Grow It Long 2025 Challenge!

[GettingKinky]

Hugs to you @SmilingElephant

 

[newgrowth15]

@SmilingElephant, God will keep you in perfect peace when you keep your mind on Him. Focus on the positive, true and lovely things in your life. Grief takes time and you will eventually get through it. I'm sending love and hugs through the ether.

 

[yaya24]

Yesterday I decided to make some clove water to re-up my scalp/hair tonic that I really like.

What I use-
1 cup water with 2 tablespoons of dried whole cloves and let sit for 12 hrs.
*I don't boil this.

This morning I poured the clove water into smaller spray bottles and added some EOs (tea tree, frankensence, peppermint & rosemary oil).

 

[SmilingElephant]

Yesterday I decided to make some clove water to re-up my scalp/hair tonic that I really like.

What I use-
1 cup water with 2 tablespoons of dried whole cloves and let sit for 12 hrs.
*I don't boil this.

This morning I poured the clove water into smaller spray bottles and added some EOs (tea tree, frankensence, peppermint & rosemary oil).

It's funny you mentioned this because I just came in here to share a hair growth tonic that I've been using sporadically. You're supposed to use it after washing your hair, but I always forget



So today I misted my hair with water (no wash day) and I went throughout my scalp and sprayed this and applied my Wild Growth Oil all throughout my head (I'm now on my second bottle)

Now I smell like herbal peppermints


Edit: Why don't you boil the mixture?

 

[yaya24]

Edit: Why don't you boil the mixture?

I boiled them once (back in 2021) and every time after, I've just skipped boiling & let them sit and soak instead for 10-12hrs. The potency was the same.

IIRC with boiling, there were tiny clove particles that would clog up my spray nozzle so I tried it w/o boiling and liked that better.

 

[snoop]

It's funny you mentioned this because I just came in here to share a hair growth tonic that I've been using sporadically. You're supposed to use it after washing your hair, but I always forget

View attachment 501568

So today I misted my hair with water (no wash day) and I went throughout my scalp and sprayed this and applied my Wild Growth Oil all throughout my head (I'm now on my second bottle)

Now I smell like herbal peppermints


Edit: Why don't you boil the mixture?

Do you know the ingredients?

 

[SmilingElephant]

I boiled them once (back in 2021) and every time after, I've just skipped boiling & let them sit and soak instead for 10-12hrs. The potency was the same.

IIRC with boiling, there were tiny clove particles that would clog up my spray nozzle so I tried it w/o boiling and liked that better.

Interesting, I need to check that out! I'm just trying to get my thickness back.

 

[SmilingElephant]

Do you know the ingredients?

The writing is really tiny so I tried hard to get this picture

There are a lot of extracts!

 

[snoop]

Thanks!

I've listed the ingredients with common names in case anyone is interested in a DIY experiment

Water
Alcohol
Stinging nettle extract
Arnica flower extract
Caffine
Menthol
Comfrey leaf extract
Rosemary leaf extract
Ginger root extract
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract
Sage leaf extract
Pitanga fruit extract
Lactic acid
Jaborandi leaf extract
Soap bark extract
Sarsaparilla root extract
Ziziphus bark extract
Propylene glycol
Glycerin
Guaraná seed extract
Phenoxythenol and Caprylyl Glycol

 

[SmilingElephant]

Thanks!

I've listed the ingredients with common names in case anyone is interested in a DIY experiment

Water
Alcohol
Stinging nettle extract
Arnica flower extract
Caffine
Menthol
Comfrey leaf extract
Rosemary leaf extract
Ginger root extract
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract
Sage leaf extract
Pitanga fruit extract
Lactic acid
Jaborandi leaf extract
Soap bark extract
Sarsaparilla root extract
Ziziphus bark extract
Propylene glycol
Glycerin
Guaraná seed extract
Phenoxythenol and Caprylyl Glycol

Wow that's awesome!

It's a Brazilian product. I love Brazilian and Dominican products. In fact, when I finish my current stash, I plan to replace everything with products from Brazil and DR. Their products work so well on my hair.

 

[snoop]

Wow that's awesome!

