Have you been at this for 2+ years and are still unsatisfied/disappointed

[Arcadian]

I never had a true length goal. I had a health goal and I made that. That keeps me pretty overjoyed that my hair is actually as healthy as it is.

My hair never made it past ear length in the past so I didn't know how far I could go. I feel pretty good that my hair is as long as it is now (few inches past BSL) so I'm good.

I've had "setbacks" like anyone else. I had some massive hair matting once (that sucked) and I had a bit of PJism finding the right products, but I learned from it and moved on.

Took a bit to get the hang of my hair as it grew longer, but I'm ok with that too. Right now its at a length I'm finding overwhelming but I'll with the wealth of knowlege on these boards I'll learn how to get past it ok

I don't stress a lot about my hair really. I do what I can to keep the journey a fun and stressless one. When it starts being work and not much fun, it'll be time to cut it off and do something else.


-A

 

[Tranquility]

At first I was so impatient. I wanted the the length as well as my hair to be healthy within 6 months. I had to learn that I had to find what works for me. That I cannot jump on every bandwagon everytime I see one and change my routine. I needed to set a process in place. Along the 2 years I had several setbacks. I first had to develop patience because eveything takes time. My hair may not grow has fast as someone elses or certain products work for others but not me. I had to not let that discourage me. My biggest setback was laziness. Sometimes I do not feel like do anything to my hair and espescially taking hours to do it. Even with that being said I am extremely grateful for the knowledge I have learned from this board. If I make a misatke or setback in any event I will pick up from there and keep it movin .

 

[CandacyEliz]

I was dissappointed until recently...

I tried everything - stretching my relaxers, braidouts, pin curl sets, weekly deep conditions, co-washes, and the list goes on and on...

I'm hopeful now. Ever since I've stop relaxing in January my hair has flourished despite what I do to it. I know I'll reach APL in a year. This is not to say that relaxers are bad but they are bad for ME. Transitioning is hard but it is soo worth it.

I just wished I had stopped relaxing sooner

 

[Patricia]

Yes I'm dissapointed . I could have been waistlength by now. On the other hand I'm grateful I'm finally on track. 2009 is my year!

 

[crumbling_images]

I've been natural for years. I should have hair down to my butt by now. I'm just convinced that my terminal length is stuck somewhere between the neck and shoulders. My hair is thick, healthy with lotsa sheen..it just ain't long. Oh well...it is what it is.

 

[CHECKMATE!]

No...not at all disappointed...it will be 2yrs and I am truly grateful for LHCF...I have learned soooooo much,with respect to healthy hair, from this site...I truly believe that if you follow a consistent regimen,do not cut your hair,and have patience (no pun intended) you will see great progress HHG

 

[betty-boo]

Despite everything, I'm happy with my hair progress and all that I have learned. This is the healthiest I have ever seen my hair.

I joined Jul '06 and started doing some things (moisturising and DCing, braidouts) but not much else. I also used a lot of heat. My hair grew to below chin length by Dec'06 and was thick, after chopping off all my 2005 damaged hair.

2007 - It grew to shoulder length and was thick by March. Then I started wearing it out A LOT. Started experimenting with different techniques. Rollersetting 2-3 times a week. Had porosity issues - where my hair became 'static' .
It started to thin and break in the back. So decided to be serious and create a fotki so I could monitor better.

2008 - Collarbone length. Tried to stop pjism by finding products that complimented each other and were effective. Simplified my regimen. Stopped manipulation by using flexirods to straighten instead (thanks Dsylla!). Stopped trimming in July. Only used heat once (wedding). Approaching APL and getting thicker.

I've enjoyed every step of this learning experience. Year 2008 especially. Now I finally have a regimen I feel I can stick to. I'm secure in this now and don't need to jump on any bandwagons.

 

[TCatt86]

I won't say disappointed but I have had some setbacks. Several!!! I'm at a point where I'm trying to attain health over length so I'm length will just come with healthy hair.

 

[bluediamond0829]

Yep very disappointed. But ive made a year and some months of transitioning to natural. But now im getting bored with being natural. And im running out of options of what to do with my hair and i still have a ways to go.

if i do braids it doesnt last long just a month. So its a waste of money(150).

Weaves work fine for a little while but im spending like what almost 200.00 for maybe a good month. And growth is okay but not that great either with them.

Ive been doing 3/4 wigs lately. So i dont know.

 

[crazydaze911]

I was dissappointed until recently...

I tried everything - stretching my relaxers, braidouts, pin curl sets, weekly deep conditions, co-washes, and the list goes on and on...

I'm hopeful now. Ever since I've stop relaxing in January my hair has flourished despite what I do to it. I know I'll reach APL in a year. This is not to say that relaxers are bad but they are bad for ME. Transitioning is hard but it is soo worth it.

