Grow It Long 2020 Challenge

NaturalShe94 said:
Where are you buying Giovanni products? I wanted to try their Shampoo & Conditioner but a Sallys employee told me they're discontinued neither can I find their products at Walmart nor Target.
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OTG: Sprouts, Whole Foods, TJ Maxx (the huge bottles for cheap), The Vitamin Shoppe, sometimes Target.
Online: Direct from Giovanni, Vitacost, iHerb, The Vitamin Shoppe, Lucky Vitamin, etc.

SN: I should really just officially join this thread lol. Too lazy to take a pic rn though.
 
water_n_oil said:
OTG: Sprouts, Whole Foods, TJ Maxx (the huge bottles for cheap), The Vitamin Shoppe, sometimes Target.
Online: Direct from Giovanni, Vitacost, iHerb, The Vitamin Shoppe, Lucky Vitamin, etc.

SN: I should really just officially join this thread lol. Too lazy to take a pic rn though.
Click to expand...

Ill try those. The vitamin shoppe? Oh wow. I figured the last absolute thing I’d do is get on the website and order.
C’monnnnnnnnnn all you need is a mirror, a phone and some hair (your hair highly preferred) :D
 
Washed and conditioned last night with old carols daughter rhassould clay. I had to replace some braids at thw top Sunday morning but I didn't get a chance to put my protein treatment on. It's ok. Next time

I found a ton of huge Giovanni conditioners at TJMaxx this past weekend and had to get at least one although I don't need them. I have like two or three years worth of macadamia nut brand, but ....now I see they are being discontinued, I'm going to get a few to try :)
 
 
Last edited:
I washed last night with my CD sulfate-free shampoo, and used my Mielle Hydrating Conditioner packet as my DC. I moisturized with EBW Curl Defining Creme. Didn't know what to do with the 'do, so I put my hair in a low flattwists bun. The bun lasted overnight, but once I got to work I took it down, and now I have a wavy ponytail LOL! I look better with my hair out, and I just love having my hair down too much :lachen:
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you guys track your progress and stay motivated? And How do you help feel cute during protective styling?

This has been my go to style for the past 6 months and has allowed me to retain a lot but I feel like a frumpy librarian lol.

View media item 130487
Or if anyone has any other simple protective style ideas suitable for thick APL hair it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
The bold is my problem too!! I won't even protective style because I don't look cute in the ones I can do. My hair won't lay flat (it frizzes up in the back no matter what I do), so cute high buns are out for me :cry3:
 
ckisland said:
The bold is my problem too!! I won't even protective style because I don't look cute in the ones I can do. My hair won't lay flat (it frizzes up in the back no matter what I do), so cute high buns are out for me :cry3:
Click to expand...

I find I can’t do buns (that I like atleast ) on my hair at its current length (without blowing out first) because I have to pull too tightly, and it gives me a headache so I imagine it’s not good for my hair either. I switched to this pinned up twisted style because I got fed up with the headaches and was surprised by how much length I started retaining. I also notice I get hella tangles when I bun my hair too.
 
Mapleoats said:
I find I can’t do buns (that I like atleast ) on my hair at its current length (without blowing out first) because I have to pull too tightly, and it gives me a headache so I imagine it’s not good for my hair either. I switched to this pinned up twisted style because I got fed up with the headaches and was surprised by how much length I started retaining. I also notice I get hella tangles when I bun my hair too.
Click to expand...
It's about self esteem . There's nothing unattractive about that style you're wearing
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you guys track your progress and stay motivated? And How do you help feel cute during protective styling?

This has been my go to style for the past 6 months and has allowed me to retain a lot but I feel like a frumpy librarian lol.

View media item 130487
Or if anyone has any other simple protective style ideas suitable for thick APL hair it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
We got the same look, lol. I also feel a little librarian-ish. Do you ever wear contacts? I find the glasses + bun makes me doubly librarian. If you have time, you could try loose hair styles, or at least the same style on twist outs, which tend to look cuter than just the twists themselves. I'm not good at makeup, but I find that helps too.
 
apple_natural said:
@NaturalShe94 Thank you for making this thread! You have 25 challengers so far... I think... if I got everybody:grouphug2:
  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
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You're the sweetest. Thank you so much for making the list. I was going to do this, but didn't get around to it. Lol! We're bussin' out of length cages this year!
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you guys track your progress and stay motivated? And How do you help feel cute during protective styling?

This has been my go to style for the past 6 months and has allowed me to retain a lot but I feel like a frumpy librarian lol.

View media item 130487
Or if anyone has any other simple protective style ideas suitable for thick APL hair it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Your style is cute. You may just be tired of it. You can try flat twists into a bun, two braids cornrowed back into a bun. A high sleek bun. A plaited bun.... There's different ones you can do.
 
Honeypot said:
It's about self esteem . There's nothing unattractive about that style you're wearing
Click to expand...

This. Maybe it makes you look a bit young, but that's all - and that's nothing bad lol.

I have been in the saaaaame PS since May 2017 lol, and I keep myself motivated/going by a few things:

1) The cost of long hair is time.
2) I Want Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair.
3) I Want Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair YESTERDAY.

So now I know what I want, and now I know how to get there - ONLY by growing through EL/NL/SL/APL/BSL and MBL. I will not grow to WL without growing through those other markers. This is non-negotiable and unavoidable. FOR EVERYONE. This, coupled with the fact that I want that hair to already be on my head, keeps me doing what I need to have what I want in the soonest time possible: PS and PS and PS. It's like losing weight: you won't lose 5 stone unless and until you lost stones 1, 2, 3 and 4.

