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

[Rocky91]

Would you consider braids or twists for the summer to minimize manipulation?

Using my own hair, I really don’t love the look unless they are pinned up due to my lower density. I can fluff my styles up for volume, but twists will tell all my secrets.

But you’ve given me food for thought: I’ve done some simple kinky twists with extension hair, minimizing the amount of hair used. I might consider it, but then honestly…when I start doing my swimming, I just want full access to my hair to get the chlorine out. Ah well, now I’m rambling lol

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Using my own hair, I really don’t love the look unless they are pinned up due to my lower density. I can fluff my styles up for volume, but twists will tell all my secrets.

But you’ve given me food for thought: I’ve done some simple kinky twists with extension hair, minimizing the amount of hair used. I might consider it, but then honestly…when I start doing my swimming, I just want full access to my hair to get the chlorine out. Ah well, now I’m rambling lol

I understand the concern regarding swimming. I hope you find a solution

 

[Beautified16]

What length are you now?
Shoulder Length

What is your length goal for 2025 ?
To be APL or possibly BSL

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?
I plan on doing low manipulation. I want to wash my hair once every two weeks instead of the weekly washing that I have been doing.
I have incorporated the inversion method and daily massages with my electric scalp massager.
As well as I have started to take liquid vitamins. I have already began to notice a difference in my energy so hopefully, I will see it in my hair soon.

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?
I plan on rewarding myself by buying myself new hourglass rollers that I really want.

How can we support you in reaching your goal?
By just be there whenever you can to discuss hair.

Starting Pic:

 

[faithVA]

What length are you now?
Shoulder Length

What is your length goal for 2025 ?
To be APL or possibly BSL

What's your plan/regimen to reach your goal?
I plan on doing low manipulation. I want to wash my hair once every two weeks instead of the weekly washing that I have been doing.
I have incorporated the inversion method and daily massages with my electric scalp massager.
As well as I have started to take liquid vitamins. I have already began to notice a difference in my energy so hopefully, I will see it in my hair soon.

How will you celebrate/reward yourself when you reach your goal?
I plan on rewarding myself by buying myself new hourglass rollers that I really want.

How can we support you in reaching your goal?
By just be there whenever you can to discuss hair.

Starting Pic:

I will come back to add this in by tonight or tomorrow.

Welcome and glad to have you join us.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Had my annual physical exam and lab work. Cholesterol, thyroid, and anemia are all good but Vitamin D was low. Doc sent over a weekly supplement I have to take until end of July. He said my OTC regimen can stay the same.

 

[faithVA]

Had my annual physical exam and lab work. Cholesterol, thyroid, and anemia are all good but Vitamin D was low. Doc sent over a weekly supplement I have to take until end of July. He said my OTC regimen can stay the same.

Glad everything is in great shape. I think it is common for vitamin D to be low especially after the winter months. Maybe you will see some positive changes from taking a supplement.

 

[faithVA]

I reset my hair today. I skipped the shampoo and did the rest. It takes as much time as to do a full cleanse, so I need to set aside enough time to do it mid-week. On the mid-week rinse I am using up products I don't want. This is the best time because if my hair looks crazy, I will be doing it again on Saturday or Sunday. I will use my regular products on my weekend cleanse.

Threw in some flat twist towards my crown and put it in a "mini-bun". This will do for a few days.

 

[faithVA]

Yesterday, I tried a wash and go since I don't think I wore one since 2023. I just wanted to see where it was based on my length and whether I had the hydration to where one if I wanted to do so any given day. I don't usually wear them often because my hair takes a long time to dry and I really dislike sitting under the dryer. So I would have to do style it first thing in the morning to give it dry time.

