What's your current length?
My hair touches my butt.
What major changes you went through during your journey (relaxed-> natural or natural -> bkt or relaxed)?
I transitioned. My last relaxer was in 2006 and I transitioned until 2009.
Any major haircuts?
During my transition I received multiple trims and had about 3 inches of relaxed ends cut off in 2009 at the end of my transition. I also experienced some breakage during the transition. The relaxed ends were so damaged that they were started to shred and would break off from simply being touched.
Setbacks?
Breakage during transitioning.
Have you reached your goal?
Yes. I started actively growing my hair out in 2007. I was bra strap at the time and wanted to make it to waist length. I've surpassed this goal.
2007:
^^^^Wash and go on transitioning hair. MBL strap to waist length (my hair grows in a u shape) when stretched. Bra strap to MBL un-stretched. The relaxed ends really weighed my hair down making it look more wavy.
2008:
^^^^Pressed transitioning hair. I had recently received another trim and lost some to breakage. The relaxed ends were damaged. After the trims, shredding, and breakage I was still waist length.
May 2009:
^^^^This picture was taken right before I left my house to get the last of my relaxed ends cut off. Hip length to very top of tailbone (u shaped hair) stretched. The relaxed ends were too damaged and were dry, breaking, and couldn't retain moisture. It was cut to about MBL-waist length.
August 2009:
^^^^Not quite full waist length stretched. My hair grows in the U shape.
March 2010:
^^^^Hip length pressed natural hair. My longest layers were approaching the very top of tailbone but were trimmed again.
July 2010:
^^^^Natural wash and go. Touches my butt for very first time in my life.
2004:
^^^^This is the shortest my hair has ever been. I was relaxed. My hair was shoulder length like this from about 2003-2005? Relaxers make my hair dry and I was getting constant trims.
August 2009 versus August 2010 wash and go:
^^^My growth rate appears to be average but I think my retention is good.
So:
^^^My hair took a beating during those years with the dryness, relaxing, breakage, trimming, dyeing (I dyed it multiple times in 2003 which only contributed to more dryness), and mini hair cuts, but it eventually grew longer.
I have no idea how fast my hair would have grown to this length had I not transitioned, received frequent hair cuts/trims, and experienced breakage. My hair seems to retain length the fastest as a natural.
Right now I think I'm at terminal length, but that's okay because I've surpassed my hair goal of waist length. So, I'm no longer actively growing my hair.