Since 2007 is almost done

[locabouthair]

I started a thread like this in the off-topic section.

What have you learned about your hair this year?
Have you accomplished your goals?

I learned that just because everyone raves about it doesnt mean it's for you. In my case it was the dominican salon i went to. I also learned that I never really had a deep moisturizing conditioner, like I thought I did.

Oh and that I dont think I'll be stretching past 10 weeks anymore. I'm 13 weeks now and it's so hard to style, my hair just looks a mess.
And that I need to just give my hair some TLC and stop obsessing over it. When ya'll said this hair thing would be a journey ya'll weren't lying

About the goals, I got to shoulder length, well at least the back. The front is a whole nother story. Plus my hair is really thin from overprocessing (at the dominican salon) so I dont really feel I accomplished much. well at least I know I can retain some length.

What about you?

 

[gymfreak336]

I learned


- Biotin makes my hair stronger when I take it consistently
- I need to buy stock in pantene
- Rollersets are your friend
- Consistency brings the best results
- my hair like protein but is picky with the way I give protein
- my hair is hard to overmoisturize
- Fine toothed combs are the debil
- I should stop putting set time deadlines on my hair, it will get there when it gets there
- I can't go with out trimming, my hair like dusting
- When in doubt rewash and deep condition
- YOU CAN DO BAD BY YOURSELF

 

[prospurr4]

The only hair goal that I have for this year is to grow my hair to a healthy, longer length, which I have accomplished. Thank God, I have had no setbacks. I too will no longer stretch past 10 weeks.

 

[YoungWavey]

Well...I learned

-Highlights are the yep:
-I don't need to clip my ends every month..I do it every 4 mos.
-I can do my hair myself now...
-I need more protein than moisture conds.
-I don't have to get a TU every 4 weeks but 20 weeks though
-Fine teeth combs are the devil cousin
-Washing my hair every 4-5 days keeps my flakes away
-Castor Oil is my bestfriend always
-Sealing my ends nightly is a MUST!!!
-Grease isn't moisture for my hair but great for my ends
-Rollerset is the best thing i ever did to my hair
-Henna is great for thickness and natural color
-Mostly I don't need a stinky stylist telling me what MY HAIR NEEDS!!!

 

[ravenmerlita]

I learned how to take better care of my hair and I finally found some staple products. I learned that shampoo is my friend and that I need to do regular hardcore protein treatments.

I also learned that the longer my hair gets, the more I lose perspective about what is long.

All in all it was a very good year for my hair.

 

[locabouthair]

Well...I learned

-Mostly I don't need a stinky stylist telling me what MY HAIR NEEDS!!!

That was one of the most important things I learned. I'm staying away from stylists.

 

[Saida]

• 
  Oil rinses work for me
  Protein..Protein..Protein
  NTM silk touch leave in is still my baby
  protective styles, help my hair
  scalp massage is awsome
  My hair is easier to manage than I might think
  and soo much more, but I can't remember right now

 

[Isis]

Good thread!

I learned a lot this year about body art henna and to use it (along with amla and indigo) to safely enhance my natural brown hair color.

I learned two new, great methods of rollersetting, besides the ponytail method I started out with--from Sylver2 and Macherieamour.

ETA: I am currently learning about silk amino acids and how to use it in my hair products.

 

[Evazhair]

Prepooing keeps my hair from getting wrecked by shampoo.

Chelating regularly is a must for me. Doing this lets me successfully use deep conditioners that contain mineral oil.

Just because I have an Affirm relaxer doesn't guarantee that their maintenance products are always the best for me

I can use light proteins occasionally and that is all the protein I need between relaxers.

I don't need setting aids or serum A silk protein leave in does the job

I can safely deep condition for over 20 min.

Kenra MC is a wonderful deep conditioner without mineral oil! A lifetime staple.

The Pibbs 514 has changed my hair for the better. The Gold and Hot was not good to my hair.

 

[LynnieB]

I started a thread like this in the off-topic section.

What have you learned about your hair this year?
Have you accomplished your goals?

What about you?

I learned that going natural is everything i thought it would be and more and my initial fears were completely unfounded.

the time i spent dealing with my relaxed hair isn't any different than the time i spend styling my natural hair, it's just different techniques and products involved.

i'm very very happy .

as far as goals are concerned, i think i'm pretty much on target as far as growth is concerned. i started at midback, chopped to top of shoulder and have reached armpit already.

so hopefully bsl in the next summer and mbl by this time next year (God willing) and i will be right back where i started......and that's my ultimate goal. Everything else would be icing on the cake

hope everyone else has had a positive year and continues to do so through '08.

 

[MJ]

My main lessons for 2007 were:

~Patience is the most important ingredient for me and my hair goals
~Consistency is key
~Browsing fotki albums is a great way to find info and motivators

 

[Dposh167]

i've learned that
1)i can stretch 12+ post without any major breakage
2)i can actually control new growth without it controlling me
3)the baggy method really does work
4)i'm still a PJ
5)my hair thrives when i just give it what it needs instead of going by some sort of schedule

 

[janeemat]

In 2007 I learned that:

Stretching relaxers is the best thing that I could have ever done for my hair (12-14 wks).

