SL 2015

[Guinan]

because the sides have been stuck at the same length even though i see new growth..

Do you know what's contributing to your lack of retention? I know I have issues with retention also; but the majority of it is my own fault. My issues is that I color my hair wayyyy too much, I rip out SSK's instead of cutting them out and I don't wash my hair as often as I should.

 

[jennifer30]

Maybe you'll notice length when your hair is straighter. I'm assuming it's shrunken...

probably so...

 

[jennifer30]

For what period of time would you say you have been 'stuck'?

since may

 

[jennifer30]

Do you know what's contributing to your lack of retention? I know I have issues with retention also; but the majority of it is my own fault. My issues is that I color my hair wayyyy too much, I rip out SSK's instead of cutting them out and I don't wash my hair as often as I should.

maybe i comb it too much

 

[Guinan]

I washed my hair today. I have got to start finger detangling prior to washing my hair. There was so much shed hair in the shower and I caused a couple of knots that I ripped out. Laziness is slowly destroying my hair

 

[Wenbev]

@pelohello, maybe try adding an oil to your hair in sections before jumping in the shower. I find that helps me with the detangling...

 

[GGsKin]

since may

In that same time frame, I don't feel like my hair has grown/ retained that much either but I won't know until I do a comparison with my pics. I don't check my length until these times call for it. If I haven't retained much it's possibly due to the regular dustings and wash and go life I've been living. I won't make a judgment until I take pics.

 

[jennifer30]

In that same time frame, I don't feel like my hair has grown/ retained that much either but I won't know until I do a comparison with my pics. I don't check my length until these times call for it. If I haven't retained much it's possibly due to the regular dustings and wash and go life I've been living. I won't make a judgment until I take pics.

yup. you're probably right. hmmm i wonder how many inches i get a year. probably 2. lol

 

[GGsKin]

yup. you're probably right. hmmm i wonder how many inches i get a year. probably 2. lol

I can make some kind of assessment from a bald spot I had at the beginning of the year. The hair there is still very fine but now there's about 3 inches. So I'm hoping for a bit more all over, by the end of the year.

 

[ForestRose]

So I haven't been on this thread as much but so I'm gonna do a quick update.

News is that I texturised my hair last week. I just got fed up with the maintenance of my hair and after only blowdrying my hair TWICE I was already starting to see breakage. The SSKs were not my friends and I was having to continuously dust my hair. At that point all I wanted was low maintenance hair. I didn't wasn't thinking about long hair anymore. So I went to a salon and texturiser made my hair a lot straighter than I would have liked. It still has texture and is getting slightly more curlier as the time goes on. I knew that when I decided to texturise that the risk of my hair becoming straight or having un-uniform curls was high so I wasn't too shocked.

What I was surprised about was the amount that the stylist cut off. Then again I didn't have any complaints as the hair she cut was loaded with SSKs and splits.

Right now not much is going on with my hair. My plan is to join the 2 inches in 4 months challange. I'm starting school this september so I want to keep on top of my hair journey. My goal right now is to keep it healthy hair.

What's everyone elses hair goals from now till december?

 

[Guinan]

@xxlalaxx , Congrats!! do you remember what brand of texturizer your hair stylist used? I know when I was texlax, my hair would be straighter than I wanted but after a couple of washes I would notice my texture coming back. How often are you planning on texturizing your hair? Any Pics??!!?

As far as hair goals for December. My goal was to try to get to BSL, but now I think I need to change that goal. My new goal will be to try to maintain a healthy APL. I've been ripping SSK's and Knots like left and right. And at this rate I'm gonna be back at EL if I don't stop.

 

[faithVA]

yup. you're probably right. hmmm i wonder how many inches i get a year. probably 2. lol

Are you taking pictures on a regular basis? At least quarterly? If not you really may not know if you are retaijing or not. Our minds deceive us about our hair length.

My hair seems the same to me as it was in March but my pictures tell a different story.

Patience and a steady regimen are our friends at this stage of the game.

 

[faithVA]

What's everyone elses hair goals from now till december?

No real goals. I plan to stick to a simple regimen, keep water rinsing every few days and rotate between two strand twist, flat twist and roller sets until the end of the year. I'm hoping to just cruise into SL by the end of the year.

I will probably dust at the end of this month and December but that's about it.

Feeling pretty good about my hair right now. Finally!

 

[InBloom]

My hair goal remains the same for the rest of the year...making it to a full shoulder length and maybe just as tad longer on the last leg. I find that my hair is getting longer, slowly and I am not very patient. The shape of my hair is changing and that's also how I know it's getting longer, but it feels as though it's taking forever. I also conclude that my neck is abnormally long...

I won't do too much experimenting because that's what gave me setbacks. I will be mindful of hidden proteins in conditioners because that also gave me setbacks. I've given up on coloring my grey hair with rinses and opting for natural alternatives for color. It is a lost battle for me, but I'm going to embrace my grey strands as best I can.

