Grow It Long 2024 Challenge!

[pikkonoloidlee]

Can somebody get me the link, too, please? If it is against the rules to post the link, can I get a private message, please?

Maybe long hair community?

Show me your buns...

http://images112.fotki.com/v600/photos/7/1199357/8767232/000_0003-vi.jpg http://images19.fotki.com/v677/photos/7/1199357/8767232/000_0005-vi.jpg Mod note: Hi folks, this thread is still very active, but many of the early images have disappeared because they were hosted with...

forums.longhaircommunity.com

 

[GettingKinky]

I last washed my hair on Saturday and today it still feels hydrated/moistured. But on my previous wash day my hair was really dry 2 days after I washed. I think the mistake I made that time was not using enough gel. I thought that since I was wearing a bun I could skimp on the gel, but the gel is what holds the moisture in my hair.

 

[VarieYvette]

Maybe long hair community?

Show me your buns...

http://images112.fotki.com/v600/photos/7/1199357/8767232/000_0003-vi.jpg http://images19.fotki.com/v677/photos/7/1199357/8767232/000_0005-vi.jpg Mod note: Hi folks, this thread is still very active, but many of the early images have disappeared because they were hosted with...

forums.longhaircommunity.com

That's the one I was thinking about

 

[VarieYvette]

Ooo, can we see the inspiration style, please?

Let me see if I can find the link


Edit to add:
Found it. My hair is still short so I need to add braiding hair like she did to have the twists long enough to reach the bun in the back, as well as to do the bun. But this was a low manipulation style, and lasted me a week.

 

[Chicoro]

Let me see if I can find the link


Edit to add:
Found it. My hair is still short so I need to add braiding hair like she did to have the twists long enough to reach the bun in the back, as well as to do the bun. But this was a low manipulation style, and lasted me a week.

Thank you so much! My nosiness is so liberating. I get to be in everyone’s business with no shame.

 

[GettingKinky]

Despite being very depressed by current events this morning, I still did my mid week wash.

 

[Chicoro]

Despite being very depressed by current events this morning, I still did my mid week wash.

How did your hair turn out?

 

[snoop]

Goody doesn’t show spin pins on their website so I’ve been stocking up on them from Amazon just in case they discontinue them.

There are plenty of them from other brands, but I want the ones from Goody.

When I check the Wal.ma.rt website, I found them listed there. Mind you it was .ca not .com but you might want to check there.

 

[snoop]

I took this picture right after my install last month (Oct 19). I hate feeling like my hair isn't really retaining any length even though my twists are obviously getting longer.




My goal is to keep these in until December.

I've not been doing a great job with taking care of myself or my hair and for the first time since maybe the 90s, I now have a flaky scalp. So, I'm washing, eating, drinking, sleeping, moisturizing, and massaging my way to a healthier scalp.

 

[snoop]

My hair has gone through so many changes since January 2023 and since the start of 2024. I've mostly noticed that the sides that have gained the most length and I've gained a bit on the back (since the start of this year). That divot in the back centre has started to fill in.

I'm still confused on how that is created in the first place. I hear it's possible through bunning, but why that specific back portion and not all of the back or even the sides? Maybe that's just how my hair grows. I've noticed that my hair alternates left and right in terms of growth. I'll get a growth spurt so that the back left looks longer than the rest, then the right will catch up, then the next year the right will have a growth spurt then the left will catch up.

 

[Chicoro]

My hair has gone through so many changes since January 2023 and since the start of 2024. I've mostly noticed that the sides that have gained the most length and I've gained a bit on the back (since the start of this year). That divot in the back centre has started to fill in.

I'm still confused on how that is created in the first place. I hear it's possible through bunning, but why that specific back portion and not all of the back or even the sides? Maybe that's just how my hair grows. I've noticed that my hair alternates left and right in terms of growth. I'll get a growth spurt so that the back left looks longer than the rest, then the right will catch up, then the next year the right will have a growth spurt then the left will catch up.


View attachment 499568

That's your growth pattern! That knowledge is worth a million dollars in the afro-textured hair care world! You've hit the jackpot!

You've just mined some real Gold dust!!!

 

[GettingKinky]

How did your hair turn out?