So far it's been 2 years 8 months in the same hairstyle. I estimate in another 6 months and 1 day I will have what I want: Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair YESTERDAY!
 
After my workout this morning, something possessed me to oil rinse my hair instead of cowashing it.

Cons: created three knots and a few tangles, I was able to gently remove them; too oily throughout the day

Pros: my hair was so soft, my scalp wasn’t itchy from the cold

I still had to use a leave-in conditioner to detangle my hair, but my hair laid down so well that I didn’t have to use gel. I layered some Shea butter over the leave-in and placed my hair into a braided bun.

I may tweak this oil rinsing a bit, so as to not be too oily and to minimize tangles.
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you guys track your progress and stay motivated? And How do you help feel cute during protective styling?

This has been my go to style for the past 6 months and has allowed me to retain a lot but I feel like a frumpy librarian lol.

View media item 130487
Or if anyone has any other simple protective style ideas suitable for thick APL hair it would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

I think your PS looks great, its so nicely done I love it! I do understand the frustration with staying motivated with the same PS. I have been in box braids for a little over a year and a half, and what motivates me is pretty much seeing the new growth in my braids. I usually do a length check every other month when I take them out & every 6 months when I relax. Seeing the progress, in my opinion, is a huge motivational factor to keep the PS. Also I switch up my box braids a lot, I change the color, parting, and length all the time so I don't get so bored. I like to track my progress by using my length shirt when I length check & I also compare my pictures before I started my hair growth journey to where I am currently and then I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I agree with everything @LonDone said. Spot on! I'm new to the regimented hair growth journey, but I do realize that my hair wouldn't be anywhere near where it is without my PS. Btw my goal is also WL lol at the rate I'm going, I hope this time next year I should be nearing full MBL starting to approach WL ... fingers crossed.
 
Mapleoats said:
I find I can’t do buns (that I like atleast ) on my hair at its current length (without blowing out first) because I have to pull too tightly, and it gives me a headache so I imagine it’s not good for my hair either. I switched to this pinned up twisted style because I got fed up with the headaches and was surprised by how much length I started retaining. I also notice I get hella tangles when I bun my hair too.
Click to expand...

My buns use to do this as well when my hair was APL and shorter, I’d get some serious tugging at my nape too. Secure the bun with a bobby pin until it gets long enough to where you can use a scrunchie.
 
LonDone said:
This. Maybe it makes you look a bit young, but that's all - and that's nothing bad lol.

I have been in the saaaaame PS since May 2017 lol, and I keep myself motivated/going by a few things:

1) The cost of long hair is time.
2) I Want Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair.
3) I Want Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair YESTERDAY.

So now I know what I want, and now I know how to get there - ONLY by growing through EL/NL/SL/APL/BSL and MBL. I will not grow to WL without growing through those other markers. This is non-negotiable and unavoidable. FOR EVERYONE. This, coupled with the fact that I want that hair to already be on my head, keeps me doing what I need to have what I want in the soonest time possible: PS and PS and PS. It's like losing weight: you won't lose 5 stone unless and until you lost stones 1, 2, 3 and 4.

So far it's been 2 years 8 months in the same hairstyle. I estimate in another 6 months and 1 day I will have what I want: Day 2 Waist Length Straightened Hair YESTERDAY!
Click to expand...

2 years and 8 months! I admire your patience lol. But you’re right. My short term goal is BSL, so I’m gonna keep pushing with this style until then. Hopefully another 8 months will get me there!
 
Rhealthyhair said:
I think your PS looks great, its so nicely done I love it! I do understand the frustration with staying motivated with the same PS. I have been in box braids for a little over a year and a half, and what motivates me is pretty much seeing the new growth in my braids. I usually do a length check every other month when I take them out & every 6 months when I relax. Seeing the progress, in my opinion, is a huge motivational factor to keep the PS. Also I switch up my box braids a lot, I change the color, parting, and length all the time so I don't get so bored. I like to track my progress by using my length shirt when I length check & I also compare my pictures before I started my hair growth journey to where I am currently and then I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I agree with everything @LonDone said. Spot on! I'm new to the regimented hair growth journey, but I do realize that my hair wouldn't be anywhere near where it is without my PS. Btw my goal is also WL lol at the rate I'm going, I hope this time next year I should be nearing full MBL starting to approach WL ... fingers crossed.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I should start thinking of a long term goal, I think that’ll help my motivation as well. And I guess just taking lots of pictures to look back on and see how far I’ve come
 
NaturalShe94 said:
My buns use to do this as well when my hair was APL and shorter, I’d get some serious tugging at my nape too. Secure the bun with a bobby pin until it gets long enough to where you can use a scrunchie.
Click to expand...

I actually haven’t tried using just a bobby pin. I’ll give that a try next time, thanks!
 
Mapleoats said:
How do you guys track your progress and stay motivated? And How do you help feel cute during protective styling?
Click to expand...

I also wear my twists in buns. I think it matches me lol. Anything looks good with earings and mascara... Also neat parts. I sectioned my hair last month and I'm aiming to keep the same sections until the end of the year.

Braids and twists help me stay motivated because I can see the new growth

Honeypot said:
Why don't y'all just wear the twists down. That's not gonna harm anything.
Click to expand...

Honeypot, have you taken your starting photo and updated your entry post with a current length? Where do you want to be by the end of the year?
 
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