Making it from SL to APL. Its so hard!!!

How did you get from SL to APL?

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Crystal22

Well-Known Member
Okay, I've been doing research, and searching for this topic and it seems I'm not the only one who understands going from SL to APL is the hardest stage of all because of those ends constantly coming in contact with clothing, etc. My thing is i understand that protective styling is a great way to get to this point but I considered anything that pretty much has you ends up and off your shoulders to be a protective style. I did not know that the ends had to be covered or tucked in as well. I wear my hair in a loose clip 5 days outta the week and keep the ends well moisturized Is this not a good thing to be doing? Has anyone not worn braids or weaves getting from SL to APL? If so, how long did it take you? It seems like everyone has done that getting from SL to APL but I don't do fake hair. I'm just so frustrated and I feel like I'm making little to no progress.

Rant: BTW I get a retouch tomorrow and that stylist is not trimming even 1/4 of an inch off my ends. I didn't put this much into my growth to get it cut right back off. She is so scissor happy its sickening.:rolleyes: End rant.

Sorry bout that lol!!!:grin:
 
Crystal22 said:
Okay, I've been doing research, and searching for this topic and it seems I'm not the only one who understands going from SL to APL is the hardest stage of all because of those ends constantly coming in contact with clothing, etc. My thing is i understand that protective styling is a great way to get to this point but I considered anything that pretty much has you ends up and off your shoulders to be a protective style. I did not know that the ends had to be covered or tucked in as well. I wear my hair in a loose clip 5 days outta the week and keep the ends well moisturized Is this not a good thing to be doing? Has anyone not worn braids or weaves getting from SL to APL? If so, how long did it take you? It seems like everyone has done that getting from SL to APL but I don't do fake hair. I'm just so frustrated and I feel like I'm making little to no progress.

Rant: BTW I get a retouch tomorrow and that stylist is not trimming even 1/4 of an inch off my ends. I didn't put this much into my growth to get it cut right back off. She is so scissor happy its sickening.:rolleyes: End rant.

Sorry bout that lol!!!:grin:
Click to expand...
I made APL in less than 8 months and I was ear length I have worn cornrows but only 2 weeks at a time .
 
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Thats fantastic. Does you hair normally grow fast? What in the world did you do? I believe you are an MN user. Do you contribute that to your speedy growth? I just added a poll so feel free to vote!!
 
I haven't gotten over this hump, I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. From SL to APL is by far one of the hardest hurdles IMO. It can CAN be done (as proven by tons of women here), but it takes a while for some. What I don't get how I can big chop down to 3 inches and a few months later I'm shoulder length, but I can't get past shoulder length to APL for the life of me!?! :spinning:

It's driving me crazy and that's why I posted in my Fotki that I believe maybe shoulder length is just my terminal length even though I've seen my mom's hair surpass that (she's APL relaxed).

So I'm trying to prove myself wrong. I'm armed with a new regimen now and if I don't see progress by next year, I'm seriously calling it quits!
 
Crystal22 said:
Okay, I've been doing research, and searching for this topic and it seems I'm not the only one who understands going from SL to APL is the hardest stage of all because of those ends constantly coming in contact with clothing, etc. My thing is i understand that protective styling is a great way to get to this point but I considered anything that pretty much has you ends up and off your shoulders to be a protective style. I did not know that the ends had to be covered or tucked in as well. I wear my hair in a loose clip 5 days outta the week and keep the ends well moisturized Is this not a good thing to be doing? Has anyone not worn braids or weaves getting from SL to APL? If so, how long did it take you? It seems like everyone has done that getting from SL to APL but I don't do fake hair. I'm just so frustrated and I feel like I'm making little to no progress.

Rant: BTW I get a retouch tomorrow and that stylist is not trimming even 1/4 of an inch off my ends. I didn't put this much into my growth to get it cut right back off. She is so scissor happy its sickening.:rolleyes: End rant.

Sorry bout that lol!!!:grin:
Click to expand...

u ARE doing the right thing....:yep:I do the EXACT same thing,and I made APL in 6mths from SL ( I have a thread on this)...I don't do fake hair either...be patience and u will reach your goal trust:yep: oh yeah....NO TRIMMING AT ALL,only if r serious about getting to APL:rolleyes:
 
We can do it girl! Are you in the 2008 APL challenge? We're all in this together and can help each other. I do agree that APL is a big hurdle though. I have a feeling the hair just kind of rests at SL for a minute and then when it's ready it will shoot on down to APL.
 