Moisturizing the ends are the key to retaining length.

Bone straight hair is not healthy for me.

I met and fell in love with Dom Cond.

 

[fivetimestwo]

I've learned not to be such a product junky. I finally found the right mix of products (took me until September to figure it out) and I stick with those. I realize I was not retaining a lot of length because I was trying everything somone raved about. Not only did most of it not work for me, it cost me a lot of money and those junk products are taking up space.

As far as goals are concerned, I feel I have reached them this year. I didn't have a length goal but I wanted to conquer knots, tangles and split ends. I also wanted to figure out how to retain length. I think I've done that so now I can focus on my length goals.

 

[HoneyDew]

I learned that my hair is fine and fragile. It has changed the way I handle it.

I am still not sure what my goals are. I have been just stirving for healthy hair and length retention. I think I have met my goals. I just want my hair to grow and be healthy to reach whatever length I can achieve while still maintaining styling ease and all. I am maintaining this pretty well, I think.

 

[sareca]

This year I accomplished my goal of reaching thick, healthy APL hair.

I learned that I can go 2-3 weeks without combing or brushing my hair (thanks syvler2, pokahontas, lonei)
I learned even my beloved seamless wide-tooth comb was thinning my hair
I learned how to detangle my hair without breakage (thanks robin the hair lady)
I learned how to do an awesome rollerset (thanks macherieamour)
I learned how to get better definition, more moisture, easier detangling, and great shine from my wash and go (thanks 2 oil rinsing)

I also narrowed down my products to a core set (and 1 backup for each ).

 

[Healthb4Length]

I learned that the health of my scalp is most important.
I learned that when you wash your hair you must take care to really rinse your scalp well b/c this can lead to build up and severe itching which leads to unhealthy scalp condition.
I learned that you must speak up to your hair stylist especially when your getting your hair braided---don't let them do it too tight.

I just discovered a bald spot on my scalp just behind the hairline caused by aboved mentioned.

I learned in 2007 that in 2008 I will have to stay away from braids and weaves for a long while until I get my scalp situation on track.erplexed

 

[Miss*Tress]

What Happened in 2007

• Henna is the best!
• I need travel sizes of my oils for when I go on holiday. My hair suffers when I don't use them.
• I'm disappointed at not making waist length, but my hair will get there in its own good time...and with a little help from miconazole nitrate.
• My natural hair is just as easy to manage as relaxed and more versatile. Plus I've saved several hundred euros by not getting touchups anymore.
• I'm grateful to LHCF for everything you all have taught me over the years.

Goals for 2008

• Reach waist length - G_ddess willing.
• Stem the damage at the very back of my head with extra careful detangling and more conditioning and moisturizing.
• Try to thicken my hair; perhaps with the help of vitamins and regular scalp massages.

 

[pazyamor]

I learned that jumping on every bandwagon is really a hair killer, and giving my hair what it needs is my first priority. I learned that I can take care of my hair myself, and that I can do it myself. Also, the best hair care products can be found in the strangest places, i.e. a small Indian grocery named "Gupta". I didn't have any goals this year, but SL in 2008 is my first real goal. I'm not setting a month on it, it's just whenever I make it, mostly because I know I'm going to do a lot of trimming to get rid of my dry, over-processed (blonde dye, highlights, and relaxer? WTF was I thinking?) ends; I don't just want length, I want health.

 

[newflowers]

This is almost the end of my first lchf year - I lurked for a couple of months before joining.

I learned how to use protein and maintain a proper moisture/protein balance.

Thanks to many here, I learned about silk amino acids,silk peptide powder, wheat hydrolyzed protein to blend to make a good protein treatment that really works for my hair. Using this immediately after rinsing the relaxer has made a significant difference in the health of my hair.

Using acv rinse is great for getting to white suds.

Using Indian herbs is an amazing hair experience. Using alternative methods of hair care is interesting - there is much to learn about hair care.

I learned that there is a difference between using a regular conditioner that I leave on for a long time and using a deep conditioner. Deep conditioning once or twice a week is a wonderful thing.

I learned about new and different natural oils - camellia and castor are my favorites. Castor really keeps my ends nice and camellia has stopped the dreaded hair bleaching from the sun.

This is has been a great learning experiece for me all around - methods, products - my hair is so much better for all of the information and assistance I have received here. While I am serious about my hair, expermentation and care can be fun - and I am having a blast while my hair steadily improves and retains length.

 

[MonaLisa]

• Staying out of the Dominican Salon for the bulk of 2007 was the best thing I could've done for my hair.
• Lo-mani and wearing hair down, still can have growth.
• Health, always first and foremost. Length follows.
• What works for the thick haired doesn't necessarily work for the thin haired - took a minute for that to hit me...