It's a Brazilian product. I love Brazilian and Dominican products. In fact, when I finish my current stash, I plan to replace everything with products from Brazil and DR. Their products work so well on my hair.

I haven't tried Brazilian products, but I love Brazilian butters. Now that you mention it, I need to see if I can find some herbs that are native to their so that I can try them on my hair.

 

[SmilingElephant]

I haven't tried Brazilian products, but I love Brazilian butters. Now that you mention it, I need to see if I can find some herbs that are native to their so that I can try them on my hair.

This is my favorite line from Novex! It has a super clean scent and it's also SUPER moisturizing! The leave in is everything! I used it when I was first growing my hair out and I didn't need a gel on top of it because it has its own hold.

Excuse me for all the exclamation points

 

[yaya24]

For those that use heat, what is your go to heat protector?

I need something for when I blowdry.

Amika has a silicone free product that I am eyeing (The Wizard). I recently saw a natural sis review it on FB. *She layered it over another heat protector (Innersence Hair Love Prep Spray).. but I do not need or want multiple products for the same job.

 

[snoop]

@SmilingElephant I have never heard of any of these brands/products before. I'm wondering if people out here in Canada haven't jumped on Brazillian hair care and this is why it isn't as popular? Or maybe I'm just going to the wrong stores.

 

[SmilingElephant]

*ahem*

So today I co washed with L'Oreal Hyaluron Plump Conditioner.

Applied Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls as my leave in (I LOVE the smell, and it makes my hair so soft)

And applied my Super Wet gel (I find that Mexican gels work the BEST on my hair! Especially since they've seemed to change the formula in EcoStyler. Super Wet is a lifesaver!)

And then I slick my hair into a curly ponytail. This is the result (I'm holding the chair because I do NOT have Met the Stallion's knees! )

P.S. I think I'm gonna stop taking so many pics of my hair so it can shock me in a few months as to how long it's gotten

 

[SmilingElephant]

@SmilingElephant I have never heard of any of these brands/products before. I'm wondering if people out here in Canada haven't jumped on Brazillian hair care and this is why it isn't as popular? Or maybe I'm just going to the wrong stores.

I've been using them for YEARS even when I was relaxed (Dominican products) but I've been using Brazilian stuff for a few years too.

Maybe because I'm in Florida.

 

[snoop]

*ahem*

So today I co washed with L'Oreal Hyaluron Plump Conditioner.

Applied Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls as my leave in (I LOVE the smell, and it makes my hair so soft)

And applied my Super Wet gel (I find that Mexican gels work the BEST on my hair! Especially since they've seemed to change the formula in EcoStyler. Super Wet is a lifesaver!)

And then I slick my hair into a curly ponytail. This is the result (I'm holding the chair because I do NOT have Met the Stallion's knees! )

P.S. I think I'm gonna stop taking so many pics of my hair so it can shock me in a few months as to how long it's gotten


View attachment 501588

Madam, your hair is looking JUICY!!!

 

[SmilingElephant]

Have you tried Castor Oil on your scalp to regain thickness?

You just reminded me I have a 2-3 year old bottle of JBCO somewhere in my bathroom!

Maybe I'll take it and mix it with the Wild Growth Oil

 

[yaya24]

I "blow dry" almost daily now, but I use RevAir which is much healthier for the hair than a traditional blow dryer. The only reason why I'm straightening my hair almost daily is because I'm using RevAir. For daily "blow drying" I only use Aloe Vera Spray as heat protectant.

Some other heat protectants that I have when using a flat iron is Amika "Heat Blockade" and Creme of Nature "Anti-Humidity Gloss Shine Mist & Heat Protectant." A treatment that adds to heat protection is Amika "Smooth Over" treatment

I can't give a review on the "Heat Blockade" and the "Anti-Humidity Gloss..." yet, but I do like the Amika "Smooth Over" treatment for added heat protection and ease of detangling. Recommend using it once every 6 weeks or so as directed. Follow the directions or you can risk losing your curls. HTH!

Thank you!!!