I'm in this boat as well. My hair is taking FOREVER to reach APL. I thought I'd be APL by now but even extended my goal to August. It just seams that my hair has slowed down and is taking a rest when I want it to grow fast. :drunk:
 
My APL challenge is set for 2009, but now ya'll have got me wondering if it can be done AND my hair looks a HAM if I don't trim. I wish I didn't have to!! :sad:

Best wishes to all of you with the APL challenge for 2008! :yep:
 
Crystal22 said:
Okay, I've been doing research, and searching for this topic and it seems I'm not the only one who understands going from SL to APL is the hardest stage of all because of those ends constantly coming in contact with clothing, etc. My thing is i understand that protective styling is a great way to get to this point but I considered anything that pretty much has you ends up and off your shoulders to be a protective style. I did not know that the ends had to be covered or tucked in as well. I wear my hair in a loose clip 5 days outta the week and keep the ends well moisturized Is this not a good thing to be doing? Has anyone not worn braids or weaves getting from SL to APL? If so, how long did it take you? It seems like everyone has done that getting from SL to APL but I don't do fake hair. I'm just so frustrated and I feel like I'm making little to no progress.

Rant: BTW I get a retouch tomorrow and that stylist is not trimming even 1/4 of an inch off my ends. I didn't put this much into my growth to get it cut right back off. She is so scissor happy its sickening.:rolleyes: End rant.

Sorry bout that lol!!!:grin:
Click to expand...
You know i don't do fake hair either, never have (not that there's any problem with that). Yes protective styles do involve off the shoulders/clothes. But the reason why ends are hidden and tucked away (imo) is to keep the ends moistured. Air dries out, basicly. It took me 7 months to get from SL to APL. But BSL is another story, lol. I'll tell you when i get there, lol. I picked combination. Protective styles, stretching relaxers (12 wks minimum), and stopped using heat. Actually heat has never been an issue, i only use heat during relaxer time which is once every 3 months. HTH.
 
Crystal22 said:
Okay, I've been doing research, and searching for this topic and it seems I'm not the only one who understands going from SL to APL is the hardest stage of all because of those ends constantly coming in contact with clothing, etc. My thing is i understand that protective styling is a great way to get to this point but I considered anything that pretty much has you ends up and off your shoulders to be a protective style. I did not know that the ends had to be covered or tucked in as well. I wear my hair in a loose clip 5 days outta the week and keep the ends well moisturized Is this not a good thing to be doing? Has anyone not worn braids or weaves getting from SL to APL? If so, how long did it take you? It seems like everyone has done that getting from SL to APL but I don't do fake hair. I'm just so frustrated and I feel like I'm making little to no progress.

Rant: BTW I get a retouch tomorrow and that stylist is not trimming even 1/4 of an inch off my ends. I didn't put this much into my growth to get it cut right back off. She is so scissor happy its sickening.:rolleyes: End rant.

Sorry bout that lol!!!:grin:
Click to expand...

I am also in the struggle to get from SL to APL, I am hoping to be there in 3 months. I think the whole point in protective styling is that your ends are NOT exposed to air at all so IMO having your hair up but with the ends out is not a protective style. The whole point is to not have to trim your ends at all (or at least not as often) but if your hair is exposed to the air then it will get drier quicker and dry ends = split ends and split ends = trims!

I have been wearing my hair in a phony pony since Sept last year and my ends are saftely moisturised and tucked away each day, when I get home at night I take the phony pony of and my hair is still moist from the spray leave-in conditioner I spray on it in the morning. I have not trimmed my hair for about 9 months now and my ends are almost in perfect condition since the last time I had a trim which is absolutely amazing for me and I can see the length starting to come now..
 
I am in the same boat. it is so frustrating! First I thought i would be APL by 12/07, then by 03/08 but nope, im still stuck between SL and APL...now im just trying to focus on anything but my hair and hoping im surprised at my next touchup in june. :ohwell:
 
HairQueen said:
I have been wearing my hair in a phony pony since Sept last year and my ends are saftely moisturised and tucked away each day, when I get home at night I take the phony pony of and my hair is still moist from the spray leave-in conditioner I spray on it in the morning. I have not trimmed my hair for about 9 months now and my ends are almost in perfect condition since the last time I had a trim which is absolutely amazing for me and I can see the length starting to come now..
Click to expand...

me too gurl!....them phony ponys have saved my ends during harsh winter. I'm still wearing them now and i plan to still wear them along thru the summer. as slow as my hair is growing, my ends have kept that blunt cut i gave it in Oct. its amazing...but it works!
 
It is very hard, I did a combination of things as well, stretching, protective styling, moisturizing, no trimming, and NO heat helped me. It took me about 9mths to get to APL from SL. I have pics in my fotki.
 
Combination of bunning, moisturizing and stretching relaxers worked to get me from SL to APL. I thought it was hard during that time but now I see for me its harder getting from APL to BSL :nono:.
 
I did a combination of things to get from SL to APL, such as no direct heat at all, ends always pinned up and off shoulders, protecting ends with oil during relaxing process and daily moisturizing. It took about 8 months.

As mentioned above, I pinned my hair up a lot, like you mentioned that you're also doing. My ends were not hidden most times, but I moisturized them daily and still retained length. I've never done fake hair...it's just not for me.

