Spinoff: Ask a WSL and Beyond Lady

[Lucia]

What's your view on hair coloring and trying to get long hair? General yay or no?

I think you have to do a lot of Protein and moisture DC to keep up with permanently colored hair and that's even if you're natural. I don't think it's impossible if you stay within a certain tones like changing a couple of shades lighter is OK but don't have jet black natural hair color and try to be a platinum blond and think that DC weekly is going to cut it, it's not, that's just not going to work unless you wear it short and buy extensions. You can't bleach it platinum, have long WL+ hair and have it healthy all at once. For me hair color takes alot of extra TLC for my hair to keep it healthy.

ETA: If you want to color your hair then it's best to color it once you've reached your hair goal or you're almost there.

CelinaStarr, how long did it take you to go from BSL to WL and what did you do to get there?

That's a 2 part question: How long did it take you to go from BSL-WL stretched?
How long did it take you to go from BSL-WL curly/natural?

 

[jupitermoon]

@CelinaStarr, how long did it take you to go from BSL to WL and what did you do to get there?

Not long. My last relaxer was in 2006. I wore my hair heat straightened until the summer of 2007. During this time I started wearing wash and gos and cowashing daily. I was bra strap during the summer (around June) of 2007 and by late fall (around November-December) of 2007 I was at waist length. I would say around 6 months for bra strap to waist length. There is a 5 inch difference between my bra strap and waist and my hair grows about 0.75 inches a month. My hair also seems to grow faster/retain length better during the summer so I wouldn't be surprised if I was getting about an inch of growth some months that summer.

During my transition I was still experimenting with products. I co washed with Suave, Aussie Moist, Vo5, and I also tried using leave in conditioners like Garnier. I tried a few curling creams too and I also tried different shampoo but would shampoo no more than once a week. I was a product junkie.

That's a 2 part question: How long did it take you to go from BSL-WL stretched?
How long did it take you to go from BSL-WL curly/natural?

Hmm... I guess it takes about a year for my curly hair to show a longer length. My curly hair doesn't show length as quickly as my stretched length.

Curly length pics:

Bra strap curly, waist length stretched (August 2009):

December 2009, still about bra strap but stretched length is hip:

August 2010, waist length curly, top of pants pockets stretched:

November 2010, waist to hip curly:

I would say it takes about a year to notice a drastic difference in the length of my unstretched curly hair.

Stretched length pictures:

August 2009-August 2010

^^^^That's about 8.5 inches of growth within a years time:

So my hair appears to grow about 0.75 inches a month. It's really hard to determine growth in inches exactly because all hair growth is not retained due to breakage and trims. But based off of the growth I've retained within a years time it's obvious that my hair grows more than 0.5 inches a month, which is 6 inches of new growth within a year, but less than 1 inch a month, which is 12 inches of growth within in a year (having this much of growth within a year would be awesome ).

 

[soon2bsl]

Wow CelinaStar...love the comparison pics!! Awesome retention!! When you wear it curly is it a wash n go, or did you do anything to stretch your hair such as banding/braids/twists etc?

 

[Lucia]

Wanakee now

Creative Motivation Series: Wanakee Pugh on Vimeo

 

[amwcah]

for inspiration!

 

[Whimsy]

Celinastar i'm drooooolin

 

[Lucia]

bumping up for more ??
and responses

 

[Janet']

Do you still get hairnorexia, WL ladies???

 

[JJamiah]

Do you still get hairnorexia, WL ladies???

Janet' I know I do. HOnestly I cut it up some and it still looks the same length to me as in my Siggy. LOL

 

[Janet']

...so there really is no hope for me...I am literally going to have to reach TBL to feel like my hair is long

 

[JJamiah]

Janet'

Yep

 

[Lucia]

Do you still get hairnorexia, WL ladies???

Thats the reason why I keep changing my hair goal to a longer length once I reach a goal. First it was BSL then WL now it's HLTL I think full HL will cure it but then again I have been known to change my hairgoal so well see.

 

[Charla]

Hello. I'm new on this site. Vet of another site...H...
So glad I found this thread. Here are my questions for WSL and beyond ladies:
(BTW, I always think of W"S"L because when I say it, I hear the W and the S, so seeing it printed as WSL didn't seem off to me....Just how my brain works...my psychology professor confirmed!)

