Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

[snoop]

Let's grow and retain all 2025!

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 2025!

 

[GettingKinky]

Happy New Year. I’m in!!

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: ~APL when blown out
Goal Length: waist length blown out
Plan to reach goal length: frequent bunning, gentle detangling, quarterly trims, find a super moisturizing conditioner
Regimen: Wash 1-2x per week, style with leave in conditioner and a botanical gel
Protective Styles: spin pin buns (no ponytail holders)
Staple Products:
Shampoo - Bekura fatty coconut (discontinued) , Cecred Moisturizing shampoo (I haven’t tried it yet, but I have it) Briogeo Aloe & Oat, Kinky Curly Come Clean
Conditioner - Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair ( I haven’t tried it yet but I have it), Cecred hydrating conditioner
Deep conditioner Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Mask, Cecred Revitalizing Mask ( I haven’t tried it yet but I have it)
Leave in - Kinky Curly Knot Today, Cecred Mositure Lotion
Styler - Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic

Starting Pic: REQUIRED I will come back with a picture after my next trim early this month.

 

[snoop]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: WL
Goal Length: HL
Plan to reach goal length: Lots of moisture, oils, and tucking away my ends
Regimen: Weekly ayurvedic treatments, daily moisturizing and sealing, monthly micro trims
Protective Styles: Twists of all sizes and then hide away my ends
Staple Products: DIY lotion, ayurvedic oil, tallow, water, but will try to incorporate herbal hair sprays
Starting Pic: REQUIRED (Will be back with my starting picture this weekend)

 

[HealthyHair2020]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: APL after my December cut
Goal Length: Back to BSL
Plan to reach goal length:
1. Do protective styles once a quarter to give myself hair breaks.
2. Out of protective styles, wash my hair more frequently. Currently, I wash every 3 weeks but with my running it should be every 2 weeks.
3. Use my revair once a month to do my styles for length retention.
Regimen:
Per Quarter, I will:
1. Wear a protective style for six weeks.
2. Afterwards, I will wash my hair every 2 weeks and once a month, use my revair for styling.
3. Protein treatment my hair one month before my protective style so my strands remain strong.
Protective Styles: Box braids, passion twists, wigs, twists, flat twists w/ bun
Staple Products/Brands: Adwoa Beauty, Melanin Haircare, Nature's Little Secret, Botanika Beauty, Donna's Recipe, Design Essentials
Starting Pic:

This is my hair in twaids after the cut, don't have good photos before I put in the braids.

 

[faithVA]

THE DETAILS:
Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: NL
Goal Length: Full SL

Plan to reach goal length:
Continue to improve my regimen until I find a maintainable way to retain my ends.
I will also try some growth aids to see if I can stimulate growth.
For the most part I just plan to be patient.

Regimen:
1. Shampoo, Condition 1x or 2x a week and apply a leave-in before styling.
2. I will style in either flat twist or two strands until my hair is longer for other styles

For Flat Twist:
... will dry before styling: dry in twists or bantu knots; either air dry or under a dryer
... will apply a hair milk to my hair before twist it up.
... will tuck my ends under

For 2 Strands:
... will apply gel to wet hair
... will put in mini 2 strand twists
... will retwist weekly or rinse in twist

Deep condition and K18/Bond Treatment 1x a month.

Protective Styles: Flat twist or 2 strand twists
Staple Products:
Madison Reed Shampoo
TGIN Leave-in
TGIN Deep Conditioner
K18
Kinky Curly Curling Custard


Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[spacetygrss]

Just watching from the sidelines (I don’t show my hair in public). Let’s go!

 

[VarieYvette]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Transitioning to Natural
Current Length: NL
Goal Length: APL
Plan to reach goal length: Stick to my regimen
Regimen:
Shampoo and DC with heat once a week
Apply leave in, seal with a butter
Airdry in African threading
Low manipulation style for the week
Trim 3x this year (April, August, December)
Protective Styles: faux pony, faux puff, halo braid, African threading (Ben and Betty styles), mini braids, wigs
Staple Products: JBCO, can't find products regularly so I make do with what I find
Starting Pic: REQUIRED (will upload Monday after my weekend wash day)

 

[Chicoro]

Saving my place!