I put it back in a bun, so it looks pretty much the same as always

 

[Chicoro]

I put it back in a bun, so it looks pretty much the same as always

Super cute?

 

[GettingKinky]

Super cute?

I hope so

 

[snoop]

New growth achievement unlocked!

I'd have to check the year to find out when I started dabbling in water only washes, but there was a yt'er who talked about putting her hair in a top knot after water washing her hair. I remember how excited I was about wanting to reach that level. When I finally did, I was like

Recently -- probably last month, but September at the latest -- a couple of neighbours were talking about hair. They're Middle Eastern. One mentioned that she was talking to an Indian lady about hair and the lady mentioned that she (and others) would tie their hair into a knot [as a form of protective styling].

Earlier this week, I decided to give it a try, just to see if I could. My hair is much more stretched and complying while in the shower. Guess what?! I was able to do it!



I'm scarred to take it down because I'm not sure if I can do it on "dry" hair, but I'm so happy that I can do it at all. It's so comfortable and didn't require any pins or elastics so I'm assuming that this will be less tension on my hair overall. I don't have to worry about poky bits breaking my hair. I've slept with it without a second thought because there is no tension or pulling on my scalp.

I'll play around with the position and see if I can tie it into a higher bun and also if I can do it on freshly moisturized hair. I think that this is better for my nape hair than the non-pinned updo that I usually do on my hair.

 

[GettingKinky]

5 weeks down of washing 2x a week and bunning. So far it’s all going well. My only concern is the possibility of my bun stretching out my curls.

I don’t know if this routine is helping me retain length, but it’s easy and I like the way I look wearing a bun. And eventually my hair will be long enough to do cool elaborate buns.

 

[snoop]

It turns out that I can't really do the hair knot after taking it out. I can get the hair back in part way but it falls out after a few minutes. Solution: Grow my hair longer.

It did give me a nice stretch so I'll add this to my toolkit of styles that I can use to stretch my mini twists.

 

[GettingKinky]

I’ve never had a steam treatment before and today my stylist gave me one. She said when she removes the steamer from people’s hair water always drips out of it, but when she took it off mine nothing dripped out. I guess my hair was super thirsty. I wonder if I should look for a steamer so I can do my own treatments at home.

 

[GettingKinky]

Since I’ve started bunning the short hairs at the front edge of my hair have been bothering because they aren’t long enough to reach the base of my bun and they frizz. When I wear wash n gos they aren’t really an issue.

After my stream treatment I noticed that they didn’t hold moisture like the rest of my hair. I think I need to give them extra attention when I’m conditioning and applying leave in. This area of my hair needs some serious TLC.

 

[GettingKinky]

7 weeks of bunning. Still going strong.

 

[Chicoro]

Since I’ve started bunning the short hairs at the front edge of my hair have been bothering because they aren’t long enough to reach the base of my bun and they frizz. When I wear wash n gos they aren’t really an issue.

After my stream treatment I noticed that they didn’t hold moisture like the rest of my hair. I think I need to give them extra attention when I’m conditioning and applying leave in. This area of my hair needs some serious TLC

Since I’ve started bunning the short hairs at the front edge of my hair have been bothering because they aren’t long enough to reach the base of my bun and they frizz. When I wear wash n gos they aren’t really an issue.

After my stream treatment I noticed that they didn’t hold moisture like the rest of my hair. I think I need to give them extra attention when I’m conditioning and applying leave in. This area of my hair needs some serious TLC.

Congratulations on identifying a subtle detail as it relates to the needs of your hair. You had a first time steam treatment and made two discoveries. First, your hair likes steam and sucked up the moisture. Second, the hairs in the front may need extra conditioning or different care than the bulk of the hair. This is why I always say that hair is complex, more so than rocket science. And I always say the devil is in the details, meaning it’s those minute tweaks and small changes that could skyrocket one’s growth if they are identified and implemented correctly. Bravo to you! Hair success also has an intuitive component. Meaning, sometimes you’ll get an inkling or an inner nudge or be attracted to something, which in your case was wanting to do bunning. Acknowledging that desire and implementing it, the bunning, has proven to be so satisfying for you.

