Official: For Short Haired Ladies...APL by Dec'09!

[Nya33]

The first step in doing it is believing you can!

So true, i keep looking where APL is and its quite a distance. I'm trying to retain as much as i can but i've noticed that i'm now encountering the problem of the knots at the end of my hair. They are so annoying!

 

[The Princess]

Hi Ladies! Just checking in with an update.
On friday, I took out my weave (yay! I feel so free!) and pre pooed over night with a 1:1 mixture of castor oil and EVOO. Then on saturday, I did A LOT to my hair lol.

1. Baking soda rinse
2. Shampooed with Keracare dry and itchy scalp and Aphogee shampoo for damaged hair
3. Hard protein treatment with aphogee 2 step treatment
4. Conditioned with Aphogee balancing moisturizer
5. DC'ed for an hour under the dryer with Keracare Humecto (bottle). My hair felt so great! I'm going to try the one in the tub after this runs out.
6. Next, I used Aphogee provitamin leave in, keratin grean tea restructurizer and CHi silk infusion
7. Sealed with castor oil
8. Tried to rollerset, lol, that didn't quite come out right, but I will keep practicing. Although I didn't like how much I had to manipulate my wet hair to rollerset.
9. Then today (Sunday) I cowahed with Trader Joe's Nourish Spa and used all the same leave ins.

Sooooo, after all that what did I learn?
My hair needed protein, I love DCing, I love castor oil and I LOVE PLAYING IN MY HAIR! I'm deinitely going to be taking a break from weaves because of this (plus my edges aren't too happy even though I pampered them). I'll be wearing a wig while i learn to rollerset and I'm going to try cowashing everyday this week and see if my hair likes it.

So how's everyone's hair doing? I want to hear (read) updates and stories!

Im glad you figured out what you need. Protein is my best friend, my hair loves. I went to Sallys and they was out of the Kertain Green Tea Reconstructor. Boy I was mad, she did say a truck was comming in tomorrow and they have some on it. What do you like about it.

 

[The Princess]

Mini update.

I am 6 weeks post and TRYING to manage the new growth. Sunday, I washed my hair with Aphogee for damaged hair, did an Aphogee 2-step protein, Aphogee rebalancer, Aphogee green tea. I then used Lacio lacio and Chi Silk Infusion and rollerset. It came out beautiful .... FOR ONE DAY, uggh.

My hair looks thin to me . I will cowash my hair on Wednesday and post a picture of it wet.

You hair don't look thin to me. Its very full, maybe you have hair anorexia. (It does exist, when you hair look shorter and or thinner in your eyes, but in reality your hair is full and long) You hair looks great. Keep doing what you doing.

 

[The Princess]

I'm checking in, I have had sooo much success since I started. My hair was a dry brittle mess when I started, and now with all the advice and lessons my hair is sooooooo nice. I will have to update with pics later.

Am I the only person whose hair HATES protien.??????? It makes my hair, hard and brittle. I was using MTK once a week, but had to stop the frequency...I've cut back to once every two weeks. I don't want to stop using it because with every use I seem to have obvious growth.

I've been DCing with Nexxus and Kenra and my hair is sooo soft and healthy.

Any other suggestions ladies?

Im glad that your hair has turned around. Im really happy, I know the feeling when you can see progress and feel it. In regards to your hair being dry and brittle, maybe you can follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. One that I stand by is shescentit advocado conditioner, its a moisturizing conditioner, you can let it sit for 1-10mins and your hair will soften up. I let it stay for 1min and it did soften up. This stuff is good.

HTH...

 

[Shay72]

I'm one that rarely checks in. The last time I posted I said I would check in more then disappeared. I will try again. Realized yesterday that I will be 5 weeks post on Thursday. Time is flying. Haven't noticed any new growth. I think I'm a slow grower. Last stretch I began noticing about 2 months in. I know my hair will love me more if I incorporate more protein into my reggie so I am working on that now.

 

[SCarolinaGirl]

I am DCing now with NTM deep recovery mask mixed with coconut oil and a little mega tek. I will cornrow later for my braidout tomorrow!

 

[SCarolinaGirl]

My hair is already looking a little thicker.

 

[flowinlocks]

Checking in, I just washed & dced with Joico K-Pak, Jasons Biotin cond, And Cholesterol, along with my Ayurvedic herbs. I think my hair hates regular poo now. I'm 9 wks. post, so I will post a progress pic. when I touch up in Mar.

 

[jaded_faerie]

checking in:
all is well here. I cant really tell if my hair has grown much since the start of the challenge (major shrinkage!) but when stretched, it does look longer!

