Stuck at SL support thread

[bablou00]

Im w/ you girl on staying at shoulder length. I feel like I was doing everything right (expect during the mon of April) and I am not seein any results. My hair has never been past shoulder and its a couple of inches but I dont do much w/ it and Im not getting a lot of growth like I would expect. Maybe this summer will bring me some hope. I just switched all my products to Aveda so hopefully that will work. I know it takes time and patience but I want to see results NOW

 

[MzOptimistic]

Im w/ you girl on staying at shoulder length. I feel like I was doing everything right (expect during the mon of April) and I am not seein any results. My hair has never been past shoulder and its a couple of inches but I dont do much w/ it and Im not getting a lot of growth like I would expect. Maybe this summer will bring me some hope. I just switched all my products to Aveda so hopefully that will work. I know it takes time and patience but I want to see results NOW

Are you kidding me? Your hair has definitely grown since your last set of pics in your siggy?

 

[CoCoEspresso]

I also believed that shoulder length is my terminal length because even at my longest my hair was only an inch or two past my shoulders. Now that I think about it, though, my hair was a mess. I was doing all the wrong things. Not washing often enough, wearing it out every day, constant manipulation, daily heat, improper moisture/protein, balance, you name it.
So I think to myself, "If my hair was in bad shape before and I was at shoulder length, how long will it grow if I am doing all the right things?" I am back at shoulder length now. I guess I get the average .5" a month, so I figure that I should be at APL by December.

My hair is definitely healthier, and while the growth may not be so out of this world (it's hard to notice because I have layers), I have retained the growth that I have had. I can not advocate enough the importance of protective styling at this length. I wore my hair up in french roll everyday for the past four months and my ends have thanked me. Also, what has helped is DCing at every wash. Having a low manipulation hairstyle, moisturizing daily and stretching relaxers help tremendously. Also not obsessing over my length aided me. It was hard to wear that damned french roll every day, but it was a means to an end. When I finally revealed my hair, people were asking if I had a hair piece. I have been kind of bad lately by wearing my hair down, but I have started back to protective styling. I wear it clipped in a low ponytail. It's not cute, but it's worth it.

 

[length4me]

Thanks for starting this thread. I have very slow growing thin hair. I have been using BT for the last two weeks and am noticing some faster than usual growth. My goal for the end of the summer is to pass the shoulder length hump.

 

[MonaRae]

So I not in the SL boat alone! I really thought it was just me. I did reach APL very briefly but like the others said the baggy method is not for fine hair ladies. I found this out the hard way. As soon as I stop all I had was weak hair.

I am determined to readh BSL by the end of this year. For me that is 6 inches away. Keeping the FAITH! But it really hurts when you put all this effort into your hair and length wise there nothing to show for it. I will say that my hair is a WHOLE lot healthier and I am very thankful for that.

Whats a Fine Hair Lady to do? It got to the point that every time I saw a BSL or WL I would tell myself that I will never get there and Why me! I had to change my way of thinking b/c I now realize that the Devil is messing with my head.

Just Keep the Faith! And we will all be the next group of BSL!

 

[RubyWoo]

Are you kidding me? Your hair has definitely grown since your last set of pics in your siggy?

You beat me to it..lol! I was thinking the exact same thing!!

 

[RubyWoo]

I can not advocate enough the importance of protective styling at this length. I wore my hair up in french roll everyday for the past four months and my ends have thanked me. Also, what has helped is DCing at every wash. Having a low manipulation hairstyle, moisturizing daily and stretching relaxers help tremendously. Also not obsessing over my length aided me. It was hard to wear that damned french roll every day, but it was a means to an end. When I finally revealed my hair, people were asking if I had a hair piece. I have been kind of bad lately by wearing my hair down, but I have started back to protective styling. I wear it clipped in a low ponytail. It's not cute, but it's worth it.

I agree with everything you said especially the bolded! Well said! Protective styling really is the key imo!

