2025/2026 - Journey to SL/APL/BSL Challenge

[faithVA]

Year in review/2026 intro

I'm still a bit under the weather but I did manage to wash, blow dry, and flat iron my hair got the end of year length check. Not much changed, probably because my health to a nose dive the last quarter of the year. My mini haircut in the fall didn't help either as my hair is growing back in its lopsided way (the left getting longer than the right)

I feel my hair looked the best in the summer (06/25) but I unfortunately don't know exactly what I was doing to get it to that point. That's why for 2026 I'm going to be much more diligent about writing my routine and products down this year. The only thing I know got sure that I stopped doing was pre-pooing with oil. Maybe I need to get back to that.

For 2026, I'm going to again shoot for full APL.. I'm taking out back old school with techniques and styling. Lately I've noticed my scalp responds better to cleansing with sulfates on my shampoo and deep conditioners with some mild silicone. I also am back to doing LOC due to the colder weather. My styles will be lots of buns and rolls/twists. Wigs really are doing a number on my hairline, so they're out for a while.



View attachment 507486

Hair is so interesting and yours definitely has its own personality. So from March to June, your left side grew out to match the right side. Then it grew past the right side. It looks like your right side decided to try to catch up.

Maybe that is just your growth pattern. Maybe you have a left, right growth pattern?

I know it doesn't look noticeable, but you definitely have some growth and retention. And your best growth is probably from Spring to Fall. Its possible your best days are before you.

 

[faithVA]

I may need to change my reset day to Saturday because my long walk day is Sunday. After the walk, my feet are too tired to stand up for a full wash day. I did it last week but I was suffering.

Instead, I took down my twist and moisturized with Camille Rose Braid Stpray and Mielle Hair Milk and then put it into 4 twists.

I will reset tomorrow.

 

[faithVA]

I reset today.
Shampooed with Madison Reed Shampoo
Shampooed with Coco & Eve Hydrating Shampoo
Conditioned with Coco & Eve Hydrating Conditioner
Used Coco & Eve Leave-In
Followed with Mane Choice Thermal something or other

I used the Tymo Blow Dryer to see if this is something I can do each wash day.
The back I did on low heat until I realized that I could try turning up the blower and blow drying on cool.
I spritzed my hair with water when I felt it drying out.

I was able to dry my hair in 15 minutes and then twist it up in 5 flat twist on each side.
I used Camille Rose Braid Spray and Mielle Twisting Souffle to twist my hair up.

I like the ease of it. I will have to see how this works out after the next 2 wash days. I think I definitely need to add additional creamy product to my ends.

 

[faithVA]

@Bette Davis Eyes , I finally bought the Geritol.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Did you get the pills or the liquid @faithVA

 

[faithVA]

Did you get the pills or the liquid @faithVA

I got the pills. I may try the liquid next time. But I think the pills are good for now. Its better than the nothing I was taking before (lol)

 

[VarieYvette]

FOR THOSE WHO WERE WITH US 2025
What was your 2025 Length Goal?: my 2025 goal was full APL

What worked for you in 2025? regular washes and deep conditioning, then sealing with a hair butter. My hair likes simplicity

Post your 2025 Starting Pic Here:



FOR ALL PARTICIPATING IN 2026 YEAR

What length are you now? I would say CBL at the moment

What is your 2026 length goal ? full APL/BSB

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal? continue with weekly washes and DCs, relaxer touch ups twice a year, no braids with extensions

How can we support you in reaching your goal
I need to be cheered on, last year ended on a bad note, and I wasn't online much.

Post your 2026 Starting Pic Here:

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

The liquid works quicker but that taste. Lord NO!!! @faithVA

@VarieYvette Youre well past CBL in the back. Almost to APL

 

[i4ani]

FOR THOSE WHO WERE WITH US 2025
What was your 2025 Length Goal?: my 2025 goal was full APL

What worked for you in 2025? regular washes and deep conditioning, then sealing with a hair butter. My hair likes simplicity

Post your 2025 Starting Pic Here:

View attachment 507536

FOR ALL PARTICIPATING IN 2026 YEAR

What length are you now? I would say CBL at the moment

What is your 2026 length goal ? full APL/BSB

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal? continue with weekly washes and DCs, relaxer touch ups twice a year, no braids with extensions

How can we support you in reaching your goal
I need to be cheered on, last year ended on a bad note, and I wasn't online much.

Post your 2026 Starting Pic Here:
View attachment 507534

Oooooooooo! You went from not even touching the neckline to line 4, and it's only been like 7 months! Are the lines on the shirt indicative of inches? If so, and if I'm not mistaken, it looks like you retained ~1 inch every month!

Also, I agree with @Bette Davis Eyes, you're 100% past CBL.

 

[faithVA]

Oooooooooo! You went from not even touching the neckline to line 4, and it's only been like 7 months! Are the lines on the shirt indicative of inches? If so, and if I'm not mistaken, it looks like you retained ~1 inch every month!