I'm looking forward to our next length check and hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

I now understand the feeling of hair anorexia.

 

[faithVA]

Since you mentioned next length check, our next official length check is Oct 1 but since that is midweek feel free to post between Septembef 5th and October 3rd. Then we will be on our way to our last length check of the year.

 

[yaya24]

Congrats on your decision to do what works for you!!

My goal is to leave my hair alone and not to try anything new.
I wore my wig for all of 3 days and its just too hot in Texas for all of that.
I'll pull it back out in October.

What's everyone elses hair goals from now till december?

 

[DarkJoy]

I will do my lc in October since I was a month late with the last one.

 

[faithVA]

I've been wearing two strands for a week. They are doing well. I wanted to go 10 days but I'm not going to push it. I'm going to wear a twist out tomorrow and then wash tomorrow night.

 

[faithVA]

I will do my lc in October since I was a month late with the last one.

You sure you don't want to do Oct 1 then you will have almost 3 months before the next length check. If you do late October then you will only have 2 months

 

[DarkJoy]

You sure you don't want to do Oct 1 then you will have almost 3 months before the next length check. If you do late October then you will only have 2 months

Good point! Oct. 1 it is!

 

[jennifer30]

Are you taking pictures on a regular basis? At least quarterly?

nah

 

[Guinan]

My wng was a no go today. I tried gel ec by botanical curls. It's supposed to be a mix of a gel and a serum. It made my hair soft but didn't provide enough hold. So I twisted the front and put the back into a navy bun. I slicked my edges with eco

 

[faithVA]

nah

nah

It really would help. When you take pictures you can really see the difference. Its something to consider.

 

[Wenbev]

So I haven't been on this thread as much but so I'm gonna do a quick update.

News is that I texturised my hair last week. I just got fed up with the maintenance of my hair and after only blowdrying my hair TWICE I was already starting to see breakage. The SSKs were not my friends and I was having to continuously dust my hair. At that point all I wanted was low maintenance hair. I didn't wasn't thinking about long hair anymore. So I went to a salon and texturiser made my hair a lot straighter than I would have liked. It still has texture and is getting slightly more curlier as the time goes on. I knew that when I decided to texturise that the risk of my hair becoming straight or having un-uniform curls was high so I wasn't too shocked.

What I was surprised about was the amount that the stylist cut off. Then again I didn't have any complaints as the hair she cut was loaded with SSKs and splits.

Right now not much is going on with my hair. My plan is to join the 2 inches in 4 months challange. I'm starting school this september so I want to keep on top of my hair journey. My goal right now is to keep it healthy hair.

What's everyone elses hair goals from now till december?

@xxlalaxx congrats on the texlax. I hear you on low maint - that was one of the reasons I did it a couple years back. BUT after the third texlax, I lost so much texture, I was basically relaxed Definitely try and reverse a bit with a good protein treatment and communicate openly with your stylist about the goals for your hair as well as the amount of texture you would like.
In terms of goals for the remainder of the year, I guess it would be retaining as much as I can and staying off of bandwagons. I'll continue to cowash or water only wash 2-3x/week, dc 2-3x/month and henna every 4-6 weeks. Congrats again and pics please!

 

[Wenbev]

. I also conclude that my neck is abnormally long...

Girl you and me both!

and ms @pelohello I am in LOVE with your hair color!!!

 

[jennifer30]

It really would help. When you take pictures you can really see the difference. Its something to consider.

when i do take photos my hair seems shorter then real life.

 

[faithVA]

when i do take photos my hair seems shorter then real life.

That's OK. Don't compare the pictures to your hair, compare the pictures to previous pictures. Take a section of hair and pull it and snap a picture and then do the same thing the next time you take pictures so you are always comparing the same thing.

You just need a consistent way to measure your retention.

If you don't want to do pictures then you need to measure with a measuring tape and keep track.

Find something that works for you.

 

[yaya24]

Sitting under my steamer with a conditioner coctail. Mixed with all the stuff I will not repurchase. Decent stuff just planning on keeping it simple in 2016.
Shampooed first with my favorite new clarifying shampoo (SM Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen Grow & Restore Shampoo).

Once I rinse this out I'll M&S and probably tension blowdry..

 

[jennifer30]

That's OK. Don't compare the pictures to your hair, compare the pictures to previous pictures. Take a section of hair and pull it and snap a picture and then do the same thing the next time you take pictures so you are always comparing the same thing.

You just need a consistent way to measure your retention.

If you don't want to do pictures then you need to measure with a measuring tape and keep track.

Find something that works for you.

oh yeah..i will try that.. to see whats going on here..haha

 

[Guinan]

Girl you and me both!

and ms @pelohello I am in LOVE with your hair color!!!

Thank you!!!! It took me a while to get adjusted to the light color, so that makes me feel good that I'm not the only one that Loves this color