 

[cheetarah1980]

To be honest, I think the only reason why I have a shot at breaking past shoulder length is because I went natural. While my hair was relaxed, it NEVER got longer than shoulder length. I used minimal heat (rollerset and twistout addict), kept my hair moisturized, DC with every wash, etc. And my hair just couldn't do it. The only time my relaxed hair came close to breaking through that barrier was when I first relaxed my virgin hair (was natural for 4 years prior, but pressed every other week).
For SOME (I'm not saying all or even most) women chemicals can make a huge difference in how long the hair grows. While my relaxed hair was thick and healthy most of the time, it never retained substantial length.
Since I've been natural my hair is now the longest it's ever been in my life and I can see it growing to BSL by mid 2008. I still have my problem areas (i.e. my crown...grow damn it!!), but the length that I've always wanted is starting to happen.
To be truthful, the main reason I went natural in the first place was to see if my hair would grow even thicker without chemicals. My initial plan was to grow my hair out with braids and then either press it or perm it when it reached a length I was happy with. Fortunately, I fell in love with my naps and have no intention of getting rid of them now. But that's neither here nor there. I guess my question is, do any of you ladies think that you may have a better shot at breaking through the SL barrier if your hair was natural?

 

[bablou00]

Haha Thanks!!! I really dont think its grown all that much from my last stretch its just a little thicker because I stretched so long. I just feel like I cant find the right protective style thats protecting my ends and helping me retain my growth. Thats the only reason why I feel like Im stuck at SL or just below. I look at everyones fotki and/or siggy and see how long it took them to get to a certain length and get discouraged because at 6mos or 8mos I'm no where near where I think I should be
I guess we expect more from ourselves and others can see our progress better than we can

Are you kidding me? Your hair has definitely grown since your last set of pics in your siggy?

 

[rdm]

From personal experience, it is hard to get over the SL hump. I guess because your hair is constantly rubbing against your clothes, etc... Anyway, once I got to collar bone length, I was able to maintain hair length. Hang in there. I am now about 1" from BSL.

 

[prettypuff1]

I think i will give her baggie method a chance. I like to wear my hair out, but i want the length more. I am gonna hit up the baggying. I think i have 2 inches to apl, and i want to see it by september.... I think my ends were rubbing on my clothing. I havent really seen any excess breaking, but i think my hair is growing slower. I know i can see the length but i want more.

 

[MizAvalon]

So i though i would start this one. I am still stuck at SL( see siggy) I thought i would be APL, buy now. All the baggying in the world isnt helping me and I need an inch trimmed. It sure sucks being stuck at SL. You ladies know what its like. Hoping and stretchin ur hair to see if it is there. In the mirror hunting for NG just so u can see some change. While i have seen some length, i just wanna make it to APl. I This is one of the hardest Lengths to reach and I will shoot myself if i dont see apl by this year... Help ladies.. give me some support here..

Prettypuff, I've been seeing the picture in your siggy for a while now and I swear I thought that was a model! I didn't know it was you! You are very lovely!

Oh, and please don't shoot yourself!

 

[prettypuff1]

lol that is me..... man if i dont see apl this year i may do it man. it is two inches away and i just wanna see it soon

 

[EMJazzy]

Subscribing to this thread because I feel like I'm stuck at SL too.

 

[vandidix]

Glad to know I'm not the only one stuck at SL. It seems like I've been here so oooo long. But I'm 8 weeks post, have recently added BT to my regimen, and am have been wearing protective and low manipulation styles since my last relaxer. I've cut out heat completely. (All things I've learned from LHCF ). I hope to see some progress when I relax again next month!

 

[planodiva]

Hi Ladies,

I experience a whirlwind of emotions when i look at my hair in the mirror and push back my hair goal date another 6 months because APL seems as elusive as love (feeling poetic). But is is healthy and uber thick and slowly by sholly getting there I think. Just need to stay out the mirror

 

[Kacie]

APL is a lot further away than it looks in the mirror, but once you make it to full APL that brastrap is very close. There are alot of stages of SL, especially if you have a long back and long head like I do.

 

[angellazette]

I'm still stuck at shoulder length because I keep cutting my hair!!! Atleast I know I have no problem growing it, now if I can just keep from cutting it...hmph...

I say I'm giving myself a trim and it always turns into a cut...this last time turned into another cut. I do it row by row so next time I'm just going to SNIP the ends of my twists every two months...

