Grow it Long 2022 Challenge!

[Mapleoats]

Lets Grow and Retain all 2022!
This challenge is all about growing and retaining long healthy hair this year! Whatever your length/health goals are, this challenge is for you! Let’s hold each other accountable and share our knowledge as we breakthrough length and retention milestones this year. Through out the year I will be posting discussion questions, videos, tips, ideas etc to help keep this thread active and informational, and I encourage you all to do the same. Challenge open to anyone!

Give me the DETAILS:
Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Current Length:
Goal Length:
Plan to reach goal length:
Regimen:
Protective Styles:
Staple Products:
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

Check ins every 3 months

• 1st check in: April 1st
• 2nd check in: July 1st
• 3rd check in: October 1st
• Final pic: December 31st

I want to keep this challenge fun, interesting and inspiring to one another so pics are required on or around check in dates! I love looking at pics as much as I love posting them.

Tips:

• Moisturize and seal.
• Trim only when absolutely necessary (ex. frayed; thinning ends, stagnant hair length, excessive shedding).
• Protective styles (styles with ends tucked) help retain length.
• Deep conditioning is your hairs bestfriend.
• Heat without heat protectant is a no-no.
• Length retention is more important than growth.
• Tight ponytails and buns cause tension on hair strands resulting breakage.
• Detangle gently. If you're making a face while detangling then you're handling your strands too rough.
• If it doesn't have SLIP, throw it away.
• Stay hydrated and take your vitamins!!
• Treat your hair with love and care; it will AMAZE you.

Happy Growing and Retaining in 2022!

 

[Mapleoats]

Challengers:

1. @Mapleoats
2. @faithVA
3. @Bette Davis Eyes
4. @Chicoro
5. @Meritamen
6. @Firstborn2
7. @Sanity
8. @PagingSunshine
9. @Kiaray8
10. @keranikki
11. @Napp
12. @ckisland
13. @HealthyHair2020
14. @long.hair.dont.care
15. @Benuontherise
16. @DVAntDany
17. @Theresamonet

 

[Mapleoats]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural

Current Length:
BSL-ish? Lol
Measurements:
13.5 inches on the sides
15 inches on the crown
16 inches in the front
12.5 inches in the back

Goal Length:
June 2022 -
MBL, and/or +2.5 inches on my measurements
December 2022 -
WL, and/or +5 inches on my measurements

Plan to reach goal length:
Stick to my regimen, pay attention to my hair, develop an ends care routine, tweak things as necessary.

Regimen:
- wash every 7-14 days
- Prepoo and DC every wash
- olaplex treatment monthly
- clarify monthly
- gently detangle in the shower
- style in a blow out or twists
- trim every 3 months

Protective Styles:
- mini twists on my own hair
- buns on stretched hair

Staple Products:
- JOICO clarifying Shampo
- JOICO K pak moisture DC a
- CRN aloe whipped butter gel
- Aveda smooth infusion style prep and glossing straightener
- Olaplex products
- all my blow dryers

Starting Pic:

 

[faithVA]

My Deets

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: Between EL and Nape Length
Goal Length: SL to Full SL
Plan to reach goal length:
1. Simple regimen: Cleanse, Condition, Style (CCS) every 5 to 7 days
2. Rotate between styles: wash and go; flat twist; two strand twists
3. Stylist visit every 3 to 4 months;
4. Clip splits as needed
5. Be gentler with my ends
6. Keep my hair hydrated with more frequent CCS

Regimen:
1. Cleanse with clarifying, almost clarifying, all purpose or moisturizing shampoo
2. Cleanse with moisturizing shampoo
3. Condition
4. Use gel for wash and go and leave-in/gel for twists
5. Reset every 5 to 7 days

Protective Styles: Flat twist or two strands when necessary

Staple Products:
Madison Reed Shampoo & Conditioner
Uncle Funky's and Innersense I Create Hold gels
TGIN Deep Conditioner
TGIN Leave-in

Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I’m up in here. Saving my spot. Im BSL in the back. Looking for full BSL everywhere in 2022. I’ll steal a picture from the old thread because I’m on my phone. Lemme see.

 

[Mapleoats]

Woohoo!! @faithVA @Bette Davis Eyes welcome!!!

 

[Chicoro]

I was able to track a significant amount of growth in success in the previous year's thread. I am trying to better acknowledge and recognize my achievements. This challenge helps me to do this. Thanks for hosting this year @Mapleoats !

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
I am natural. I like to straighten with heat 1 to 2 times per year at maximum.

