Stella B.
Well-Known Member
December '09 is a special month for me at LHCF. It marks my anniversary here at the board, and I'm celebrating the end of my 1 year stretch!
Over the past 12 months of no relaxing, I managed to grow 5 and 1/2 inches of strong, healthy new roots. So here's my picture story of my hair progress this year:
This pic was taken right after my last perm in January '09.
My roots were straight, and my hair length was at beginning SL. I didn't really have a length goal, I just wanted healthier hair and fuller ends.
In March I started contemplating not relaxing for the rest of the year and doing a stretch. In April, I decided no more relaxers.
So, I started doing lots of protective styles, updos, and scarfin' it to lay down my edges, and control the new growth.
I loved my new natural texture and I tried braid-outs and twist-outs for the first time.
I managed to go without direct heat this year, except for the one time I tried a BKT (loved it)! For that one time, I gave myself a heat pass and pressed on the lowest temp.
BKT'D
I won't be pressing again until well into next year.
Somewhere around July, I noticed I was gaining length, even with unstretched roots.
July 2009
This was the hardest part of the stretch, I had to keep the line of demarcation moisturized and protected to keep it from shedding and breaking off too badly.
This is what helped me during this long stretch:
SLS free shampoos
daily leave-ins/moisturizers
lots of protective styles
minimal flat ironing
adding nutritive oils like coconut and castor
A few more comparison pics for 2009
January December
January December Looks like I'm APL???!!!!
January December
So, 12 months later, I'm at the end of my stretch. Yipeee!!!!! Today I took a pic of my hair. It's not a great style pic, but it embodies what this stretch meant to me, and what it did for my hair. This is what my hair looked like this morning-in its raw glory with roots
uncombed,
unstretched
unpressed
uncurled
...and I feel beautiful. Thanks y'all!!
There is no way I could have survived this stretch without you ladies here at LHCF. You all are truly awesome! In a few weeks I will be getting my ends trimmed back, (need it badly) and moving on to another year of healthy hair care.
Over the past 12 months of no relaxing, I managed to grow 5 and 1/2 inches of strong, healthy new roots. So here's my picture story of my hair progress this year:
This pic was taken right after my last perm in January '09.
My roots were straight, and my hair length was at beginning SL. I didn't really have a length goal, I just wanted healthier hair and fuller ends.
In March I started contemplating not relaxing for the rest of the year and doing a stretch. In April, I decided no more relaxers.
So, I started doing lots of protective styles, updos, and scarfin' it to lay down my edges, and control the new growth.
I managed to go without direct heat this year, except for the one time I tried a BKT (loved it)! For that one time, I gave myself a heat pass and pressed on the lowest temp.
I won't be pressing again until well into next year.
Somewhere around July, I noticed I was gaining length, even with unstretched roots.
This was the hardest part of the stretch, I had to keep the line of demarcation moisturized and protected to keep it from shedding and breaking off too badly.
This is what helped me during this long stretch:
SLS free shampoos
daily leave-ins/moisturizers
lots of protective styles
minimal flat ironing
adding nutritive oils like coconut and castor
A few more comparison pics for 2009
January December
January December Looks like I'm APL???!!!!
January December
So, 12 months later, I'm at the end of my stretch. Yipeee!!!!! Today I took a pic of my hair. It's not a great style pic, but it embodies what this stretch meant to me, and what it did for my hair. This is what my hair looked like this morning-in its raw glory with roots
uncombed,
unstretched
unpressed
uncurled
...and I feel beautiful. Thanks y'all!!
There is no way I could have survived this stretch without you ladies here at LHCF. You all are truly awesome! In a few weeks I will be getting my ends trimmed back, (need it badly) and moving on to another year of healthy hair care.
Keep up the good work!
