SmilingElephant's Hip-Tailbone Challenge 2026

[SmilingElephant]

So you want long swinging hair in the next year? Well this is the place to be!

Ideally this challenge is for those of us starting in the BSL-WL area but all are welcome to join!

I'm gonna try to make this easy...we can do length checks every 3 months. So since it's now March we can do our starting pics now.

March 2025 Starting Pic

June 2025 Check In Pic

September 2025 Check In Pic

December 2025 Check I'm Pic

...and so forth and so on.

Once we hit 2026 I will update this post with 2026 Pic posting dates

So with your Starting Pic, include the regimen you will follow to get to Hip Length or Tailbone Length in 2026.

This challenge will end December 31, 2026!

LET'S GO LADIES!!

 

[SmilingElephant]

So this will be my start pic. This was taken sometime in February. I had a trimmed off an inch after taking this pic and so I'm pretty much in the same spot



My regimen is:

Co-Wash on Tues, Thursday, and Saturday
Shampoo and Deep Condition on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Monday and Friday are "rest days".

I'm using up a LOT of products so I'm rotating and don't have a set of products that I'm sticking to right now.

 

[MzSwift]

I'm in!!

Starting length: BSB

But I just installed some mini twists so I won't have my starting pic until either the end of March or first week of April bc:

Regi-
Bound hair 95% of the time
Rock mini twists/braids, refreshing every 4-6 weeks
OR
Rock straight back cornrows, refreshing every 1-2 weeks
M&S daily and cover with mens satin skull cap under a bandana or satin scarf
Apply homemade scalp tonic + MT 3-4x a week
GHE 3x a week
Wash and DC monthly (working my way to biweekly)
Shower wash with homemade Ayurvedic cleanser and condish at will.

Texlax every 6-9 months
Blow dry 1-2x a year
Maybe flat iron once a year.

Heavy sealing ends and keeping them tucked away is my goal this year.
Hoping to hit WL early 2026 and then HL or close to it at the end of 2026.
My end goal is WHIP length so I'll be happy with anything close to HL. lol

I'll come back and update this post with my starting pic!

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Thank you @SmilingElephant for creating the challenge! I'm way behind you and @MzSwift but I will humbly follow in your footsteps! Should have pics and regimen posted tomorrow

 

[SmilingElephant]

Thank you @MzSwift and @25InchesStarting'25 for joining the challenge! I am so happy to have you here!

 

[snoop]

Saving my spot. I'll update with my info, tomorrow.

 

[SmilingElephant]

So let's get it poppin' up in here...up in here!

What are your plans for your hair as it gets longer?

I'm looking forward to longer curly ponytails and working on a thicker hemline. I think when I get to Hip I might do a 2 inch trim and then grow to TBL but I don't know.

 

[GettingKinky]

Good luck ladies. I’m no where near getting to HL in 2026, but I will be cheering you on.