Hi Fellow 3's!!! My hair is a mixture of mostly 3b/3c, I'm regaining my curl pattern after heat damage from too frequent trips to the Dominican salon to straighten. As my curls are returning I am embracing wash and go's more now that it is warm. My usual go to style is a braid out and I also bun or French braid. My current length unstretched is APL and stretched is in-between BSL and MBL, my hair also grows in a V shape and the "V" portion stretched reaches below the bottom of my bra while the very sides are still BSL. My hair used to grow super fast like a few of you have mentioned but I think age has slowed that down a little. I've noticed my hair doesn't grow as fast at 40 like it did when I was in my 20's and 30's.
My current Summer regimen: I co-cleanse once per week and deep condition with heat or steam. I shampoo my scalp only once per month with Keracare Moisturizing shampoo or a clarifying shampoo depending on build-up level. The length of my hair is always co-cleansed with either Wen 613 or Aussie Moist 3MM. Based on my Komaza hair analysis I need to add more protein to my regimen so I also do a protein treatment bi-weekly and use either Komaza protein strengthener or Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor. Every 12 weeks I use the Aphogee 2 step. I love SM JBCO leave-in, it's super hydrating and leaves my hair really soft. I've also increased my usage of ceramides, my hair loves grapeseed oil and jojoba oil and I use WGO on my ends to help protect them. Every 2 days I use an oil mix with Castor oil, EVOO and peppermint oil on my scalp and sparingly on the hair to increase thickness. For my B/O's I use the SM JBCO leave-in and Camille Rose either the Almond Jai twisting butter or the Coconut Water Style Setter and get great results with both. For my WnG's I use either SM JBCO leave-in or SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Xtreme Wetline gel. I use limited heat and last November went cold turkey from co-washing and flat ironing weekly to using heat only twice this year. I don't plan to flat iron again until November. I blow-dry on a low setting every 10 weeks so that I can trim which is also based on my Komaza analysis so that I can get rid of the rest of the heat damage. I already see a huge difference in the health and length of my hair. I can't wait to compare pics in November to November of 2015.
Supplements/Other Aides: I have been using Olaplex for 3 months and it has really helped heal my hair, I was using steps 1 and 2 but now I am in maintenance mode and using step 3 only once per month when I shampoo, I also do ACV rinses and in the winter I GHE 2 times per week. I take Chlorella, Spirulina, Hair La Vie (HSN vitamins), MSM (just restarted low dose), Vit. D and Vit. C, and just started taking Collagen. I also drink Beautifully Bamboo tea daily.
@NaturalShe94, thanks so much for starting this thread - great idea! I look forward to chatting, learning and growing with you ladies!