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APL`13 Challenge

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I'm in box braids and only plan on heating my hair once this year, but I've been thinking today about how I don't know how to keep my hair conditioned when it's straight. This is how i keep losing progress. I deep condition before I straighten it. I try to use a serum heat protectant, but it gets sticky and my hair snaps when I try to unstick the strands. I've tried using a little castor oil, but it just looks dry and weighed down. I don't use a high temperature, either.

I don't put anything on it after I've straightened it because I don't want it kink up, but it dries out very much (even if i sleep in a satin scarf) and starts breaking off in long pieces. I keep it bobby pinned up off my shoulders, and I still have this problem. It sheds too. When I rub my fingers through it, I get broken strands and shed hair. I used to think that I could fix it with protein treatments, but it only gets brittle and breaks even ten times more. Maybe I need to drink more water? Lol

What can i do? It is very porous naturally. So much so that my hair actually does not have a problem with moisture if I wash it with neutralizing shampoo once a week. Seriously, its light and bouncy afterwards. It retrains moisture only then. My natural hair that is. The texlaxed hair doesn't like that, though, so I haven't been doing it since I've texlaxed the, now, bottom half of my hair. So, I don't know what to do. Can I baggy without getting it too moist? Also, what heat protectant can I use that doesn't get sticky?

I don't flat iron my hair often but I do flat iron my daughter's hair. Beyond The Zone-Heat It Up (I think thats what its called) is a good one from Sally's. Also I've found that comb chasing tends to keep the ends from sticking. If you're not afraid of a little mineral oil, One N Only Argan oil, also from Sally's is good at keeping the hair feeling moisturized after flat-ironing...HTH
 
I actually went to YouTube to try to see how other people are straightening their hair. I don't pre-poo like one girl does. She does a pre-poo for a few hours, then shampoos with Shea Moisture something. Then, a DC overnight in a thermal cap, which I don't have. Then, she puts her heat protectant on before blow drying and flat irons right after with a tension comb....

I wasn't doing all that. I shampoo and DC for about 45 minutes at best with a plain old plastic cap under the dryer. Put a little serum on and blow dry. Then, put more serum stuff on and flat iron. I'm going to try this pre-poo for once. I've heard of it; just haven't done it.

I still don't know if my hair will stay moisturized for long when it's dry.. Even a couple days later.
 
I got a touch up yesterday after 12 weeks and my stylist trimmed my hair to give me a nicer shape when I wear my hair curly. I was kinda depressed at first because it seemed much shorter, but it's actually not and it's a miracle that my hair is even this length after being evened up.

I get so many compliments on my hair now. I'm also getting unsolicited suggestions from family and friends, which is kinda ironic because my regimen is finally working for me after years of trial and error. They should have given me advice when I was struggling to keep my ends on my head :lachen: I think I've reached a very significant milestone in my HHJ - being able to stick to what's working for me instead of running out to buy every product that people suggest. I have conquered my PJ-ism!
 
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TLC this week. Trigga to scalp and length with GOB and aphogee 2 minute on top. 1/2 hour with heat cap. rinse. wash with diluted SH black soap and tsp of come clean in 8 oz warm water. rinse co wash with HQS peppermint then oil rinse. Rinse. Tea rinse with oolong and black tea, with MD seaweed and rice, SD vanilla silk to ends and GSO on top. 1/2 hour under heat cap, cool, then rinse out with SD wgo conditioner with DB peach daily conditioner. final rinse HV ACV.............whew!
 
apple_natural said:
I'm in box braids and only plan on heating my hair once this year, but I've been thinking today about how I don't know how to keep my hair conditioned when it's straight. This is how i keep losing progress. I deep condition before I straighten it. I try to use a serum heat protectant, but it gets sticky and my hair snaps when I try to unstick the strands. I've tried using a little castor oil, but it just looks dry and weighed down. I don't use a high temperature, either.

I don't put anything on it after I've straightened it because I don't want it kink up, but it dries out very much (even if i sleep in a satin scarf) and starts breaking off in long pieces. I keep it bobby pinned up off my shoulders, and I still have this problem. It sheds too. When I rub my fingers through it, I get broken strands and shed hair. I used to think that I could fix it with protein treatments, but it only gets brittle and breaks even ten times more. Maybe I need to drink more water? Lol

What can i do? It is very porous naturally. So much so that my hair actually does not have a problem with moisture if I wash it with neutralizing shampoo once a week. Seriously, its light and bouncy afterwards. It retrains moisture only then. My natural hair that is. The texlaxed hair doesn't like that, though, so I haven't been doing it since I've texlaxed the, now, bottom half of my hair. So, I don't know what to do. Can I baggy without getting it too moist? Also, what heat protectant can I use that doesn't get sticky?

I've recently been using keracare daily moisturizing Creme and overnight balm. Both are nice and dont weigh down hair whole keeping it moisturized and manageable.
 
