+ Hardcore 2019 Length Retention Challenge +

[Diamondj_45]

I would like to join also. I’m not sure what my length would be classified as but I would love to get to waist length.

So far since I’ve been on winter break I’ve been taking better care of my hair.
Current regimen:
Henna gloss weekly
Oil scalp with curly proverbs growth oil every other day
Wash and condition every week - I have a lot of products so I’m using what I have in the house.

I’m new here and it’s acting weird with uploading my photo.

 

[GGsKin]

I’m new here and it’s acting weird with uploading my photo.

@Diamondj_45 posting pics can be awkward but resizing them (editing them or using an app) should do the trick.

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

I'd like to join this challenge. I'm trying to bypass this awkward length stage as quickly as possible. I plan to do as many protective styles as I can in 2019 (braids mostly) while avoiding the "neglective styles."

My 2019 Regimen
Protective style for 4-6 weeks at a time.
Apply Amla-Fenugreek oil to my scalp, biweekly.
ACV or Tea Rinse my scalp every 1-2 weeks.
Lightly oil hair in braids after rinse every 1-2 weeks.
Cowash, as needed.
Between protective styles:
-Shampoo
-Deep Condition: one of the DCs below with Amla, coconut milk, and/or fenugreek powder.
-Apply Leave-ins: Water, SCurl then Shea Butter.

Products I'll be using
Amla-Brahmi-Fenugreek Oil (homemade)
Ayurvedic Shampoo Bar
GVP Tea Tree Shampoo
AS I AM Coconut Cowash
Eden Bodyworks Cowash
Whipped Shea butter (homemade with Amla-Brahmi-Fenugreek oil and coconut oil in it)
Eden Body Works DC
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey DC
Texture ID DC
No drip S Curl
Edge Control (for my braids)
Water

Current Length

 

[ckisland]

Here's my starting pic! I decided to hold off on protective styling to see if I can keep growing my hair out with wash n'gos. I'm giving myself to the end of the month to see.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I'm checking in.

My regimen will basically be the same as it's been for a while but I'm upping my protective style and really moisturizing my ends. I'm thinking my sealing agent of choice is going to be shea butter.

Regimen
Mini braids or cornrows every 4-6 weeks. I find my hair retains best when it's stretched and braids allow me to not have to use heat or non-wig extensions.
Cowash and LOC 4-5x per week
Shampoo and moisturizing DC at least once per week but aim for 2x per week.

Products - whatever is in my stash. I'm trying to geta hold on my spending and excessive product hoard. As long as a product doesn't cause a setback, I'll use it until it's gone then slowly start replacing it with staple products.

 

[cleopatrafro]

Welcome!
I'm with you with the products - my stash has a few things that I didn't plan on using this year, but my budget says otherwise lol. Also, I'm posting my monthly updates in my original post, check it out!

I'm checking in.

 

[cleopatrafro]

Here's my starting pic! I decided to hold off on protective styling to see if I can keep growing my hair out with wash n'gos. I'm giving myself to the end of the month to see.
View attachment 440895

Hey girl!

Thanks for joining! Good luck with your wash n go journey! I wish I could do them lol. I'm looking forward to your February pics!

 

[cleopatrafro]

I'd like to join this challenge. I'm trying to bypass this awkward length stage as quickly as possible. I plan to do as many protective styles as I can in 2019 (braids mostly) while avoiding the "neglective styles."

Hey girl!

Those "neglective styles" are progress killers! I had so many setbacks when I was in that awkward stage! Good luck to you on your journey. Your product list and regimen looks really healthy! Thank you for joining me! I'm posting all my updates for the year in my original post.

 

[B_Phlyy]

My hair is in two French braids going to the back. I've been adding a bit of shea butter to the ends and tucking them under for protection.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Hey all!!! I've been doing great with my retention. I've been steadily gaining half an inch a month since my big cut in apr 2018.

I wash when I want (usually between 1-2 wks)
I wash with a sulfate shampoo
then dc with heat (moisture mostly but protein when needed)
Rinse out dc with cool water apply leave in and seal with my shea mix
Usually I'm in twist but ocassionally do a wash and go which I wear until messy and then put in twists til wash day
My last trim was in apr 2018 and I'm going to go until prob the end of 2019 b4 I trim again (unless needed)

I'll be documenting growth with my wash and goes instead of stretched hair because that's what I'm most concerned with growing out

Here are my starting pics taken 1/3/19

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Just wanted to add. This is how I'll be wearing my hair the majority of the time.

