**2010 Braid Challenge**........sign-up here

[lynnstar]

Just checking in.

Did my own individual braids with extensions on 11/30/09
Removed them last week (after 7 wks)
Did the Aphogee 2-step protein (made my hair really strong)
I am dcing this week and re-installing braids next week

I think that I grew and retained about an inch (I need to get better at length checks though) and my hair is definitely fuller.

 

[djkforeal]

Checking in...I just took out my cornrows that I have been wearing for about 3 weeks. I sprayed them with African Royal braid spray and took them down with my fingers, no comb. Then I sprayed my hair with spring water and added a lot of lavender conditioner (that I got from Whole Foods a while back) and detangled thoroughly in four sections with a large paddle brush, twisted each section and baggied. This is where I am while typing this...my plan is to wash, apply aphogee protein treatment, rinse then deep condition with Profectiv Mega Growth Deep Strengthening Growth Conditioner overnight then re-braid on Sunday.
I also will be applying coconut oil to my hair while braiding again and JBCO and MT to my scalp. I am really enjoying this challenge and I can see some progress already.

 

[Maracujá]

Here's a pic of my braids, it's done with human hair. I'm gonna try to keep them for three months.

 

[dany06]

I guess i should check in and update. I have had my braids in since Christmas eve. So far they dont look too bad but I've been redoing some of them lately. I used the kanekalon (sp) hair and it works really well. It dries quite fast so I dont have to worry about heavy braids. It also seems to keep my hair moisturized because my hair was still soft and shiny when I redid a few. I must say that the pre vinegar rinse on the braid hair before putting them in has totally kept the itchies away. The only issues Im having with the hair so far are with my ends. That is why I usually dont like using kanekalon hair. I didn't have a lighter so I used an old flat iron and I cut the hair to bsl ( which is to short for me to make smooth high buns.

I think that I will try yarn braids next and see how that goes. I'll probably do this in about a week or two.

Well, good luck to the rest of you guys.

 

[Platinum]

I should be removing my Senegalese Twists within the next few days. I haven't decided whether to get them again or go back to micros or even try yarn braids. I don't know if I want to do a Aphogee treatment or just Henna before I do my next install.

 

[trinigal27]

Hello Ladies! Sorry I am so late with my replies, has been a busy time for me. To all the ladies that wanted to join, I have added you to the list, hope I did not forget anyone. To all of you a warm welcome.

Now for my check in. I still have my braids in, been doing Dc once a week, so far so good. Have been moisturizing my hair ever other day with infusium 23 and better braids. I redid my edges, had no problem with matting or any sort of bildup, my hair was so soft whein I took down the braids, am happy with my result so far. Going to take down my braids at the end of Feb. Wishing you all a wonderful week , Happy growing.

 

[Jozze]

Just checking in...It took three days but last night I finally removed all of my braids.
My hair was very soft but the ends felt a little rough so I wet my hair down and added my own recipe of whipped shea butter, coconut oil, Japanese camilia oil and rosehip seed oil to my hair and sat under my steamer for 20mins for a quick pre-poo conditioning.

I did a good clarifying wash with a mixture of AO-HSR, BAS and baking soda afterward I used Miss la flaca's #3 henna gloss recipe (see below) except I used OA-HSR conditioner in place of Elasta QP and I let the henna colour release with hot water before adding the extra oils and conditioner. I added the indigo right before slapping the stinky goo on my hair.

Fast forward three hours later, I washed the henna goo out. My hair was jet black (no greys anywhere) thick strands with lots of defined pencil sized curls and coils. I had an amazing amount of growth for three weeks...well over half an inch. This C&G method really works!

Next I added the wonderful yummy Organic A.P.H Steaming Conditioner and sat under the steamer again for 40 minutes (my hair really loves crazy amounts of moisture but is allergic to all but a little proteinerplexed) My hair was soft but not mushy and my ends felt smooth again. It was after 3 am so I decided to baggy and go to bed.

This morning I spent half an hour detangling with my denman before rinsing and plaiting up my hair in 8 sections.

Side note: I'm glad I waited to properly detangle after all the conditioning because I lost very little shed hair and no breakage after 3 weeks in plaits.

I will be putting in yarn braids over the next few days...I'll post a pic when I'm done.

Sorry if I bored anyone....I can talk hair day and night and never get bored.


http://www.longhaircareforum.com/showthread.php?t=130293&highlight=henna+flaca

la flaca's #3 henna gloss

"Elasta QP with 1/4 cup of honey and 3 tbs of (each): henna, cassia, amla, indigo

I mixed them all (dry) and added it to the conditioner, then warmed the honey (it melt) added it too and then applied to my hair. I left it for 2 hours"

 

[neeki]

for ladies with relaxed hair in braid extensions, do you keep up your re-touches whlie wearing braids or just re-braid with new growth?

By the time I'm ready to re-braid I'll be 9 weeks post relaxer and I'm wondering if I should retouch and then rebraid or just rebraid right away. I'll rest my hair about a week before I retouch and then I normally like about 3 weeks of new growth before I braid my hair.

I definitely wouldn't relax if you're planning on keeping your hair braided for most of the year. When my hair was relaxed, I always waited at least 6 weeks after relaxing before braiding my hair. If you want to wear it straight for a while, you can flat iron the new growth.

 

[Forever in Bloom]

I am checking in for the first time since joining

As you can see from my siggy, I am in quite a few challenges, so I'm trying my best not to forget.

Anyway, I am in a weave right now, but my hair is braided underneath. It's been 2 weeks and MAN my scalp has been itching. I washed my hair with Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Smoothie shampoo and my scalp feels so much better. Here's a pic of my hair braided before the installation:

 

[Laela]

an inch in 7 weeks... Niiiice

Just checking in.