I've been slacking on DC'ing...the start of the year has been very crazy. I don't know the next time I'll take pictures, but hopefully soon...

 

[ChemistryGirl]

Im glad you figured out what you need. Protein is my best friend, my hair loves. I went to Sallys and they was out of the Kertain Green Tea Reconstructor. Boy I was mad, she did say a truck was comming in tomorrow and they have some on it. What do you like about it.

I use the Keratin Green Tea Restructurizer and Provitamin Leave in together, so I'm not sure how great it is on it's own. However I know my hair loves protein in general b/c after doing the 2 step treatment and using the 2 minute recontructor, I have waaay less breakage. I always used to get little broken pieces of hair on my shoulders and back everytime I combed my hair and the aphogee products have helped reduce my breakage. Also my hair used to be really elastic when it was wet, so combing my wet hair literally used to stretch and break little knots in my hair. Soo basically all the aphogee protein products combined help my hair feel stronger.

 

[MyAngelEyez~C~U]

I'm checking in as well, and planning to take down braids this weekend and relax my hair @ 8 weeks post. I used to be able to keep braids in for two or three months when I was younger...now I have to take them down after 6 weekserplexed. Anyway, I'll rebraid my hair sometime before the end of February. I just ordered a new bottle of OCT, so I'll be ready.

 

[alopeciagrl]

Hello everybody just joining to keep the rally going. It's the beginning of a new month. Stick with your reggies and get rid of what doesn't work.

I think I've done an okay job this month. Just last week I sorta messed up my end with wool sweaters. I did a little dusting last night to avoid any lost of progress. I will be using a clip until I get a wig for the rest of the winter.

 

[SouthernStunner]

Hey SouthernStunner. Are we supposed to be posting comparison shots this month or next month? I think I've had about an inch or maybe a little more since my starting pics.

Next update pic is the end of March. I cant wait to see yours!!! You Grow Girl

 

[SouthernStunner]

I am so thankful for all the "APL Cheerleaders" out there. msdevo, the princess, flowinglocks, to name a few. You ladies are on it with the encouragement and motivation .

I dont know if we all will make it to APL by Dec 09 but we will never know if we dont try! With your LHCF sisters pushing you on the only way you will fail is if you dont even try. So already you all are winners.

I have kept Jaxhair on the list and removed msa. I will really miss msa because she is my go to girl for natural hair remedies. Anytime I see a post from her I take the time to read it. She gives good advice. I understand she wont be able to check in as much as she would like to thus giving up her slot and making room for someonelse but I know she will make her goal lenght/health.

Be looking out ladies the first trivia question and prize will be posted 9 Feb 09. The first person to PM me with the answer will get the prize.

 

[msa]

I will definitely be around to cheer everyone on! I just felt bad taking up a space that someone else may be able to use.

Anyway, I'm thinking about getting a weave (especially after Ediese's recent thread about her new weave, it's so luscious) for a while so that I can still be lazy with my hair without causing too many setbacks.

I'm also working on an aloe/nettle/sage/rosemary/green tea moisturizing spritz so I'll report back if that goes well.

 

[lp318lp]

Pray for me y'all... I had a major setback. My hair has suffered (from what I really don't know) a little bit in the problematic back area.

Not sure what may have caused this setback, but I'm still optimistic about getting to APL by Dec. '09!!!

me~

 

[msdevo]

Sorry to hear about your setback(hugs)

What are you doing different?? I noticed with me, if I change or even add a new product to my routine my hair immediately notices.

Try to trace what you did differently and get rid of that culprit. The last thing we need is to have another sister leaving the APL crew.

Pray for me y'all... I had a major setback. My hair has suffered (from what I really don't know) a little bit in the problematic back area.

Not sure what may have caused this setback, but I'm still optimistic about getting to APL by Dec. '09!!!

me~

 

[Shay72]

Sorry to hear about your setback(hugs)

What are you doing different?? I noticed with me, if I change or even add a new product to my routine my hair immediately notices.

Try to trace what you did differently and get rid of that culprit. The last thing we need is to have another sister leaving the APL crew.

ITA. I started doing tea rinsing and my hair was like WTH? Will be stopping that immmediately. I did a strand test and my hair definitely needs more protein. I am on it!

 

[lp318lp]

Sorry to hear about your setback(hugs)

What are you doing different?? I noticed with me, if I change or even add a new product to my routine my hair immediately notices.

Try to trace what you did differently and get rid of that culprit. The last thing we need is to have another sister leaving the APL crew.