I didn't take any pics. It was just an experiment. I won't be wearing one any time soon until my hair is longer. That means probably not until next Spring. I would love to wear a wash and go to work but it takes me at least an hour to do a wash and go and that means I would have to get up extra early. That isn't going to happen right now

It went fairly well. I have been using the Prose shampoo and conditioner and I found for my hair a lighter conditioner works better on my hair. My hair seems to get weighed down with the heavier conditioners so my curls struggle to form. The Prose conditioner is good. The bottle is way too small so I will need to find a replacement at Sephora or Ulta. I used a lot less gel to get my curls to form and to feel heavy. I was rushing though and spent no time smoothing.

I let my hair dry for about 10 minutes and then shook it. I need to skip that step next time and just do very easy side to side motions. Shake it causes my curls to shrink up. It gives me good definition but a lot of shrinkage.

I sat outside for a while to let it air dry then I blow dried it to get the surface dry so it wouldn't be wet for bed.

What I learned for next time
1. A shampoo and conditioner like Prose improves my results
2. Don't shake but just tilt my head easily to help the curls separate a bit.
3. If I blow dry, pull sections to help them elongate
4. Tuck the front section behind my ear to help it stay down. I need to apply product differently to the front but haven't figure it out.

I'm going to spray my hair with water and put her up in flat twist after I finish running errands.

 

[SmilingElephant]

 

[Napp]

I think my genetics are meant for shorter hair. I can grow my hair so easy to SL but have not reached longer lengths without a relaxers

 

[faithVA]

I think my genetics are meant for shorter hair. I can grow my hair so easy to SL but have not reached longer lengths without a relaxers

If you can reach longer lengths with a relaxer, it sounds more like you are achieving the growth but not the retention.

Now, it is just a matter of paying attention when you reach SL what your hair wants and needs for retention. Its time to ask the hard questions to see if you can find the culprit.

 

[faithVA]

Sprayed my hair heavily with water, added some gel, smoothed out and detangled my hair in sections and put it into 5 Bantu Knots.

The majority of it I put into small flat twists towards the crown. I left a front piece out and put in two strand twists.

I need to come up with 5 different styles to rotate.

 

[keranikki]

I took out my twist extensions this past weekend, due to slippage, and washed my hair. Removing the twists and combining those parts into bigger braids aided the detangling and washing process. During the removal process, I realized that the hair along the perimeter behind my ears was very dry and had a lot of shed hair, compared to the rest of my hair which was moisturized. It seems that my hair/braid spray is not reaching that area. My goal is to pay extra attention during this next install.

I found a protein conditioner, Skala, that worked well, in that my hair wasn’t overly strong and stiff. I have to make note that I did layer it with APB Cholesterol.

I will start the next install of twist extensions tonight. I will keep them in for the whole summer (4 week rotation, 1 week break).

 

[keranikki]

I just finished installing twist extensions in my nape (1st section). While parting each section and prepping hair, I realized that I had the tiniest of single strand knots within each part I created. I’m trying to determine what caused it. I have three theories: 1) I didn’t trim enough during my last microtrim; 2) mechanical damage from twist install and maintenance; or 3) I caused my ends to knot by point cutting my ends because it was trending in my Instagram feed. I’m leaning toward #3. For know, I will just S&D within each part. So far, I have not had to trim a lot, maybe 1/8” at most and that’s being generous. All of the knots I have encountered have been at the very ends of the hair. They are so tiny, but I don’t like the feel of them.

 

[Rocky91]

@Beautified16 your hair is so gorgeous! I love those blunt, thick ends. Honestly, you look past SL to me and well on your way to APL.

 

[Rocky91]

There's a meme going around on fitness IG with people showing wonderful before/after fat loss images + the caption of "Unfortunately, I have to admit that a calorie deficit and 10k steps a day does work." It tickles me so much because it is in my nature to do this very thing: resist taking the most obvious, straightforward path to a goal.

Well, unfortunately, I think I have to admit that mostly wearing buns and keeping my hands out of my hair does work. I blowdried last night and omg, my ends look great and I feel like my hair is longer than it was during my April length check already. I didn't take any pics to confirm because watched pots don't boil. But hopefully I will see a nice surprise during my June silk press/trim.