Spinoff - Why is SL to APL so difficult?

[RegaLady]

Very interesting!

 

[Janet']

When I first started my HHJ, this is where I started (see attached pic)...Now, I considered that SL. When I starting visiting this site more often, I realized that others referred to this as full SL or CBL. So, when I say that once I started utilizing protective styling and low manipulation styling to grow my hair from SL to APL, maybe I should be saying full SL to grazing APL...At the end of the day, though, besides WL to TBL, according to @Nonie's chart, SL to APL is the longest distance (theoretically).

 

[LadyRaider]

For me it has taken forever because as soon as I get a little hang I start over manipulating my hair. I gave up washing in four section. Comb it more in general and quite frankly didn't wear protective styles as much because I was so excited about the length.

This is me. Love that little bit of swang swang I got going on. It's hard for me to hide it all the time.

 

[Imani]

I think its bc people claim sl so soon as was pointed out earlier. For me getting to sl is the hardest part. When u r nl and shorter and esp if u have layers , u can't really pull ur hair back or anything bc its so short.

I got a layered chin lentgh bob cut in April,some of the back layers were really short, like an inch long. I wont make full sl til April 2011. I could prob claim sl now bc a few pieces r kinda touching my shoulders, but I'm not claiming it.

I think once I make sl, the rest will be breezy. I'm short and from FULL sl to apl is only like 3 inches

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G using Long Hair Care Forum App

 

[trendsetta25]

I think in part it's because there is the largest distance between those 2 parts. At least for me it is:
SL to APL is 5"
APL to BSL is 3"
And also for me starting at my HJ at SL you are still getting use to things. Not to mention how impatient you, well I am!!

IA...I started my HHJ in Dec 08 @ SL and I finally made APL in Oct 2010....and I made sure that I kept my hair pinned up or wore weaves and wigs. Sigh...I'm just a slow growerer

 

[GodivaChocolate]

I am currently approaching APL and I still don't think my hair is that long. It's longer than what I can ever remember but it's not full APL. I still feel like my hair is short(hair anorexia) and I dont want to wear it out until I've achieved full APL and headed to BSL. I think if I dont see my hair on a regular then I will leave it alone
It doesn't seem so long for me because I wear weaves as a ps so I still get to play with length. My goal is not to wear my own hair out for any extended amount of time until October of 2011. That will be two years of healthy hair care. I grew to APL while transitioning with the relaxed ends so I know I can get there. My hair has been growing nicely so I'm being patient (for now)

 

[Newtogrow]

A picture is worth a thousand words!! Thanks for the diagram Nonie!

 

[thecurlycamshow]

Once I started working out I wire my hair in twists and my hair grew fast. I plan on keeping the twists until I reach my size goal so we'll see how BSL is achieved.

 

[SunySydeofLyfe]

**Sorry off topic** Janet so are so pretty! I have been admiring your color!! Very lovely....

I want to be SL, APL and WL....but I dont want to wait...sorry....

 

[Janet']

**Sorry off topic** Janet so are so pretty! I have been admiring your color!! Very lovely....

I want to be SL, APL and WL....but I dont want to wait...sorry....

Why, thank you I really appreciate the compliment!!!

 

[PearlyCurly]

I don't think the REAL answer is in the poll. I think it's the distance. There is a huge gap between SL and APL....... aaaaannnnnd I think some may claim SL too early.

I think the hair brushing off on your clothes is a myth and the only time it does that is if it's extremely dry and damaged. That's the only way that theory even makes sense.

I agree! There is a BIG gap between SL & APL.
I also think its a mental thing, a lot of AA women i know(excluding most Forum Ladies) think APL is extra long hair. So if you keep thinking that its very long hair then you are going to think that its going take you forever to get there..So basically "A watched pot never boils" Yea..thats what im trying to say..Stop watching that darn pot

 

[CherryCherryBoomBoom]

I'm not even sure tbh. Ever since starting my hair journey over two years ago, I've always kept it in some sort of of PS, such as bun, braids, weave, etc. Plus, I was doing all the usual DCs and moisturising to keep it healthy. Yet, I'm still struggling for APL . I suppose my hair's just stubborn?

 

[cmw45]

SL to APL: Much like everyone else has said, I think it's the distance.

