Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

[snoop]

@VarieYvette how do you safely take down the threading at the roots and the ends. The thread is black which can make it hard to see. That would be my only concern with threading

You thread past your actual hair, just like when you install extensions.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

@25InchesStarting'25 @VarieYvette Roller setting natural hair also works with air drying. I've done it without using any styling lotions.

When is the last time you did a roller set? I'm sure yours look amazing!

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

You thread past your actual hair, just like when you install extensions.

Thanks! I never looked into threading, but I like the style of the little girl...there might be a threading challenge in the distant future

 

[snoop]

Braiding and threading

 

[snoop]

I'd used the rollers, my regular LCO products, and no setting lotions or gels. Unfortunately, I took the rollers out before my hair dried so some of the product was still sitting on my hair instead of being absorbed, and the stretch didn't hold.

I only tried it that one time (2022). I should do it again this summer.

 

[yaya24]

I just made a 2oz bottle of my scalp oil. Interested to see how long 2oz lasts vs. making a larger size. I feel like a such a bada$S when I'm in my mixologist mode lol.

Random-

This morning I watched some of LHDC2011 (Rest in Peace) throwback videos.

An account on YouTube made a Playlist of some of her videos with gems.

I just loved the simplicity of her regimen and how she handled her hair without a care of what other people would do/think. Took me back to the BHM days (omg). She was an active contributor on that forum (username Domin) before I knew anything about LHCF.

Curiosity set in and I searched for BHM online. Not surprised, (but surprised) -to see the site is no longer up.

 

[MzSwift]

I just made a 2oz bottle of my scalp oil. Interested to see how long 2oz lasts vs. making a larger size. I feel like a such a bada$S when I'm in my mixologist mode lol.

Random-

This morning I watched some of LHDC2011 (Rest in Peace) throwback videos.

An account on YouTube made a Playlist of some of her videos with gems.

I just loved the simplicity of her regimen and how she handled her hair without a care of what other people would do/think. Took me back to the BHM days (omg). She was an active contributor on that forum (username Domin) before I knew anything about LHCF.

Curiosity set in and I searched for BHM online. Not surprised, (but surprised) -to see the site is no longer up.

Yes ma'am, we had the BHM Natural section popping back in the day! We even had a couple of meetups. I dropped FB in 2018 and lost contact with all of my friends from there.

Domin was always super sweet. And she inspired me to try mini braids in order to grow my hair out. I also bought that Andis dryer she used, I found it more ergonomic than the standard hair dryers.

 

[yaya24]

Yes ma'am, we had the BHM Natural section popping back in the day! We even had a couple of meetups. I dropped FB in 2018 and lost contact with all of my friends from there.

Domin was always super sweet. And she inspired me to try mini braids in order to grow my hair out. I also bought that Andis dryer she used, I found it more ergonomic than the standard hair dryers.

Throwback for sure!!!
♡♡
I still have a couple of old fonts on FB. I'm not on there much, but I have to keep an online presence bc of work.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

The verdict is in...
I'm in love with flaxseed growth gel I strained everything I had by stocking since I wanted to use it daily from start of use. I made about 8oz. I added about 1 TBSP of castor oil. I haven't tried flaxseed gel without castor oil added. I think I will always make it with a healthy oil
I'll update if the strainer makes things a lot easier

Co Wash was a lot smoother as in my hair felt more smooth and "juicy" Still no detangling needed as usual

 

[VarieYvette]

Can you describe your hair strands, please? I ask because I went to a stylist a few years ago. I found her on Instagram and she does amazing silk presses. We agreed that we'd only do a blow out on my hair and she said that my hair couldn't handle heat and if I came back she probably wouldn't even do a blow out on my hair. In 12 years, I only tried pressing my hair once and that was really early on. I let my mom do it, but I was so paranoid that she didn't have good hair practices and it turned out pretty bad. (My fault.) I went to Great Clips for them to trim my ends. It was years later that I went to the Instagram stylist and that was the second and only other time that I can remember going to a stylist for my natural hair. Since then, I haven't used any heat on my hair other than a heating cap for DCs.

My strands are fine/medium and on the cottony side. I'm curious if our textures are the same any what would make hair not deal with heat properly.

As for the hard water, is it possible to source citric acid? I managed to find some the other day at my local bulk store in the baking section. I'm going to try using it and see what happens. You're supposed to only use a tiny amount in the water. I can't remember how much, but I know that there are older posts that talk about it. We're talking fractions of a teaspoon to gallons of water, tiny. Some people will also do a final vinegar rinse to help.

As for the threading, I saw a video where a lady braided her roots and threaded her ends. It was so pretty and looked just as neat. A variation of that could be an option for you. If I can find it, I will post here for you.

My strands a fine/medium. I have a high hair density which is low porosity, so people assume I have coarse hair. With lurking on hair boards and self relaxing, I realised my individual strands are fine/medium, and the low porosity is what made relaxers refuse to take. I also only use a heating cap for DCs, that's the only heat I use these days.

I can find vitamin C tablets and crush those, pure citric acid is difficult to find consistently where I live. I used to do ACV rinses as well, so thank you for the reminder. I will buy ACV soon.

The braiding the roots and threading the rest of the hair is a genius idea, I will do that this weekend and see how it turns out

 

[VarieYvette]

I'm sorry I had to laugh at "instant death" Have you tried roller setting? I believe my hair is shorter than yours. I'm going to experiment this weekend with RevAir and roller setting only the ends. I want to roller set the ends to keep them protected during this challenge and only flat iron the roots. When my hair is likely at APL I'll try roller setting all my hair under a bonnet dryer. There are a lot of naturals that roller set their hair - short and long - that have beautiful results

I am useless at roller setting. I once bought the old school rollers and pins, and couldn't do anything. I just gave up on it then




You can get it on Amazon. They sell the big bottles (33oz) that last a long time

In my country, importing anything is so expensive with customs duties and shipping. I would have to pay thrice the amount to get it, and it's currently not feasible tbh. We generally have low salaries compared to the US

 

[VarieYvette]

I just searched "African Threading" and this was the first vid that popped up. Look at the volume!


When my hair is past APL I might try this


@VarieYvette how do you safely take down the threading at the roots and the ends. The thread is black which can make it hard to see. That would be my only concern with threading

Taking down threading is pretty easy. I usually do a knot when I finish threading a section . When it comes to taking them down, I just slide the knot off the thread, and unwrap the rest of the hair. No scissors needed. I think thats why I prefer it. Thanks to @snoop's suggestion to start with braiding the bottom bit, I can reduce tension now