Braids Natural HELPppppppppppp....

[EnVizion]

Hi Ladies,

Have you noticed that you hair seems to stop growing after awhile or is it just me? Also, what new vitamins are you ladies using? I think my system got used to the vitamins and now the results have come to a stop.

Has anyone had results with HF 37 or some other good products out there.

I was using the Andrew Lessman's Skin, Hair & Nails. I just use MSM now, 2000 MG per day.

 

[Ennyaa]

Hi EnVision,

As far as your vitamin regimen you should consider adding more Biotin to it. I know a lot of the ladies here get good results from that. (I don't know how much is in the Lessman vitamins but I don't think it matches what some are taking.)

I have been using HF37 for a few months and have gotten some good results. The first month I measured with a tape measure the front edge of my hair and it seemed to actually grow an inch. After that I haven't measured but I will after I take out the twists I'm wearing in December.

Also I posted a thread on here about an equivalent to the HF37 regimen that is cheaper. The thread is titled "HF37 replacement" and you should take a look before you buy. There were also some other HF37 users that popped into that thread. They may have more info for you.

 

[Madison]

ENVIZION WHERE IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU BEEN?????? /images/graemlins/smile.gif
HOW ARE YOU?

glad to see you posting again girl.

anyway, im still taking twinlabs amino fuel and a little extra liquid protien i started taking natrol's silica and puritan prides biotin . i have really cut down on all the pills and take liquid vits instead.

I felt my system was getting use to all the vits too,
what i would do was stop taking them for maybe 2 or 3 weeks and start up again.

 

[legs71]

EnVizion,

I wear microbraid extensions and my hair is natural. Of course it's difficult to gauge growth with extensions and natural hair, but believe me, it's growing. Sometimes you have to use other parts of your body like your eyebrows or underarm hair to "tell" whether your hair is growing. About 3 weeks ago I waxed my eyebrows and accidentally took too much hair off. One of my eyebrows was thicker than the other. The eyebrow I messed up is almost completely grown back in. I believe the vitamins and supplements help make the growth process more consistent. You should also take into account the weather especially if you live somewhere where it's cold this time of year. I increased my biotin intake to 10,000mcg and I've added l-cysteine,pantothenic acid and inositol. Since I'm taking so many things I alternate my regimen. I take my multivitamin,HSN vitamin, MSM, silica and biotin one day and the next I take my multivitamin, HSN vitamin, inositol, l-cysteine and pantothenic acid. Growing hair like anything else takes patience. If you're not patient, you end up getting frustrated which isn't worth it in the long run.

 

[Tracy]

Envizion,

Nice to see you girl! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

I also feel this way - ummm - every morning...

For me the issue is my layers - do you have layers? I seem to focus on the shorter ones so much and it feels like I'm making no progress. Mahailialee, I think it was, posted something that I've been trying to remember that I know for sure is true of my hair...maybe this will help you too. My hair grows in spurts. So I'm looking to have a little growth at a time, and I look and I look and I seem to see none and then overnight I SWEAR I get a half inch while I'm not paying attention. The other ladies gave some great vit recs but I just wanted to say - it IS growing - just not while we're looking I think.... /images/graemlins/smile.gif

I just wanted to commisserate a little. /images/graemlins/wink.gif Keep your head up girl! You'll get there!

 

[Mahalialee4]