I noticed that this happened to me last year when I got REALLY sick. And right now, I'm just as sick - if not sicker. I'm trying to stay away from using too many drugs, but the back of my scalp has been itching like crazy.

The only recent thing I've noticed was the shampoo I used and conditioner. I can't pinpoint it to that, but... I'm just going to have to cradle her back to good health, stick to what's been working, and leave all kind of new experiments alone... Thanks, Ms. Devo!

I'm going to try to stay in there with y'all... I'll post pics in March...

me~

 

[lp318lp]

ITA. I started doing tea rinsing and my hair was like WTH? Will be stopping that immmediately. I did a strand test and my hair definitely needs more protein. I am on it!

I'm going to have to do something about my protein. It looks like I'm getting enough, but my strand are getting thinner and I'm seeing a lot more hair coming out.

I tried to say that it was because of the constant snow that we get here in Boston, but... I really think that I was just looking for a scapegoat with Old Man Winter...

Thanks for your thoughts, Shay72!

me~

 

[msdevo]

There are so many new things on the board thats talked about that I want to try but I am afraid that I will hit a setback if my hair doesn't agree. So right now Im on that " If it ain't broke don't try to fix it" kick.

ITA. I started doing tea rinsing and my hair was like WTH? Will be stopping that immmediately. I did a strand test and my hair definitely needs more protein. I am on it!

 

[kedda0720pooh]

Check out this 20 days of growth. Im sice!!

 

[msdevo]

Great job!! I see the difference from your siggy til now.

My hair is already looking a little thicker.

 

[msdevo]

Love ya curls. You can definitely see the growth

Check out this 20 days of growth. Im sice!!

 

[msdevo]

Yep being sick can do it. When I am sick I tend to over moisturize hoping that it will compensate for the days that I dont feel up to touching my hair.

Well feel better, drink plenty of fluids and get some rest

I noticed that this happened to me last year when I got REALLY sick. And right now, I'm just as sick - if not sicker. I'm trying to stay away from using too many drugs, but the back of my scalp has been itching like crazy.

The only recent thing I've noticed was the shampoo I used and conditioner. I can't pinpoint it to that, but... I'm just going to have to cradle her back to good health, stick to what's been working, and leave all kind of new experiments alone... Thanks, Ms. Devo!

I'm going to try to stay in there with y'all... I'll post pics in March...

me~

 

[SouthernStunner]

my hair looks like a ham! It is coming out of the twist left and right. I lost another twist last night when I cowashed thank goodness I am getting them retouched today. Lawd I hope I can another 4 weeks. I am actually taking the day off to take out the twist and Henna and get a dusting. I am really excited to see how much growth I have gotten. I will wear my hair out the first week, d/c 2x and the second week I will cowash everyday and d/c 2x the second week and back in BRAIDS not twist for another 8 weeks. I am 22 weeks post now. I am trying to make it 65 weeks. No I am not transitioning I am just giving my hair a much needed break. Next year on I will relax 2-3 times a year.

 

[loulou82]

I know this challenge lasts until December but when do you ladies really want to hit APL?

I want to be there by August.

 

[msdevo]

I hope that this is a good thing, meaning that your hair is growing??

my hair looks like a ham! It is coming out of the twist left and right. I lost another twist last night when I cowashed thank goodness I am getting them retouched today. Lawd I hope I can another 4 weeks. I am actually taking the day off to take out the twist and Henna and get a dusting. I am really excited to see how much growth I have gotten. I will wear my hair out the first week, d/c 2x and the second week I will cowash everyday and d/c 2x the second week and back in BRAIDS not twist for another 8 weeks. I am 22 weeks post now. I am trying to make it 65 weeks. No I am not transitioning I am just giving my hair a much needed break. Next year on I will relax 2-3 times a year.

 

[SouthernStunner]

I hope so too. Either way (growing or not) I hope its not breaking. It doesnt seem like it.


Ok so the other question was when do I want to be APL even though the challenge ends in Dec.

YESTERDAY!

 

[Blkrose]

I'm one of those people who havent updated since joining this challenge but really its because I dont know what to say erplexed. I'm currently in the Crown and Glory challenge as well so I'm currently in braids until March so I just figured when I provide an update there in March I would do an update for this challenge as well.

I took down my cornrows this past weekend, did an ayurvedic treatment, washed out with VO5, Mane & Tail conditioner and deep conditioned with AO HSR. So Im back in individual braids and I moisturize daily alternating the products between HE LTR, Hairveda Whipping Cream, seal with Shikakai Oil, Hawaian Silky 14-1, Growth Aids Ovation or Mega Tek.