 

[tricie]

I've learned that:

-henna is the best way to condition and add some color without the chemicals

-rollersets are still the best way to go for less manipulation during the week, and for getting mad body

-sealing my ends with castor oil is the best way to protect them

-Boundless Tresses is the TRUTH! (the jury is still out on MN - for me, anyway)

-bantu knot twistouts and cornrows combined with great oils and moisturizers are a great way to stretch relaxers (11 weeks is my max so far; I may go ahead and try 12 weeks, but probably nothing beyond that)

-Ayurvedic practices are helpful with shedding, thickness and are really, really inexpensive

-sleeping on satin pillowcases and/or satin scarves is a MUST all the time

-my hair still grows the most when it is left alone

-a stylist that actually listens to you and pays attention to your hair are a godsend since I am not comfortable with self-relaxing

-I may reach my goal of SL by Feb 2008 (it may be there now), and that lets me know that I can do this since this is the longest my hair has ever been that I can remember and I will be able to set my next goal of APL by Feb '09 if not sooner!

Great reflective thread!

 

[locabouthair]

• Staying out of the Dominican Salon for the bulk of 2007 was the best thing I could've done for my hair.
• Lo-mani and wearing hair down, still can have growth.
• Health, always first and foremost. Length follows.
• What works for the thick haired doesn't necessarily work for the thin haired - took a minute for that to hit me...

You too? I'm staying away from them from now. It's funny because some guy told me to go to the Dominicans to get my hair done and I wanted to tell him those were the ones who messed me up in the first place.

 

[locabouthair]

I've learned that:

-henna is the best way to condition and add some color without the chemicals

-rollersets are still the best way to go for less manipulation during the week, and for getting mad body

-sealing my ends with castor oil is the best way to protect them

-Boundless Tresses is the TRUTH! (the jury is still out on MN - for me, anyway)

-bantu knot twistouts and cornrows combined with great oils and moisturizers are a great way to stretch relaxers (11 weeks is my max so far; I may go ahead and try 12 weeks, but probably nothing beyond that)

-Ayurvedic practices are helpful with shedding, thickness and are really, really inexpensive

-sleeping on satin pillowcases and/or satin scarves is a MUST all the time

-my hair still grows the most when it is left alone

-a stylist that actually listens to you and pays attention to your hair are a godsend since I am not comfortable with self-relaxing

-I may reach my goal of SL by Feb 2008 (it may be there now), and that lets me know that I can do this since this is the longest my hair has ever been that I can remember and I will be able to set my next goal of APL by Feb '09 if not sooner!

Great reflective thread!

from your siggy it looks like you're at SL

 

[star]

I love stretching my relaxers;
My hair is much stronger;
My hair talks back to me now;
I love protective hair styles like weaves and wigs to help with stretching;
Conditioning with heat is good for my hair and scalp and helps me mentally to relax.

 

[HoneyA]

I learned, thanks to LHCF,

-I can wash my hair 2-3 times a week and it will grow like a weed
-It pays to DC my hair at every wash
-my hair likes being left alone and I can go 2-3 weeks without combing it
-my hair thrives with lots of moisture and sealing my ends with castor oil every day
-to prepoo with coconut or olive oil
-to wash my hair in large braids to minimize breakage
-I have to be patient and consistent with my hair growth
-I only need a few products to reach my long hair goals
-Vitamins and excercise are important to growing long healthy hair
-I can stretch perms 12-14 weeks
-I need to change up my hairstyles or I will experience isolated breakage
-to protect my hair at night with a satin cap and scarf

I think I am all set to reach full BSL this month but I won't know for sure until my retouch in a few days. Next year I'll continue my regimen since it seems to be working well. MBL is my next stop

 

[nappity]

I learned to leave the Dominicans alone
To Pre Poo assiduously
That Aphogee stinks but its good!
Lo manipulation and moisture is the key to my hair happiness

 

[MonaLisa]

You too? I'm staying away from them from now. It's funny because some guy told me to go to the Dominicans to get my hair done and I wanted to tell him those were the ones who messed me up in the first place.

Honestly, I felt like......but good sense kicked in and it's been better ever since....I don't have my hooded dryer yet and I need to get one...because the only thing I've let a Dominican Stylist do is just roll my hair and put me under the dryer and that's been very infrequent, for special occasions wearing the hair down.

They are starting to cop an attitude when I come in because that's all that I want done...

DIY in '08....

 

[Prettyeyes]

What have you learned about your hair this year? It loves frequent co-washes.
Have you accomplished your goals? YES! I reached full APL and I am now very close to BSL.

 

[Esq.2B]

I've learned my hair likes moisture, and very little protein.

I've learned that it is very important to DC.

I've learned that products MATTER.

I've learned that water intake is very important.

I've learned that stretching is good. I can stretch to at least 10 weeks with no problem. (I'm currently trying to make it to 11).


ETA: I haven't set any hair goals yet. I'm trying not to give myself one more thing to nueroticize (sp?) over. I'm trying to grow it out and maintain the health of course, but I don't have any specific length goals at this point.