Hip–Tailbone Length (HL–TBL) 2014 Challenge!

Hi Ladies! :hiya:
I’m so happy! I had my first successful flat iron session that didn’t result in poofy hair or bushy ends. I used It’s a 10 Miracle leave in for a curlformer set to stretch my hair in lieu of using a blow fryer.

This morning I flat ironed with Mizani Iron Curl and my 1 ½” Sedu Revolution. The downside of flat ironing is it reminds me of how low density my hair is: nono: It’s easier to fake the thickness funk with a braid out, curlformer, or flexi rod set, :yep: I’m praying that my curl pattern comes back on my next wash day, and that I didn’t create any heat damage. I was trying to go no heat in 2014, but I wanted to test out the Mizani Iron Curl.

I called myself dust/trimming exactly at the time of the spring equinox, which was 10:57 am MDT. If I’m only going to dust/trim four times a year, I might as well test out this Moroccan/lunar method. I dust/trimmed to maintain a dust/trim schedule and healthy ends, not aesthetics. I’ll start dust/trimming for aesthetics once I meet my hair length goals. I’m in a braid out most of the time, so you can’t tell that my hair is not perfectly even etc. In fact, it’s better for Ms. Celie braids that it’s not perfectly even.

Now, I have dust/trimmers remorse. DS stated, “Your hair looks shorter!” :ohwell:

My growth rate picks up during the late spring and summer, so hopefully a miracle happens, regarding making TBL. WHIP is probably more realistic at this point.

Here is a pic of the curlformer set and flat iron job:
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Bumping for Napp
 
Im still hanging in there ladies. I am seriously considering relaxing but I may just work on meeting this hair goal first before I do it. My updated length is in my siggy. I flat ironed a little while ago & it did not turn out like I would have hoped. :( My hair was reverting before I even finished. I was happy with my ponytail (used an elastic band) look & length though.
 

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I may relax sometime next month and that will be my end of the year length check for this challenge. This will also be my last challenge.
 
I haven't been doing much with my hair. I still wash and condition weekly in twists, take out each twist, comb it through and twist it right back, rolling it slightly so kind of like a rope twist. This cut down a lot on frizz for me. So I have about 20 twists and I just bun them. Going to NC for Thanksgiving weekend so I will be straightening my hair then. Praying for TBL! :pray: I think I will start up with NJoy's sulfur mix just to make sure I'm there by then.
 
Im still here. When i straigthened my hair, i gave myself a much needed 2-3 inch trim. So now im ack to WHIP length. Im not sure if i will be full hip by the end of the year, but I should be scraping it.
 
I noticed some breakage in one part of my hair. I think it's from using the bonnet hair dryer too often. Boo! Also, I experimented with detangling with a wide tooth comb vs. the paddle brush. and it's official. My hair definitely prefers the paddle brush. I need/want a trim as well. Trying to hold out until December but we'll see.
 
I may relax sometime next month and that will be my end of the year length check for this challenge. This will also be my last challenge.

pre_medicalrulz I keep saying the same thing. I want to still shoot for hip length but I know when I forget about the length that's when it comes....so more than likely I'll be sitting out on all hair challenges from here on out. Of course I'll still ooooh & ahhhh & check in from time to time.
 
Got some 5000mcg of biotin just to see how it'll work. I've taken a HSN vitamin before with 3000mcg of biotin before and it seemed to give me a "boost". It's making me really thirsty, really trying to drink tons of water. I haven't noticed huge breakouts yet, probably because I've been taking it with a multivitamin but I hope this doesn't give me cystic bumps because I have a 5 month supply.
 
Well I've had it. I'm going to straighten and trim tomorrow. I feel like four months is a good amount of time between trims. Will try to be back tomorrow with photos.
 
Well it's technically still tomorrow. I am so excited, ladies. :grin: I feel like singing. I know we still have two more months but I am done and I really hope everyone is as happy with their results as I am.

What you see below is my starting pic (first), pre-trim tonight (2nd) and post-trim (3rd). My hair overall is slightly longer, but what I'm so excited about is how thick it is. I had layers at the beginning of the year that were at BSL and now they are past WSL. The longest layer of my hair hit TBL again, but I'm not going to attempt that length until the rest of my hair catches up.

