Grow It Long 2026 Challenge!

[snoop]

Since you posted this, I've been wondering about why your hair is only occasionally resistant to stretching (don't want to put words in your mouth, but I'm assuming "tight" could be used to describe the resistance you experienced? I experienced a tight, squeaky-clean, if-I-pull-my-hair-any-harder-than-this-it'll-snap sensation back when I used ACV to wash my locs. That stopped once I started using different products)... So I did some poking around and though I'm no hair chemist, I wonder if the lack of elasticity and frizz you're seeing could be because your wash/mask ingredients are too acidic, and may need to balanced out with a conditioning component with a higher pH?

Just food for thought. I don't have answers but this is where the rabbit hole led me. Thought I should share!

Thanks! I will contemplate this further and see. They don't feel so tight that they'd snap? My hair usually does the opposite if I over-stretch it and will stay straight (also a sign of lack of elasticity?) but that happens with individual hairs and not the entire bunch. It almost feels like when I used to use komaza protein strengthener, but without using that product. I haven't pinpointed what the exact cause is (as you said, perhaps pH), but sometimes when I use raw protein I get that feeling and at other times they will make my hair soft and fluffy.

The feeling also lasts under running water...not sure if you've ever encountered this as well?

 

[i4ani]

Thanks! I will contemplate this further and see. They don't feel so tight that they'd snap? My hair usually does the opposite if I over-stretch it and will stay straight (also a sign of lack of elasticity?) but that happens with individual hairs and not the entire bunch. It almost feels like when I used to use komaza protein strengthener, but without using that product. I haven't pinpointed what the exact cause is (as you said, perhaps pH), but sometimes when I use raw protein I get that feeling and at other times they will make my hair soft and fluffy.

The feeling also lasts under running water...not sure if you've ever encountered this as well?

I only ever used ACV on my locs which I washed/wet really infrequently, so nope, I can’t really weigh in on that point.

My hair also had a similar reaction to protein earlier last year when I tried a moringa and shea butter mask. It was so stiff that it felt like the bottom of a broomstick, so I got freaked out and have left protein treatments alone entirely since then.

At any rate though, keep me posted! I think that your DIY approach to haircare is really interesting and hope to learn more about it!

 

[snoop]

Last night I did a water rinse after pre-pooing with babassu oil. My hair is getting easier to detangle. I'm considering not pre-pooing with oil on my next wash because I don't want my hair to get too stiff from the oils, but I also figure that if I do a clay wash I should be ok.

One thing that I'm noticing is that my hair seems to be hanging more. The last time it felt like this was when I hit around APL. Gravity is taking over.

 

[snoop]

I got really lazy with the hydration component of my wash day yesterday and just did a water rinse.

 

[i4ani]

Anybody else have a Pinterest board/folder/whatever stuffed with hairstyles they're gonna try once they reach their hair goals?

My new favorite thing is looking at styles achieved with added hair/extensions or just done on longer natural hair, doing a lil math, then nodding to myself and thinking, "__ more months... just __ more months..."

(This) is the style that inspired this post. I'm a little scared of heat tools so I'd try this on blown out hair but still.

 

[Morgans]

Anybody else have a Pinterest board/folder/whatever stuffed with hairstyles they're gonna try once they reach their hair goals?

My new favorite thing is looking at styles achieved with added hair/extensions or just done on longer natural hair, doing a lil math, then nodding to myself and thinking, "__ more months... just __ more months..."

(This) is the style that inspired this post. I'm a little scared of heat tools so I'd try this on blown out hair but still.

Yes! It inspires me so much to keep up my routine

 

[Chicoro]

Last night I did a water rinse after pre-pooing with babassu oil. My hair is getting easier to detangle. I'm considering not pre-pooing with oil on my next wash because I don't want my hair to get too stiff from the oils, but I also figure that if I do a clay wash I should be ok.

One thing that I'm noticing is that my hair seems to be hanging more. The last time it felt like this was when I hit around APL. Gravity is taking over.

Length gain is taking over!

