2021 Waist length and longer growth challenge

[CheChe1881]

@nyeredzi
You know what.. it’s actually supposed to be one inch and I measured and it’s about 1.25 - 1.5 oops LOL Nonethless I’m just going to use the shirt to track progress from this point forward as a visual, but I won’t be counting inches.

 

[JudithO]

My starting pic is attached. It's a blow out with the Revair.

I'm natural, 4c. Regimen is wash with shampoo and condition every 1-2 weeks (trying for 2 weeks, but can't always make it). I'm currently trying out Indigenous Strandz's regimen of wearing hair in twists all the time and just redoing a few twists at a time. I've been trying that for a couple of months and it's working out well. It makes my hair more manageable because I don't have to do it all at once, and because of that I also have the time/patience to finger detangle.

My favorite products are:

• Shampoo: Any shampoo with some help for my scalp. I've been using Head and Shoulders Royal Oils, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle (to which I added about 10 more drops of tea tree oil), and Nizoral which is another dandruff shampoo. I don't have visible dandruff, but my scalp gets irritated and itch
• Rinse out conditioner: Trader Joe's Nourish Spa conditioner
• Leave in: Qhemet Biologics Cocoa Tree detangling ghee (for leave-in)
• Oils: olive, castor, coconut. I use coconut when my hair is starting to show signs of breakage, or just for a light penetrating oil that is very slippery. I use olive and castor to seal and for longer term prevention of tangling
• Protein: Aphogee 2 minute or It's a 10 leave in with keratin

Currently waist length (WL is 18" root to tip on me), current measurements are 19" if measuring from root to tip, which is the only way I measure. There's some variation in the length of my hair, but it's all within 1 inch in that root to tip measurement. I'll try to always measure at the same spot during check ins, which is right above my left ear. My goal is hip length, which is about 20". That's only 1", but I'll probably want to get to 21" before claiming it. Classic is a bit over 23" for me and I doubt I'll make that this year, or maybe ever, but who knows?

Have you tried oiling your scalp regularly with sulfur 8? I got that tip from Efficiently Natural to control dandruff. I use the lite version so it doesn’t have the smell ... I usually can’t stay past 2 weeks for my wash but currently pushing on 4 weeks redoing cornrows every week cos I’m trying to see how long it’ll control my dandruff for. Will throw in the towel at the end of Jan if I’m still dandruff free.

I’d love to go 1 month between washes but 2 weeks is usually my norm.

 

[nyeredzi]

Have you tried oiling your scalp regularly with sulfur 8? I got that tip from Efficiently Natural to control dandruff. I use the lite version so it doesn’t have the smell ... I usually can’t stay past 2 weeks for my wash but currently pushing on 4 weeks redoing cornrows every week cos I’m trying to see how long it’ll control my dandruff for. Will throw in the towel at the end of Jan if I’m still dandruff free.

I’d love to go 1 month between washes but 2 weeks is usually my norm.

I also saw her using it, and had heard about it from someone else, so in fact I did buy a jar a month or two ago! Also got the lite version so the smell wouldn't be as strong. I've been trying it, but I'm not sure it works. I can't really tell, so I'm still trying. I've tried lots of things, the most effective being dandruff shampoos. I have been able to stretch my wash days from 1 week to 10-14 days, though 14 days is really pushing it. I'm working with an idea that if the dandruff shampoos get it mostly under control, simpler and less powerful methods like oiling with tea tree or applying sulfur 8 can go the rest of the way. But I'm not totally convinced yet it's actually working, because I still get itchies, and there's only so much Sulfur 8 I can apply to the same spot without getting gross buildup. I honestly don't get how people can regularly apply product that can't evaporate to their scalps. Doesn't it have to be the case that it builds up, especially something as thick as Sulfur 8? Where would it go, if you just keep applying it and not washing it away? I'm not trying to be a jerk, I honestly don't get how it can work. How long have you been using it, and when you say "regularly", how often is that? For the 4oz jar, how long do you think a jar would last you (trying to get an idea of how much you're putting on)?

By the way, I love Efficiently Natural. She and Indigenous Strandz are my current favorites because they have hair that is a lot like mine but way more of it and manage it with relative ease and grace. I want to be like them.