This is why I don’t like to see people berated about their hair processes. It’s hard knowing and growing one’s hair.

I love seeing you, your processes and your bunning blossoming and flourishing! It’s beautiful to see it.

Thank you for documenting and sharing this part of your journey with us.

 

[faithVA]

Looking forward to some pictures in December. So juicy!

 

[GettingKinky]

8 weeks of bunning and still going strong. It’s getting a little boring, but I’m going to keep up until at least the end of the year.

 

[GettingKinky]

I would kill to have density like this. I wouldn’t even care if it got super long.

 

[VarieYvette]

I have gone back into braids but in a healthier way (I hope). Before I would go to the salon, and the stylist would wash and deep condition, but then blow dry roughly without using heat protectant, and use a lot of gel while braiding which made it look great but made my scalp itch. This resulted in a lot of breakage, split ends, and my hair remaining the same length for a year.

This time, I washed and deep conditioned my hair the night before, applied my leave in and shea butter, and then put my hair into African threading to dry and get as much stretch as I could. Then on Friday evening, I did my box braids and did not use a lot of tension to grip the hair. I was also gently detangling as I went. After I finished, I dipped only the ends in hot water and trimmed the ends of the braids. I did not trim any little hairs sticking out of the braid like my stylist did. I also didn't use gel to braid. The results are braids that are not as neat as my braider would do, but they are still neat and I can go to work with them. I just need these to last until after Christmas and then I will take them down and go back to my usual regimen.

 

[Chicoro]

I would kill to have density like this. I wouldn’t even care if it got super long.

The scalp is super clean and healthy. I don't know @GettingKinky , I think you got a lot of density, too. With a tight shot of the camera like that, I think you might be surprised what your hair looks like up close and personal. Can you show this video to your stylist in January and get a shot or two of her doing the blowdry?

This is why I am IN LOVE with afro textured hair. It is marvelous and never ceases to amaze me. When it is healthy and long, it is breathtaking!

 

[Chicoro]

I have gone back into braids but in a healthier way (I hope). Before I would go to the salon, and the stylist would wash and deep condition, but then blow dry roughly without using heat protectant, and use a lot of gel while braiding which made it look great but made my scalp itch. This resulted in a lot of breakage, split ends, and my hair remaining the same length for a year.

This time, I washed and deep conditioned my hair the night before, applied my leave in and shea butter, and then put my hair into African threading to dry and get as much stretch as I could. Then on Friday evening, I did my box braids and did not use a lot of tension to grip the hair. I was also gently detangling as I went. After I finished, I dipped only the ends in hot water and trimmed the ends of the braids. I did not trim any little hairs sticking out of the braid like my stylist did. I also didn't use gel to braid. The results are braids that are not as neat as my braider would do, but they are still neat and I can go to work with them. I just need these to last until after Christmas and then I will take them down and go back to my usual regimen.

That braid preparation process you implemented this round was excellent: health first! I am sure it will pay dividends when you take down your hair after Christmas.

 

[GettingKinky]

The scalp is super clean and healthy. I don't know @GettingKinky , I think you got a lot of density, too. With a tight shot of the camera like that, I think you might be surprised what your hair looks like up close and personal. Can you show this video to your stylist in January and get a shot or two of her doing the blowdry?

This is why I am IN LOVE with afro textured hair. It is marvelous and never ceases to amaze me. When it is healthy and long, it is breathtaking!

My hair looks dense when it’s blown out because my blowout is light and quite kinky so my hair takes up a lot of space. This woman has 10 Bantu knots and each one contains sooooo many strands of hair. I think her hair is 2-3x as dense as mine. If I did 10 Bantu knots each one would be so small. All of my hair in one bun is about as big as 3-4 of her knots.

 

[VarieYvette]

That braid preparation process you implemented this round was excellent: health first! I am sure it will pay dividends when you take down your hair after Christmas.

Thank you. I'm hoping my hair will start gaining length in 2025 if I de with the issues I have now

 

[GettingKinky]

I had zero desire to do my midweek wash this morning, but I did it. I don’t know if the extra wash is beneficial moisture/ hydration or just unnecessary manipulation, but I’m going to keep it up at least until the end of the year.