Give me the DETAILS:

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural

Current Length: Covers small of my back (Hip length?)

Goal Length: Half way over my booty, thick, even and full ends
When I sit down, I want my hair to touch the seat of the chair. I am daring @MzSwift to say somethin'. D.A.R.I.N.G. her.

Plan to reach goal length:

1. Pre-poo hair before washing.
2. Detangle during pre-poo session.
3. Use @snoop clay mix to cleanse hair monthly. ( 4 tablespoon clay, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon of goat milk, 1 tablespoon of charcoal powder)
4. Condition after every wash.
5. Use my liquid protein spray on washed hair.
6. Keep hair covered with plastic bag and scarf at night.
7. Keep hair hydrated, moist and lubricated.
8. No combs or brushes except to blow dry and trim.
9. Small trim after blow dry every 4 months (was every 3 months in 2024 where I did 5 trims)
10. Aphogee 2 Step after every blow dry and trim.

Regimen:

• Keep ends protected during day in greasy Shea butter and Vaseline coated rolled up balls on ends of my braids.
• Finger detangle
• Use aloe vera, panthenol, oil infused water to re-wet hair to re-braid every 3 days
• Use Scurl in my braids
• Use Sprouted fenugreek/fresh rosemary/clove oil every three nights on scalp and length of hair ( I add few drops of clove essential oil to my oil in dropper bottle)
• Use Aphogee 2 Step after blow dry and trim
• Use Shea butter on scalp and ends
• Cover head at night with plastic cap and scarf
• Re-braid every 3 days.
• Every Saturday, take down hair, wet with infused water, then spray on/in DIY protein spray

Protective Styles:

1. Braids that are greased on the last half with Shea butter and Vaseline
2. Ends rolled up halfway and secured with coated rubber bands

Staple Products:
Clay mix (@snoop mix)
Any creamy conditioner
Scurl
Shea butter
Vaseline
Hair gel
Sprouted fenugreek/fresh rosemary/dried cloves oil



Starting Pic: REQUIRED

Hair on Left is Dec 20th, 2024, blow-dry and light flat ironed. Hair on Right is Sep 22nd, blow dry.

 

[faithVA]

I'm going to try to reset my hair every Friday or Saturday night and be consistent.

Since I straightened and colored before xmas, I needed to use this cleanse session to get my hair back to normal.

1. Used Kitsch hair oil as a pretreatment
2. Used bondbar bondbar booster for 10 minutes
3. Rinsed and used bondbar recovery for 5 minutes
4. Shampooed with Elucence Clarifying shampoo
5. Second shampoo with Madison Reed Moisturizing shampoo
6. Conditioned with BioSilk
7. Used Mielle Leave-in Conditioner and then added a bit of water to work it in
8. Sectioned hair in 5 sections and applied a large amount of KCCC to each section
7. Installed a set of mini twists for the week.

One of the items I will use to track my progress is the number of bantu knots I can put my hair in while its drying. Right now I can do 4; 2 front and back. When I can do 2, 1 front and back, then I will know I've really retained some length.

Going to try to stick with the 2 strands for a while and take care of my ends.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Saving my spot

 

[Theresamonet]

I’ll be joining y’all as soon as I work up the energy to base my scalp, coat my ends, relax my hair, blow it out, trim it, and take a progress picture…

 

[GettingKinky]

Along with getting my hair to WL, I also have a goal of growing out my nape and the front of my hair so that it makes it into my bun.

I don’t know what to call the hair at my very front edge. It’s like the opposite of my nape, and I don’t know why it’s so much shorter than the hair just behind it, but this year I will focus on it.

 

[snoop]

Here are my starting pictures for this year:

I had my hair in granny plaits since just before Christmas and I took them down tonight.





(My waist folds make not having a belt or drawing a line in the picture, unnecessary. )

But the hurr! Oooh! When I think back to all of those years ago when I first started my hair journey and then when I found this board...I've reached my goal and then a whole lot more!!!



This braid out wasn't for anything other than to wash it, which I'll probably do on Monday.

 

[MzSwift]

@snoop

Be still my heart!
I'm up with an unsettled little one and your hair is bringing me joy! Love it!

 

[snoop]

You are too funny, but thank you ma'am.