Current Length: On Left Side - Re-Edited ALL of this January 16th, 2022
In the crown area (back top bantu knot length): 26.0 inches
In the back nape area (back bottom bantu knot length): 22 inches
In the front hairline area (front top bantu knot length): 24 inches
In the front side area (front bottom bantu knot length): 23 inches

Goal Length:
My goal length is 30 inches for the crown area and 26 inches for the nape area.
Thus, I am going for four (4) inches of growth and retention in 2022.

Plan to reach goal length:

• I've tweaked my use of Shea butter in my routine. I want to see if it will make a difference.
• I've added Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3 to my routine for the first time ever.
• I would like put back Aphogee 2 Step now that the bulk of my hair is starting to reach longer lengths (Aphogee 2 can break off my little single hairs when I am starting to gain new length. Thus, I removed it from my routine for awhile.)
• I will continue with my Ends Routine.
• I will continue with my No Comb Routine.
• I wil continue with wearing my 8 braids in a protective style.

Regimen:

• Pre-treat dirty hair with Aloe vera, oil and glycerin to breakdown buildup.
• Cleanse scalp with DIY lactic acid or glycolic acid blend.
• Apply Olaplex No. 0 and Olaplex No. 3
• Wash with moisturizing shampoo and condition
• Spritz hair with a leave in protein product and let dry in bantus
• Aphogee 2 Step in Foam every 2 months*

Protective Styles:

• 8 braids worn in a pulled back ponytail with ends tucked up to form a chignon
• 8 braids without being pulled back (occasionally).

Staple Products:

• Shea butter and Shea butter mix
• Scurl
• Castor oil
• Aloe vera, glycerin, olive oil
• Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3
• Aphogee 2 Step
• Keracare Shampoo and Conditioner
• Some form of light protein for my ends

Starting Pic: REQUIRED
Front View Side View Back View

 

[Meritamen]

I would like to join.

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural

Current Length:
APL

Goal Length:
Goal length for the year is BSL

Plan to reach goal length:
I plan to stay in protective styles throughout the year. Probably mostly with braids.

Regimen:
I keep my routine super simple because I don't have the energy for a ton of steps. Also I am my own worst enemy when it comes to retaining any length so in order to grow my hair out I need to keep my hands out of it.

Protective style
- Keep my hair in protective styles - twists or box braids
- Wash hair once a week (or more often if needed in protective style)
- Moisturize with water and a moisturizing cream
- Make regular appointment to get hair rebraided

In-between time
- Keep hair in braids or chunky twists
- Detangle and wash hair once a week (or more often if needed)
- Moisturize with water and a moisturizing cream
- Maybe seal hair with an oil or butter
- Retwist or rebraid

Protective Styles:
Knotless braids, box braids, twists, and wigs

Staple Products:
Shea Moisture Coconut Oil shampoo and conditioner
Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Twisting Soufflé

Starting Pic:

 

[Firstborn2]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural
Current Length:
I think BSB
Goal Length:
MBL by end of year
Plan to reach goal length:
100 protective styles
Regimen:
Moisturize hair 3x week
Wash and deep condition bi weekly
Protein once a month
Protective Styles:
Wigs and braids
Staple Products:
Shea Butter
Aloe Vera juice
Tgin Products
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[Mapleoats]

3 new challengers in the mix! @Chicoro @Meritamen @Firstborn2 thank you for joining us!!

 

[Chicoro]

3 new challengers in the mix! @Chicoro @Meritamen @Firstborn2 thank you for joining us!!

Thanks for having me!

 

[Napp]

I don't know if I should join another challenge. I am already in the APL challenge. I'm SL right now with a modest goal of APL but if I really retain my length, I might reach BSL. It sounds kind of crazy to go from SL to BSL in one year to me unless your hair grows fast. I grow at an average rate. I kind of want to push my luck but I don't want to get disappointed if I don't reach my goal.

 

[Mapleoats]

I don't know if I should join another challenge. I am already in the APL challenge. I'm SL right now with a modest goal of APL but if I really retain my length, I might reach BSL. It sounds kind of crazy to go from SL to BSL in one year to me unless your hair grows fast. I grow at an average rate. I kind of want to push my luck but I don't want to get disappointed if I don't reach my goal.

Come on up in this challenge @Napp!!! We’d be happy to have you! I say why not set lofty goals? Even if you don’t make it to BSL by the end of the year, it’s always good to push yourself, and you’ll learn a lot along the way!

 

[Sanity]

I'd love to join! I'll need every inch for my upcoming nuptials this year!

