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Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

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GettingKinky said:
I’m back from my island vacay. My hair is dry and super tangled. I’m going to prepoo and detangle with my Aussie moist. Then I’m going to see if I have any other areas of breakage like the one I shared a few days ago.
Click to expand...
Hope you had a wonderful vacation. So sorry you are having the breakage issue. But I'm glad you have a positive attitude towards it and I know you will have a great plan of attack to handle it.
 
My sister said I should try get an extra 2 weeks with the braids..so take them out at 8 weeks.

I'll play it by ear. Scalp feels fine. Hair is still getting TLC and washes. The waves are no longer as wavy but thats ok. Foam with large Braids will fix that. I've just been throwing them up in a loose bun.

Braids have been so easy. I would definitely get them again next year.

Click to make bigger:
20250701_155500.jpg20250701_155932.jpg
 
Finally getting around to straining this batch of infused oils that I started on 5/17/25. I have another batch that I started the same day that I'll continue to let infuse until I need it.

Inside: coffee/fenugreek/burdock root + MCT oil.

I'll mix in various essential oils, vitamin E, castor oil and some MSM crystals in 2oz bottles before applying/ giving it away to friends & family.

Before shaking
20250702_120248.jpg
After shaking
20250702_120324.jpg
Cheesecloth to strain
(20250702_120259.jpg
After 1st strain. I also strained it a 2nd time - not pictured
20250702_120520.jpg
 
yaya24 said:
My sister said I should try get an extra 2 weeks with the braids..so take them out at 8 weeks.

I'll play it by ear. Scalp feels fine. Hair is still getting TLC and washes. The waves are no longer as wavy but thats ok. Foam with large Braids will fix that. I've just been throwing them up in a loose bun.

Braids have been so easy. I would definitely get them again next year.

Click to make bigger:
View attachment 505236View attachment 505238
Click to expand...
Your braids look great! I agree with you, it's so easy with this style, I kept mine in for 7 weeks, I think next year I will keep it between 5-6 weeks. You're right to play it by ear, I do think with braids, it's a little more difficult to accurately assess what's going on with your hair.
 
GettingKinky said:
I’m on an island vacation and spending a ton of time in the ocean and in the pool. My plan to keep wearing spin pins buns fell by the wayside because the buns do not hold up to swimming. Yesterday I put my hair in 2 side ponytails and I noticed a bunch of broken hairs along the part. I have NO idea how this happened. Since I rarely wear my hair parted down the center it could have been like this for some time. Maybe even the spin pins are doing this. I’m sad about this but luckily it won’t show when I wear my hair in its normal styles.

But I do want to figure out how it happened so I can prevent it in the future. This picture isn’t so good but I circled all the area with the broken hairs. If anyone has seen something like this before let me what caused it for you.

View attachment 505106
Click to expand...
My issue was due to sewins and that was where the circular braiding pattern started. Ended up with a bald patch that finally started growing. Not your situation at all but I think at the end of the, it’s just repeated stress in that area.
 
ScorpioLove said:
My issue was due to sewins and that was where the circular braiding pattern started. Ended up with a bald patch that finally started growing. Not your situation at all but I think at the end of the, it’s just repeated stress in that area.
Click to expand...
I always have my hair braided back and then the length of plaits folded back towards the front of my head. This makes the weave lie flat and doesn't stress that middle part of the crown.
 
I have about 25 braids left to take down. This upcoming Friday would have made 8 weeks, I'm good.

I started early this morning, and have been slowly taking them out (and detangling as I go) throughout the day.

So far no major breakage or shedding.
Thank God
 
I'm going to hang out in this challenge for the rest of the year!

I took a break from focusing on my hair this year. At the end of last year I was really disappointed with how my ends were looking and just not happy with my hair at all. I cut off about 2 inches in December and another 1-1.5 inches in January. Since then I've kinda just been letting my hair do its thing while I focus on life.

I am taking engagement photos in a few days so I wanted my hair straight for that, and pressed my hair for the first time since December and I'm pleasantly surprised with how my hair has grown back and ends filled in, it's motivating me to start caring about my growth again :)


My hair in December when I was very unhappy with my ends
IMG_0171.jpeg
January blown out after cutting 3.5 inches off

IMG_0288.jpeg

Today - Blow out and then press

IMG_0832.jpegIMG_0834.jpeg
 
I can't say for certain, but I was suspecting my tangle teezer was tearing up my ends. I stopped using it after the December pic and haven't looked back since. I don't think I'll be going back to the tangle teezer again.

