Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

[GettingKinky]

I’ve been thinking more about the way I detangle my hair. The detangling brush I use does a great job, but since I’m not wearing my hair out, I think a wide tooth comb is enough. I think I’ll save the detangling brush for maybe once a month or so.

As long as as I’m bunning, my first priority is to be gentle to my hair.

 

[Meritamen]

I would like to join!! I don't do much to my hair but have been stuck around APL for a few years now, sadly. This year I hope to stay on top of my routine and not neglect to moisturize it enough. Also need to figure out why I keep getting bubble splits in the length of my hair. Here are my details:

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural (dye hair jet black)

Current Length: Full APL

Goal Length: BSL

Plan to reach goal length: I'm not sure.

Regimen:
Wash day once week: Detangle, shampoo, deep condition, blow dry with RevAir, then moisturize and seal, and keep hair stretched in braids
In-between wash day: Mist hair with water, moisturize and seal
Every few months: Dye hair jet black then follow wash day routine

Protective Styles:
Buns, two-strand twists, braids

Staple Products:
Alodia haircare and Melanin haircare

Starting Pic: REQUIRED
Will post later.

 

[faithVA]

I would like to join!! I don't do much to my hair but have been stuck around APL for a few years now, sadly. This year I hope to stay on top of my routine and not neglect to moisturize it enough. Also need to figure out why I keep getting bubble splits in the length of my hair. Here are my details:

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural (dye hair jet black)

Current Length: Full APL

Goal Length: BSL

Plan to reach goal length: I'm not sure.

Regimen:
Wash day once week: Detangle, shampoo, deep condition, blow dry with RevAir, then moisturize and seal, and keep hair stretched in braids
In-between wash day: Mist hair with water, moisturize and seal
Every few months: Dye hair jet black then follow wash day routine

Protective Styles:
Buns, two-strand twists, braids

Staple Products:
Alodia haircare and Melanin haircare

Starting Pic: REQUIRED
Will post later.

Welcome. Sorry to hear about your split issues. Are you using a semi-, demi, or permanent color?

 

[GettingKinky]

It’s been 15 weeks since my last blow out trim. When my stylist was blowing out my hair this time she said it’s much less tangly than it usually is. She was really surprised. She asked me if I’ve what I’ve been doing differently. Here are all the things I can think of

• Washing 2x a week instead of 1x
• Using a gentler shampoo
• Using a leave in conditioner under my botanical gel
• Exclusively wearing spin pin buns.
• I’ve also been trying out new conditioners trying to find a more moisturizing staple. That’s still a work in progress

I’m sure all of these helped but my guess is the that the bunning made the biggest difference. I would usually see her on day 4 or 5 of my wash n go and she detangles me on wet hair, but after she’s rinsed the conditioner out. I think the bun keeps my strands more organized so detangling is easier.

For now I’m going to keep up my current routine for probably another 3-4 months and see where I am at my next trim

Tonight or tomorrow I’ll take pictures and measurements. And post another update.

 

[Chicoro]

It’s been 15 weeks since my last blow out trim. When my stylist was blowing out my hair this time she said it’s much less tangly than it usually is. She was really surprised. She asked me if I’ve what I’ve been doing differently. Here are all the things I can think of

• Washing 2x a week instead of 1x
• Using a gentler shampoo
• Using a leave in conditioner under my botanical gel
• Exclusively wearing spin pin buns.
• I’ve also been trying out new conditioners trying to find a more moisturizing staple. That’s still a work in progress

I’m sure all of these helped but my guess is the that the bunning made the biggest difference. I would usually see her on day 4 or 5 of my wash n go and she detangles me on wet hair, but after she’s rinsed the conditioner out. I think the bun keeps my strands more organized so detangling is easier.

For now I’m going to keep up my current routine for probably another 3-4 months and see where I am at my next trim

Tonight or tomorrow I’ll take pictures and measurements. And post another update.

