Hair Plans For 2017 & What Did You Learn In 2016?

• What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't?
• What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks?
• What products will you continue using? Which will you dump?
• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?
  
• Anything else....

Smiley79 said:

• What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't?

• What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks?

• What products will you continue using? Which will you dump?

• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?

• Anything else....

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• What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't? My hair prefers clay washes over any other shampoo/cleanser. I like clay washing, but it seems to strip my color rather fast so either I accept these grays or dye every two weeks (semi-perm). Keeping my hair stretched! Twistouts and braidouts are taking a backseat in 2017.

• What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks? I gained alot of thickness this year (supplements are working). No real set backs, but I had a 2 inch trim in September that was badly needed.

• What products will you continue using? Which will you dump? I'm a recovering PJ so 2017 is the year I get through my stash of randoms and stick to products I know work well. I shan't be seduced by good sales. Amen.

• What are your hair plans/goals for next year? Work through my stash. Full whip length hair.

• My scalp is far more finicky than my hair.
• Anything that increases blood flow to my scalp accelerates the growth rate. The shedding is killing me, but I pray to Yah I am close to a solution.
• I will be trying various things to slow the greys.
• I think I found a braider so I can get my hair out of the way under headwraps and snoods
• Seeing gel as protection as I wear my hair out instead of styling.
• Testing more oils for washes.
• Shooting for BSL by the end of 2017 (yeah, I am crazy).
• Keep have fun with my hair!

• I learned that I NEED to keep breakage in check !!!!

• I actually BCd because I got concerned that my hair was not "growing". I was hovering bout an inch above APL for YEARS !!!

• I will continue using mostly Max Hydration Method recommended products for low porosity hair. I dont do the baking soda rinse etc. But the yogurt DC and sodium bentonite clay have been doing my hair very very well.
• The other products I use are Crece Pelo conditioner and shampoo, Kinky Kurly Knot today LI and gel, flax seed gel and ecostyler gel (occasionally), glycerine

• So 2017 will be the year of retention !!!

• trimming when necessary
• improving moisture
• eating healthily
• taking my vitamins
• keeping up with and or adapting my regimen as my hair gets longer (I found that as my hair got longer I slacked off more on my regimen)

• Continue using my holy grail products
• Stick to my regimen
• Try curlformer sets
• Exercise at least 4 times a week.
• Reach waist length by end of 2017

Aggie said:

This is a great thread and one I really need at the moment to give me pause and make me reflect on what's truly important to my healthy hair journey.

One of the things I find important for me moving into 2017 is to pull back the reigns on the amount of DIFFERENT brands of products that I have started using in 2016. I like quite a few of them, actually all of them, but I know I will need to cut back considerably to get a perfect grip on what are truly working on my hair and what are not. There are some holy grail status products in there that I know I will continue to replenish.

I have not used enough protein on my hair in 2016 and thankfully I haven't lost my hair as a result but I know I cannot continue to use so little protein on my hair. My hair thrives on and loves protein so I will increase those treatments a bit in 2017. I have neglected my exercise routines in 2016, I will not in 2017. Cleansing and Deep conditioning at least once a week is essential for my speedy hair growth so I will take those into 2017. I also need to return to regular henna treatments to color my hair. My hair really thrived with those.

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Smiley79 said:

I forgot to add that the inversion method was a hit this year. I plan to continue doibg consistently for 2017.

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• What did you learn about your hair this year?

• What worked? My old school processes:

• What didn't work?

1. My single braid/ponytail is too drying for my coarser textured hair. I had to go back to multi-braids.
2. Loosened ponytails are pretty but they give me massive tangles every time.

• What was your biggest improvement with your hair?

1. My hair dropped down and gained about two inches of length. I just noticed it last month. I'm at 22 inches in the front and about 21 inches in the back.
2. My coarse, wiry hair is so tamed and happy. It is no longer unruly immediately after washing. It is soft and silky.

• Any setbacks? Yes!

• What products will you continue using?

• Which will you dump?

• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?

1. For years, my goal was to grow and retain my hair, thick and full, to the small of my back. I think people here call that whip length.
2. In 2017, my plan is to grow my hair so that it touches and lays on the top of my behind. It would need to be at least 26 inches in length to do that.
3. GOAL: I'm going for 26 to 30 inches in total hair length by Dec 31st, 2017! Wish me luck!

• Inch closer to a vegan lifestyle
  
• Stick to my regimen
• Reach waist length by end of 2017

• My hair is a simple lady- Wearing box braids under and wig and washing/deep conditioning weekly help me bounce back from my setback in March.
• Absolutely won't work/ Intolerable-Waiting longer than 1 week to wash my hair

• Thickness was my greatest improvement my hair is 3X thicker now.