I pre-pooed with every conditioner under the sun. Washed and left in Dove Intensive Repair poo and con. Moisturized with SD Vanilla Silk and coconut oil. Hair Trigger on the scalp.
 
I have NO intentions on ever waiting 2 wks between washes again.
My scalp has been soo dry and itchy since my wash last wk.
Last night I used neem oil on my scalp to help calm it down.
Neem oil is soooo rank..but it has my scalp acting much better.
 
I wanna join! I'm in the SL challenge but I wanna join anyway lol

Current hair length: SL
Relaxed/Natura/Texlaxed/Transitioning Natural
Goal Month May?? For graduation
Current Reggie and styling choices
Once I week I:
- Prepoo with a condish and castor oil
- Cowash
- Dc covered with castor oil and apply peppermint/castor mix to scalp
-rinse
- apply an oil, leave ins weigh me down
moisturize with water and seal with coconut oil
band or twist

What do you plan on changing (if anything) to make it to APL? i will be protective styling, plan on getting havana twists soon because i want a big twisted bun lol
Post a beginning picture
 

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I don't feel like I'm retaining length. I've been ps-ing and used no heat for almost 1 year and my hair is stuck at SL. what gives!!
 
I don't feel like I'm retaining length. I've been ps-ing and used no heat for almost 1 year and my hair is stuck at SL. what gives!!

Considered any growth aid (i.e vitamins , mixes, etc) ?

There is a thread about which length took the longest, it appears APL won. So per that thread just patience and time. Hang in there!
 
I don't feel like I'm retaining length. I've been ps-ing and used no heat for almost 1 year and my hair is stuck at SL. what gives!!

I'm right there with you. I just finished a six-month stretch and didn't get near the growth I thought I would. I still haven't taken a comparison photo, but just eye-balling it...I'm not impressed with my retention.
 
I co-washed w/ HH Hello Hydration & DC'd with some Queen Helene's Cholestorol (mixed some Grapeseed oil, EVOO & EVCO) my hair on Friday night. I had heard some good stuff about the Queen Helenes so I decided to try it. I'm not too sure how I like it so far though. It seemed decent enough. I'll use it over the next month when I DC to see how it turns out. I used Cantu Shea Butter leave in conditioner & wrapped it. Then Saturday morning I flat ironed (had been heat free for 5 weeks yaaay!!) because NG is ridiculous in the back of my head :crazy:!! Then I M&S'd with Elasta QP's Mango & OO Butter & EVCO. Did 6 cornrows to go underneath my wig. I did my edges with Pine Tar & Castor Oil.

I usually take the cornrows down to DC & co-wash or wash every 3 days but I'll be 12 weeks post on Friday & doing my relaxer then. So I'll keep Olive Oiling my scalp every other night but I'll only be taking my hair down on about Wednesday to use some Grapeseed Oil all over my hair before I relax. I may dust my ends after I relax.
 
I've been consistent with my regimen. I'm was on braids the whole week and did a braid out on sunday (i suck at braid outs or twist outs but this one was not that bad). I'm applying my MN mix at night and applying EVOO to my ends.
 
I don't have much time so I've been utilizing a sock bun and using coconut oil as well as taking fish oil and silica. I usually wash on Sunday, it's been two weeks but I have duty so I'm not sure. Plus I don't wanna straighten for the rest of 2013 so I'm not looking forward to it.
 
Considered any growth aid (i.e vitamins , mixes, etc) ?
There is a thread about which length took the longest, it appears APL won. So per that thread just patience and time. Hang in there!
I've tried a growth aid once some years ago. I didn't see much of a difference

I'm right there with you. I just finished a six-month stretch and didn't get near the growth I thought I would. I still haven't taken a comparison photo, but just eye-balling it...I'm not impressed with my retention.
it's frustrating.

Girl I been CBL all 2012 :lol: It's been the first plateau thru my entire journey. I feel your pain.
My hair gets to SL in record time then just stays there. Don't know what else to do. :sad:
 
I co-washed the last 2 days with Clear cond, then m&s with elastica qp mango and evoo and coconut oil.
 
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Yep, that was how my relaxed hair was. I've gone further as a natural but standstills still happen. We just have to figure out the source.

OT: After I finish all these experimental products I've been using, I'm going back to basics. Organix Coconut Milk poo and con. JBCO and EVCO. And if I'm not imagining this new growth, HT can stay too lol. These are my tried and true, consistent results products.
 
Blahh i need a new protective style, I'm stuck between Senegalese twists, Havana twists, kinky twists, box braids, or a sew in? Im so indecisive Lol smh any opinions?
 
Igotstripes said:
Blahh i need a new protective style, I'm stuck between Senegalese twists, Havana twists, kinky twists, box braids, or a sew in? Im so indecisive Lol smh any opinions?

Its nice to have options... I vote for the sew-in.. I've been seeing lots of twists :)
 
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