I just wished I had stopped relaxing sooner

ditto - on that relaxer thing...

 

[turnergirl]

I'm not sure when I joined this board. I do know I initially joined this board just to lurk. I was on another board where I was far more active. I just came here when I ran out of stuff to read because I had a job where I was doing nothing all day.

Anyway, I didn't really set a goal until last year and I have reached it. I am now growing my layers out but my hair could be a lot healthier. I am dealing with knots and things like that from when I was natural, so I am cutting every month. Regardless I love my hair.

 

[belle_reveuse28]

I would say I am not disappointed anymore--at least a little.. haha...

My first year 2006: I was a PJ and was doing some good things, but was on every growth aid bandwagon and new product that would make my hair better. I learned a lot, but wasn't there yet... Do we ever really arrive? Maybe...

So I grew out a lot of hair during that year, but didn't know anything about porosity control and ayurveda, which have helped a lot. I was growing a lot but retaining less than half of what I was growing.

Last year, got on the MT bandwagon but was still not retaining a whole lot by the end of the year. I discovered that my hair still wasn't being moisturized enough and that I still had unhealthy hair practices like bunning with elastics rather than pins, using more growth aids than needed, and not tying my hair up at night or taking care of my ends... Hair grew a lot, but not much retainage...

Last year, hair grew a lot again, but at the end of the year, used a lot of heat during the holidays and it wrecked my hair, plus I think my CHI flat iron is not so great anymore.

Cut my growth that I got from MT which was a lot, I should be APL right now, but i'm just 2 inches below shoulders, basically the pic in my pikistrip, I'm there again..

This time, right now, for the past 6 months since January, I cut twice, back up to the base of my neck to get rid of damage from the holidays. Lost my length.. And badaBOOM!

I found a KISS regimen and it's been amazing..

I DC once a week, do ayurvedic rinses twice a week. I use pantene R&N condish daily as a leave in, and then coat with HE LTR Leave-in, and then seal with castor oil... I have retained every inch of hair that I've grown since my cut in January, and I dont have split ends.

I'ts freakin' amazing! I'm not using growth aids, well ayurveda could be considered one, but you know what I mean. I make sure I castor oil my scalp and ends daily after applying my condishes, then at night, my hair gets braids, nape gets braided horizontally and a wrap cap goes on.

I should not have been as lazy in the past, and I culd have the results I've wanted so bad, but now that I know I dont need all the other junk, and keep it simple, I know without a doubt that my hair will be APL or more by the end of this year. Also, I just discovered the most amazing blowdry and flat iron method EVER for my hair, and after that process had only 5 hairs on the sink, whereas I used to have all the little bits of splits and broken hairs... I had the most silkiest, moist blowdry and flat iron ever, and although I wont be straightening often, I know what to do when I decide to do so...

Thanks for listening, but it goes to show, you may have lots of set backs, but when you do figure things out, you're certainly on your way. I'm very excited to know I will reach my goals, and yes, it has been a learning process.. I am also jealous of people who have figured it out rather quick and have gotten amazing growth in such a short amoutn of time and RETAINED IT ! I was doing more than needed, but not what I needed because of my laziness and me thinking I knew better. Goes to show, you can learn a lot from others... Babying those ends and making sure they have every ounce of protection is why I dont have a split in my head right now, and trust me, my hair has always been full of them.

 

[Kacie]

I am very unsatisfied. I have a 2 inch X 2 section that is semi bald/fuzzy. This spot has exisited since my first relaxer, which I received as a teenager. Luckily the spot is behind my ear and behind the hairline. Even though I have hair covering it I can't get over that spot.

 

[crazydaze911]

I would say I am not disappointed anymore--at least a little.. haha...

My first year 2006: I was a PJ and was doing some good things, but was on every growth aid bandwagon and new product that would make my hair better. I learned a lot, but wasn't there yet... Do we ever really arrive? Maybe...

So I grew out a lot of hair during that year, but didn't know anything about porosity control and ayurveda, which have helped a lot. I was growing a lot but retaining less than half of what I was growing.

Last year, got on the MT bandwagon but was still not retaining a whole lot by the end of the year. I discovered that my hair still wasn't being moisturized enough and that I still had unhealthy hair practices like bunning with elastics rather than pins, using more growth aids than needed, and not tying my hair up at night or taking care of my ends... Hair grew a lot, but not much retainage...

Last year, hair grew a lot again, but at the end of the year, used a lot of heat during the holidays and it wrecked my hair, plus I think my CHI flat iron is not so great anymore.

Cut my growth that I got from MT which was a lot, I should be APL right now, but i'm just 2 inches below shoulders, basically the pic in my pikistrip, I'm there again..

