Setbacks ARE Set-Ups for a Comeback!

[davisbr88]

My hair SHOULD be a lot longer by now, but I am so thankful because I made a full recovery from my setback in March, and am on my way to BSL (hopefully in April or so).

February 2011 - with crappy looking ends by the way...

... nonetheless, I reached APL by the next month.

Later on that month, I did a major cut after an influx of SSKs and splits due to the Tangle Teezer and some mini braids I installed...

I decided to start over in June with a new regimen, so I evened up my layers and got rid of ALL of the damage by cutting another 2" or so.
I began daily cowashing and bunning and did that up until about last month when I got too cold to leave with a wet head. I still bunned on a daily basis, but I began cowashing about every other day.

Here is my hair from yesterday:

My ends look MUCH better and I got back all of my length from my setback plus a smidgen more. I'm not at one of the longer lengths, but I'm still VERY grateful because I almost gave up hope along the way.

(Special shout-out to lilsparkle825 for putting me on to the cowashing/bunning regi - it truly saves my hair!)

 

[Prudent1]

davisbr88,
Great progress!! Now that you know what to do, keep doing it. You'll reach your goals in no time!!

 

[Kn0ttyByNatur3]

i am sooooo happy on ya growth!!!! I was so sad when you hit that setback earlier this year (blog follower ^_^)

But look at ya hair now! It looks great!!!!!!

 

[MissAlinaRose]

davisbr88 I think you did an awesome job and your hair looks nice and healthy!!

 

[Pompous Blue]

Your hard work paid off!

 

[ms.blue]

Davisbr88, wonderful comeback! My opinion is that SSKs are the freaking devil lol (I have been the same length since June b/c of ssks (constant trimming)

 

[halee_J]

Noice!

 

[SUPER SWEET]

That's wonderful progress!

 

[NappyNelle]

Wow! Your hair did a complete 180. Congratulations on all of your progress!

 

[ATLcutey20]

Wow! Your hair looks lovely! Great progress!

 

[jayjaycurlz]

Great recovery from your setback!

 

[davisbr88]

Thanks so much everyone! My hair is currently the longest it has ever been in my life, so I feel so accomplished. I can't wait until I get to BSL because I am definitely waltzing right into my old beautician's shop under the guise of saying hi after so long just to show it off, since she swore up and down that I just did not have "the kind of hair" that could be worn natural without being pressed or that would grow past SL.

 

[ajoke]

Well done. I am about to try co washing and bunning regimen because of you. Twists and twist out haven't done too much for me, and my fine hair is too scalpy when it's all twisted up. Can you please detail your cowashing and bunning regimen? Do you leave conditioner in?
I am particularly interested in copying you because you also have fine strands. TIA.

 

[reeko43]

This is so encouraging. You did.an excellent job getting your.hair.back to healthy!

 

[Nonie]

Wow davisbr88, I'm floored. What amazing progress! What you on? Miracle Gro? And all this time I thought you were smoking weed!

 

[Mische]

This is so great to see. Very nice!

 

[MsDes]

Wow @davisbr88, I'm floored. What amazing progress! What you on? Miracle Gro? And all this time I thought you were smoking weed!

LMAO.

Great process! You go girl!

 

[testimony777]

Your hair looks lovely; it's very healthy

 

[lacreolegurl]

Great progress!!

 

[davisbr88]

ajoke: Sure! It was very simple! I cowashed daily with TJ Nourish Spa (until about October or so), left it in, and then just put my hair into a wet bun with an elastic soaked in oil or an EZ comb (I thought I would notice less breakage using the EZ comb but it didn't seem to matter). I use Garnier Pure Clean Gel on my edges.
After that, TJ seemed to not work too well, so I tried the Tightly-Curly Method for a couple of weeks and didn't like that. So now I am back to cowashing, but since it's too cold to do it everyday for me, I use TIGI Moisture Maniac, leave a tiny bit in since there isn't much humidity right now, and apply a mix of Crisco, Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk, and grapeseed oil to seal. I then twist to dry overnight and unravel the twists in the morning for a bun. I cowash every other night.
I have restarted henna on a monthly basis as well.
Other than that, I also made sure to get a shower filter since I was using SO much water in my regi and didn't want the hard water build-up on my hair. I've worn my hair out maybe a handful of times since June, and usually only in the house, at that.

