Apl\bsb 2019 Challenge

faithVA

Well-Known Member
Here’s to hoping. Totally forgot this was update month. Took two of the braids out in the back in order to do a length check. I think I might have hit APL? I'm not sure. I tried pulling the same section multiple times to get good pictures.
ETA: I'm calling it! I think I just made it by a smidgen.
View attachment 450475 View attachment 450477
Congratulations. I think you are right ... You made it.
 

Meritamen

On a happy hair journey
Its depressing looking at how long the distance is from APL to BSL.
We'll get there! :weird: I think its 4 or 5 inches from APL to BSL on me. I'm trying to not think about because it seems daunting, thats a whole 'nother year. *Sigh* Never had hair this long before but it still feels short. Hopefully BSL will feel different.
You definitely made it. Congrats!!!
Thank you! :)
 

Bette Davis Eyes

The "OG" Product Junkie
Okay. I’ll have one final update at the end of the year.
 

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neika j

Active Member
Hi y'all , :rose:

Here are some side by side photos from the time frame of April 21st to August 25th, So far my hair is growing well , i plan on kicking up the growth aids and taking my vitamins daily to do a final check at the end of the year.As of now my hair is blown out and flat iron (even tho its raining here and the humidity has gotten to it ) I'm gonna keep it out for about a week and a half then get braids put in for a while then after get another wig or sew in.

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faithVA

Well-Known Member
Hi y'all , :rose:

Here are some side by side photos from the time frame of April 21st to August 25th, So far my hair is growing well , i plan on kicking up the growth aids and taking my vitamins daily to do a final check at the end of the year.As of now my hair is blown out and flat iron (even tho its raining here and the humidity has gotten to it ) I'm gonna keep it out for about a week and a half then get braids put in for a while then after get another wig or sew in.

View attachment 450743
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View attachment 450745
That hair is looking fabulous. You have had great progress. APL is definitely yours before the end of the year.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I'm currently washing weekly and putting in either 2 strands or flat twists. I'm not sure what has changed but my twist are staying moisturized a bit longer. And I will take it.

I'm not sure what my growth rate is but I think it is a little bit less than 1/2 inch a month. So instead of 6 inches a year, I think I get between 4 and 5. So with dustings I'm probably looking at 3.5 to 4 inches a year of retention. So that changes my projectory to APL. I do have 1 or 2 months a year where I do get more than 1/2 but that is not my average. Knowing my growth rate is slower will help me with more realistic expectations when setting my length goals in the future.

I'm thinking of putting in 1 more set of extensions in September and then just go back to some type of twist during the cooler weather. My hair and scalp need more water when the humidity is low.

I will just keep doing search and destroys and hold off on my dusting until December when I do my length check.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I bought several products from the Hair Rules line. It has been sold out for months so I hopped on it when they became available. Today I washed, DCed and twisted with the entire line to see how it works out. My two strand twist have a little hang and some plumpness to them. But I am waiting to see how they dry and if they stay moisturized for the week. But I'm happy with them for the moment.

Right now I'm happy with the weekly wash and twist. If these twist stay moisturized I will keep with the 2 strands until I need a break.
 

Bette Davis Eyes

The "OG" Product Junkie
Still not a protective style in place.

Washed my hair on Friday and used my paddle brush to blow it out. Worked tonight and of course its poofy again. I was going to put twists in on stretched hair but thats gone in the wind.
 

apple_natural

Well-Known Member
i've been wearing my hair in a sort of halo twist with kanekalon. i just remoisturize and try no to freak out when its all matted before I retwist the next day or two
 

ckisland

Well-Known Member
I haven't checked in in a minute! I'll be posting more regularly here on out.

I've been steadily wearing my hair blowdried or flatironed. I messed up with my ends in the beginning, but I'll wait until the end of the year to trim since they don't seem to be messing up my progress too much. One issue I'm consistently having is with my scalp! I have a spot at my nap that flares up, flakes and itches like crazy. I get a good week and then it flares up again :cry3: . I may consider doing braid n'curls or flattwist outs to let me wash my hair more frequently and to lessen my heat usage.

Here's some update/comparison pics.

June: flatironed
20190601_140135-768x1024.jpg

Today (Sept): blowdried
20190927_195042-768x1024.jpg 20190927_194436-768x1024.jpg 20190927_192028-768x1024.jpg
 
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faithVA

Well-Known Member
I haven't checked in in a minute! I'll be posting more regularly here on out.

I've been steadily wearing my hair blowdried or flatironed. I messed up with my ends in the beginning, but I'll wait until the end of the year to trim since they don't seem to be messing up my progress too much. One issue I'm consistently having is with my scalp! I have a spot at my nap that flares up, flakes and itches like crazy. I get a good week and then it flares up again :cry3: . I may consider doing braid n'curls or flattwist outs to let me wash my hair more frequently and to lessen my heat usage.

Here's some update/comparison pics.

June: flatironed
View attachment 451755

Today (Sept): blowdried
View attachment 451751 View attachment 451753 View attachment 451757
Definitely see the progress. Keep doing what you are doing.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I haven't been posting either or doing much with my hair. I've been coloring my hair for the past 3 weeks and still haven't done it. I have a day off tomorrow so I plan to color tomorrow and then I will just put in some 2 strands.

I think I will flat iron my hair after Thanksgiving instead of waiting until Christmas. I need to dust my ends. I won't make APL by the end of year so that 1 month isn't going to do anything for me. I just want to get it out of the way and then just put my hair up in twist and keep it moving.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I FINALLY colored my hair after I saying it for weeks. It looks and feels so much better. I switched from store color to eSalon color and it has been worth it. My color turns out better and my hair is softer after. I've only used it twice but my ends don't seem to be suffering from it as a result. I will keep an eye on it for 6 months. And I need to try to be more consistent and color every 6 weeks instead of every 3 months.

After I colored, I spritzed my hair with leave-in and put in bantu knots. I let my hair dry a bit and then put in a quarter size amount of gel in each section. Then I added water and worked the gel in. I put in 2 strand twists which look much better than they did at the beginning of the year.

I'm going to try to stick with 2 strands for the rest of the year and not be so lazy. Right now I just need to be patient and focus on my hair getting healthier. I'm not sure I believe I will gain any real length any time soon.
 

AmethystLily

Cynic on the outside; Dreamer on the inside
I keep missing update months because I'm lazy/don't visit here as often as I used to, so I'll just have to make another late post. :laugh:
IMG_20190709_164219.jpg July 2019


IMG_20190930_022654.jpg September 2019


Hard to tell because I did dust/trim my ends between length checks (I have to be careful not to get scissor-happy on my own hair). That said, I do believe I've retained some more length.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I keep missing update months because I'm lazy/don't visit here as often as I used to, so I'll just have to make another late post. :laugh:
View attachment 451885 July 2019


View attachment 451883 September 2019


Hard to tell because I did dust/trim my ends between length checks (I have to be careful not to get scissor-happy on my own hair). That said, I do believe I've retained some more length.
Thanks for checking in. Keep on retaining. Maybe put the scissors away until after Christmas. I hope you get some good retention between now and then.
 
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