Do you pre-poo? If so, with what? I currently use evco.
When you moisturize, do you seal only your ends, the whole strand or part of strand?
Do you like to seal with castor oil or is it too heavy or sticky?

 

[JJamiah]

Thats the reason why I keep changing my hair goal to a longer length once I reach a goal. First it was BSL then WL now it's HLTL I think full HL will cure it but then again I have been known to change my hairgoal so well see.

@Lucia nope, it doesn't End LOL!

Nah, Actually when I was grazing I actually didn't see the difference and still don't.
I told the Mr. It looks the same he is like erplexed
To me anything past SL looks the same in the mirror when I am facing it. So SL feels like WL almost HL to me. Shrugs. See that is a problem in my head.

 

[NJoy]

...so there really is no hope for me...I am literally going to have to reach TBL to feel like my hair is long

Girl, yeah. Especially if you're wearing your hair curly. Classic, even. But you can do it. Now hop to it!

 

[Janet']

Girl, yeah. Especially if you're wearing your hair curly. Classic, even. But you can do it. Now hop to it!

Bwahahahahahaha!!!! Ma'am, YES ma'am!!!! I'm hopping to it!!!

 

[Janet']

Hello. I'm new on this site. Vet of another site...H...
So glad I found this thread. Here are my questions for WSL and beyond ladies:
(BTW, I always think of W"S"L because when I say it, I hear the W and the S, so seeing it printed as WSL didn't seem off to me....Just how my brain works...my psychology professor confirmed!)

Do you pre-poo? If so, with what? I currently use evco.
When you moisturize, do you seal only your ends, the whole strand or part of strand?
Do you like to seal with castor oil or is it too heavy or sticky?

to LHCF Charla!

 

[Candy828]

janet I think hair anorexia kicks in after BSL. Then you're always chasing a longer length.... At least that is what happened to me. Maybe the mirror is foggy

 

[Janet']

Candy828...Let me try to clean it tonight!

 

[Kurlee]

@janet I think hair anorexia kicks in after BSL. Then you're always chasing a longer length.... At least that is what happened to me. Maybe the mirror is foggy

ok, so i'm not crazy. My hair is MBL and it feels short to me. People are like ur hair is so long and i'm like erplexed. I won't be satisfied until it's full waist stretched.

 

[Lucia]

Hello. I'm new on this site. Vet of another site...H...
So glad I found this thread. Here are my questions for WSL and beyond ladies:
(BTW, I always think of W"S"L because when I say it, I hear the W and the S, so seeing it printed as WSL didn't seem off to me....Just how my brain works...my psychology professor confirmed!)

Do you pre-poo? If so, with what? I currently use evco.
When you moisturize, do you seal only your ends, the whole strand or part of strand?
Do you like to seal with castor oil or is it too heavy or sticky?

Welcome noo-B
Well you can use any oil you like but it's best to use an essential oil or ceramide oils. I use evoo/Wgo mixture for my pre poo and I use it from scalp to ends It helps w detangling and slip.
Now for sealing I prefer evco but I'll alternate w evoo ESp in summer I seal the entire length starting 3" from scalp I only seal just the ends when it's straight so I can keep the body and bounce. Hth

 

[D.Lisha]

WL chicks, I have three questions:
How often do you "enjoy" (wear your hair out) now that you've reached WL?
How often do you try new styles?
Also, let's say you slack up in your regimen for about hmmm...a week-three weeks, do you notice a difference in your growth/retention at all?

 

[Charla]

Welcome noo-B
Well you can use any oil you like but it's best to use an essential oil or ceramide oils. I use evoo/Wgo mixture for my pre poo and I use it from scalp to ends It helps w detangling and slip.
Now for sealing I prefer evco but I'll alternate w evoo ESp in summer I seal the entire length starting 3" from scalp I only seal just the ends when it's straight so I can keep the body and bounce. Hth

Thanks, Lucia. I appreciate it. This helps me out a lot!

 

[Lucia]

WL chicks, I have three questions:

How often do you "enjoy" (wear your hair out) now that you've reached WL?
Well I didn't wear my hair out all the time I wore it up mostly I'm so used to protective styling, but I wore it down when I went out on weekends or a party or occasion. This time I'll enjoy my hair down more once I pass WL and reach HL-TL b/c then I'll be in maintenance mode I'll still alternate with PS.


