I began my long hair journey in February 2004 and grazed bra strap in December 2004. I don't think I started seeing significant results (better ends, thickness, real growth) until June of 2004.
I went from a short Halle Berry cut to brastrap in May 2001 to brastrap July 2004, so it took me 24 months. I cut it again in October, and it hit the strap again late December.
I started out with shoulder length hair last January (about your length) and I made it to bra strap by December 17!!!!! It can definitely be done.
Now I did a lot to get there, including vitamins and protective styles (not even everyday), but I did it, and so can you.
I've recently cut off about 4 inches in length so I'm back above bra strap again and I'm sort of starting over, but I'm still a lot farther along then I was at this time last year.
Now that I know I can do it, I know what it takes to get there, and I know exactly how long it takes, I'm not apprehensive about cutting anymore!!
I know, I didn't mean to cut that much off, but I did it over the course of a few weeks or so it didn't look like I chopped a lot. The only reason I knew it was 4 inches is because of where it falls to my bra strap now.
I am anal about it being super even so after a chop here and a chop there, it was 4 inches!! Plus, I've been going thru a lot personally and I always get scissor-happy when I do. I'm a little less than a month away from relaxing, so hopefully I'll gain some of it back. In my album, it's about where my September 2004 pix, so it's still a good healthy length. I guess I'm not in the BS club with you anymore , but I should be again by summer. Then NO MORE CHOPPING!
It took me 1 year and 10 months to go from shoulder length to bra strap. I tracked it in my album. There was a lot of experimentation and too many trims initially, but it was steady progress.