Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

[snoop]

Natural, Relaxed, Texlaxed: Natural
Current Length: Hip/Tailbone? (barely )
Goal Length: Classic? Not sure about that one.
Plan to reach goal length: Protective styling, keeping scalp clean and hair strengthened/moisturized
Regimen: Wash 1-2x monthly, protein treatments, moisturize and put in back in plaits
Protective Styles: Covered Celie plaits
Staple Products: Revisiting older brands like ORS/Aphogee, Naturelle grow prepoo, DIY leave in, etc. My scalp is very picky.
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We might have to bring back the Classic length challenge.

(All kidding aside, I'll do this later today.)

 

[GettingKinky]

@JuiceMobsta my jaw dropped when I saw all that beautiful hair. How long have you been growing it out?

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

@yaya24 or other short hair gals (SL or shorter) should start a challenge or support thread for short tresses I would but have hands full with two threads and detailed regimen

 

[JuiceMobsta]

@JuiceMobsta my jaw dropped when I saw all that beautiful hair. How long have you been growing it out?

@GettingKinky Thank you! I would say my hair was somwhere between APL-BSL in the middle of 2020 and it's gradually grown out since then.

 

[yaya24]

@yaya24 or other short hair gals (SL or shorter) should start a challenge or support thread for short tresses I would but have hands full with two threads and detailed regimen

I'll have to sit that out..but I will cheer yall on in the spirit.

One hair challenge is plenty for me

Yaya likes K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Sista) in all areas of life. I get more done, and my nervous system is at peace that way.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

I'll have to sit that out..but I will cheer yall on in the spirit.

One hair challenge is plenty for me

Yaya likes K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Sista) in all areas of life. I get more done, and my nervous system is at peace that way.

Would be nice for short tresses to unite and discuss getting past plateaus, it would be a place for to post growth a few times a year for accountability to make it over the SL hump, nothing stressful

If anyone wants me to make a thread let me know and I'll make one if no one else wants to

 

[faithVA]

@yaya24 or other short hair gals (SL or shorter) should start a challenge or support thread for short tresses I would but have hands full with two threads and detailed regimen

I asked in December of last year and I didn't get any takers. For years we have had an SL/APL thread. This is the first year we didn't have one.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

I asked in December of last year and I didn't get any takers. For years we have had an SL/APL thread. This is the first year we didn't have one.

Awww, that's unfortunate, totally would have joined. If you still want to make it, I'll join. Understand if you want more people to participate

 

[faithVA]

Awww, that's unfortunate, totally would have joined. If you still want to make it, I'll join. Understand if you want more people to participate

You need st least 5 people for a hair thread to stand a chance. So many people fall off. By the end of the last one I think I was the only one that posted much at the end.

I think the current hair threads will work for most people.

 

[Angel of the North]

I want to make a leave on spray for when I get my braids done. I'll be in the sun (hopefully), and that can dry out my hair.

I have aloe vera juice, distilled water and oils, to hand. I also have conditioners that I could add if needed.

Anybody got any recipes or recommendations? Please add the ratios for each ingredient if possible.... TIA

 

[yaya24]

I want to make a leave on spray for when I get my braids done. I'll be in the sun (hopefully), and that can dry out my hair.

I have aloe vera juice, distilled water and oils, to hand. I also have conditioners that I could add if needed.

Anybody got any recipes or recommendations? Please add the ratios for each ingredient if possible.... TIA

I've been experimenting with fenugreek & clove water plus EOs. No aloe vera, but I found these threads below with some good looking recipes.

Hopefully others chime in with some goodies.

Thread 'Homemade moisturizing spritz links. Recipes please.' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/homemade-moisturizing-spritz-links-recipes-please.258467/

Thread 'Natural Heads: My Homemade Leave-In Spray, Whats Yours?' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/natural-heads-my-homemade-leave-in-spray-whats-yours.351701/

Thread 'Umm..So How Do I Make This Glycerin Moisture Mix?' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/umm-so-how-do-i-make-this-glycerin-moisture-mix.267019/

 

[MzSwift]

I want to make a leave on spray for when I get my braids done. I'll be in the sun (hopefully), and that can dry out my hair.

I have aloe vera juice, distilled water and oils, to hand. I also have conditioners that I could add if needed.

Anybody got any recipes or recommendations? Please add the ratios for each ingredient if possible.... TIA

I'm super old school so my braid spray mix is usually: 90% water + 10% Infusium 23 + a squirt of a cheapie coneless moisturizing condish + a squirt of EVOO or Grapeseed oil + 10-20 drops of Lavender EO.

I have substituted half of the water with an Ayurvedic tea mix before.

I don't want to add too many things that could possibly lead to extra build up at the base where the braiding hair meets my hair.

 

[Angel of the North]

I've been experimenting with fenugreek & clove water plus EOs. No aloe vera, but I found these threads below with some good looking recipes.

Hopefully others chime in with some goodies.