Did my own individual braids with extensions on 11/30/09
Removed them last week (after 7 wks)
Did the Aphogee 2-step protein (made my hair really strong)
I am dcing this week and re-installing braids next week

I think that I grew and retained about an inch (I need to get better at length checks though) and my hair is definitely fuller.

 

[Chemetria]

Hey ladies just checking in I co-washed & deep conditioned my hair on saturday and had my hair re braided on sunday

 

[Platinum]

Removing Senegalese Twists now. I haven't decided if I'm going to Henna or do a protein treatment. I'll probably rebraid in a few days.

 

[coolsista-paris]

hi to all,i wanna join in but a got silly questions first:
-i do lots of twists to (is it accepted for the challenge)? i do both.
-conrows and crochet braids are in too,right?

just need your answers to confirm

 

[Marhia]

Just washed my braids and now I'm DC. Loving the growth that I'm seeing. I will probably take these down in a week and do another re-install

 

[Laela]

DCing this weekend...I hope to add my braids then. whew!

 

[orangepeel]

Just a check in, I washed over the weekend and did a quick deep condition with NTM. Hoping to do a deep conditioner under my cap. When I was washing I felt a few loose braids, so I am going to go and redo those one in 2 weeks.

 

[MummysGirl]

Took pixie braids out (after 3 weeks), I'll have my hair out for 2 weeks and then it'll be back in pixie braids for another 3 weeks.

Hair feels good

 

[Rapunzel*]

can you add me to the list i haven't been on much
i will be in braids until march, well hopefully
my pictures will be posted soon

 

[CherieMarie]

Ordered some Milky Way Que Deep Wave hair so im planning on braiding up my hair tomorrow. Today im baggying with a light protein for 1/2 a day, then the other half I will baggy with a moisturizing conditioner. I'm kinda sick of cornrows under this lacefront.

 

[jcdlox]

just took out my individuals last night after 4.5 weeks (they were loose, fuzzy and driving me crazy) it took a looooooooooooooonnnnng time to take them out! my hair was soft, not shedding too much but still softer than normal when I DC with protein/moisture balance 2x weekly. I'm going to DC at least 2 more times and then rebraid.

I'm still on the fence about whether to retouch then rebraid... we'll see

 

[kandigyrl]

Checking in took kinky twists out this weekend and did a protein treatment, clarified, and moisturizing dc. I plan to do several more dc and at least 1 more protein treatment before I rebraid in about 2 weeks.

 

[zenith]

Checking in:

3 1/2 wks later, i went braid by braid, trimming off the relaxed and split ends then re-braided.
I have been shampooing, and deep conditioning once a week.

I plan to be re-braiding once a month, just to prevent too much matting with shed hair.

 

[tricie]

Hey, ladies!

Just checking in; I will be getting my braids in on Saturday (just made the January deadline)!!

Regimen:
Once a week, I will:
- pre-poo with honey, EVOO, castor and coconut oils

- wash with the Ayurvedic tridoshic shampoo bar (http://themysticmasala.com/products_soaps.html)

- DC with different conditioners, and apply leave-ins and a braid spray mixture of African Pride braid spray, Infusium 23, and Nu Gro growth moisturizer; I will probably spritz my hair with this mixture a few times a week

- apply MegaTek with an applicator bottle 3x times a week (it will be mixed with some jojoba, argan, and coconut oils, and some essential oils: lavender, rosemary and peppermint)

-On the days I don't use the MT mix, I will probably use MN.

I just ordered the MegaTek this week so it should be here right after I get my braids done. I'm so glad to be getting my braids back in because my transitioning hair is fighting me like whoa! How I didn't jump on the MegaTek bandwagon years ago is beyond me being the PJ I am!

I will try to add a picture of my starting point soon (well, before Saturday) ; it'll be a little shorter than it looks because right now my hair is curlformers, and I'm not gonna put heat in it before I get it done.

HHG, ladies!

 

[maghreblover]

Checking in, braids are over a month old and i'm dying to get them out but i plan to keep them in one more month and then do a length check in march

 

[tricie]

Here are my starting pics:

The back:


And the sides:




The braids:


HHG!

 

[MyAngelEyez~C~U]

Alright, I got my individuals done last weekend, and I'll be cleansing and DC'ing them once a week, and moisturizing (spritz) daily. I'm also using Ovation Cell Therapy on my scalp 2-3 times a week.

 

[Foxglove]

I took out my last set of micros and put in a set of kinky twists myself

 

[757diva]

Last night I decided to use GVP Nexxus Humecto, some Oils, Amla Tea spritz and a sulfur mixture which I put on mi micros and I'm just putting a bag over mi head for 48 hours (not going anywhere).

 

[Platinum]

I took out my Senegalese Twists the other day and had them done again. I had a hard time getting a good length shot but I'm shoulder length unstretched and collarbone stretched. I think the modified version of the Crown and Glory method really helped with my retention and growth. I'm going to stay in braids for the rest of the year.

 

[Firstborn2]

Alright, I got my individuals done last weekend, and I'll be cleansing and DC'ing them once a week, and moisturizing (spritz) daily. I'm also using Ovation Cell Therapy on my scalp 2-3 times a week.

I like your braids they are so cute and neat.

I took out my last set of micros and put in a set of kinky twists myself

This is really pretty, I love kinky twist, I wish I could do them myself, btw I love the color.

I took out my Senegalese Twists the other day and had them done again. I had a hard time getting a good length shot but I'm shoulder length unstretched and collarbone stretched. I think the modified version of the Crown and Glory method really helped with my retention and growth. I'm going to stay in braids for the rest of the year.

Congratulations on your progress. I've been in braids for 1mo now. I have 2 more weeks to go and I can't wait . I've measured my new growth, in some places I got 1/2 and in other places I got 3/4 so I'm happy.