid-butt length if that's a thing lol

 

[mayoo]

Length check in:
I think I've only gained about 2 inches this year overall in the back but the rest of my hair has caught up a lot so I'm happy with the progress. Inching closer to my goal of WL braid outs

Here's a pic of my braid out from a couple of days ago. Braid out is about 4 days old View attachment 464411

Changes to regimen recently :
- Not using Wash-out conditioner right now. Have started to shampoo while hair is in twists to minimise breakage and tangles. Done in 6 twists. Then I leave in these twists until I apply deep conditioner. I detangle very lightly applying DC.

Then I dc with hear for 1h. After washing out, I'm skipping the leave in lately (since I'm leaving Japan soon, I don't want to increase my luggage lol) and going straight to oil (jojoba) then shea butter (mixed with plain lanolin--helps with sealing)

 

[Mapleoats]

Length check in:
I think I've only gained about 2 inches this year overall in the back but the rest of my hair has caught up a lot so I'm happy with the progress. Inching closer to my goal of WL braid outs

Here's a pic of my braid out from a couple of days ago. Braid out is about 4 days old View attachment 464411

Changes to regimen recently :
- Not using Wash-out conditioner right now. Have started to shampoo while hair is in twists to minimise breakage and tangles. Done in 6 twists. Then I leave in these twists until I apply deep conditioner. I detangle very lightly applying DC.

Then I dc with hear for 1h. After washing out, I'm skipping the leave in lately (since I'm leaving Japan soon, I don't want to increase my luggage lol) and going straight to oil (jojoba) then shea butter (mixed with plain lanolin--helps with sealing)

Lovely! I think we have a very similar hair type!!! I hope I’m where you’re at in 2-3 years . Can’t remember if I’ve asked you this before...how did you wear your hair when it was shorter ? Like between APL and BSL/BSB

 

[Mapleoats]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.
View attachment 464331

Beautiful hair!!! You’ll be at classic in no time!!

 

[GettingKinky]

@mayoo I’m drooling over your hair. Maybe in 3 years I can get there.

 

[Lita]

@NaturalShe94 Your hair is looking fantastic,keep growing..Nice & Full..Love it

*Yes,your tailbone length

Happy Hair Growing!

 

[mayoo]

Lovely! I think we have a very similar hair type!!! I hope I’m where you’re at in 2-3 years . Can’t remember if I’ve asked you this before...how did you wear your hair when it was shorter ? Like between APL and BSL/BSB

Hey girl~~~

Nice! I'm always looking for hair twins to stalk lol
So in my first hair journey, I usually wore my hair in buns on the very top of my head and left it there for like 5 days at a time when I was between APL and BSL

This time, I wore my hair in big chunky twists most of the time. These were worn in a bun for work quite a bit as well

How do you like to wear your hair?

 

[Mapleoats]

Hey girl~~~

Nice! I'm always looking for hair twins to stalk lol
So in my first hair journey, I usually wore my hair in buns on the very top of my head and left it there for like 5 days at a time when I was between APL and BSL

This time, I wore my hair in big chunky twists most of the time. These were worn in a bun for work quite a bit as well

How do you like to wear your hair?

Thanks!! I usually do medium sized twists worn in a bun, and lately I’ve been getting into rollersets worn in a bun as well

 

[keranikki]

October length check: no progress per se

Im maintaining shoulder length right now. My hem line has thickened as most of the layers of my hair have grown out. My hair is the healthiest its ever been!


Don’t mind the slight fluffiness in the second picture. The humidity got to me.
My hair is so fine. I don’t think I’m going to straighten it ever again. My hair looks better curly.

 

[Mapleoats]

October length check: no progress per se

Im maintaining shoulder length right now. My hem line has thickened as most of the layers of my hair have grown out. My hair is the healthiest its ever been!

View attachment 464433View attachment 464435
Don’t mind the slight fluffiness in the second picture. The humidity got to me.
My hair is so fine. I don’t think I’m going to straighten it ever again. My hair looks better curly.

Curly or straight your hair is beautiful! Reminds me a lot of my moms hair, which is very fine but also very soft! I bet yours is too

 

[mayoo]

Thanks!! I usually do medium sized twists worn in a bun, and lately I’ve been getting into rollersets worn in a bun as well

Oh wow, I've been thinking about trying my first roller sets as I am exploring how to get different texture outcomes without heat

If you don't mind me asking, what do you usually apply?
How long does it take your hair to dry? (and how do you dry it?)
What are your results like?