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: natural
Current Length: between sl and apl
Goal Length: bsl
Plan to reach goal length: be consistent, monitor and maintain the health of my ends
Regimen: wash and deep condition every 2-3 weeks, moisturize and seal ends as needed between washes
Protective Styles: mini twists
Staple Products: still working on this
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[spacetygrss]

Here are my starting pictures for this year:

I had my hair in granny plaits since just before Christmas and I took them down tonight.

View attachment 500420

View attachment 500422

(My waist folds make not having a belt or drawing a line in the picture, unnecessary. )

But the hurr! Oooh! When I think back to all of those years ago when I first started my hair journey and then when I found this board...I've reached my goal and then a whole lot more!!!

View attachment 500428

This braid out wasn't for anything other than to wash it, which I'll probably do on Monday.

Ooooooohweeeeee! Look at this hair! Gorgeous!

 

[snoop]

@spacetygrss Thank you!

 

[CoiledOrchids]

i'll be joining yall on January 17th. I'll be getting a silk press and trim to reset my hair.
I'll post my hair deets then

 

[B_Phlyy]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed:

Natural

Current Length:

Just past SL

Goal Length:

For 2025, I want full APL

Plan to reach goal length:

Improving my internal and scalp health. More protein in my diet along when a consistent exercise routine. For scalp, it stays clean and dry.

Regimen:

Recently saw my dermatologist and based on her recommendations

Clarifying shampoo once every 3-4 weeks
Prepoo with oil or bonding treatment before every shampoo
Medicated once per week alternating with a mild/moisturizing shampoo
Alternating deep conditioner and rinse out with each shampoo
Protein treatment every 2-3 weeks
Moisturize and seal daily
Grease scalp every 2-3 days
TBD: Henna or cassia gloss

Protective Styles:

Mini braids, loose buns, and Dutch/ French braids. I'm okay with using braid hair every now and then but no wigs

Staple Products:

I'll be back

Starting Pic: REQUIRED

Happy Growing and Retaining in 2025!

 

[HealthyHair2020]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: APL after my December cut
Goal Length: Back to BSL
Plan to reach goal length:
1. Do protective styles once a quarter to give myself hair breaks.
2. Out of protective styles, wash my hair more frequently. Currently, I wash every 3 weeks but with my running it should be every 2 weeks.
3. Use my revair once a month to do my styles for length retention.
Regimen:
Per Quarter, I will:
1. Wear a protective style for six weeks.
2. Afterwards, I will wash my hair every 2 weeks and once a month, use my revair for styling.
3. Protein treatment my hair one month before my protective style so my strands remain strong.
Protective Styles: Box braids, passion twists, wigs, twists, flat twists w/ bun
Staple Products/Brands: Adwoa Beauty, Melanin Haircare, Nature's Little Secret, Botanika Beauty, Donna's Recipe, Design Essentials
Starting Pic:

This is my hair in twaids after the cut, don't have good photos before I put in the braids.

View attachment 500588

Updated!!

 

[newgrowth15]

I have been lurking here for the past few days and have finally made up my mind to join this challenge.

Give me the DETAILS:
Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: Shoulder
Goal Length: Full BSL
Plan to reach goal length: 2 Strand Twists and Cornrows and incorporating GHE and the Baggy methods
Regimen: Shampoo and Condition every two weeks while hair is braided. If it is loose for some reason, shampoo and condition every week.
Protective Styles: 2 Strand twists and cornrows, and buns when the hair is loose.
Staple Products: Nexxus Humectress Shampoo and Conditioner, Garnier Fructis Leave-in Conditioner, My homemade Fenugreek-Rosemary-Clove Olive Oil, and My Whipped Shea Butter.
Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[GettingKinky]

14 weeks of bunning. I’m a little tempted to wear my hair curly for a few days to see if my Bantu buns have caused my curls to permanently stretch a bit (which I actually wouldn’t mind)

 

[Chicoro]

The hair photos in this thread...

 

[Kells]

HNY Y’ALL!!