My BIG hurdle was reaching BSL. It took about 11 months (with almost no trimming) for me to get from APL to BSL. I guess my hair needed a rest.:ohwell:

Be encouraged! As long as you continue to keep your hair moisturized, handle it gently, minimize trimming and baby those ends, the length will come.
 
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To be 100% honest I wore my hair down almost everyday but I did get braids once or twice. I retained the most growth with braids. Weaing it down, it took forever and I had to trim alot because my hair was always getting damaged from me straightening it and letting it rub all on my clothes BUT that was before I joined the hair boards. It can be a much shorter journey with protective styles. I think hair on your clothes is a BIG bandit when it comes to retaining length.
 
I went from neck length to APL in 13 months (see fotki). I have NEVER done braids, phony ponies, weaves, or wigs. Just not my style. Half the time my hair is down and half the time is pulled up in a soft bun or clip. I stretched my relaxers and was very consistence with my regi.

MrsJohnson, your baby is a cutie in that Dora wig!
 
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I am still struggling...when I went to the HD in Feb for my touchup she cut a lot of my length out so I haven't seen her since. I have been doing braidouts for the most part and only once since then did I use direct heat (flat iron). I am hoping to keep this up and get some of that length I lost. It looks like nothing has happened since then but I will keep trying

I co wash at least 2x a week w/ DC. My hair is a moisture craver.
Only use my Pibbs to dry. Airdrying does not work for me, my roots are still wet even 12 hours later at times.
Stretch a min of 12 wks (next one is may 22)
Biotin, B-Complex, GNC Nourishair, EPO
MN

I may get braids a little later in the year. My hair is heavy and holds water so when it gets warm I have to keep it off my neck in some way or else I will sweat it out.
 
Crystal22 said:
Thats fantastic. Does you hair normally grow fast? What in the world did you do? I believe you are an MN user. Do you contribute that to your speedy growth? I just added a poll so feel free to vote!!
Click to expand...
no when I found the hair boards in febuary 2007 I staerted taking care of my hair and started using growth aids . I think they really helped with the DC and stuff , I never had hair longer than ear lenghth b4
 
Thankyou ladies for all your support. It really means a lot!! I went for a retouch today and my hair is now below shoulder length level. the sides are still shoulder length however due to a layered cut I had over last summer. I'm glad to say I am making progress after all. My hair will be going back up in a clip in a couple of days though. I will only wear it down Saturadays and Sundays.
While I was at the hair salon, I told my stylist that I didn't want her to give me a trim today, and she stated, "Thats why you have so many hair problems". I told her I had been letting her trim it and I still have hair problems, so there. :rolleyes: She likes to trim my hair and I'm talking about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch every 4 weeks. No wonder I haven't been getting anywhere. Why does she think its so vital to trim that often and that much hair?? So many ppl have the misconceived notion that not trimming you ends stunts your growth or your hair will automatically begin to shed/break. This is so not true IMO. My ends aren't even that bad, I know I got a trim atleast 4 weeks ago, and even if they were raggedy, is it really gonna harm my whole head of hair?? I will however get my mom to dust my ends in a few more weeks just to maintain any minor splits.

I just don't get why I spend time growing out atleast an inch of hair every six weeks for her to cut 3/4 of it right back off, just so it can "look" better, i.e. more even. The sad thing is she doesn't even know how to cut so my hair still comes out uneven anyway.:wallbash: I wonder why she never questions why her hair, while it looks healthy, never passes just below shoulder length?? I'm not gonna get stuck in that rut just because she thinks thats how its supposed to be.
 
Also ladies, can anyone suggest a good everyday hair moisturizer? Do you ever switch up your moisturizer during the week? I have been using BB oil moisturizer, ORS olive oil moisturizer (in the bottle), and Pantene relaxed and natural moisturizer. None of these are particularly great, though I have been using the ORS most of all just because it has a good balance of not being too heavy for everyday wear but also seems to give me enough moisture at the same time. I'm still looking for THE ONE though.
 
Great thread Crystal! I am totally in the same boat. Been at SL since FOREVER and not really seeing any real progress forward. I also use ORS Olive Oil on my ends, wear my hair in a barrette or clip, and never really done weaves or wigs. I have bookmarked this thread as there is a lot of useful information. Thx!
 
Country gal said:
It is really hard for me to reach APL. I am so close but not quite there. My hair is past SL but not a full apl.
Click to expand...

Love "I'm feeling the very same way" I'm praying now that the warmer weather is coming , we'll see some real growth ..I our hair was resting:sleep: over the winter
 
Funny that I find this thread today. I straightened my hair for the first time in a month or so today..and I am still hoovering around the length in my siggy. I will admit I did have a trim about a month and a half ago...but still. I see that my ends are still thick and blunt...I was planning to trim every four weeks until I was all natural but I think I may chill on the trimming until I get to APL. It is so discouraging to get stuck at the same point. I guess I will get back consistent with my MN. The baggying is great for my ends...I just need my growth to start back. Come on ladies we can do this! my goal is to see APL by end of Summer 08
 
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