Shoulder Length 2012 Challenge

cutiepiesensei said:
Only thing is, there isn't anything I can do with my hair if I don't flat iron it. I figured at least cutting off part of the heat I typically used in my routine would help since even with blowdrying it was doing better. I flat iron on 250 Fahrenheit, which is pretty low.
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This is why my hair is in a protective style at all times when I leave my house. If not, I would have to rollerset all the time (a great idea, but time consuming) or flat iron my hair at least twice a week. I've had kinky twists, cornrows, a sew-in weave, worn faux buns, and wigging it. I've resigned to the idea that I'll have to hide my hair all of 2012 and part of 2013 in order to get to a length where I can start bunning with my own hair.

Have you thought about wearing protective styles?
 
Doing a Sunflower/Soy/EVOO/Carrot Oil pre-poo overnight tonight - luckily I remembered not to apply all the way down to my scalp to avoid the drippies. Put scarf straight onto well-oiled hair, then plastic film over that. Will co-wash in the morning.

Length check in 6 days!
 
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Well I think that I had made it again to SL but tonight I cut up to one inch off in some areas to get rid of thin and split ends. I was tired of seeing the breakage and ugly crusty ends in the back and crown. Maybe in another month or two ill be SL again. I saw an old pic that looked like I might have been close to APL at one point. Sigh.
 
xu93texas well, it's more like I don't have the money to completely hide my hair lol. I want a good sew in but don't have the cash for it and reasonably priced wigs look bad on me cuz of my big forehead lol. A good flat iron job will last me 1-2 weeks. And I've never been a huge fan of cornrows. No offense to anyone on here, but they don't come off as professional to me and I'm doing a lot of interviews this summer. Only thing that is a possibility for me is faux buns, which I do, but with my bangs cut the way they are I would still have to flat iron :/

I hope that keeping the heat low and using a little bit less than normal will be ok for my hair. If I didn't have bangs I'd probably be able to just wash, air dry, and bun, but my hair is way too short in the front (from my ears and forward because I used to have oddly cut side bangs) to even fit in a ponytail. It's frustrating because my hair in the back is nearly SL and easily fits....I felt my hair today though, and it's been about four days since my last wash. It still feels moisturized even though I haven't moisturized since wash day. So I'm hoping the change will still be positive. All heat can't be completely evil right? I'm glad LHCF has taught me some things. Even though I still use some heat, my hair and knowledge are both in a better place than this same time last year
 
Well I've been in this PS for 5 days and I'm already ready to take it down! I might put in my lace wig I dk yet but I miss my curls!
 
cutiepiesensei said:
xu93texas well, it's more like I don't have the money to completely hide my hair lol. I want a good sew in but don't have the cash for it and reasonably priced wigs look bad on me cuz of my big forehead lol. A good flat iron job will last me 1-2 weeks. And I've never been a huge fan of cornrows. No offense to anyone on here, but they don't come off as professional to me and I'm doing a lot of interviews this summer. Only thing that is a possibility for me is faux buns, which I do, but with my bangs cut the way they are I would still have to flat iron :/

I hope that keeping the heat low and using a little bit less than normal will be ok for my hair. If I didn't have bangs I'd probably be able to just wash, air dry, and bun, but my hair is way too short in the front (from my ears and forward because I used to have oddly cut side bangs) to even fit in a ponytail. It's frustrating because my hair in the back is nearly SL and easily fits....I felt my hair today though, and it's been about four days since my last wash. It still feels moisturized even though I haven't moisturized since wash day. So I'm hoping the change will still be positive. All heat can't be completely evil right? I'm glad LHCF has taught me some things. Even though I still use some heat, my hair and knowledge are both in a better place than this same time last year
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Have u tried the wigs that have the bangs already!? That may help and u wont have to flat iron.
 
afroette said:
claud-uk, are you asking me if I want to be your relaxed buddy? If so, sure!

Eta: I say the lengths knowing full well I need to trim some crusty ends!
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Oh, no I didn't realise you were relaxed :perplexed I don't think we're compatible :nono:

But I'm with you on those ends - I went ahead and did mine last week - scissors are now my friend, it hardly hurts any more lol!!!
 
I got my braids done last week and for the last coule of days my scalp has beed itching like crazy! I'm thinking maybe I didn't clarify properly before I got my braids done...dunno. As a result I've had to resort to using sulfur 8 on my scalp. I hope that doesn't affect my growth.
 
cutiepiesensei said:
Another question ladies!! (I feel like that's all I post lol)

So as I've been going through my hhj, I have realized that I actually like air drying my relaxed hair. Now that I've found the right products, my hair air dries and feels soooooo soft :) So my question now is, since I air dry my hair, is it ok to flat iron my hair once (and only once) per week? I would blowdry and flat iron my hair every week or two, but now that I've laid off of the blow dryer I was thinking maybe my hair will be ok and healthy if the flat iron is the only heat I put on it once per week? I know some people roller set and flat iron the roots, but I would prefer just to air dry and flat iron. It makes it easier for me to deal with. Less time consuming
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When I use to flat iron my relaxed hair pretty much weekly it just wasn't pretty after a few months even though I was using a low 320-350 degrees. Have you tried air drying in flexi rods, curl formers, braids for a braid out, bantu knots for a bantu knot out, wet buns, twist?