Thread 'Homemade moisturizing spritz links. Recipes please.' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/homemade-moisturizing-spritz-links-recipes-please.258467/

Thread 'Natural Heads: My Homemade Leave-In Spray, Whats Yours?' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/natural-heads-my-homemade-leave-in-spray-whats-yours.351701/

Thread 'Umm..So How Do I Make This Glycerin Moisture Mix?' https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/umm-so-how-do-i-make-this-glycerin-moisture-mix.267019/

I've used fenugreek before and really liked it, I feel like anything that is supposed stop shedding might contain protein. So I want to avoid those ingredients. The cloves are a good shout, that's supposed to help with growth. Thank you for the links

 

[Angel of the North]

I'm super old school so my braid spray mix is usually: 90% water + 10% Infusium 23 + a squirt of a cheapie coneless moisturizing condish + a squirt of EVOO or Grapeseed oil + 10-20 drops of Lavender EO.

I have substituted half of the water with an Ayurvedic tea mix before.

I don't want to add too many things that could possibly lead to extra build up at the base where the braiding hair meets my hair.

That sounds good! I feel like this is a good opportunity to not only keep my braids moist but to assist my scalp health simultaneously as it will be exposed.

I may make a couple to take with me, one for moisture during the day and one for growth at night. I like the look of your recipe, although I might swap out the lavender for rosemary and the Infusium23 for the aloe vera juice.

On a side, I went to type in the Infusium23, it was in my dictionary.... I've never typed that before, yet the auto correct when I'm on this site be adding letters to words or completely changing my words lol.

 

[MzSwift]

On a side, I went to type in the Infusium23, it was in my dictionary.... I've never typed that before, yet the auto correct when I'm on this site be adding letters to words or completely changing my words lol.

Lol, how weird!

 

[Angel of the North]

Lol, how weird!

I know, I thought so too

 

[Angel of the North]

I want to make a leave on spray for when I get my braids done. I'll be in the sun (hopefully), and that can dry out my hair.

I have aloe vera juice, distilled water and oils, to hand. I also have conditioners that I could add if needed.

Anybody got any recipes or recommendations? Please add the ratios for each ingredient if possible.... TIA

I checked out some recipes and I'm thinking of going with these. I think they are pretty simple and shouldn't be too much for my hair and scalp.....

Moisture spritz
Distilled water, aloe vera juice, grapeseed oil, glycerin and Vitamin e oil

Scalp spritz
Rosemary, mint and cloves steeped in boiled distilled water

Scalp oil
Sunflower oil infused with mint, cloves, rosemary and a couple of drops of vitamin e oil

Detangler spritz
Distilled water boiled with marshmallow root and slippery elm powders - boiled and drained, glycerin and avocado oil

Hair gel
Flaxseeds boiled with marshmallow root and slippery elm and glycerin

I don't feel like I will need any conditioner mixed into the spritz at this time, as I'm not looking for anything creamy.

I want to start infusing the scalp oil now, I intend to make a few batches, one I will try out when I get back, the others,I want to leave to infuse for longer so that I can test the different strengths. (I just have to remember that they are there), I know some people infuse their oils for weeks before using.

The detangler, I will try at a later date after I have used up the Komaza vitamin reign, and the flaxseed gel, will also be later down the line when I'm intending to do WAG's.

I'd like some critique on my intended recipes. Do you think they look okay? Is there something I could add to the sprays/gel to give them longer life? TiA

 

[SmilingElephant]

 

[GGsKin]

@Angel of the North just a tip- if you want the mucilage from the marshmallow root, just steep it in the distilled water overnight then strain, rather than boil it.

 

[faithVA]

Colored my hair tonight, dried with the revair and then trimmed 1/2 inch with my SplitEnder.

Comparing my blow dried hair to my straight hair is not helpful. I will take the same shots for my next two check ins.

 

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North just a tip- if you want the mucilage from the marshmallow root, just steep it in the distilled water overnight then strain, rather than boil it.

Thank you

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

@Angel of the North just a tip- if you want the mucilage from the marshmallow root, just steep it in the distilled water overnight then strain, rather than boil it.

Does this work for the powder as well?

 

[Angel of the North]

Does this work for the powder as well?

During my research, I've seen people infuse their water with both boiled and unboiled water. Either way, once their concoctions are ready, they drain the mix and then bottle. So it looks like you don't need to boil the powders.

I am not going to boil the powders, I'm planning on boiling the water, adding the powders while the water is still warm (not hot), then I will leave it overnight, add it to the aloe vera juice and oils (vitamin e and either grapeseed or sunflower), then decant into spray bottles.

 

[GGsKin]

Does this work for the powder as well?

@ItsMeLilLucky I’ve never used the powdered form but yes, I read that you can steep it in the same way- the cold infusion is considered purer.

 

[yaya24]

Today marks 6 weeks of my straight back cornrows for under my wig.
6 weeks down, 3 more to go before I take these down and switch to flat twists.

It is also my 3 week wash day.. I'll do my wash later today.

I hope everyone is having a beautiful week so far ☆☆