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural
Current Length:
10"
(I've trimmed off at least 4" over the last year due to dryness)
Goal Length:
15" BSL
Plan to reach goal length:
KISS Method
Wash n Go & using Protective styling in between to reach my goal.
Moisturize with my homemade Shea butter mix 3 times a week
Regimen:
Shampoo every 2 weeks in use with methods listed above ^^
Protective Styles:
Box Braids- Med/Large size only
Crochet Styles
Staple Products:
Shea butter mix
Home made growth oil
Water
Protein treatments 2x a month
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[Mapleoats]

@Sanity congrats on the upcoming wedding! Welcome to the challenge

 

[Sanity]

@Mapleoats
Thank you so much! <3!

 

[PagingSunshine]

Give me the DETAILS:
Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: I am currently natural
Current Length: Armpit Length
Goal Length: Bra Strap length to nearly grazing Midback length
Plan to reach goal length: Protect my hair for it’s life.
Regimen: When hair is lose I plan to wash once weekly with deep conditioning by heat and oil rinses. Scalp massages twice a week when using oil concoction.
When hair is braided down, wash every two weeks, with deep conditioning and oil rinsing. On off wash week witch hazel my scalp. Twice weekly scalp massages. I will be using oil based prepoo to take hair down as well.
Protein treatments every 9 weeks. With trims every 16 weeks. I plan to see a professional every 16 weeks as well for an extra eye on my hair.
Protective Styles: Wigs of all kinds and buns of variety
Staple Products: Camilla Rose products, As I am leave in, aphogee protien treatment, I won’t try anything too new if I do I will report it. (Honestly too lazy to go upstairs and name all products
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

1st line is where hair is. 2nd line is BSL.

 

[Kiaray8]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: Waist length. Front: 20.5 Middle: 21 Back: 18 inches.
Goal Length for 2022: Tailbone length (which would be 23 inches on me so 5 inches)
Plan to reach goal length: More protective styles, daily moisture for ends and less tension focused hairstyles.
Regimen: I’m returning back to an old routine which is pre-shampoo, shampoo, DC, oil rinse then style whether that be LOC or just leave in and styler products.

Protective Styles: Low buns, obsessed with ponytail braids or double Dutch braids atm. Similar to these:
(love the way she wraps her hair at the end so I've started to do similar)
I will do wash and goes but most likely in the summer. I’m going to try to learn how to flat twist and French braid this year.

Staple Products: African pride pre shampoo, Redken soft shampoo, DCs: Crece Pelo & Mielle no protein DC, Vatika oil, Giovanni direct leave in, Pydana leave in conditioner, Shea butter, eco styler black castor oil.
Starting Pic:

 

[keranikki]

I will update current length when I purchase another tape measure.

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: Ear length (curly)
Goal Length: Shoulder length (curly)
Plan to reach goal length: Exercise 6 days of week, drink 112+oz of water, monitor my eating habits, self-care is essential
Regimen:
-Weekly: Olaplex 0/3, KC Come Clean (clarifying), Giovanni Deep Moisture Shampoo, Olaplex #5, KC Knot Today, KCCC
-As needed: water and KCCC
Protective Styles: currently none
Staple Products: I’m not sold on anything right now, lol. Strong contenders are Olaplex 0/3 and Giovanni Deep
Starting Pic:

 

[Mapleoats]

Welcome @PagingSunshine @Kiaray8 @keranikki

 

[Mapleoats]

I’ve got a big batch of fenugreek hydrating, I plan to use it to mix up a prepoo treatment with a few of my favourite oils, and maybe some honey and yogurt. I’m trying to adapt this stylists methods, who I’ve been following on IG for a few years now.

She prepoos on all her clients with her own product, before shampooing 3x, conditioning, and blowing out their hair. I’m in awe of the health of their hair. She also insists on a pretty blunt cut for her clients and literally cuts out all damage, more than I think most would consider necessary. I wonder is it the super blunt cut, or the regimen that makes their hair look so beautiful healthy? Or maybe it’s a bit of both.

edit ::
Can’t seem to post the IG links, will try again later

 

[HealthyHair2020]

I think I'll join since I want to grow my hair out a little bit more this year although I'm pretty satisfied with my length atm.

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: APL I think. Just had a good trim.
Goal Length: Full BSL
Plan to reach goal length: Dec 2022
Regimen: Wash Day every 2 weeks alternating protein/moisturizing DCs.
Protective Styles: I'll be wearing my hair out a tinyyyy bit more because my edges need less tension atm. So twists, twist outs, buns (w/ bangs), flat twist outs, Braid outs.
Staple Products: adwoa beauty and Melanin Haircare lines. Neges Banda prepoos and Miche DCs.
Starting Pic: see below. This was before my recent trim but not a lot was taken off so should be accurate.

