BSL/MBL 2014 Challenge

[naturalagain2]

Froreal3 Yeah it is lol!!

ilong Thanks! I was feeling guilty. I think that's why it took me so long. Plus, my HHJ has only been done with natural hair. Relax hair is foreign territory for me. I was starting to resent doing hair and it wasn't that fun anymore with the tangles. I don't want to feel that way.

Here's a pic of my relaxed hair.

 

[GettingKinky]

ilong naturalagain2 where are the pictures??

 

[naturalagain2]

GettingKinky it should be in post #361. Let me know if you can't see it.

 

[GettingKinky]

GettingKinky it should be in post #361. Let me know if you can't see it.

I found it. Your hair looks great. Enjoy your new tangle free hair!

 

[naturalagain2]

^^^Thanks! I will!

 

[Guinan]

Welcome to the relaxed side!! naturalagain2. Your results came out great and that's good that you didnt relax bone straight.

And if you feel that relaxers arent for you anymore, you can always go back to natural. I am always going back and forth. However, this is the longest that I've ever maintained being a relaxed head.

I have contemplated going back to natural. But I think I'll wait until I get to WL as a relaxed head and then cut into a TWA or a bob as a natural.

 

[jennwantslonghurr]

Update time... so I took down my braids this morning. I used ssi moisture mist (bf first purchase) and it actually strengthen my hair in a good way. YES because I'm protein sensitive and I'm finally getting over my protein overload. I finger comb my braids out and wore a tucked pony tail using a scrunchie and 2 bobby pins with a head band. Some naturals while I was out at the store were giving me the head nod of approval lol.

I will wash my hair tomorrow since I have this lingering cold and prep for my TU. I plan on relaxing next Sunday at 35 weeks then running my split ender through. Note I will never stretch this long again. I was ill for months and had surgery and my son gets so sick in the fall/winter so... eventually my procrastination got the best of me.

 

[Guinan]

^^^Wow 35 weeks! I can barely make it to 18wks. jennwantslonghurr, Hope you feel better. When I'm sick, the last thing on my mind is my hair too.

 

[Guinan]

Just finished washing my hair. I'm currently t-shirt drying my hair for about 30min &'then plan on DC for about an hour. My hair & scalp feels soooo good. I don't know what they put in that shea moisture shampoo but that stuff is AMAZING!!

I did a light dusting & I am happy to say that my hair is still BSL. Even though I've updated my siggie to BSL, mentally I won't officially claim it until my relaxer in Jan (I know cray cray).

My hair doesnt seem to have anymore protein overload. I think the blow drying & flat ironing has remedy that.

 

[jennwantslonghurr]

My hair doesnt seem to have anymore protein overload. I think the blow drying & flat ironing has remedy that.

That's great! Maybe that's the trick with coarse hair and p.o. And yes this was a longgggg stretch usually I never go over 24 weeks post so my new growth and I are well acquainted now. Maybe I'll start relaxing sooner like you cuz whatever you are doing its yielding beautiful results.

I haven't washed my hair yet; bad I know. I will in the morning starting with a hot oil treatment. I plan on blowing drying and setting my hair on rollers as it cool then have my sister style it some kind of way.

 

[ilong]

OK @GettingKinky since you are making me come out the closet - I've procrastinated long enough and you ladies are always so wonderful with sharing your pictures - so it's my turn.


So ladies, what length say you I am? My goal is BSL/MBL by June/December, respectively. I know you all may be saying, 'yeah righ" in your dreams" but miracles can happen. As a matter of fact, my current hair length is a miracle.

So here it goes:

 

[GettingKinky]

ilong I would say you are APL. How many inches do you need for BSL?

 

[LucSra]

Hey everyone! Just popping in for a length check. I apologize for my hair not looking combed, it's not because I accidentally sat on my only comb today I'm sure my ends look thicker than that.

So, what do you gals think? Am I doing okay with my HHJ?

 

[ckisland]

Thanks! I was feeling guilty. I think that's why it took me so long. Plus, my HHJ has only been done with natural hair. Relax hair is foreign territory for me. I was starting to resent doing hair and it wasn't that fun anymore with the tangles. I don't want to feel that way.

Here's a pic of my relaxed hair.

This is exactly how I felt. I've thought about relaxing for awhile, but Natural Guilt, like Catholic Guilt is real . I'd always talk myself down, and that's good, because when I couldn't feel any guilt I knew for sure I was ready to relax. I had relaxed hair most of my life, but I never took care of it. I'm so excited to be able to say I've had both a natural and relaxed HHJ . Congratulations and welcome !!

