Hip–Tailbone Length (HL–TBL) 2015-2016 Challenge!

[SmilingElephant]

Sorry for the delayed response. I use a modified curly girl method. I cowash weekly and shampoo monthly. That helps me with moisture retention and curl formation. As for products, I mix and match a lot because my hair hates coconut oil. I like Darcy's Botanicals Leave in, Donna Marie Buttercreme, Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic for both WNGs and TOs.

It's okay!

Okay...yeah even when I was strictly CG my curls wouldn't clump like that. I think I just need a good trim. They always spring up at the ends when I give myself a good trim.

 

[Lucia]

I am approaching my TL goal. I've cut a little since this pic was taken last month, but I'm happy with my progress. Just passed 4 years natural

Yes! Beautiful hair please give us details regimen and products to get such nice defined juicy curls.
ETA
Just saw your response. Thanks

 

[eocceas]

Hey guys, been a lil while but not much to report. Recently I've been experimenting with headwraps and I must say after watching some how to's on it, I've gone quite mad.

Best protective style ever! Especially for the busy and/or hair lazy and no lie some of these took less than 3min. to do.

 

[MileHighDiva]

Slayin' @eocceas

 

[Lucia]

Stylin' @eocceas
Have you tried big tribal style earrings or just big hoops with the wraps. I find it really gives that little extra glam.

 

[kellistarr]

Hey guys, been a lil while but not much to report. Recently I've been experimenting with headwraps and I must say after watching some how to's on it, I've gone quite mad.

Best protective style ever! Especially for the busy and/or hair lazy and no lie some of these took less than 3min. to do.

Those wraps are nice. Do you find that the material dries out your hair, Ass-uming that the wraps are of cotton?

 

[kellistarr]

View attachment 365495 I am approaching my TL goal. I've cut a little since this pic was taken last month, but I'm happy with my progress. Just passed 4 years natural

Gorgeous!

 

[eocceas]

Those wraps are nice. Do you find that the material dries out your hair, Ass-uming that the wraps are of cotton?

I always have my silk scarf under them. Sometimes even dc'ing or Doing the GHE and no ones the wiser.

 

[eocceas]

Stylin' @eocceas
Have you tried big tribal style earrings or just big hoops with the wraps. I find it really gives that little extra glam.

You know what, that would be a good look. Hadn't thought of that. Def have to get some of those...thnx.

 

[MileHighDiva]

 

[eocceas]

Hey lovelies, hope all is well. I am still keeping up with my wkly/mo. regimen. Thnk goodness and will be doing the 2nd round of the Inversion Method on Sun. I added some hair to my 2 strand twist this time bc I was in the mood for some serious hang time. I did the invisible twist method w/this style and it came out really good as if it grew from my scalp. Will try to keep it in for ab 2-3wks...

 

[caliscurls]

@eocceas I love those wraps on you and those twists came out great! How's your retention been with the protective styling?

@Joigirl congrats on your progress!

 

[caliscurls]

Did you all notice that the longer the length challenge the less activity the thread has? I came in here looking for a whole bunch of updates and there's some but not much (but I know good and well I haven't posted a thing in a while myself, lol ). Even going back to the really old threads with classic length goals you see the same thing. I wonder why that is?

Anyhow, here's my update....things have started to calm down finally and life is thankfully getting back to normal. Friday before last I washed, did a protein treatment followed by DC, air dried, then redid my twists over 2 days. This past Friday I washed mainly my scalp and did a dry DC of the rest but left a little in and just threw it in a bun. Today I messaged QB CTDG through the entire length and ends. I also messaged a mix a Rosemary oil, coconut oil, and castor oil in to my scalp. It's back in a bun now, will probably wash and redo the twists later this week which would put me back at my normal routine.

Generally my hair is doing really well but I can tell I'm going through a major shed. Not sure if it's from stress, hormones, or the season but will likely go see a doc if it doesn't settle down in a few weeks. I'm hoping that getting back to my pre-poo routine and good nutrition will help.