I'm also giving up my beloved box braids. I loved to do them 2x per year as a hair break or vacation style but I think my hair just can't sustain them at this length. I've been stuck at BSL/MBL for the longest, hopefully these two adjustments will get me over the hump to WL
 
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Mapleoats said:
I can't say for certain, but I was suspecting my tangle teezer was tearing up my ends. I stopped using it after the December pic and haven't looked back since. I don't think I'll be going back to the tangle teezer again.

I'm also giving up my beloved box braids. I loved to do them 2x per year as a hair break or vacation style but I think my hair just can't sustain them at this length. I've been stuck at BSL/MBL for the longest, hopefully these two adjustments will get me over the hump to WL
Click to expand...
Welcome back! :wave: Congratulations on your engagement! Your hair is looking great and healthy. I've noticed that when I don't focus on my hair, it quietly does it's thing, and the results are great :yep:

I think the tangle teezer has made my ends rough and has potentially created some mid shaft splits. I have stopped using it too, I'm annoyed with myself for even trying it, but it's a lesson learned.

I've chopped the braids down to once a year when I go on my first holiday. I'm going to Portugal in the next couple of weeks and I intend to just wear WAGs, will probably cowash a little more frequently as I will be gone for just under 2 weeks. It's nice and hot out there so my hair will dry quickly.
 
My engagement photos went really well! I'm going to challenge myself to reach waist length before my wedding day (not sure when it is yet... probably some time next year).

My rules for my mini challenge are pretty simple.
basically to keep doing what I've been doing since January

- no silk presses until I hit WL
- only use my revair for blow outs for now as it's my gentlest blow dryer
- no box braids
- wash every 7-14 days
- style in small twists / twist outs / occasional blow dry
- gently detangle with wide tooth comb followed by detangling brush
- deep condition with every wash

That's pretty much it. I did buy some new products to experiment with my wash n go, so I'll probably try wash n gos for the next few washes, but by mid / late September I'll be back to my small twists.
 
Mapleoats said:
I'm going to hang out in this challenge for the rest of the year!

I took a break from focusing on my hair this year. At the end of last year I was really disappointed with how my ends were looking and just not happy with my hair at all. I cut off about 2 inches in December and another 1-1.5 inches in January. Since then I've kinda just been letting my hair do its thing while I focus on life.

I am taking engagement photos in a few days so I wanted my hair straight for that, and pressed my hair for the first time since December and I'm pleasantly surprised with how my hair has grown back and ends filled in, it's motivating me to start caring about my growth again :)


My hair in December when I was very unhappy with my ends
View attachment 505934
January blown out after cutting 3.5 inches off

View attachment 505936

Today - Blow out and then press

View attachment 505940View attachment 505944
Click to expand...
You had fabulous progress. I'm glad things turned around so quickly for you and you are back on track.
 
Tracking today, and my hair only retains 1 inch every 3 months... so 4 inches a year (vs the standard 6) ..at least I can plan my goals accordingly.

I try not to compare lol. Yesss I'm soo excited about my 4 inches ♡♡

My trim is scheduled for December 17th.
 
B_Phlyy said:
Had a slight misstep with a product. My hair had been feeling dry for the past week or so and my styling products weren't working as well either. My regimen has been the same so I knew it was a product.

The previous leave- in I had been using ran out so I switched to one I had used a few times before but never consistently. The product is labeled as a detangling leave- in but after my review of the ingredients and instructions, it's actually a "moisturizing" heat protectant. So it was added a tiny bit of moisture but not enough to combat Midwest spring humidity.

I will be able to finish the item, I just added in another moisturizer to keep my hair hydrated. So far so good.
Click to expand...
So this was my last post, which was in the middle of May, three and a half months ago. Obviously, I've been active on the forum, but I swear I though I was posting regularly in this thread. I missed my mid year length check and everything. Since I'm in my "lock in to end 2025" era, I will just have to remember to post updates in the multiple threads I seem to be signed up for.

Anywho, I've been in mini braids all summer and will be for another week or 2. I will be adding some crochet hair to some that need a little more help getting into the bun. There's no point in doing a refresh at this point. I've mostly been using CurlSmith, The Mane Choice, and Shea Moisture products for maintenance. I now totally get the hype of why brands want you to use their whole line for everything. It really does work well if they have everything you need.
 
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