This time, right now, for the past 6 months since January, I cut twice, back up to the base of my neck to get rid of damage from the holidays. Lost my length.. And badaBOOM!

I found a KISS regimen and it's been amazing..

I DC once a week, do ayurvedic rinses twice a week. I use pantene R&N condish daily as a leave in, and then coat with HE LTR Leave-in, and then seal with castor oil... I have retained every inch of hair that I've grown since my cut in January, and I dont have split ends.

I'ts freakin' amazing! I'm not using growth aids, well ayurveda could be considered one, but you know what I mean. I make sure I castor oil my scalp and ends daily after applying my condishes, then at night, my hair gets braids, nape gets braided horizontally and a wrap cap goes on.

I should not have been as lazy in the past, and I culd have the results I've wanted so bad, but now that I know I dont need all the other junk, and keep it simple, I know without a doubt that my hair will be APL or more by the end of this year. Also, I just discovered the most amazing blowdry and flat iron method EVER for my hair, and after that process had only 5 hairs on the sink, whereas I used to have all the little bits of splits and broken hairs... I had the most silkiest, moist blowdry and flat iron ever, and although I wont be straightening often, I know what to do when I decide to do so...

Thanks for listening, but it goes to show, you may have lots of set backs, but when you do figure things out, you're certainly on your way. I'm very excited to know I will reach my goals, and yes, it has been a learning process.. I am also jealous of people who have figured it out rather quick and have gotten amazing growth in such a short amoutn of time and RETAINED IT ! I was doing more than needed, but not what I needed because of my laziness and me thinking I knew better. Goes to show, you can learn a lot from others... Babying those ends and making sure they have every ounce of protection is why I dont have a split in my head right now, and trust me, my hair has always been full of them.

...and i know ur not gonna leave us hanging like that...., right?......

 

[sunbubbles]

I am sorry to hear all this damage with braids. Braids actually work for me. But i do tend to moisturize my braids with spray bottle everyday. And micros are never really good for your hair no matter how you look at it. I will be very careful next time I am getting braids

Ditto. The hair has to be babied when in Braids. I, however have had great growth and maintenance with my micros, but I beleive thats because Ive started doing them myself. That way I can control whats going on at my hairline. I usually make the ones at the hairline slightly bigger, its not noticible that they are bigger, and I baby my hair line, and I re-do them every 3 weeks or so. Im about to take out my mini braids in a couple of weeks (my own hair) and put in some mini-twist extensions.
Braids often get a bad rep, but the key is you've gotta baby them just as much (if not more) than when your hair is loose. The Pro that I love about braids is that I dont have to comb my hair at all so it drastically cuts down on manipulation. I am TOOOO lazy to be doin my hair all the time thats why I think Ive retained most of my length. My hair has pretty much been in protective styles since B4 my transition.*SHRUG* its what works for me. HTH

In answer to the OP's question. I think if I hadnt have cut so much (I think Ive cut about 2 inches in the past year, not knowingly because I cut in twists) Id be longer, but Im happily cruisin on this Journey. I had a slight set bet when I tried to blow my hair out and ended up with a bunch of broken hairs every where but nothing major. YOU SEE!!?? Thats why I have to stay in protective hairstyles I lose my mind when my hair is loose!! LMBO!
Im almost CBL now and not even 2 years worth of growth yet (NOV) ( almost the longest Ive ever been!! Thats a shame ) and slowly but surely moving along.

I try not to compare myself with others and their hair growth. (or goals) When you compare yourself with others, you'll almost always end up thinkin somethings wrong with you. lol Wherever my hair takes me Ill be satisfied

 

[lana]

Um, what was the most awesome blow dry and flat iron technique that you learned please...please don't leave us hanging...(lol)

 

[mscocoface]

My only frustration right now is shrinkage. Hair is healthy, thick, swings in braids when it is wet.

But the SHRINKAGE!!!!!!

 

[miss Congeniality]

I feel you mscocoface. My hair is down my back when it is in the shower, but once I get out it is like to my ears.

 

[LovingMe87]

I couldn't make up my mind about whether or not I want to transition so my regimen never stayed consistent. I just ended my 7 month tranistion so I think now I will be able to have a consistent reggie. I started out in Sept 07 with about 2" all over and now I'm like 2" from APL, I definitely should have been there by now but with all the trims & inconsistencies I probably wont make it until July or August! But I'm still glad Ive made it this far!! K.I.S.S. really is the best! Now I'm washing,dcing and/or protein treat, rollersetting once per week, moisturize and seal when needed and wearing hair up EVERYDAY!!