Other than that I took advantage of QBs sale and bought 2 big containers of the CTDG plus two trial sizes for when I travel. I can truly live with just that and the Bekura Java Bean and Honey Balm in between washes...at least through Spring and Summer. We'll see if that holds true for th Fall and Winter.

How's everyone else doing?

 

[Aggie]

Hey lovelies, hope all is well. I am still keeping up with my wkly/mo. regimen. Thnk goodness and will be doing the 2nd round of the Inversion Method on Sun. I added some hair to my 2 strand twist this time bc I was in the mood for some serious hang time. I did the invisible twist method w/this style and it came out really good as if it grew from my scalp. Will try to keep it in for ab 2-3wks...

Pretty twists and wrap @eocceas

 

[ElevatedEnergy]

Did you all notice that the longer the length challenge the less activity the thread has? I came in here looking for a whole bunch of updates and there's some but not much (but I know good and well I haven't posted a thing in a while myself, lol ). Even going back to the really old threads with classic length goals you see the same thing. I wonder why that is?

Anyhow, here's my update....things have started to calm down finally and life is thankfully getting back to normal. Friday before last I washed, did a protein treatment followed by DC, air dried, then redid my twists over 2 days. This past Friday I washed mainly my scalp and did a dry DC of the rest but left a little in and just threw it in a bun. Today I messaged QB CTDG through the entire length and ends. I also messaged a mix a Rosemary oil, coconut oil, and castor oil in to my scalp. It's back in a bun now, will probably wash and redo the twists later this week which would put me back at my normal routine.

Generally my hair is doing really well but I can tell I'm going through a major shed. Not sure if it's from stress, hormones, or the season but will likely go see a doc if it doesn't settle down in a few weeks. I'm hoping that getting back to my pre-poo routine and good nutrition will help.

Other than that I took advantage of QBs sale and bought 2 big containers of the CTDG plus two trial sizes for when I travel. I can truly live with just that and the Bekura Java Bean and Honey Balm in between washes...at least through Spring and Summer. We'll see if that holds true for th Fall and Winter.

How's everyone else doing?

I believe this is true. I really haven't been moved to do much on the hair care end. It's almost like..I got this...now can we move on?! LOL
I just came out of a sew in recently and just been pampering my hair with some good ole deep conditioning treatments, protein treatments and will do a jet black color soon. Once the snow comes, I'll be going back in a sew in. Thinking of being in a sew in during the coldest/hottest months of the year to give my hair a break. Found an awesome stylist to install/maintain/remove the sew-in's as well as do monthly visits on my natural hair to give myself a break from the DIY. All is well.

 

[Chicoro]

Hey guys, been a lil while but not much to report. Recently I've been experimenting with headwraps and I must say after watching some how to's on it, I've gone quite mad.

Best protective style ever! Especially for the busy and/or hair lazy and no lie some of these took less than 3min. to do.

Love your wraps. The pictures are great. That first one is my favorite. You look regal and pretty.

 

[caliscurls]

I believe this is true. I really haven't been moved to do much on the hair care end. It's almost like..I got this...now can we move on?! LOL
I just came out of a sew in recently and just been pampering my hair with some good ole deep conditioning treatments, protein treatments and will do a jet black color soon. Once the snow comes, I'll be going back in a sew in. Thinking of being in a sew in during the coldest/hottest months of the year to give my hair a break. Found an awesome stylist to install/maintain/remove the sew-in's as well as do monthly visits on my natural hair to give myself a break from the DIY. All is well.

I think you're right. Now that it seems like I've got things figured out I'm not moved to post as much...it'd be the same thing every day, lol. Same routine, same products....no excitement here. It's good that everyone posts every now and then so we can see the full journey, even through maintenance.

 

[SmilingElephant]

Welp...

I'm back on my Mielle vitamins . I personally notice a difference in the growth of my hair...but definitely my nails when I don't take them for a while

I've been so busy with working and life, I've been going almost a week without cowashing and detangling! Which is BAD for me! I'll most likely have a loc to detangle tomorrow.

 

[caliscurls]

@SmilingElephant have your created a trim schedule to help you maintain HL or will you do it as you feel the need?

 

[SmilingElephant]

@SmilingElephant have your created a trim schedule to help you maintain HL or will you do it as you feel the need?

