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

[B_Phlyy]

Nothing going on much with me. Daily washing and moisturizing my mini braids. A non- length check achievement is that I can put the mini braids into a small bun now. Initially, there wasn't length the fold the ends under the ponytail, now there is.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Nothing going on much with me. Daily washing and moisturizing my mini braids. A non- length check achievement is that I can put the mini braids into a small bun now. Initially, there wasn't length the fold the ends under the ponytail, now there is.

Congrats on your progress!

 

[faithVA]

Nothing going on much with me. Daily washing and moisturizing my mini braids. A non- length check achievement is that I can put the mini braids into a small bun now. Initially, there wasn't length the fold the ends under the ponytail, now there is.

That is a nice achievement. That bun is just going to get bigger and bigger.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Yesterday

CoWashed - Sprouts Biotin Conditioner
Flax Gel - Homemade

Today

Plan to clarify wash and apply henna overnight

 

[CoiledOrchids]

once I take out these braids, I'm getting a silk press and trim.

thinking about two strand twists for the remainder of 2025. I want to work on moisturizing daily.

I use Karen's body beautiful sweet ambrosia leave-in. Not sure if its doing any good though. My hair just sucks it up

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Yesterday

Applied homemade growth oil

Today

Applied Henna +6 Hours
Applied Indigo mixed with Amla and Aloe powder

 

[faithVA]

I didn't feel like resetting today so I did something quick.

I rinsed, conditioned, detangled and then put in deep conditioner. I put a big flat twist in the front and a banana clip bun in the back. The back bun i spit into two twist and tucked the ends under.

I may reset tomorrow and put in more flat twist. With the bun I would need to take out the clip nightly. I prefer to put my hair up and leave it.

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

KBs this weekend, more details on Braid and Hydrate page
Did not lay down fly aways or anything else before taking this pic

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Yesterday
Sprayed Hair with ACV water mix after work out
Water rinsed hair
Growth Oil
Applied Flax Gel and tied down with satin scarf
Massaged about an hour

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Aloe Spray
EVOO Growth Oil
2 Hour Massage

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

ACV Spray post workout
Water Rinse
Aloe Spray
EVOO Growth Oil
1 Hour Massage

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Ayurvedic Mask
Washed with Camille Rose Chebe + Black Castor Oil
Aloe Spray
Growth Pomade
Flax gel + Aloe Gel

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Yesterday

Aloe Spray
Growth Pomade
2H Massage

 

[25InchesStarting'25]

Growth Oil
Massage about an hour
PrePoo Coconut oil
Shampoo Malibu C Wellness
Henna leaving on overnight
Added Fenugreek growth cube, onion cube, Clove cube, and amla powder to henna

 

[faithVA]

KBs this weekend, more details on Braid and Hydrate page
Did not lay down fly aways or anything else before taking this pic
View attachment 505982

Your braids look really good. Thank you for sharing with us.

Do you use a mirror to help you part the back?

Would these be considered medium braids?

I think I could get with something like this. Maybe I will try over the xmas holidays when I have time to devote to it.

 

[faithVA]

@25InchesStarting'25 , Thank you for keeping this thread going. As always happens, people get busy and threads can get quite for a while.

I just finished doing all the paperwork for my performance review so now I can get back to some normalcy. I've been documenting since July 4th, so I'm glad to be done with it.

 

[faithVA]

I'm just staying the course here and keeping it simple. Still doing my weekly reset.

I'm behind on doing my K18 treatment. I usually doing it monthly and definitely before I color but I did not do an August treatment. I may color in September.

I definitely plan to blow dry and trim my ends in September. I purchased a bottle of Aphogee 2 minute. For the holiday weekend, I will do the K18, Aphogee and whatever other loving things I can think to do.

I am considering a new blow dryer with a comb to see if I can get some help with a smoother look. I need to write out my steps for that wash day because I tend to forget steps when I wing it.

Overall everything is progressing fine. I can slowly see my lowest layer inching past my collarbone. Hopefully, with 4 more months I will gain 2 inches. I will trim some off but that should still leave me close to my goal.

Just hoping this is the year I break through to SL so 2026 is fully dedicated to reaching APL. The closer I get to APL, the more styles I have available to me. That is what I'm really looking forward to ... ease of styling.

But honestly, my styling really is easy right now. Just looking to make it even easier I spend 30 minutes styling my hair on Sunday and then don't touch it until the following Sunday.