 

[talata]

deleted... wrong thread

 

[Lanea87]

Of course I would love my hair to be longer. But I have achieved my goals from when I started. I will be hitting my 2 years tomorrow and I am getting a relaxer we will see if I am APL. If not I will kinda mad.....BUT life will go on and I will just try harder.

 

[hottopic]

OK. I have off this board for 2 years now and I am happy to see nothing has changed. LOL. Anyways, I have made alot of gain when I was on LHCF, but lost traction when I bought house, got married, got a promotion...etc... Life happened. But I am happy to report I have not had any losses from my gains. So just hang in there, learn all the tricks and tips you need to learn and when or if you happen to stop frequenting the the board you will have a hair route in place. If not for length then for health....

 

[aquajoyice]

So far so good, the great thing about this hair board is there are a lot of wonderfully knowledgeable ladies that have tested different types of hair care methods that I have learned from. The thing that is getting me now is that at different stages my hair needs different things or I get tired of doing one thing and want to try something different.

I've retained a lot of length, but I feel like my hair should be longer... although I'm not sure if it's because i'm 6' and it takes longer to see the length or if it's because i'm hairnorexic? But so far so good I know I wouldn't be BSL if it weren't for this site and the knowledge i've gotten from lurking and asking questions.

 

[ryanshope]

I have been at this for 6 years--I got to midback and BC in Feb. I am satisfied being natural and learning to care for my hair with its real texture. I will be glad after this first year is over and I have more length but shrinkage is a ****.

 

[jasmin]

I was there and then I had some very bad breakage. It couldn't have been me not deep conditioning most of the time because it was pretty serious. It was the front on both sides that I think it was the relaxer. Now I'm getting there but so far away.

 

[CICI24]

Ive been here since 02 but never made it to my ultimate goal waist length. I made it to armpit at least 3 times and cut it up to shoulder or a little bit above shoulder length. I will be back to armpit by the end of this year and brastrap hopefully by next May.

 

[Chevelure618]

I started in June of 07 at a little past shoulder length and have not been past APL. But I am not discouraged because it took 2 years to grow out my overprocessed, bone straight hair. It is gone now and I am texlaxed, so this my year to fight with the SHH 9scissor happy hairstylists) and let it grow except for dusting. I figure my 6" year will be more like 5 inches or 4.5 inches. That will take me to past BSL.

 

[darlingdiva]

Although I would love for my hair to be longer, I'm happy that my hair is healthy...and I have LHCF to thank for that. Wash day is so time consuming for me & I often get frustrated over that, but it's so therapeutic to know that I've gotten my hair healthy by myself (and you guys).

In terms of health, I would've been much further along if I hadn't been so scared of protein. Eliminating it from my regimen is the worse thing that I've ever done for myself. All I ended up w/ was mushy, breaking hair.

I also had setbacks from doing what everyone else was doing & not listening to my own hair. When I began lurking, I tried everything everyone else was doing (co-washing, trying every new product, washing my hair every week, etc.) even though my hair was saying, "NO."

I've found that the K.I.S.S. regimen works wonders for my hair:

1. Wash every two weeks
2. Twist my hair for a twist-out
3. Wear the twist-out for two days
4. Detangle & braid my hair after applying my leave-in & hair cream
5. Wear my wig until wash day comes again

I do get tired of wearing the wigs so often, but low manipulation is best for my hair.

In terms of the length, I'm not necessarily striving for BSL hair. I just want it to be long enough so that I can wear a nice-length ponytail & a bun.

I keep my ends trimmed regularly, but after reading CurlyNikki's blog, I realized that I was mistaking dry ends for damaged ends. I take good care of my ends (I keep them moisturized & covered), but I realize that they'll never look sleek b/c I airdry.

I'm just trying to be patient w/ my hair b/c I now realize that my hair will only give me what I want when I give it what it needs.

 

[Chicoro]

For me, I am not disatisfied. I like the length gains. One thing I have always admired about relaxed and natural hair is the sleek silkiness that so many ladies can achieve on their straightened hair.

My hair has never been able to be silky and smooth. It always looks a little bit rough. It is a lot smoother than before, yet it is not as silky as many of the ladies and gents here whose hair is like silk after flat ironing. I learned years ago that my hair just doesn't do the silky thing.

 

[SpiritJunkie]

Great thread! Nice to read about other folks journey.
Been here since '06 I believe and the 1st year for me was basically schooling.
Learning about black hair, washing, cerain products aren't just for white folks, protein use et etc.

'07 I seen some good progress but was too quick to show off my little SL length. Got a few comments frm folks I guess I ran with it. Needless to say I encountered a huge setback.

Now I have healthy hair not full sl but its strong. I am learning everyday but definitely more informed. Thanks to this board.

I hope to see some good growth by the end of the year. Not where I thought I would be but happy for healthy hair.