However, I think APL to BSL is tough for a lot of folks because
they claim APL before actually getting to APL. I've seen a couple of folks go from SL to APL in "months" but then take a year or more to get to BSL. Not a criticism, just an observation.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Where's the "I had a happy-scissor *** stylist constantly snipping my hair" option?

 

[Rocky91]

gosh, i hope that i don't find it to be a loooong journey. cause i sure as heck don't have patience for that. but ima do it. just to prove i can. i'm seriously thinking about BC'ing after i reach APL, cause i want the TWA i never got to have.

 

[BERlin]

So the way that I moved from shoulder length to arm pit length, is when I transitioned. Before I decided to transition my hair never grew past my collarbone relaxed. The growth snuck up on me, as I was focused much more on my new growth than the rest of my hair. For the first month (February) and the second I blowdried (never flat ironed) my new growth straight with a round barrel brush. In spring I started doing wet curls with eco styler gel. Then I began to alternate these with braidncurls and braidouts (mostly my hair was styled in up dos then) during the beginning of the summer. Towards the end of the summer I did wet buns, and then I big chopped in late August. Other than the braidout phase my hair was out and co-washed every day. When I stopped worrying about it growing is when it began to grow.

 

[curlycoquette]

It wasn't. I recently cut my hair, but before that growth wasn't a problem. Your hair grows at the same rate regardless of length so its probably 'you' more than it is being shoulder length. If you're claiming it won't grow, it won't! I agree with the ladies saying the distance is longest too. Growth rate is constant but apl to bsl is shorter than shoulder to apl. Continue to use the same healthy hair practices you employ at all the other lengths, be patient and you'll be fine!

 

[curlycoquette]

Also be sure to protective style!! Shoulder length is really the only length where your hair is constantly sitting *on top* of your clothes. When its longer it hangs beside it, and when it's shorter it doesn't even touch it. So be sure to protect those ends at this critical point!!

 

[Vintageglam]

I think a lot of the reasons have been pretty much nailed in this thread 1. the distance between SL and APL, 2. the point at which SL is claimed i.e. anywhere from SL to "full" SL, 3. the fact that hair is more exposed to the elements and finally 4. the fact that the ends of our hair is getting older and weaker and so more prone to breakage and retention more difficult. As Lady P said its human to grow but divine to retain (or something like that ).

 

[diadall]

When is the appropriate time to claim SL?

In my opinion shoulders are more than the top of your shoulder. Its the top of the shoulder to right above APL. I think the only person who can tell you is you.

It also depends on where your shoulders are. Someone once told me I had a neck like E.T. so my hair on someone else may be longer or shorter depending on how long their neck is.

 

[Irresistible]

Well it's been a long time for me since being there. But IMO I don't think those lengths are harder to reach. I think those are the lengths you need or want to reach when first growing your hair, and when you are first growing , typically you want growth quickly , so it seems harder, plus the old saying a watched pot never boils. it might be the distance for some , and it would vary by person

 

[softblackcotton]

I made it to APL when I was transitioning. It wasn't particularly difficult to get there; it just took a looooong time. For instance, I started out NL and I was SL in like 3 months. At the end of my transition, 9 months later, I was only scraping APL. So I wouldn't have claimed it probably for another month. So it would have taken me 10 months to get there (I chopped at 12-months post so I'll never officially know), while APL and BSL and MBL are all within two inches from each other (I'm short), so I'm sure I can get to all of those lengths in a year's time (provided I don't mess up)

DARN, All that within in a year! The only reason I wish I were shorter. I have long everyting except hair! Long Neck! I had to grow 5 inches to get from NL to discernable SL. LONG BACK! SL to APL is 5-6 inches more. APL to BSL 4-6 inches more. 4-6 inches more to MBL. MBL to WL 6 more inches. So from where I am now I have to grow 24 inches of hair ~4 years that's if I don't have anymore setbacks. I have been have at least one or two setbacks since I started my hair journey in 2008.

 

[4bslbound]

When I first started my HHJ, this is where I started (see attached pic)...Now, I considered that SL. When I starting visiting this site more often, I realized that others referred to this as full SL or CBL. So, when I say that once I started utilizing protective styling and low manipulation styling to grow my hair from SL to APL, maybe I should be saying full SL to grazing APL...At the end of the day, though, besides WL to TBL, according to @Nonie's chart, SL to APL is the longest distance (theoretically).

nah, bruh(in my bruh-man voice from 'Martin'.....that aint shoulder length!! (looks more like full CBL to me ....lol)