Just to add to the bit about growth spurts! It grows in spurts in different areas. That is why I take from time to time, specific sections about 1 1/2-2" wide behind the ear, at the nape, at the crown, bangs, (like a spot check) and find that I am gaining growth even when I am not showing length. My hair really evens itself out eventially. Try this: and keep a record of specific "spot checks" and be pleasantly surprised every 3 months to find that you got an inch here, two there etc. For me it grows in stages. In the spot checks, then in the thickness, then in the length and keeps repeating the cycle. My hair is twice as thick as it was last year and three times as thick as it was two years ago. My shortest area that was 5" in 1999, always breaking and would never grow due to damage, shredding and pitiful, is now over 11 inches long. This is how it has happened for me: cruising the boards, writing, trying to get my Hair Journal tight. My hair is growing fine. Even though I do not relax or use chemicals, I really appreciate the tips and techniques I learn here. Right now, I am taking my hair through cycles. I am now in the lots of moisture, no brush, growing out layers phase. My growth update:February 1999, (seriously damaged & breaking!)4" bang and side temple area, 7" sides , 10" (top scattered areas longest strands). Back length of hair was at the MIDDLE of the neck. I began a series of Radical Recovery Treatments (personal copyrighted 1999-2000)) : With these treatments and a complete attitude change and hair regimen my hair went from that length to 8"(bangs) and starting at the hairline- 17" back to 20"- back (V) or (7 "below shoulders at the back August 1, 2001. I took photographs to visually map my progress. Then to 10" below shoulders at the back. 4" past shoulders at the sides, and past collar bone length from the temple area by December 31, 2001. Hair thickness has increased dramatically, color has deepened, ends are fantastic and the overall texture is phenominal. Measurements taken since: Full and precise measurements were taken according to layers on February 23, 2002, to give the most accurate reflection of the overall growth of my hair. Bangs: that were originally a problem area: 11"(now thick and good texture) last trimmed August 2000 approx. 1 "; Sides (temple) 11.5 "a major problem area, especially on the right side where measured, acquired major thickness.Top of head above the bangs: 11.4"Area previously most damaged for longest period of time (5") now 10" long and thriving. Back of ear 10.5 " stretches to armpit length when pulled to front and 4.5" past shoulders when pulled out to the side.Longest strands from bottom of neck measure 13". Starting at the front hairline to longest part (V) area in the back overall length 22.5". Major goal -grow out all layers. Grow into a curved "V" shape. Marks 3 years growth. Feb. 99-Feb.2002. Measurement: March 7-2002 the longest sections of hair at back touching top of bra strap when gently stretched. The area behind the right ear, section showed increase in growth of 3" this year. (front beauty spot-2-3/4" past spot) and touches the armpit crease in front. Random measurement. I have accumulated satisfactory growth in all areas. I intend to grow out my layers to one overall length of 35 inches. In the process of growing out sharply uneven layers of hair, I have accumulated to date (Feb.22-2002)- 7=4.5=5=4=6- total of 26.5 inches of growth. The AVERAGE OF GROWTH OVER 3 YEARS= 26.5/5=5.3" per year average. The rate of growth based on the actual current length measured from front of hairline to longest length of 22.5/3=6.8" growth per year. A little above average. That means I can hope to gain the average 6" per year. In one year that will add up to (22.5=6=28.5; in two year=34.5" total length. AMAZINGLY, the biggest challenge for me was to accumulate length from the middle of the neck to the shoulder (4"), to grow it past shoulder length to reach 13 " past the shoulder at its longest point! In 3 years that equals 17", which was an average of 17/3=5.6"per year.Of course I have had significan growth since then as well. I am not finding it necessary to trim at this point since my hair is wrapped 90% of the time and my ends are healthy and thick. All in all I really cannot complain. The intense therapy saved my hair and in spite of everything it grew about average. 5.3-5.6 vs 6"!Note: I started taking a multi vitamin, MSM, Biotin, L cysteine, Borage Oil caps in Jan 2002 to replace other supplements that I was taking sporadically. I plan to add Amla Cplus. I have others to use up but I will save them for emergency when I run short of the other items to carry me over until my shipments come in.HAIR TYPE 3B CURLY FINE TEXTURED, COTTONY AND POROUSGENETIC POTENTIAL: HAIR THAT YOU CAN SIT ON.( I may be 90 years old when this happens, but I like the challenge. LOLHope this encourages anyone who has really been challenged and had to overcome breakage, setbacks etc. I have been SO ENCOURAGED when I read similar reports and updates across the Black Hair care webs. Happy Growing. Love to see more success posts to spur me on to age 90! Hope this will encourage those growing out their layers! Bonjour. Mahalialee

 

[Lucia]

I think tha'ts the infamous wall, for me boy short to shoulder was the hardest, now I'm trying to grow through BS, sometimes it seems like your hair has reached a point and slowed, but just review your routine and see what you can improve, if it's working fine just keep following that same regime. Consistency and patience should be your best freinds now.
hth

 

[EnVizion]

Hi Madison,

I missed you and the board. I hope you are behaving yourself!! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have been busy with school and work. Plus, my hair was doing fine, so I thought.

Growing natural hair is not easy. My only way of dealing with it since it is so thick is braids. I was considering a texturizer, but then I would have the same problems I did with a relaxer. I was wondering if it is the type of hair I am using for the braids also. It's the kinky synthetic hair since the straight hair does not look right mixed with mine after I was it. I may have to use human natural hair.

Talk to you soon. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[EnVizion]

Hi legs71,

Thanks for responding. What type of hair do you use, human kinky or toykalon/kanekalon kinky. It's somewhat hard for me to use the straight hair because when I wash my hair, my hair sticks out of the straight hair because of my coarse texture. While with the kinky extensions, you can't tell since it blends so well.

Well as far as growing, my armpits gets new growth much faster than my head because of the frequent stimulation since I wash my armpits twice a day when I shower. Now my hair on my head may be different because it doesn't get that much stimulation since I don't wash it every day.

I'll change my vitamin routine and develop more patience. Also, in New York, the weather seems to fluctuate these days.

Thanks. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[EnVizion]

Hi Tracy, /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Glad to see you too. I don't really see how much new growth until the braids start to push up or hang a bit. But when I take the whole braid out, it seems that alot comes out in the comb. But then again that should be expected for 2 months worth of dead hair. Yet, it seems like my hair is shorter. My braider always asks me did I cut my hair. Plus in the top of my head, the hair seems to be shorter.

I don't have layers. I'm 100% natural with 4 inches of new growth. I have not relaxed my hair since January 2002.

 

[EnVizion]

Natural hair can be challenging when you have to do your own. I do my daughter's hair and although her hair is definitely my texture, I can handle hers. But then again, it's easier when you are doing someone's hair as opposed to doing your own.

Thanks.

 

[EnVizion]

Hi Ennyaa,

I take 1,000 mg of biotin and 2,000 mg of msm plus my vitamins. I don't take too much biotin, because I have heard on the board that it can interrupt the menstrual cycle.

Thanks. I'll check out the HF37 replacement info.

/images/graemlins/ooo.gif