 

[Barbie83]

My 2019 Regimen

FOCUS: Keeping it Simple & Consistent.

Weekly Regimen

1. Pre-poo with oil

2. Shampoo

3. Deep Condition w/heat

4. a. LOC method: Leave-in, oil, cream
or

b. LCO method: Leave-in, cream, oil

5. Separate hair into 4 chunky twists to stretch and air dry

6. Wear half-wigs 90% of the time; only leaving out the front section

7. ACV rinse as needed to clarify

ETA:

Products I'll be using

Pre-Poo: whatever oil on hand. Coconut or olive

Shampoo: ORS Creamy Olive Oil Shampoo, Elasta QP Mango Butter Moisture Shampoo

Deep Conditioner: ORS Replenishing Pak

Leave-in: Aphogee Keratin & Green Tea
Creme of Nature Argan Oil Strength & Shine Leave-in Conditioner
Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

Cream: Elasta QP Mango Butter Moisturizing Cream
Just 4 Me Moisture-Rich Styling Smoothie

Oil: coconut oil


GOAL: 6 inches of retention (slowly chopping off heat-damaged ends) no direct heat in 2019

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

I put my hair in box braids for January. And I'll keep them in until the first or second week of February.

 

[Aggie]

Just heavy moisturized and sealed my ends tonight with Luster's SCurl Moisturizer, Dominican Magic Leave-in and BM Grease.

 

[ckisland]

So I'm not completely sure how my hair's been doing . I've been able to stretch my wash n'gos to 5 days, but I'm pretty sure that that's too long. I've had to cut 1-2 ssks every time I've washed, but my hair hasn't been harder to detangle. Once I get back from this short vacay, I'll experiment with washing and detangling my hair every 3 days and see if I can get the progress I want.

 

[sunflora]

Hair has been doing pretty good, though I'm finally to the point where I'm in autopilot. Those hot oil treatments - no I will not stop raving about that - have saved my hair for sure. I do need to make sure to clarify though maybe once a month, but my scalp isn't dry and flaky anymore, and my hairs feel strong to the touch consistently. Far less breakage, and last s&d I did I found knots but no splits! Very happy with this technique.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Hair has been doing pretty good, though I'm finally to the point where I'm in autopilot. Those hot oil treatments - no I will not stop raving about that - have saved my hair for sure. I do need to make sure to clarify though maybe once a month, but my scalp isn't dry and flaky anymore, and my hairs feel strong to the touch consistently. Far less breakage, and last s&d I did I found knots but no splits! Very happy with this technique.

Isn't it great when your routine is in autopilot status? That's where I'm at too and I love it. My hair is really flourishing. Been taking my vites daily since sept. but maybe 2 months ago changed to a prenatal liquid multi (LOVE THIS STUFF). Hair is still averaging .5 in a month. Continuing to protective style the majority of the time (I'm just super lazy and my protective style looks great on me and allows me to not be bothered). I really think I've become one of those naturals that prefers protective styling over out styles (never thought that would happen).

When I do wear out styles my perfect stylers for any and all styles is the edens body works curl defining cream. It makes my hair super moisturized but every style comes out perfect. I use it for wash and goes, twist and braidouts. I can only stand leaving my hair out for tops 3 days so it's perfect. I just put my hair back in twists when the style gets old. I love that if I want to wear it out again I can turn it into a twist out after the other out styles get old. Just retwist for a few days and take out and seperate. Elongated curls...
here's a pic of a wash and go turned to twist out using edens body works.*sorry I was turnt up in the face pic*

 

[Aggie]

Luster's SCurl Moisturizer, B&B More MOisture Hair Cream, Shea Butter to seal tonight.

 

[Lita]

My hair is coming along ok..It’s beginning to get fuller in certain areas..I still have my hair in braids & putting a roller on the ends at night..

Happy Hair Growing!

 

[Aggie]

Used my herbal tea rinse this morning on my scalp, tonight I used on my hair - Luster's SCurl Moisturizer, B&B More Moisture Hair Cream, Shea Butter and Blue magic Grease to seal tonight.

 

[B_Phlyy]

Put in a set of mini braids over the weekend. Going to keep these up until maybe the end of February. I wear my wig to work to keep my ends protected.