 

[Napp]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: SL
Goal Length: BSL
Plan to reach goal length: Cornrows under a wig
Regimen: Wash and DC every 2 months, Moisturize and seal hair every other day (alternate between S-curl and Aphogee)
Protective Styles: Cornrows under a wig
Staple Products: ORS moisture max shampoo, Olaplex step 1 and 2, African pride pre shampoo(for braid take down), S-curl no drip, Aphogee green tea and keratin reconstructor, Camille Rose Almond jai butter.
Starting Pic: REQUIRED
Sept 19 2021


I probably wont take another picture of my hair until the first check in. I hope I retain decent length until then!

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Starting of week 7 in the knotless braids. I don’t think I will have too much build up when I come out of these next weekend but probably some shedding. I’ve been using rice water ever now and again so we will see. It feels like I’ve retained about 1 inch of hair. I wasn’t going crazy with the scalp massages or oils this time around.

can’t wait to give my hair some loving. Deep conditioning sessions and heavy sealing.

 

[ckisland]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural
Current Length:
about APL
Goal Length:
MBL
Plan to reach goal length:
Keep doing what I've been doing -> Wearing wash n'gos to my goal length
Regimen:
Shampoo once a week
DC once a week
Cowash once a week
Protective Styles:
Buns
2 flattwitst braids
Staple Products:
Miss Jessie's Harm Me Knot
Miss Jessie's Want No Suds
Miss Jessie's Leave-in Condish
Miss Jessie's Honey Curls
Miss Jessie's Coily Custard
TGIN Miracle Repairx Deep Hydrating Hair Mask
Obia Naturals Babassu Deep Conditioner
Starting Pic: REQUIRED
ETA: Excuse my crazy looking ends. My hair was reverting as I was flatironing the rest of my head . I also trimmed about an inch off all over.

 

[Firstborn2]

I'd love to join! I'll need every inch for my upcoming nuptials this year!

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural
Current Length:
10"
(I've trimmed off at least 4" over the last year due to dryness)
Goal Length:
15" BSL
Plan to reach goal length:
KISS Method
Wash n Go & using Protective styling in between to reach my goal.
Moisturize with my homemade Shea butter mix 3 times a week
Regimen:
Shampoo every 2 weeks in use with methods listed above ^^
Protective Styles:
Box Braids- Med/Large size only
Crochet Styles
Staple Products:
Shea butter mix
Home made growth oil
Water
Protein treatments 2x a month
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

Congratulations!

 

[long.hair.dont.care]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:
Natural

Current Length:
BSB

Goal Length:
May be overly ambitious but WL

Plan to reach goal length:
Consistency

Regimen:
- daily (or weekly): spray hair parts and length with water and acv mix, apply peppermint oil on scalp, spray olive oil or smooth down shea butter on hair length, massage scalp.
- monthly (or 6 week mark): shampoo/deep condition and switch out crochet style, so no taking out the cornrows until the 3 month mark.
- dusting/trimming 2-3 a year because i use heat before styling.

Protective Styles:
- Crochet styles give me the best retention, but I'm currently in jumbo braids.
- Side note: I blow dry and straighten my hair before installing the style, this results in less single strand knots for me. It also helps with detangling and lessens the time i spend on styling my hair.

Staple Products:
- Water, peppermint essential oil, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, argan oil, shea butter
- Curl Cleanse Moisturizing & Conditioning Shampoo - the BEST for my hair
- I'm forever on the hunt for my staple moisturising conditioner and deep conditioner (note to self: best results have been DC's with protein + moisture)

Starting Pic: from Dec 14

 

[Mapleoats]

@Chicoro how do you embed posts from Instagram?

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

I'm just gonna watch from the sidelines. Y'all know I'm good at being inconsistent lmao.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro how do you embed posts from Instagram?

1. Go to the Instagram account.
2. Click on the picture or video in which you have an interest.
3. Go to the search bar at the top where it will say "Instagram"
4. Click on the bar so that the Instagram link changes to a more detailed link like this one: https://www.instagram.com/p/CYIhQV1OySi/
5. Copy the link
6. Click on the Media link (It's between the happy face and the quotation marks
7. Paste the link in Media (You can test to see the the link is posting correctly by hitting Preview in the top right corner of the LHCF posts, after you've pasted the link in Media. Don't forget to hit preview again to get out of the preview mode to go back to completing your post.)
8. Hit 'continue'
9. It takes a few brief seconds for the Insta post to show up.