 

[JudithO]

I also saw her using it, and had heard about it from someone else, so in fact I did buy a jar a month or two ago! Also got the lite version so the smell wouldn't be as strong. I've been trying it, but I'm not sure it works. I can't really tell, so I'm still trying. I've tried lots of things, the most effective being dandruff shampoos. I have been able to stretch my wash days from 1 week to 10-14 days, though 14 days is really pushing it. I'm working with an idea that if the dandruff shampoos get it mostly under control, simpler and less powerful methods like oiling with tea tree or applying sulfur 8 can go the rest of the way. But I'm not totally convinced yet it's actually working, because I still get itchies, and there's only so much Sulfur 8 I can apply to the same spot without getting gross buildup. I honestly don't get how people can regularly apply product that can't evaporate to their scalps. Doesn't it have to be the case that it builds up, especially something as thick as Sulfur 8? Where would it go, if you just keep applying it and not washing it away? I'm not trying to be a jerk, I honestly don't get how it can work. How long have you been using it, and when you say "regularly", how often is that? For the 4oz jar, how long do you think a jar would last you (trying to get an idea of how much you're putting on)?

By the way, I love Efficiently Natural. She and Indigenous Strandz are my current favorites because they have hair that is a lot like mine but way more of it and manage it with relative ease and grace. I want to be like them.

I use quite little I think - I bought the 2 oz jar and started using it 2 weeks after my original wash when flakes started to appear ... I’ve been using it for 2 weeks now, and before this my whole body would be covered in flakes by now. I use about the amount on my finger ... maybe a tiny bit more on each line of my straight back cornrows. I’ve used it about 6 times since I got it so every 2-3 days. Usually I don’t oil my scalp consistently so maybe it’s just as a result of oiling my scalp not really sulfur 8 ... perhaps I should oil it more.

Efficiently natural’s hair scares me ... it’s just so much!! My hair is not nearly that full, probably around BSL/MBL now so I’m pushing to get close to WL by Dec.... we’ll see.

 

[nyeredzi]

I use quite little I think - I bought the 2 oz jar and started using it 2 weeks after my original wash when flakes started to appear ... I’ve been using it for 2 weeks now, and before this my whole body would be covered in flakes by now. I use about the amount on my finger ... maybe a tiny bit more on each line of my straight back cornrows. I’ve used it about 6 times since I got it so every 2-3 days. Usually I don’t oil my scalp consistently so maybe it’s just as a result of oiling my scalp not really sulfur 8 ... perhaps I should oil it more.

Efficiently natural’s hair scares me ... it’s just so much!! My hair is not nearly that full, probably around BSL/MBL now so I’m pushing to get close to WL by Dec.... we’ll see.

Okay, that makes sense. I read one of the reviews on Amazon on the 2 oz saying it was so small after you've greased your scalp and hair (hair??) twice you will have used it all. I was like, what? How much are you putting on? I have the 4 oz and I've done like 8 partial applications and have barely made a dent. I'm also thinking about trying an anti-itch oil, as I think application may be easier than the thick grease type consistency of Sulfur8

 

[nyeredzi]

So I parted as best as I could and put my hair in twists. I started trying to convert those twists to twists with extensions, like senegalese twists, but had too hard of a time. So I stopped and got a few kinds of fake hair and practiced on a mannequin I bought from Amazon. In the meantime I just wore my twists


So I got my mannequin and I'm practicing all sorts of things. With passion twist hair, with the regular breaking hair, with the pre-stretched hair, praciticing both braids and senegalese twists or kinky twists or whatever.



Last night I decided I had gotten good enough to try again on my own head. I never got the braids or twists tight, but I decided that was okay. Twists on my own hair aren't cinced up to the scalp, so why do the extensions have to be? I used purple passion twist hair I had bought a while ago. Each root was kind of skinny, so I used 3 together for each twist. The first quarter of my head or so weren't the greatest, but I figured out at some point how to do it to my satisfaction and the rest was easy and fast because the hair was already sectioned. I had also already oiled earlier in the day. And now I have these purple twists in my hair!

 

[toaster]

Beautiful @nyeredzi !!!

 

[MizzBFly]

It wasnt always simple. I started out DC-ing every week under a hooded dryer, protein treating once a year, hot oil treating, prepooing with coconut oil; the whole 9. You stop when you notice your hairs improvement. Little by little you can take a step away. After realizing improvement, DC-ing was cut to every two weeks to then once a month to now once every 3 months. No longer needing to hot oil treat or prepoo because it now holds moisture well. No more protein treatments because my hair doesnt break often and I’ve got pretty good elasticity. Im now in maintenance mode vs working on improvement. Do not take away any steps unless you can see and feel your hairs improvement. It took about a year and a half of super long wash days and about 3 years of hair jail to get even close to Hip Length. Hope this helps.