 

[Chicoro]

Anybody else have a Pinterest board/folder/whatever stuffed with hairstyles they're gonna try once they reach their hair goals?

My new favorite thing is looking at styles achieved with added hair/extensions or just done on longer natural hair, doing a lil math, then nodding to myself and thinking, "__ more months... just __ more months..."

(This) is the style that inspired this post. I'm a little scared of heat tools so I'd try this on blown out hair but still.

That style is not only super cute from the video, it is also very cleverly done.

 

[i4ani]

Something told me to go through my hairball after today’s wash and I’m glad I did—I sorted the hairs out based on whether or not I could see a bulb and a good 60% of my hairball was broken off hairs.

I wash so frequently that my hairballs are never bigger than my pinky fingernail, so all in all, I guess it’s not that bad. But still, that’s length that I’m breaking off for no good reason.

I think the culprits are my detangling tool and rushing to finish the 2nd half of my head. I’ve noticed that there’s barely any hair in the brush by the time I get to the middle of my head, which is the thickest part. Then once I start to get that ache in my arms, I get sloppy.

Maybe I need to hit arms more often at the gym, lol.

But in all seriousness, I need to make a change in that department. This week, I’m gonna try the unbrush plus (I hesitate to go back to finger only detangling bc I always wonder if I’m really getting all of the shed hairs out) and giving myself a rest break after I finish the first hump of hair.

 

[Chicoro]

@i4ani

Maybe you can start detangling at the middle of your head first.

 

[i4ani]

@i4ani

Maybe you can start detangling at the middle of your head first.

... I can't find the facepalm emoji.
Can I tell you. That literally would fix the entire problem with no added time and not once did it cross my mind.
Thank you, lol.

 

[snoop]

Here is what I've learned about my hair, over the past month:

• I've changed my routine to do the chronograma capillar 3 times per week instead of once per week. I've been wearing my hair in jumbo and medium twists so that I can detangle my hair every time that I wash/rinse my hair. What I've found is that once I've initially detangled my roots, I have less build-up at the roots in each subsequent wash.
• I've also noticed that my hair feels softer and smoother when I wash and detangle three days per week. I'm not sure if this is something that I can or will keep up indefinitely. since I'm not sure if it will end up being too much manipulation for my hair.
• Water only rinses are beneficial for my hair. I don't have to cleanse my hair 3 times per week to keep my schedule. I've also been oil rinsing my hair ("pre-pooing" with babassu oil and then water washing.)
• If I'm washing/rinsing my hair multiple times per week, I don't have to use a lot of product to keep my hair moisturized. I've just been adding a bit of moisturizer to my hair, but not sealing since I don't want a lot of build up. Or rather, I don't think that I'd be giving my hair enough time to absorb the oils if I use a lot.

 

[ScorpioLove]

Here is what I've learned about my hair, over the past month:

• I've changed my routine to do the chronograma capillar 3 times per week instead of once per week. I've been wearing my hair in jumbo and medium twists so that I can detangle my hair every time that I wash/rinse my hair. What I've found is that once I've initially detangled my roots, I have less build-up at the roots in each subsequent wash.
• I've also noticed that my hair feels softer and smoother when I wash and detangle three days per week. I'm not sure if this is something that I can or will keep up indefinitely. since I'm not sure if it will end up being too much manipulation for my hair.
• Water only rinses are beneficial for my hair. I don't have to cleanse my hair 3 times per week to keep my schedule. I've also been oil rinsing my hair ("pre-pooing" with babassu oil and then water washing.)
• If I'm washing/rinsing my hair multiple times per week, I don't have to use a lot of product to keep my hair moisturized. I've just been adding a bit of moisturizer to my hair, but not sealing since I don't want a lot of build up. Or rather, I don't think that I'd be giving my hair enough time to absorb the oils if I use a lot.

interested in how this works for you. i wish i could wash my hair this often if only just for my scalp. my other big issues are detangling and styling but i imagine detangling shouldn’t be bad at all at 3x a week. do notice ssks?