Also, I agree with @Bette Davis Eyes, you're 100% past CBL.

Thank you for pointing that out. You are right. That is fabulous progress @VarieYvette . That is also very inspiring.

Congratulations @VarieYvette I hope your 2026 is as fabulous as your 2025.

 

[i4ani]

Literally a week ago I was 200% committed to washing every other day, but baggying has opened my eyes to a whole new world, y'all. I forget who and where, but I saw someone mention baggying and started snooping around to find out what the heck it was... And here we are.

Before baggying, on the morning of day 3, my mids would still feel great but my ends would feel eh. I'd have to take my time going through them, and I couldn't really feel the grease on my fingers. And since I don't like to remoisturize (I use grease exclusively, so I feel like it just causes product buildup), I'd wash then.

But it's the end of day 3, and my mids and ends still feel like my day 1 hair, right after it finishes air drying. I baggied with warm water squeezed into my hair before bed on day 2 and voila. I just undid one section of my hair and I've been sitting here running my hands through it root to tip feeling like

My commitment to myself for this year was to keep my hair at 100% at all times to eliminate its arch nemesis (breakage due to dryness), and my method of doing so was supposed to be super frequent washing, but I think baggying may have been the missing puzzle piece. Gently reintroducing water through my layer of grease and letting it soak in truly is all I have to do. I'm so glad I realized that early on. Rebuying my shampoo and conditioner set every 2 seconds was gonna burn a hole through my coin purse lol.

I do workout daily though so I don't think I can stretch longer than 4-5 days without causing issues for my scalp. But I'm monitoring.

 

[VarieYvette]

Thank you ladies for the hype. I missed my 2025 APL goal, so I hope this year will be better. I did get my ends a bit chewed up from doing wet twists, and I am due a trim, that's why I am claiming CBL at the moment

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I always jealous of anyone that can reach behind them and grasp their hair. I would have to be at mid back length to do it.

Maybe one day.


I haven’t joined the 2026 challenge officially because I am kinda over doing challenges.

I’m in cruise mode with crochet styles. I’m itching for the day where I am semi retired and can do my hair like I used too. That’s 8 years away.

 

[faithVA]

I always jealous of anyone that can reach behind them and grasp their hair. I would have to be at mid back length to do it.

Maybe one day.


I haven’t joined the 2026 challenge officially because I am kinda over doing challenges.

I’m in cruise mode with crochet styles. I’m itching for the day where I am semi retired and can do my hair like I used too. That’s 8 years away.

It doesn't matter whether you join officially. The only point of the initial post is to have something to track back to. And the other post are to create a sense of community and inspiration. Once that is gone the board just dies. So post whatever you like. No one is tracking. Just here for support and encouragement.

 

[Rocky91]

It doesn't matter whether you join officially. The only point of the initial post is to have something to track back to. And the other post are to create a sense of community and inspiration. Once that is gone the board just dies. So post whatever you like. No one is tracking. Just here for support and encouragement.

I love this sentiment because it's very true that this is what keeps the board alive. Lately, I can't be counted on to check in regularly, but I'm good for a random pop-in.

@VarieYvette, your progress is amazing! Your hair looks great.

 

[Rocky91]

It doesn't feel much longer but i feel more comfortable wearing my hair out because it looks bigger and fuller.


I wanted a straight look for the holidays and it was time to touch up so i decided to put in a botox. I also used some Vitale pro products to help repair split ends. i didn't trim at all and my ends look good. I just wrapped it for a few hours after straightening so it can "settle".

Here is my official starting point until next year:
View attachment 507286




Hopefully I can reach BSL by then! I never had BSL as far as I can remember so i cam going to really stick to a routine this year

@Napp your hair looks amazing! you have really done the damn thing this year, that is amazing progress. I'd love to hear about any shifts that you made to achieve this.

 

[Rocky91]

I am going to get my pictures together and post my check-in soon. I started the year with some knotless braids so I can run and sweat in the gym without caring about my hair

 

[Napp]

@Napp your hair looks amazing! you have really done the damn thing this year, that is amazing progress. I'd love to hear about any shifts that you made to achieve this.

I just started working to prevent split ends so I stopped trimming so frequently and worked on retaining.

One big thing that has made a difference is that I I slick back my hair with cream based products vs gel. This causes less breakage for me. Also the absence of gel makes it easy to moisturize and refresh with out worrying about flakes or clumps.

So I just put my hair in two close low braids slick the front back, and clip my ends up with a variety of hair accessories like claws or hair spray sticks. Moisturize daily and wash 1x a week. Slather ends with grease every few days.

Also no combs or brush at all. Starting in the shower I smooth the hair back. Leave in reinforces the curl/waves and cream smooths it in. Oil to seal.

HTH