I agree with everything said. I did everything in the beginning as well. Cut out hot oil because it did nothing. Purchased a hair steamer because the hooded dryer didn’t give me the results the girls raved about...neither did the hair steamer. Realized after 4 yrs Im high porosity so long DC sessions do nothing for me, clay and ACV makes my hair feel awesome and washing weekly gave me more breakage than not. My hair naturally looses moisturize more frequently so tailoring my routine around what gave me results opposed to what was popular saved me so much time. I DC eight times in 2020 if that! I wash my hair every 2-4 months. Hey everything is not for everyone but getting in tune makes the world of difference.

 

[Nunavelli]

Can I join or is it too late?

I'm super new here! I was on the Natural Reddit board and I stumbled across this forum. I've been lurking ever since and finally subscribed to be apart of the community.

I'm currently wearing my hair in buns, due to the pandemic, and only taking it down once to twice a week. I feel like I have been hovering around the same length for a couple years and I REFUSEDTE (spelling errors and all) to believe that's my terminal length.

1. your current length I am currently whip length straightened/stretched. I was at hip but went to a salon to get a trim and it ended up being about 3-4 inches. Not totally mad at it because my hair feels better.
2. your goal length *please don't judge me* but my goal length is tailbone length curly, unsctretched, 100% dry including shrinkage and humidity IJN... mmkay... but I'll settle for waist or hip length unstretched.
3. your regimen (relaxed or natural, methods, favorite products, detangling methods, preferred styles, things like that) I am introducing a couple things BACK into my routine. I figured I would baby my hair to hopefully get me over this hump of stagnant growth. I'm natural. I usually wear wash and goes but because of being in the house 80% of the time, I'm wet bunning. I shampoo/condition/deep condition every week with the Aussie Moist Avocado line. I shampoo, then I conditioner with their 3 minute deep conditioner for a couple minutes. After about 3-5 minutes, I detangle in the shower under the shower head and then I deep condition. I use the with The Mane Choice's A-Maz-zon deep conditioner. I use one of those $25 thermal caps from Amazon for about 25 minutes and then rinse to apply leave-in. Every other week I use Aphogee 2 minute conditioner before my DC and every six months, I am going to switch off to the 2 step. I just started this routine in Dec. so it may change. I use Taliah Waajid's "The Great Detangler" as a leave in, Hairobics "Hair Booster" which is a lightweight grease and then seal with a little coconut oil.

This is still new. I used to do A LOT with my routine got to whip/hip length and started to kind of coast and omit steps and not really take care of my hair but my hair has been stagnant. I'm trying this babying thing and hoping it works. hehe.

Happy Hair Growing, Queens!

 

[JudithO]

Okay, that makes sense. I read one of the reviews on Amazon on the 2 oz saying it was so small after you've greased your scalp and hair (hair??) twice you will have used it all. I was like, what? How much are you putting on? I have the 4 oz and I've done like 8 partial applications and have barely made a dent. I'm also thinking about trying an anti-itch oil, as I think application may be easier than the thick grease type consistency of Sulfur8

Okay, that makes sense. I read one of the reviews on Amazon on the 2 oz saying it was so small after you've greased your scalp and hair (hair??) twice you will have used it all. I was like, what? How much are you putting on? I have the 4 oz and I've done like 8 partial applications and have barely made a dent. I'm also thinking about trying an anti-itch oil, as I think application may be easier than the thick grease type consistency of Sulfur8

Small update - I refreshed my cornrows last night. From this picture, I can definitely see the flakes in my hair but I’m going into week 6 since my last wash ... Prior to this, the longest I’ve pushed my wash day is 3 weeks and the flakes look unbearable then. I think this sulfur 8 thing worked. I’m not sure if it’s the anti microbial properties in sulfur or just me greasing my hair.

Next experiment, after I wash my hair next weekend, I’ll try to go a whole month without washing .... doing bi-weekly detangling and re-moisturizing .... and will oil my scalp maybe 2x a week. It’ll be great to go a month between washes. I usually wear two strand twists but I don’t exactly hate how these cornrows look. I might cornrow it again for next month.

 

[CheChe1881]

Hey guys.

so I finally tried a homemade detangler and it has changed my life. I’ve been suffering with dry, matted hair for so long. Nothing I tried would hydrate my hair. I looked up marshmallow root and slippery elm and heard they are great detanglers. So I got the roots (marshmallow and slippery elm) and boiled them with water. Strained, then added a teaspoon of almond oil.

My hair has not felt this moisturized in sooooo long. I have tried soooo many products and nothing has come close to this for me. This will now be my go to detangler and moisturizer. I’m really embarrassed to show the before

BEFORE (tangled, matted, dry... just 4 days after a wash day):

AFTER (3 days after the mix):

 

[nyeredzi]

Welcome @Nunavelli ! Do you have any pics? Do you have a lot of shrinkage? Where does your hair hang to now, unstretched? When you say unstretched, do you mean completely loose hair, fully shrunken?