Alas, my flat iron skills still suck despite following Mo Knows Hair highly detailed instructions, but c'est la vie. Can't wait to see everyone else's results in the next couple months. HHJ!
 

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Dee Raven

Gorgeous hair Goooooooooal!!! :whoop: and yes the ends are thicker stop trimming already lol you're at least grazing TL def HL take a break from trims for a while I started a don't cut it challenge
 
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I'm ready to relax and trim already. I'm surprised my NG stayed this soft and manageable this long. I think I'm coming up on 20 weeks soon.

I'm wondering why we are trying to grow our hair out this long anyway. Lol I mean do any of us even wear it out? :)
 
^LOL

I NEVER see any longer hair ladies of color in the mall, etc...

The majority on this board is still the minorit IRL, I suppose...
 
^LOL I NEVER see any longer hair ladies of color in the mall, etc... The majority on this board is still the minorit IRL, I suppose...
pearcey You know what I think it depends on where you live also if they're relaxed straiten etc you might see a long haired natural and just overlook her cause your running around doing your thing.

Most people IRL assume any long haired ethnic woman is wearing a weave extensions or a wig anyways check out haircrush chime YouTube channel even other women of color thought her hair was fake.
 
My mom has threatened to put a relaxer on my hair several times this month, so I guess I'm giving in and letting her relax for me this weekend. Hopefully the baby stays asleep long enough to get a final length check pic.
 
I forgot I was participating in this thread. I havent done a length check all year.. sheesshhh. Like 4 months ago I cut 3-4 inches off. I will say my next length check will be sometime in late December, unless I take down my protective style this month.
 
Not doing much with my hair lately. Recently took down some jumbo twists and dc'd it today and LOC. I believe I have reached HIP length already. I'll do a length check by the end of the year. :)
 
Hey Ladies. So I straightened my hair and frankly, I'm board. My ends are not the business and IDK my hair just looks a bit all over the place. On top of that it took forever. I thinks I'm itching for a change-like a haircut. I want some color too. I'm in the mood for a change. I'm giving myself a week to see if the feeling passes but I doubt it. We'll see. So here's a current length check.
 

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Hey Ladies. So I straightened my hair and frankly, I'm not happy. My ends are not the business and IDK my hair just looks a bit all over the place. On top of that it took forever. I thinks I'm itching for a change-like a haircut. I want some color too. I'm in the mood for a change. I'm giving myself a week to see if the feeling passes but I doubt it. We'll see. So here's a current length check.

Carrie A Your hair looks lovely. You are not happy. sigh. I really would be. Happy Holidays to you!:lick:
 
Finally relaxed my hair and got my mum to do it for me – surprisingly, it wasn't that bad! Definitely can do this DIY relaxer more in the future! :grin: I do need to do a corrective relaxer but I've gotten those done before so I'm not scared, will probably do it after a good amount of time has passed and prep my hair to make the process safe. Glad to be saving money + time + breakage doing this stuff without the salon, so much better! My hairdresser would yank the comb through my hair even after relaxing for no reason, now I control how my hair is handled. Guess that major setback was a blessing in disguise. My hair is back to MBL. :grin: Thanks so much to all of you for supporting me when that setback had me super distressed, you guys really pulled me out of the funk I was in and helped me get back on track. Special shoutout to @topnotch1010, you took the time to write out a detailed guide for self-relaxing and mentioned me, definitely going to keep that as a constant reference. I'm so glad I started this thread because I feel like we all have a place to come together and focus on a common goal while helping others. Can't wait to start the new thread for 2015 and I hope you guys will join me! :drunk: I didn't make it to HL-TBL this year but I know I will eventually and I'd like a gang of ladies to complete the goal with me~ :yep:

Now for the "bad" news. :look: I stretched for 5 months and don't think I'll do that again, if I do, I really need a conditioner that can provide slip for days because tackling the two textures is hard... like actually depressing. Had to cut out a knot from my hair – thankfully, it's small and I've done it before in the same area, it also blends in with the rest of my hair and will grow back quickly. Anyone have recommendations for conditioners with tons and tons and tonsssss of slip? I feel like the ones I've used before don't quite work like they used to before. :nono: If not, I'll just stretch for a max of 4-4.5 months and leave it at that. :lol:
 
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