 

[ckisland]

My ends are a HAM and I will hopefully get them taken care of soon. I went back to VA and chicks have way better hair than they do here . I was so envious!!! Thick, healthy relaxed hair with great ends even though no one I saw was even APL.

I still don't know exactly how to handle my hair because it still has so much texture. My hair needs to be smoother which means that I need to perfect roller wrapping because I want to avoid heat. If I could just wrap my hair, life would be much easier right now. I also need to find my spin pins. I really am ready to try PSing because I'm getting paranoid about handling my hair daily .

 

[ilong]

@GettingKinky - thank you. I'm not sure how many inches to BSL. I have a long torso - so it takes me longer to complete a length journey. I think the trim put me at grazing APL but I'm not going to dwell on APL. I'm afraid that dwelling on APL will make the journey to BSL/MBL longer so I want my focus to remain on BSL/MBL.

I'd love to get my hair braided or in twists to help promote a growth spurt, but I don't want a setback this close to my goal target day. I know so much more about caring for my hair than I did last year - but still I don't know - I can't afford to lose any progress. My retention has been excellent thus far.

I've read a few posts over the last few days where members experienced major setbacks as a result of damage from braids/twists. So - maybe I will just have my hair braided in a beehive, throw on a new wig and leave it be.
***sigh*** decisions, decisions. erplexed

 

[Guinan]

@ilong, you look full shoulder to me. Maybe about an inch from APL. Your in that area where your past SL, but not quite APL.

 

[Guinan]

Hey everyone! Just popping in for a length check. I apologize for my hair not looking combed, it's not because I accidentally sat on my only comb today I'm sure my ends look thicker than that.

So, what do you gals think? Am I doing okay with my HHJ?

Looks good to me, but visually IDK what length you were coming from or how long it took (need before pics). If I'm basing it on your siggie (your siggie says your current length is alittle past APL). Then your heading in the right direction. You look BSL

Congrats BTW...What's your reggie? LucSra

 

[ilong]

pelohello - thank you. Friday's 1.5" trim reduced me from APL - which is why I don't want to dwell on it - since it's not my goal.
BSL for me is 18" from thr crown of my head and 13" from my nape - so I have a long journey ahead of me.

 

[LucSra]

Looks good to me, but visually IDK what length you were coming from or how long it took (need before pics). If I'm basing it on your siggie (your siggie says your current length is alittle past APL). Then your heading in the right direction. You look BSL

Congrats BTW...What's your reggie? @LucSra

Am I?! Oh dear I really, really hope I'm BSL. This is the longest my hair has ever been!

I try to keep my regimen simple. I wash and (moisture) DC 1x a week, protein DC every 2 weeks. Cowash whenever I feel like I need it. Protective styles 99% of the time (mostly buns but I'm trying to switch it up for the new year). Moisturize and seal every 2 days.

Oh yeah, before pics. The first was taken on February 2012 and the second about 2 months later. The length in my siggie is from April/May 2013 I think.

 

[Froreal3]

OK @GettingKinky since you are making me come out the closet - I've procrastinated long enough and you ladies are always so wonderful with sharing your pictures - so it's my turn.


So ladies, what length say you I am? My goal is BSL/MBL by June/December, respectively. I know you all may be saying, 'yeah righ" in your dreams" but miracles can happen. As a matter of fact, my current hair length is a miracle.

So here it goes:

ilong Finally get to see your hair! Your hair looks great btw. I hope mine still looks that good when I am your age. It looks close to APL. You can definitely make BSL in a year. I was that same length this time last year and I made BSB/BSL in September. I haven't done a length check since then, so hopefully I am more full BSB/BSL now.

Hey everyone! Just popping in for a length check. I apologize for my hair not looking combed, it's not because I accidentally sat on my only comb today I'm sure my ends look thicker than that.

So, what do you gals think? Am I doing okay with my HHJ?

LucSra you look BSL. Congrats!

 

[Froreal3]

@GettingKinky - thank you. I'm not sure how many inches to BSL. I have a long torso - so it takes me longer to complete a length journey. I think the trim put me at grazing APL but I'm not going to dwell on APL. I'm afraid that dwelling on APL will make the journey to BSL/MBL longer so I want my focus to remain on BSL/MBL.

I'd love to get my hair braided or in twists to help promote a growth spurt, but I don't want a setback this close to my goal target day. I know so much more about caring for my hair than I did last year - but still I don't know - I can't afford to lose any progress. My retention has been excellent thus far.