@CheChe1881 I'm glad you found something that worked. What do you mean you never used a detangler before? Do you mean you never used a product specifically marketed as a "detangler", or that you never used any product to make your hair slippery while you detangled it? Have you ever tried or heard of Kinky Curly Knot Today?

 

[Nunavelli]

Welcome @Nunavelli ! Do you have any pics? Do you have a lot of shrinkage? Where does your hair hang to now, unstretched? When you say unstretched, do you mean completely loose hair, fully shrunken?

@CheChe1881 I'm glad you found something that worked. What do you mean you never used a detangler before? Do you mean you never used a product specifically marketed as a "detangler", or that you never used any product to make your hair slippery while you detangled it? Have you ever tried or heard of Kinky Curly Knot Today?

Thank you @nyeredzi! The most recent pic I have is a couple months ago (this pic is how i try to normally wear my wash and goes; clumped together by using my den man brush and not separating the curls. Otherwise my 3c hair gets single strand knots ‍). My hair is a little longer now.

Yes, I mean loose, fully dried and shrunken when I say unstretched. I have about 40 percent shrinkage as I'm 3c-ish. I very seldomly straighten my hair, so I figured my goal is waist length unstretched even though I (may) not make it this year For me, I believe, that's a good 8-43 (hehe) inches.

Edit: because I finally found the emojis

 

[CheChe1881]

Welcome @Nunavelli ! Do you have any pics? Do you have a lot of shrinkage? Where does your hair hang to now, unstretched? When you say unstretched, do you mean completely loose hair, fully shrunken?

@CheChe1881 I'm glad you found something that worked. What do you mean you never used a detangler before? Do you mean you never used a product specifically marketed as a "detangler", or that you never used any product to make your hair slippery while you detangled it? Have you ever tried or heard of Kinky Curly Knot Today?

Thank you. No, I meant I’ve never used a detangler that actually worked that detangled well And offered actual moisture for my hair. Yes, but KKNT doesn’t do much for my hair.

 

[MizzBFly]

Hey guys.

so I finally tried a detangler and it has changed my life. I’ve been suffering with dry, matted hair for so long. Nothing I tried would hydrate my hair. I looked up marshmallow root and slippery elm and heard they are great detanglers. So I got the roots (marshmallow and slippery elm) and boiled them with water. Strained, then added a teaspoon of almond oil.

My hair has not felt this moisturized in sooooo long. I have tried soooo many products and nothing has come close to this for me. This will now be my go to detangler and moisturizer. I’m really embarrassed to show the before

BEFORE (tangled, matted, dry... just 4 days after a wash day):

AFTER (3 days after the mix):

I know I have a recipe saved with these ingredients ...somewhere
Yours is simple and I do want to use up the ingredients I have, would you mind sharing your recipe please?

 

[Lita]

@snoop Great progress..Nice shiny & full..

Happy Hair Growing!

 

[MizzBFly]

Thank you @nyeredzi! The most recent pic I have is a couple months ago (this pic is how i try to normally wear my wash and goes; clumped together by using my den man brush and not separating the curls. Otherwise my 3c hair gets single strand knots ‍). My hair is a little longer now.

Yes, I mean loose, fully dried and shrunken when I say unstretched. I have about 40 percent shrinkage as I'm 3c-ish. I very seldomly straighten my hair, so I figured my goal is waist length unstretched even though I (may) not make it this year For me, I believe, that's a good 6-28 inches.

Edit: because I finally found the emojis

Love our emojis

 

[CheChe1881]

I know I have a recipe saved with these ingredients ...somewhere
Yours is simple and I do want to use up the ingredients I have, would you mind sharing your recipe please?

I’ll be honest I kind of eye balled it. Lol
But I’d say I used about 3 cups of water, 2 table spoons of slippery elm and 2 table spoons of marshmallow root. I brought them to a boil for like 15 mins. Let it cool off. Strained the liquid out, then added a small teaspoon of almond oil. I really hope you try it and it works for you

 

[snoop]

@snoop Great progress..Nice shiny & full..

Happy Hair Growing!

Thank you!