Shhhh A little secret I'll tell you but I far more prefer air drying relaxed hair than natural...it was easier and you should take advantage of it....buuuttt if you must use a flat iron (which I personally have an addiction to my self) skip the blow drier as you plan to do is always safe. Just before I "went natural" and was relaxed I use to actually blow dry on cool hair and it would come out kind of close to my flat iron hair I just used a really good serum and a round brush (for tension) to keep it drying straight.
 
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Checking up...
I don't think I'm going to straighten my hair for the rest of the month... and I think I'm going to kick my shampoo to the curb, or curve.. which ever. I look at the ingredients and they are all filled with nothing I can pronounce or recognize and this sucks because I can't figure out what makes it so stripping even though they don't actually have any sulfates.
 
relaxer on saturday. protein dc'ed last night in preparation. i also plan to drench my ends in oil and basing my scalp in vaseline before going in.
 
I got my braids done a week ago and my scalp has been itching like crazy! dunno why because I've been oiling my scalp :ohwell:..... I can't wait till i take it out so i can do a length check:yay:
 
hey ladies! So for my birthday, my mother is paying for me to get a sew in weave (yay vacation hair) and this is a great opportunity to lay the heat and extra handling of off my hair. I plan to install wet and wavy hair. Can anyone direct me on tips as far as taking care of the weave hair as well as my own hair underneath goes? I know there are probably some threads on here, I just need a little bit of direction. I know curly extensions are a bit harder to take care of and I don't know how to accurately wash my hair underneath. Everytime I had a sew in in the past it didn't turn out so well for me because I didn't know how to take care of it
 
cutiepiesensei said:
hey ladies! So for my birthday, my mother is paying for me to get a sew in weave (yay vacation hair) and this is a great opportunity to lay the heat and extra handling of off my hair. I plan to install wet and wavy hair. Can anyone direct me on tips as far as taking care of the weave hair as well as my own hair underneath goes? I know there are probably some threads on here, I just need a little bit of direction. I know curly extensions are a bit harder to take care of and I don't know how to accurately wash my hair underneath. Everytime I had a sew in in the past it didn't turn out so well for me because I didn't know how to take care of it
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Hey ma'am the only thing I can tell you is to try not to put any oils or things like that on the hair as it causes build up. If you must oil your scalp do it sparingly and try and us a clarifying shampoo at least every week on your scalp to get rid of the oil you do use on scalp. Ummm don't forget to wrap it at night so it doesn't get tangled and matted. Use wide toothed comb especially if you get curly human hair. If its human hair you can wash it and condition it. You can use heat if you must but use a heat protectant by spraying it on your palms first and rub together and distribute to the hair. I dk what else but if the other ladies can chime in on what I forgot to mention. HTH!
 
Relaxed today. I'll see if I can figure out a way to take pictures. I could tell I did indeed cut off a lot by the fact that the stylist use purple rather than grey rollers when she got to the back.
 
Length check!

Taking pictures of the bad of my head was the hardest thing ever. I feel like the back looks different one very picture, despite trying to hold my head up and straight. Here are a few.
 

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afroette said:
Length check!

Taking pictures of the bad of my head was the hardest thing ever. I feel like the back looks different one very picture, despite trying to hold my head up and straight. Here are a few.
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Yeah yeah... I'm just wondering what you're still doing here in this challenge - isn't it time to move up a class? Go on, git the hell outta here!!! :yep::grin:
 
thanks ladies but i suppose i want FULL shoulder length hair before i claim SL. my hair is thin and doesn't appear SL unless i rake it out as i did in those pics.
 
afroette said:
Length check!

Taking pictures of the bad of my head was the hardest thing ever. I feel like the back looks different one very picture, despite trying to hold my head up and straight. Here are a few.
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Looking good! You are SL but your like me I want to wait at least until my sides hit SL! No don't go lol
 
My current style...
 

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Just posting my June length check update:

Did a flat iron on Saturday before going out and was unable to get decent photos (bad light) before my hair reverted BUT I'm pleased to say I've gained 3" since April :drunk:

The front went from eyebrow to nose tip, the sides from just below EL to just past SL. I now have another 5-6" to go until my shortest length is shoulder length, so my goal is still December '12.

Sorry I have no more pics (yeah yeah, I can hear y'all saying "pics or it nevah happened" :lol: ) but I'm not doing any more heat for the next three months so just have to wait for my next check in September.

apr-june-2012-comparison.jpg
 
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claud-uk said:
Just posting my June length check update:

Did a flat iron on Saturday before going out and was unable to get decent photos (bad light) before my hair reverted BUT I'm pleased to say I've gained 3" since April :drunk:

The front went from eyebrow to nose tip, the sides from just below EL to just past SL. I now have another 5-6" to go until my shortest length is shoulder length, so my goal is still December '12.

Sorry I have no more pics (yeah yeah, I can hear y'all saying "pics or it nevah happened" :lol: ) but I'm not doing any more heat for the next three months so just have to wait for my next check in September.
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Uuuhhh you look way past SL to me ma'am!
 
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