 

[Mapleoats]

Oh wow, I've been thinking about trying my first roller sets as I am exploring how to get different texture outcomes without heat

If you don't mind me asking, what do you usually apply?
How long does it take your hair to dry? (and how do you dry it?)
What are your results like?

im still trying to figure out my routine, but last set i used its a 10 keratin leave in with ogx penetrating oil serum, saturated each section with a lot of water/avj and then rolled with hourglass rollers. sat under the dryer for 1hr and 20 mins. my hair was slightly sticky so i think i used too much product. im used to piling on product for curly styles, learning that straight/stretched styles actually need a lighter hand.

i get pretty smooth results, even though i consider myself to have coarse hair. not entirely sure what my hair type is. 4 something.


wet hair no product


rollerset before and after separating

i recommend looking at some of the old setting to success threads, theres a lot of good info there if you want to start rollersetting! it does take a long time but the results are lovely and i dont have to do my hair again for 2 weeks

 

[keranikki]

Curly or straight your hair is beautiful! Reminds me a lot of my moms hair, which is very fine but also very soft! I bet yours is too

Thank you!

 

[apple_natural]

I cowashed my braids and put on shea butter. Oiled my scalp. That's going okay. It air dried and I am about to put on a bonnet while I work.

My hair is barely pulling to 13inches, but it is getting there. I thought I wouldn't see it until December based on this year's suuuuper slow growth. I'm hoping for 15 inches by the end of December

 

[SmilingElephant]

Okay, here’s my update. Is this TBL yet? Im not sure. However, I have realized slow progression. I only grew an inch and a half since the last update.
View attachment 464331

And ALL the goals! Love it!

 

[SmilingElephant]

Nothing new with me, just bunning it up and shampoo/deep condition/ style every week. I've also decided to give hair grease another try and use it over my leave ins to seal in the moisture.

 

[apple_natural]

i took out my braids. now i have twists with coconut oil in a bag and bonnet... i think i'll rebraid in January. until then.. maybe buns. perm rods, flexi rods are next. I was going to wait until my hair is longer, but.. why

 

[apple_natural]

i finally got a chance to purchase Natty Naturals Leave in conditioner, which i just did. i dont know what i'm going to do with my hair right now though. i'm working on perm rod set, but i dont know the best way to go about the whole process yet. i'm deliberating while i work

 

[Mapleoats]

i finally got a chance to purchase Natty Naturals Leave in conditioner, which i just did. i dont know what i'm going to do with my hair right now though. i'm working on perm rod set, but i dont know the best way to go about the whole process yet. i'm deliberating while i work

Have you looked up any YouTube tutorials? How long is your hair again ? I think Janae Mason on YouTube has a lot of perm rod videos and DayeLeSoul, their hair is around APL if I recall correctly

 

[apple_natural]

thank you @Mapleoats !!! yes i'm around their length. aww i feel loved. you suggested people my length and texture lol

 

[snoop]

No picture updates, this time, but I think I'm onto a new way of taking care of my hair.

I am out of my twisted hair style. That was 4 weeks in medium twists.

To set the style for the week, I was heavy handed with my LCOB method. Extra emphasis on the B -- shea butter. Then I threaded my twists into whatever style I was feeling. I water washed or honey washed at the end of each week and then re-threaded my hair. After the first week, I tucked my ends upwards before threading.

I did a proper hair wash today (clay wash), but I think that I am going to live one more week in medium twists then do the same process, but in mini-twists. I feel like I had way less breakage doing this. So what I'm hoping to do after this week is done is start a new 4 week routine:

Start: full wash day routine, install twists. Oil up my hair like crazy, then thread it.
End of weeks 1 to 3, a light wash routine (water, honey, etc.), oil up my hair like crazy, then thread it.
End of week 4, start again.

 

[nyeredzi]

No picture updates, this time, but I think I'm onto a new way of taking care of my hair.

I am out of my twisted hair style. That was 4 weeks in medium twists.

To set the style for the week, I was heavy handed with my LCOB method. Extra emphasis on the B -- shea butter. Then I threaded my twists into whatever style I was feeling. I water washed or honey washed at the end of each week and then re-threaded my hair. After the first week, I tucked my ends upwards before threading.

I did a proper hair wash today (clay wash), but I think that I am going to live one more week in medium twists then do the same process, but in mini-twists. I feel like I had way less breakage doing this. So what I'm hoping to do after this week is done is start a new 4 week routine:

Start: full wash day routine, install twists. Oil up my hair like crazy, then thread it.
End of weeks 1 to 3, a light wash routine (water, honey, etc.), oil up my hair like crazy, then thread it.
End of week 4, start again.

I'd be interested in seeing your threaded hair styles.

 

[apple_natural]

I'd be interested in seeing your threaded hair styles.

me too!