 

[MizzBFly]

1. your current length picture taken 12/4/2020; 4C WL (not full) 17.5in back 18in behind ear 15-16in front right
2. your goal length full WL
3. your regimen (relaxed or natural, methods, favorite products, detangling methods, preferred styles, things like that) I’m natural wore twists all last year but I haven’t decided on how I want to protective style this year or not. BUT I have to maintain my Shea butter usage and use up my Black Castor Oil. Wash with Bentonite/ACV minty oils OR Carols Daughter Rhassoul Clay Shampoo

 

[Nunavelli]

1. your current length picture taken 12/4/2020; 4C WL (not full) 17.5in back 18in behind ear 15-16in front right
2. your goal length full WL
3. your regimen (relaxed or natural, methods, favorite products, detangling methods, preferred styles, things like that) I’m natural wore twists all last year but I haven’t decided on how I want to protective style this year or not. BUT I have to maintain my Shea butter usage and use up my Black Castor Oil. Wash with Bentonite/ACV minty oils OR Carols Daughter Rhassoul Clay Shampoo

Full waist length @MizzBFly you'll definitely be there by EOY. Is that your ultimate length goal? Your hair is beautiful, btw.

And yes, these emojis are a vibe hehe

 

[Nunavelli]

Do any of you only trim once a year or not at all? If so, how is that working and how are you taking care of your ends?

I've been scissor happy and want to "try" to live life on the edge and not trimming this year.

 

[nyeredzi]

Small update - I refreshed my cornrows last night. From this picture, I can definitely see the flakes in my hair but I’m going into week 6 since my last wash ... Prior to this, the longest I’ve pushed my wash day is 3 weeks and the flakes look unbearable then. I think this sulfur 8 thing worked. I’m not sure if it’s the anti microbial properties in sulfur or just me greasing my hair.

Next experiment, after I wash my hair next weekend, I’ll try to go a whole month without washing .... doing bi-weekly detangling and re-moisturizing .... and will oil my scalp maybe 2x a week. It’ll be great to go a month between washes. I usually wear two strand twists but I don’t exactly hate how these cornrows look. I might cornrow it again for next month.

I think your cornrows look great

 

[toaster]

Do any of you only trim once a year or not at all? If so, how is that working and how are you taking care of your ends?

I've been scissor happy and want to "try" to live life on the edge and not trimming this year.

Over most of my natural journey I trimmed maybe once a year, sometimes once every 2 years. I always wore my hair up in a bun and rarely straightened. Since I’ve been wearing wash and go’s I’ve trimmed twice over the past 5 months and I don’t think I’ll trim more than once in 2021.

 

[nyeredzi]

Do any of you only trim once a year or not at all? If so, how is that working and how are you taking care of your ends?

I've been scissor happy and want to "try" to live life on the edge and not trimming this year.

I used to trim or get a trim about 2-3 times a year. Last year I trimmed once, I think. I might not trim again until I see my stylist, whenever that it is. Or if my hair becomes too wispy at the ends, if I see a lot of split ends, or if there are just so many knots I can't detangle. Basically, there needs to be a reason for me to trim

 

[Nunavelli]

Thank you ladies! It's good to know that not trimming can be done while maintaining your hair quality/ integrity. (Of course, health over length).

@toaster I am wearing a bun since the beginning of the pandemic. Did you find wearing out, in wash and goes, caused you to trim more often?

@nyeredzi that's refreshing to hear. Your hair, to me, appears to be the same thickness— root to ends. That makes total sense.

 

[toaster]

@Nunavelli I got my first trim to get my hair cut into a cute shape. I got my second trim because the stylist said I “needed” to trim every 12 weeks. I knew better, but I went in anyway. Of course that trim turned into cutting 8 inches off of my hair. So now I really know better!

No scissors this year unless my ends look raggedy. And then I’ll trim them myself.

 

[Kiaray8]

Do any of you only trim once a year or not at all? If so, how is that working and how are you taking care of your ends?

I've been scissor happy and want to "try" to live life on the edge and not trimming this year.

I didn’t trim all of last year & I won’t be this year either actually. I do assess my ends regularly but tbh since I wear my curly regularly I would need to do a blow out to check properly. I will probably do one at the end of the year to trim as I don’t use heat regularly either.

 

[MizzBFly]

Full waist length @MizzBFly you'll definitely be there by EOY. Is that your ultimate length goal? Your hair is beautiful, btw.

And yes, these emojis are a vibe hehe

Thanks love, I’m just along for the ride. I’m not sure about an ultimate goal...
bum length possibly

 

[MizzBFly]

Do any of you only trim once a year or not at all? If so, how is that working and how are you taking care of your ends?

I've been scissor happy and want to "try" to live life on the edge and not trimming this year.

I didn’t trim all last year but just recently cleaned up my ends with an inch off, haphazardly at that those SSK are the devil and it feels atrocious. I know I can never fully get rid of them without an extremely strict regimen.