How often do you try new styles?

Not too often, I'm not good with complicated styles I keep it simple.

Also, let's say you slack up in your regimen for about hmmm...a week-three weeks, do you notice a difference in your growth/retention at all?

In a week-no.
But in 3 weeks yes I can see a difference in the health and length. I prefer to keep a steady pace of growth per month growth spurts are good too but I like to keep that baseline growth rate going.

 

[Janet']

Do you ever think about coloring your hair WL Ladies?

 

[Lucia]

1. If you get them: How do you deal with tangles, matting, SSK (single strand knots) dry hair, itchy scalp?


2. How often do you trim, dust or S&D the knots and SSK's only when you need?

3. What are your staple products and how do you use them?

4. Do you still do wash n go's, what products do you use to get your WnG look?

5. What's your straight/stretched length now front and back of hair? And what's you goal length or how long will you let your hair grow?

6. Has your hair ever been this long before?

7. For naturals: What do you say to naturals who are getting discouraged and ready to give up on being natural and go back on the creamy crack (relaxers/perms/texturizers)?

 

[empressri]

Do you ever think about coloring your hair WL Ladies?

no!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my color.

 

[Lucia]

Do you ever think about coloring your hair WL Ladies?

Sometimes, but then I remember the botched up job some stylist did on my blond highlights, she literally fried my hair, it came out blond alright and bone straight. Thank goodness it was only in the front so 1 month later I cut a bang and dyed it brown with Bigen.
I like highlights more than an overall color cause there's less damage and you can just let it grow out or if you don't like it anymore dye just those pieces.
For now no color, maybe when I reach TL I'll think about it, maybe not I don't want another set-back.

 

[LoveLongLocks]

Do you ever think about coloring your hair WL Ladies?

I used to color, before my "hair journey". It would be nice to have a change, but I don't want to risk damage. So, no.

 

[Lucia]

1. If you get them: How do you deal with tangles, matting, SSK (single strand knots) dry hair, itchy scalp?

I don't get mattes anymore since I'm not braiding my hair up and using a sew-in, that caused a lot of tangles, matting,and itchy scalp even though I took it down every 1.5-2 months.
I soak my hair in oil, dampen with water let it sit for a while under a plastic cap, then I'll slowly detangle from ends to roots with a wide tooth seamless comb.
SSK's: I do S&D when I find them or fell them I don't cut into my length. I also keep my ends moisturized 1-2x/daily then seal with EVOO & Safflower oil. If it's straight then I just lightly seal the last 2 inches with oil.

2. How often do you trim, dust or S&D the knots and SSK's only when you need?

I S&D the knots and SSK's when I need to. I trim now every 6 months 0.5-1inch according to the moon cycle.


3. What are your staple products and how do you use them?

For CW, DC, and moisturizing:
Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner
Mane n Tail conditioner
For sealing:
EVOO, EVCO, Safflower oil, East African Shea Butter (nilotica) -love this stuff it's soft and moist I use it on my skin in winter to seal the lotion in.


4. Do you still do wash n go's, what products do you use to get your WnG look?

I haven't perfected my WnG technique or products yet, I'll post that when I figure that out.


5. What's your straight/stretched length now front and back of hair? And what's you goal length or how long will you let your hair grow?

front stretched: passed CBL grazing boobs. back stretched: lower BSL grazing MBL-I haven't done an official length check in a while.
ETA: I like HL/TL for me but I'll let it grow to Classic that's the longest I"ll grow.

6. Has your hair ever been this long before?

Yes, this is like my 3rd time at this length, during my HHJ.


7. For naturals: What do you say to naturals who are getting discouraged and ready to give up on being natural and go back on the creamy crack (relaxers/perms/texturizers)?

When I get discouraged I look at fotki's and YT of naturals who have great natural hair meaning healthy and thick not always the super-long ones but those help so I remind myself I can do it again.

I especially look at their progress over the months or years to remind myself everyone has set backs and everyone has to come back from unhealthy hair practices and habits.
Also I suggest they try everything they can in natural haircare different products, techniques styles and if they're still unhappy and want to relax then research it well before they relax that way they can do it in a healthy way and for the right reasons.