Aren’t you also sleeping with your hair in a very loose bun instead of having it completely loose at night?

 

[GettingKinky]

Aren’t you also sleeping with your hair in a very loose bun instead of having it completely loose at night?

I am, but I just started that about a week ago

 

[Meritamen]

Welcome. Sorry to hear about your split issues. Are you using a semi-, demi, or permanent color?

Hello, thanks for the welcome! I use permanent color on my roots only about every 3 months when I can see the greys coming back. Rarely, I will apply a rinse to the length of my hair to freshen the color there too. I like my hair to be jet black, black as midnight.

I used to use Garnier Olia hair color and now use AGEBeautiful Liqui-Crème hair color with 10 developer.

 

[Chicoro]

I am, but I just started that about a week ago

It still counts. It’s the details…
I am not trying to bother you, but i distinctly remember you noting the lack of tangles in your hair and mentioning the main thing you had changed prior to that-literally the night before-was that you had put your hair up, instead of leaving it loose. From what I recall, you hadn’t really mentioned the lack of tangles/the easier comb ability until after sleeping in the loose but immobilizing bun. I think that is a key component of your results, loosely binding but immobilizing the hair to sleep.

Congratulations on the success of your overall process!

 

[faithVA]

Hello, thanks for the welcome! I use permanent color on my roots only about every 3 months when I can see the greys coming back. Rarely, I will apply a rinse to the length of my hair to freshen the color there too. I like my hair to be jet black, black as midnight.

I used to use Garnier Olia hair color and now use AGEBeautiful Liqui-Crème hair color with 10 developer.

Are you using any type of bond treatment to restore the hair after color? I color my hair and have found it to be essential for my hair.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Going to try to do a henna treatment this weekend. I can't live with these greys. They are causing me great distress which will hinder hair growth.

 

[Meritamen]

Are you using any type of bond treatment to restore the hair after color? I color my hair and have found it to be essential for my hair.

No, I'm willing to add it. Do you have any recommendations?

 

[spacetygrss]

I would like to join!! I don't do much to my hair but have been stuck around APL for a few years now, sadly. This year I hope to stay on top of my routine and not neglect to moisturize it enough. Also need to figure out why I keep getting bubble splits in the length of my hair. Here are my details:

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural (dye hair jet black)

Current Length: Full APL

Goal Length: BSL

Plan to reach goal length: I'm not sure.

Regimen:
Wash day once week: Detangle, shampoo, deep condition, blow dry with RevAir, then moisturize and seal, and keep hair stretched in braids
In-between wash day: Mist hair with water, moisturize and seal
Every few months: Dye hair jet black then follow wash day routine

Protective Styles:
Buns, two-strand twists, braids

Staple Products:
Alodia haircare and Melanin haircare

Starting Pic: REQUIRED
Will post later.

Several years ago, I was having problems with bubble splits down the length of my hair as well.
I found two culprits:
1. Bunning. While it’s an easy style, It resulted in terrible split ends and I’d get splits right where the ponytail holder was (didn’t matter what kind).
2. My hair wrap. It was supposedly smooth, but it was catching my hair. When I stopped using the specific hair wrap, the bubble splits completely went away.

This may not be your issue, but I know that it was like night and day when I started to limit the buns and got rid of the particular hair wrap. Hope you find the culprit soon.

 

[GettingKinky]

I’m having a really hard time telling if my hair is getting longer or if I need to up my hair care game.

Every 14-18 weeks I get my hair blown out and trimmed. Since last March I’ve been measuring it in 8 places after each trim, and the numbers really aren’t going up. Best case it’s a few inches longer after almost a year.

I have pictures (see below) but since I wasn’t systematic in taking them and since the straightness of my blowout varies it’s hard to judge from the pictures.

I know I keep saying that I’m going to do my own trims, but this time I think I mean it. I don’t even really care if my hair is even, I just want to dust my ends and know that I’m removing the bare minimum.