I've read a few posts over the last few days where members experienced major setbacks as a result of damage from braids/twists. So - maybe I will just have my hair braided in a beehive, throw on a new wig and leave it be.
***sigh*** decisions, decisions. erplexed

Twists seem to be working pretty well for me. I am due for a dusting/trim, but I have retained about 5 inches this year. The only way you will know is if you try. However, what are the styles that have been working for you? If they are working, I'd stick with that.

 

[ilong]

@Froreal3 - thank you so much for your kind words!! I know - I have been holding out. I see all of these beautiful heads of hair on the forum and drool because I didn't feel like my hair was anything close to many of you ladies hair.

This past week's trim and blow dry was only the second time in life that I felt my hair was beautiful. The first time was at my daughter's wedding 13 years ago and I wore my own hair in a beautiful french twist. I hope the trim(along with other techniques in my regimen) enhances growth.
I would like to be BSL by June (yes I am being greedy - but I also plan to work hard to get there).

I keep my hair braided underneath a wig 99% of the time. I believe the twists/braids will give me the growth that I need to make my goal.
What I've discovered is my hair loves M&S. My growth slowed down in October - because I stopped my daily GHE under my wigs (due to cold weather) I have to find a growth factor to replace the daily GHE.

Froreal3 - are your twists with extensions or just your hair? Retained 5 inches this year - that is wonderful!!! Congratulations!

 

[FlawedBeauty]

I'm in. *big sigh* as I am never able to keep up with these threads as much as I would like. I hope to be MBL by the end of the year.

Current Length: Touching the top of brastrap

Relaxed/Natural/etc.: I haven't had a relaxer since April, so right now 8 month stretch. Right now I don't think I will be relaxing again any time soon, if at all. I'm thinking this will turn into a really long transition. I BC'd once and will NEVER do that again. I loved the texture, just not on me, and the majority of it was probably due to how short it was when I cut off my relaxed ends. I LOVE texture in my hair vs bone straight, however I will not texlax. I'm sick of worrying about relaxing altogether at this time. Heck, I'm too lazy to even post a picture right now lol.

Current regimen: Washing once or twice a week. DC once a week. Put air dried hair in a combo of twists and flat twists for the week to protective style. Super low manipulation and very little heat use is the key to keeping my fine strands on my head. I have an obsession with search and destroy missions, which often lead to little trims, which I need to stop doing.

Personal Challenge: Stop being a friggin PJ, throw out all the crap I've used once and haven't looked at in a year and stick with one stuff I know works!

 

[Froreal3]

ilong the twists are with my own hair pinned up in an updo, braided, tucked, bunned, or otherwise outta my way! lol I wear them like this 99% of the time. I will probably wear a twist out once every two weeks. It is really because I'm too lazy to maintain those. I have been twisting for a year now and have been in the braid/bun/twist for growth challenge for that time. My hair has grown/retained significantly. I have comparison shots of my twists in that challenge. Some people's hair doesn't do well with twists, but mine seems to do fine. I do probably need to dust more often. I've probably only dusted three times this year. I don't see a problem with my ends though.

Definitely try to keep your hair moist in your protective style. If its wigs, spray some leave in on your cornrows maybe three times a week. I M&S every other day and it's kept my retention on point along with the psing.

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

Just came out of lurking to tell ilong that your hair is beautiful!.....back to now

 

[ilong]

Froreal3 - I'm heading over to the braid/twist/out challenge to check it out. Thanks for the reminder!

EnExitStageLeft - thank you so much ! You have no idea how good you ladies are making me feel about my hair!

It is such a major accomplishment and I could not have done it without the help of my LHCF sisters!



God Bless All of You!!!

 

[EnExitStageLeft]

ilong Girl I almost got up to hug you for real . You're always everyone's biggest supporter, so to see you striving is awesome !

 

[LucSra]

@LucSra you look BSL. Congrats!

Thank you! If I could do a back flip I would! One goal down, 3 more to go.

Btw, how does one tell when they've reached MBL?

 

[Gryphyn]

This is exactly how I felt. I've thought about relaxing for awhile, but Natural Guilt, like Catholic Guilt is real . I'd always talk myself down, and that's good, because when I couldn't feel any guilt I knew for sure I was ready to relax. I had relaxed hair most of my life, but I never took care of it. I'm so excited to be able to say I've had both a natural and relaxed HHJ . Congratulations and welcome !!

soo true