I'm going to start doing quarterly trims to help thicken up my ends. Starting this fall

 

[FoxxyLocs]

Idk why I never joined this challenge. Better late than never I guess.

I've reached hip and tailbone length a few times but always end up having to cut back to waist for one reason or another. I just trimmed from hip length a couple of weeks ago, but this time I only had to trim to whip instead of back up to waist length so I guess that's progress.

My main struggle is keeping my ends from being damaged, mostly by stylists.

Current length: WHIP (natural)

Regimen: Shampoo/DC bi-weekly; low manipulation styles, low heat

Exact goal length: Hip length with healthy ends and a U shaped hemline

Products: Elucence MB shampoo, Silk dreams VS DC. Looking for a good product for my twist outs and braid outs. Coconut oil and argan oil on my ends. Elasta QP wrap foam and Ecostyler gel for natural styles.

Tools + plans to help reach final goal: I have a pretty good regimen, so my plan is just to stick with what's been working and pay more attention to my ends between now and the end of the year.

Maintenance + plans once goal is achieved: once I reach my goal I'll just be continuing my regimen and doing maintenance trims.

 

[caliscurls]

@FoxxyLocs are the styles just rough when they comb your hair or scissor happy?

 

[caliscurls]

Did a scalp massage this morning with my oil mix and then rotated my protective style to what looks like a French Braid but is really just banded down the center. Ends are out today because it looks so good, love the fullness. May do an overnight pre-poo since tomorrow is wash day but we'll see.

Have upped my water in take and started back on my vitamins.

Observation:

• A while back I commented about thin areas at my nape and crown. Happy to report that slightly thicker loose twists in those areas have paid off - most substantially in the nape and little on the crown. The nape twists were thicker than the crown. I like how my hair doesn't really look like I have twists in because they're so small but am going to have to give in to thicker twists at the crown as well to see continued improvement.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@caliscurls
Just popped in to say we miss you in the Oil(s), Grease Challenge Thread.

Please don't forget about us.

 

[caliscurls]

Lol @IDareT'sHair headed over now!

 

[FoxxyLocs]

@FoxxyLocs are the styles just rough when they comb your hair or scissor happy?

Either they are too rough when combing, or they use too much heat.

I went to a stylist last October who I had been seeing maybe twice a year for the last few years. She had a new shampoo girl who tangled my hair when washing, then ripped through when combing. I was shocked at how much damage she did in just that one session, but I ended up having to cut 4 inches.

Then I grew it back to HL and went to my mom's stylist to get it flat ironed. She flat ironed on 450 with multiple passes, even though I told her that I normally do 1 pass on 375. She insisted that her heat protectant worked really well and my hair would be fine. She was wrong of course. Cut two inches off after that.

 

[eocceas]

@eocceas I love those wraps on you and those twists came out great! How's your retention been with the protective styling?

@Joigirl congrats on your progress!

Thnk u. Not sure how it's going quite yet. I haven't done any length checks yet. However, the overall health of my hair is much better

 

[caliscurls]

Either they are too rough when combing, or they use too much heat.

I went to a stylist last October who I had been seeing maybe twice a year for the last few years. She had a new shampoo girl who tangled my hair when washing, then ripped through when combing. I was shocked at how much damage she did in just that one session, but I ended up having to cut 4 inches.

Then I grew it back to HL and went to my mom's stylist to get it flat ironed. She flat ironed on 450 with multiple passes, even though I told her that I normally do 1 pass on 375. She insisted that her heat protectant worked really well and my hair would be fine. She was wrong of course. Cut two inches off after that.

See, this is why I can't bring myself to step foot in to a salon again. It's good you know they're the problem though - the fix is straight forward.

 

[FoxxyLocs]

See, this is why I can't bring myself to step foot in to a salon again. It's good you know they're the problem though - the fix is straight forward.

Yeah, I hate trying new salons, but I need a break sometimes from doing my hair myself.

 

[SmilingElephant]

I'm pretty sure it's all in my mind...but it seems like my hair stopped growing.

I should measure it. But maybe I'm watching it too much.