I had a major cut this time. I asked my stylist who doesn’t do curly cuts to fix my hair in back because it was way longer than the rest and she chopped 6 inches off. (I save a piece and took it home to measure I was so upset.) This is when I started measuring my hair after every trim. Since this trim my measurements say my hair has only grown about 1-2 inches depending on the location.

 

[GettingKinky]

Since my hair is blown out I decided to measure the circumference of my ponytail to determine my density. My ponytail felt pretty skimpy, but I guess it’s because I’m not used to my hair being straight. It’s about 3.75” so that makes me med- high. I wish I had even more density so my hair would look thick even when it’s flat ironed.

 

[faithVA]

Going to try to do a henna treatment this weekend. I can't live with these greys. They are causing me great distress which will hinder hair growth.

I feel you. Too much gray makes?me sad and I don't enjoy my hair.

 

[faithVA]

No, I'm willing to add it. Do you have any recommendations?

My #1 is K18. It is expensive but for me the changes are noticeable and 1 container last a year. It is worth it if I can keep my hair.

Many people like Olaplex which is less expensive. It didn't work for me but my hair is special.

I'm trying Bondbar products from Sally's now. Less expensive but it's too early to tell whether it works for me

 

[faithVA]

Since my hair is blown out I decided to measure the circumference of my ponytail to determine my density. My ponytail felt pretty skimpy, but I guess it’s because I’m not used to my hair being straight. It’s about 3.75” so that makes me med- high. I wish I had even more density so my hair would look thick even when it’s flat ironed.

I'm just going to focus on 2024 and beyond. Your haircis definitely longer. The first your hair is floating around the top of your shoulders. The second your hair reached full SL. The third you are APL.

You may want to start taking 2 or 3 sections and pulling them either to the front or back for your own purposes. Not so much to say you are this length or that length but to have a consistent marker.

The hair needs some tension to it to see where it lands. I think that will help you a lot.

 

[faithVA]

I'm just going to focus on 2024 and beyond. Your haircis definitely longer. The first your hair is floating around the top of your shoulders. The second your hair reached full SL. The third you are APL.

You may want to start taking 2 or 3 sections and pulling them either to the front or back for your own purposes. Not so much to say you are this length or that length but to have a consistent marker.

The hair needs some tension to it to see where it lands. I think that will help you a lot.

Just wanted to add to what I said earlier. Because even blow dried hair has volume it goes out as much as it goes down so you literally have to pull it down down.


Flat ironed hair significantly reduces that volume which is why it is easier to see length. Although this isn't always worth it.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Your hair looks massive fuller. I think you also need to incorporate help into your blowouts. I think you’re steadily growing longer but it’s definitely getting thicker. @GettingKinky


I’m telling you for years I thought something was wrong with my routine. I don’t get silk presses and I don’t go to the salon unless it was for a sew in back then. I was protective styling and it wasn’t moving. It however was growing out. My hair doesn’t grow down. It grows in a heart shape.

I mentioned this before to you when I had my son pull my hair down , I was BSL. But when he didn’t pull it down it was sitting on my shoulders blown out.

This first picture was 2016. I was BSL and pregnant. My hair I had just taken down from crochet braids.

This second picture is December 2024. My hair is just taken down from crochet braids as well. I’m past shoulder length but not just fully APL the last time I checked by myself. I haven’t had my son check my hair since I cut six inches off in 2023.

 

[CoiledOrchids]

starting pics (january 2025)
got a silk press and a trim today.

will be going to the salon every two weeks and getting a trim every 2 months.

will be getting steam treatments and protein treatments done at the salon as well.

my ends were horrible as I had splits going up the hair shift from the braids. I told her to cut whatever looks bad so I can start fresh.

I like my new stylist and she's super affordable and offers discounts. They also have an esthetician and a nail salon located inside the salon too so I can get my nails done as well!

my hair is so shiny and bouncy. I ended up getting it done for $35 since she had a january special going all month