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

washed my hair 9 days after my last wash and lost literally like no hair. All of my hair lost from the whole wash process was as big as a nickle. I remember when I would lose a ton of hair with every wash now nada!!!!

Shampooed with a sulfate shampoo, dc'd with my moisturizing dc (gonna do a protein rx next wk). Rinsed with cool water applied leave in and sealed with shea mix. Dried in 8 braids and then did med sized twists for the wk. Hair came out soft and ultra shiny. No breakage at all throughout process!!!!

Also been religiously consistent with my vites and upped my water intake, getting lots of veggies lean meat and good fat in as well + staying active.

 

[Aggie]

This morning I poured my new batch of herbal tea rinse on my hair and scalp.

This afternoon, I Heavy moisturized and sealed with SCurl Curl Moisturizer, B&B More Moisture, shea butter and BM Grease.

 

[blazingbeauty]

Current Protective Style:
Old Crown Bun (Twisted Ends)

Wash Day on Friday/Saturday:
Detangle: (Fingers + Magic Star Rake)
Garnier Honey Whole Blends + Canola Oil
Shampoo & DC w/Heat:
SM Raw Shea Butter Shampoo
SM Manuka Honey DC (20 min)
Moisturize, Seal, & Stretch (Braid-Twists):
SM Raw Shea Butter Conditioner (L)
Cantu Coconut Curl Cream (C)
MyBelovedCrown Shea Butter (B)
Next Day - Protective Style:
Goddess Flat Twist Bun w/Eco Styler Krystal Gel (duration: 2 weeks; no added hair)

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

I'm incorperating a few new things to my reggie this month.

Once a wk after shampooing but b4 dcing i wanna do a tea rinse.

I'll use green tea on my scalp and @ElevatedEnergy 's herbal tea mix on the scalp and length after letting the green tea absorb for around 10 min with a shower cap. Let that sit with shower cap for another 5-10 min then rinse out and proceed to dcing etc.

Once a month i wanna use elevated energy's henna mix to make a powerhouse prepoo of the herbal mix made with aloe vera gel instead of water, honey, banana, coconut milk powder, oils and 1 tbsp of melted shea butter. On that day I won't do the tea rinse but will massage the henna mix on my scalp leave in for 1 hr and proceed to wash dc etc.

 

[sunflora]

I think I'll reach my goal of APL a lot sooner than I thought. Maybe end of March? I have a lock of lead hairs in the middle just ready for it. Either way, retaining well, now it's time to stop straightening my hair!!! Then I'll consider shooting for between the shoulder blades by the end of the year.

 

[blazingbeauty]

(Copied from other thread)
Been spritzing my protective style during the week with a SM Raw Shea Co/water mix so:

Moisturizing with Cantu Curl Cream
Sealing with Canola Oil

 

[blazingbeauty]

Current Protective Style:
2 week old Flat Twist Bun
Wash Day Today - Day off (2/7/19):
Detangle: (Fingers + Magic Star Rake)
Garnier Honey Whole Blends
Shampoo & DC w/Heat:
SM Raw Shea Butter Shampoo
L’Oréal Nature’s Therapy DC (30 min)
Moisturize, Seal, & Stretch (Braid-Twists):
SM Raw Shea Butter Conditioner (L)
Cantu Coconut Curl Cream (C)
MyBelovedCrown Shea Butter (B)
Next Day - Protective Style:
Flat Twist Bun w/Eco Styler Krystal Gel (duration: 2 weeks; no added hair)

 

[WaistLengthDreams]

As planned, I removed my box braids after 5 weeks. I detangled, shampooed with Tea Tree Shampoo, deep conditioned with Texture ID, then used Shea Butter and Eden Curl defining cream to style my hair. I'll let my hair stay out for about 2 weeks and then I'll install the box braids again.

 

[blazingbeauty]

Washed and styled my hair two days ago - my hair and scalp needed to be refreshed.

Old Style: Flat Twist Bun (1 week)
Current Style: Medium/Small Twists in a Low Bun

Observations :
1. My twists have gotten longer since my trim at the end of November (and a few strands, borrowing from Chicoro, have retained in the areas that broke).
2. I figured out how to make my less-than-stellar DCs work for me. I need to add oil and microwave them before applying (honey helps too). I don’t know what it is about microwaving the DC, but it made a lackluster DC plump & clump my coils. My Hot Head Cap then provides furthersustained heat. I hope this will work for other DCs that end up “not working”.