 

[GettingKinky]

I was half asleep when I cowashed my hair this morning. I forgot to detangle before I rinsed out the conditioner so I had to detangle with my Cecred leave-in. It is not slippy enough to be good for detangling. :-(

When I washed my hair this morning I realized that along with detangling my hair at the wrong time, I also forgot to add my hair gel. That explains why my hair was dripping all morning on Thursday.

 

[SmilingElephant]

Glad I reminded you! People swear by it for thickness

I don't know why I didn't think of it...I used JBCO for a very long time until recent years.

I just mixed some in my WGO bottle. I'll keep adding more until most of the WGO is gone. I think the WGO is helping too...it has rosemary in it.

I'm on a no buy right now but after I use up a few of my oils, I'll try the rosemary oil from Amazon. and maybe mix it with JBCO.

My hair finna be SWANGIN this Summer!

 

[Dare~to~Dream]

For those that use heat, what is your go to heat protector? I need something for when I blowdry. Amika has a silicone free product that I am eyeing (The Wizard). I recently saw a natural sis review it on FB. *She layered it over another heat protector (Innersence Hair Love Prep Spray).. but I do not need or want multiple products for the same job.

View attachment 501586

I blow dry or sit under a hooded dryer weekly. I'm currently using a silicone serum (Giovanni Frizz Be Gone) but for a silicone free heat protectant, my go to is Curlsmith's Miracle Shield. It's pretty decent. This post reminds me that I need to re-up on it. Now, if I want even straighter results or know I'm going to flat iron my hair, I do use other heat protectant(s).

I've never tried the Amika product but it's nice to know there is another silicone free heat protectant spray on on the market.

 

[yaya24]

I blow dry or sit under a hooded dryer weekly. I'm currently using a silicone serum (Giovanni Frizz Be Gone) but for a silicone free heat protectant, my go to is Curlsmith's Miracle Shield. It's pretty decent. This post reminds me that I need to re-up on it. Now, if I want even straighter results or know I'm going to flat iron my hair, I do use other heat protectant(s).

I've never tried the Amika product but it's nice to know there is another silicone free heat protectant spray on on the market.

Thank you!!!!!

I'm going to look into both tomorrow. I haven't used a decent amount of heat since 2021.

My revair is great but I'm ready to turn it up a notch but I don't want any damage.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Took the braid extension hair off the ends of some of my braids. Some of it was really tangled so I decided against doing a knotless braid install this time.

Did a wash with a clarifying shampoo and followed the Pattern Heavy Conditioner. I think this is acting as a very mild protein treatment on my hair. I'll have to look at the ingredients again.

 

[SmilingElephant]

Today's Regimen:

*Shampooed with L'Oreal Hyaluron
*Conditioned/Deranged with L'Oreal Hyaluron
*Deep Conditioned and left it in-- L'Oreal Power Restore Mask
*Rapunzel Hair Growth Tonic
*Super Wet Gel
*Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum

Curly Ponytail

 

[SmilingElephant]

Just went back in with the L'Oreal hyaluron plump serum spray.

My hair was feeling dry...I don't think the Power Restore Mask is a good leave in for me

 

[SmilingElephant]

The thing I learned about having REALLY long hair is that once you get there, you gotta keep up with your regimen.

Whatever you did to get there, you have to keep it up. I learned that the hard way.

I was scraping Hip Length and I got lazy and stopped my washings and oils, etc... my hair suffered and started breaking off and falling out (partially from stress, DevaCurl, and trying to go vegan for 4 months...my body requires meat)

So, this time I am being careful and staying on a strict regimen and I plan to keep it up when I reach Hip Length again!

 

[SmilingElephant]

....

So I got the job!

I just have to do the background checks...but I'm there!

@25InchesStarting'25 good regimen! Are you showing the previous and recent regimens here?

Your is almost like mine, only I shampoo on Sundays and Wednesdays. Mondays and Fridays are my hair rest days, even though I CW today for my interview.

 

[snoop]

....

So I got the job!

I just have to do the background checks...but I'm there!

@25InchesStarting'25 good regimen! Are you showing the previous and recent regimens here?

Your is almost like mine, only I shampoo on Sundays and Wednesdays. Mondays and Fridays are my hair rest days, even though I CW today for my interview.

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[SmilingElephant]

Thank Y'all!