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural

Current Length: So I finished last Years challenge and my goal was SL but I finished at below collarbone stretched.
So let’s say I’m full collarbone

Goal Length: BSL stretched

Plan to reach goal length: Low Manipulation

Regimen:
I’ve changed my weekly wash day to every 2 weeks and my hair likes that much better.
-LCO moisturizing every wash week.
-Monthly Hendigo.
-Monthly ayurved mud mask
-Moisturize the canopy as needed.
-Oil scalp wash day as needed.

Protective Styles: Low braided ponytail.

Staple Products: Phamily Hair Care, MSM.

Starting Pic: REQUIRED

 

[GettingKinky]

i was looking through my notes and my pictures to try to judge my hair progress. I’ve been getting blow out cuts for almost 2 years now, my 7th will be this coming Wednesday. I take pictures every time, but since I don’t have a fixed way to take the pictures it’s so hard to compare my length. That plus the fact the the amount of stretch I get with each blow dry isn’t the same.

I started measuring my hair in a repeatable fashion starting last March, but I don’t even truly trust those measurements.

All of this makes it so hard for me to tell if my hair is really getting longer. I’m starting to wonder if I should have my hair flat ironed when I trim, but I’m not quite ready to use that much heat on my hair.

Let me look for a length check t-shirt.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

@GettingKinky

It’s kind of the same thing with me. The most accurate way I’ve ever gotten a length check was a blow out and my son pulled the length of my hair down for me.

I never really blow dry it to the same straightness the same each time lol. And the time I flat iron it’s never sleek straight.

I do however take pictures of my hair immediately after I take my braids down and I compare that way.

 

[faithVA]

Today is my reset day. I almost pushed it off.

This morning, I used some conditioner and covered my twist and my ends before taking out my twist.
I used Kitsch rosemary oil on my scalp and then went to work out.
I pulled my hair into 5 sections and held each section with a claw clip
I rinsed each section thoroughly and then used my wide tooth comb to remove shed hair
I applied Madison Reed shampoo to the scalp in each section and then shampooed each section and rinsed
I applied Biosilk conditioner to each section and then add water to work it in
I used a shampoo brush and detangled and removed shed hair and rinsed

I used Mielle leave-in on each section and added some water to work it in
Then finished each section with KCCC with water and put it into 5 bantu knots

It took me about 2 hours to twist it up which isn't too bad.

Previously, I spent a lot of time trying to make sure my hair was free of shed hairs at each step. Now I'm just combing before shampoo and after conditioner and denying my compulsion to finger detangle at other times. This made my wash day go much faster.

I'm almost out of KCCC so I need to decide whether I am going to buy a new jar or use one of the gels I bought for my curly sets. I don't like having extra products around the house so I will probably see if one of my other gels will work.

This regimen is doable for longer term. I just need to get my mind ready to spend 2 hours twisting each weekend.

 

[newgrowth15]

Today is my reset day. I almost pushed it off.

This morning, I used some conditioner and covered my twist and my ends before taking out my twist.
I used Kitsch rosemary oil on my scalp and then went to work out.
I pulled my hair into 5 sections and held each section with a claw clip
I rinsed each section thoroughly and then used my wide tooth comb to remove shed hair
I applied Madison Reed shampoo to the scalp in each section and then shampooed each section and rinsed
I applied Biosilk conditioner to each section and then add water to work it in
I used a shampoo brush and detangled and removed shed hair and rinsed

I used Mielle leave-in on each section and added some water to work it in
Then finished each section with KCCC with water and put it into 5 bantu knots

It took me about 2 hours to twist it up which isn't too bad.

Previously, I spent a lot of time trying to make sure my hair was free of shed hairs at each step. Now I'm just combing before shampoo and after conditioner and denying my compulsion to finger detangle at other times. This made my wash day go much faster.

I'm almost out of KCCC so I need to decide whether I am going to buy a new jar or use one of the gels I bought for my curly sets. I don't like having extra products around the house so I will probably see if one of my other gels will work.

This regimen is doable for longer term. I just need to get my mind ready to spend 2 hours twisting each weekend.

Good for you @faithVA for not pushing it off and actually doing the work. May your hair flourish in the new year as a result of your dedication.

 

[faithVA]

Good for you @faithVA for not pushing it off and actually doing the work. May your hair flourish in the new year as a result of your dedication.

Thank you. That was so encouraging