 

[locabouthair]

have you tried doing scalp massages?

 

[Serenity_Peace]

Reading this thread brings me back to the point that I was trying to make in another thread that I started. For the ladies who feel that they are stuck at SL (me included), are you experiencing an increase in thickness?

In other words, the hair is growing, but perhaps it's growing outward FIRST rather than lengthwise. Why do I say this?

The last stretch I completed for 9 weeks, I know that I measured at least 2 inches of new growth. I measured all over, several times. I got 2 inches every time. I was so happy because I thought that when I relaxed I would achieve longer hair, but I didn't.

Though my hair grew downward a little (maybe an inch), I saw an incredible amount in thickness (take a look at my fotki).

So, I'm thinking that while the hair may not be growing downward, it is quite possible that you're achieving healthier, thicker hair FIRST. Then, you'll eventually achieve the length that you want.

I'm merely speculating about this. Keep monitoring your hair and keep a journal of your progress. It'll get there...

 

[didirose]

Hey Ladies,
I was having my shoulder length issues not to long ago well before I knew about lhcf. However, I was able to get over this hump by braiding my hair into two strand twists using extensions. I kept it like that for the summer and sprayed my hair every morning and night; washed it every week. I really liked the freedom I had with it in my hair (i.e. running out in the rain and working out with no worries). By the end of the summer, I was well pass shoulder length and I was better able to retain my hair length.

 

[InnerSoul]

Hey Ladies,
I was having my shoulder length issues not to long ago well before I knew about lhcf. However, I was able to get over this hump by braiding my hair into two strand twists using extensions. I kept it like that for the summer and sprayed my hair every morning and night; washed it every week. I really liked the freedom I had with it in my hair (i.e. running out in the rain and working out with no worries). By the end of the summer, I was well pass shoulder length and I was better able to retain my hair length.

thanks for this info... I am ridiculously tired of being stuck at SL

 

[Leslie_C]

*raises hand*
another stuck at shoulder length chick checkin in! I have pretty much been shoulder length all year....
I will say I have gained some fullness and a little length, but nothing to write home about. Im going to start taking vitamins again monday.

 

[**WonderWoman**]

ITA agree with protective styling. I haven't had my hair down since I discovered LHCF a month ago & my hair is retaining length VERY well

My hair doesnt like baggying so I only do that 1ce or 2ce a week. For me, it's Moisturizing, Protecting, No combing, & Leaving it alone!!!!

 

[EMJazzy]

I plan on using pin curls to get past SL....I hope I don't get sick of this protective style the way I did with the bun.

 

[Naphy]

O . M . G .

I'm totally in THIS case !!! It's like this thread as been created just for me
I'm stuck at this D*** collarbone lenght (SL is the same for me). It seems that my hair gained some thickness... But I need lenght !
2-3 inches and I'm done.
But why is it so hard ?
Okay, I confess I need to moisturize more and to do protect my ends better.
I think I will baggie my hair for the rest of the summer with a phony pony.
APL will be my better gift for Xmas.

 

[prettypuff1]

yeah ladies i am still stuck.... i dont know what i am going to do ... i am about to relax tonight and we will see where i am length wise

 

[longhairluva]

I didn't do protective styling because all of those styles do my hairline in. I just can't do them but I made sure to moisturize and seal my ends. I will say it took a little longer to get over the hump but that didn't bother me because my rollerset and wet wraps were the best when I was SL.

 

[keke]

I'm wiggin it now. For the first time ever in my life and i wet my hair every day. Most of the time 3 times a day. After summer ends I will put in these braids and then in winter i will take out and see what I have accomplished. I just started this earlier this month(july) so i gotta give it time to see length. I am a bit past shoulder but i want to be APL so i cant wait to see that. Oct will be 4 years natural for me :^D

I 4got to also say that since i have been wiggin i have noticed much less breakage. I am sooo happy. It hasn't been a whole month yet so im waiting.

 

[gymfreak336]

I am stuck at shoulder length now. I think part of my problems are comming from some thin ends from relaxer run off damage. I got a strong feeling that I am going to be stuck at shoulder length for awhile. Health before length righterplexed