Nonie: LMAO! Um, no cannabis over here!

 

[davisbr88]

Oh, and something else: I commented in one thread saying that I didn't think my hair would feel long until MBL. Well that's a load of crock because I've been whipping it like no tomorrow. It was funny seeing the reactions of my students and coworkers who have only seen it in buns.

 

[JJamiah]

This thread makes me feel better @davisbr88. It came right on time!

I am so in the dumps about my hair right now....

 

[caltron]

Great comeback story OP and what beautiful thick hair you have! The takeaway I get from this is that you know how to take care of your hair, you can always come back from any setback and learn soemthing in the process.

This thread makes me feel better @davisbr88. It came right on time!

I am so in the dumps about my hair right now....

When you get down in the dumps just remember all of the women who would KILL for your hair. It's gorgeous! You have my dream length!

 

[davisbr88]

JJamiah: Whhy are you down about you hair, lovey?

 

[davisbr88]

caltron: It's a facade! Lol. It's definitely not thick. The layers help

 

[lilsparkle825]

Thanks so much everyone! My hair is currently the longest it has ever been in my life, so I feel so accomplished. I can't wait until I get to BSL because I am definitely waltzing right into my old beautician's shop under the guise of saying hi after so long just to show it off, since she swore up and down that I just did not have "the kind of hair" that could be worn natural without being pressed or that would grow past SL.

PARTY TIME!!!! Your hair is lookin' GOOD, girl!! Glad the regimen is workin' for you....even though I know it works, there is still something about someone taking advice from me that gives me the willies....LOL!

And I (not so) secretly can't wait till you go see that beautician. That is the BEST FEELING!! I normally wear a bun as you know, but have worn my hair in a WNG to work a few times. I saw the smirks and heard the "hmph, her hair ain't all that" from some coworkers who heard me say things in passing about taking care of my hair and how much it has grown. People who don't understand shrinkage will see SL curls and think, naturally, that it is about that length straightened. Well, I dropped the hammer on 'em when I got that blowout last month. It felt awesome. LOL

This thread makes me feel better @davisbr88. It came right on time!

I am so in the dumps about my hair right now....

Girl, I am coming after you with a stick. LOL....I am in awe at your siggy. Either time flies or you have some secret hair crack, cause I could have sworn we were in the BSL 2010 challenge together. You're making the rest of us look bad. LOL!!

 

[davisbr88]

lilsparkle825: yes, girl! Because some of my students came across my YT channel and were like "we saw you on YT doing hair stuff!" I told them I was taking care of my own hair and they didn't look too impressed. When I walked in on Wednesday, most of them were floored! It's definitely a nice feeling. I still owe so much to you!

 

[JJamiah]

Girl, I am coming after you with a stick. LOL....I am in awe at your siggy. Either time flies or you have some secret hair crack, cause I could have sworn we were in the BSL 2010 challenge together. You're making the rest of us look bad. LOL!!

lilsparkle825 I had a horrible detangling session that thinned my hair out something aweful since I took that pic no even 2 weeks ago
I don't even notice it is growing until I take a pic. Right now for 2012 it is thickening time. So Davis thread came on time for me, because I was like what in the world am I going to do with 5 strands of hair. LOL

 

[Sunshine_One]

AWESOME progress!!!

 

[beautyaddict1913]

I am so proud of you! Thanks for the inspiration! I need to give daily co-washing and bunning another try because I feel like my growth isn't that impressive. It appears that my hair grew the most from January to June when I wore weave a few times but from June to now I haven't seen much progress. I need to perhaps do more protective styling - weaves and buns! I also haven't straightened my hair in over a year. OP did u notice your progress prior to straightening? I know we all pull on our tendrils from time to time for length checks!