• Setbacks - Had to cut off 3 inches after a horrible braiding experience

• Products I've been using for 3 plus year and will continue using

1. Redken Hair Cleansing Shampoo
2. Joico Moisture Recovery shampoo
3. Kenra - Moisturizing Conditioner
4. COLORFUL Neutral Protein Filler
5. Darcy botanicals daily leave in conditioner
6. Castor Oil

• Keeping it simple and sticking with what works- Wearing medium box braids, under a wig and washing my hair weekly

• What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't?

• What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks?

• What products will you continue using? Which will you dump?

• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?

• Anything else....

Chicoro said:

@Smiley79, thank you for starting a fun and useful thread!

• What did you learn about your hair this year?

1. I came across a photo of a model I admired when I was a little girl. She had super long hair that was extremely thick and full. I was shocked to realize that my hair was longer and just as thick.
2. I learned that my hair texture is changing, right on schedule, but I was not prepared. It changes from fine to coarse and back again every 6 to 7 years.
3. I came to the realization that I have been taking my hair for granted and that I have not been appreciating it. (See point #1).
4. Store bought conditioners, by themselves, do not work for me.
5. My hair loves to be deep conditioned with heat, under a hair dryer.
6. I learned that I can use Shea Butter. But I must whip it with an electric wired egg beater type mixer (No stick blenders , drink blenders or hand mixing. All leave it grainy and un-usable.)
7. I hate how my hair looks flat-ironed. My hair looks so much better when it is pressed with a hot comb.

• What worked? My old school processes:

1. Infusium added to my spray bottle along with my regular stuff.
2. Doing protective styles.
3. Doing a whole head baggy at night.
4. Wetting my hair and oiling and buttering/greasing the entire strand from root to the very ends in small sections.
5. For my hair, there is no "maintain" process. I am in either retaining length or experiencing breakage. If I stop my processes and ignore my hair, MY HAIR length and health go away!
6. I make a coconut milk conditioner and it makes my hair magnificent looking.
7. My hair likes "greasy" conditioners with tons of added honey and natural oil.
8. My scalp responds well when I oil it with a natural oil and a few drops of essential oil before my wash.

• What didn't work?

1. My single braid/ponytail is too drying for my coarser textured hair. I had to go back to multi-braids.
2. Loosened ponytails are pretty but they give me massive tangles every time.

• What was your biggest improvement with your hair?

1. My hair dropped down and gained about two inches of length. I just noticed it last month. I'm at 22 inches in the front and about 21 inches in the back.
2. My coarse, wiry hair is so tamed and happy. It is no longer unruly immediately after washing. It is soft and silky.

• Any setbacks? Yes!

1. This year, for the first time ever, somehow, my single braid turned in on itself and created a knot that was an inch in diameter. I lost about 2 to 3 inches on the right, lower back side of my hair.
2. I ruined my hair myself in 2012 with a crooked, butchered, self trim. I cut back 2/3 of my length. I will never do that again. I mention it here as I have still not yet gained back the healthy length I had before.

• What products will you continue using?

1. I found a creamy, baby wash. I will continue to wash my hair with that.
2. I mix Kayro syrup with my baby wash to clarify my hair. It leaves my hair softer than cotton and silk on a corn cob.
3. I will continue to mix up my coconut milk conditioner.
4. Scurl is a staple for me.

• Which will you dump?

1. I absolutely love the Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque but here in France it costs between 9 and 12 Euros. For a 12 ounce jar, that is 1 dollar/euro per ounce.That's ridiculous. It goes.
2. I can only use Vaseline brand petroleum jelly to coat my hair when baggying. Other brands of petroleum jelly leave my hair hard. Dumping non name brand petroleum jelly products.

• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?

1. For years, my goal was to grow and retain my hair, thick and full, to the small of my back. I think people here call that whip length.
2. In 2017, my plan is to grow my hair so that it touches and lays on the top of my behind. It would need to be at least 26 inches in length to do that.
3. GOAL: I'm going for 26 to 30 inches in total hair length by Dec 31st, 2017! Wish me luck!

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nubiangoddess3 said:

What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't?

• My hair is a simple lady- Wearing box braids under and wig and washing/deep conditioning weekly help me bounce back from my setback in March.
• Absolutely won't work/ Intolerable-Waiting longer than 1 week to wash my hair

What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks?

• Thickness was my greatest improvement my hair is 3X thicker now.

• Setbacks - Had to cut off 3 inches after a horrible braiding experience

What products will you continue using? Which will you dump?

• Products I've been using for 3 plus year and will continue using

1. Redken Hair Cleansing Shampoo
2. Joico Moisture Recovery shampoo
3. Kenra - Moisturizing Conditioner
4. COLORFUL Neutral Protein Filler
5. Darcy botanicals daily leave in conditioner
6. Castor Oil

What are your hair plans/goals for next year?

• Keeping it simple and sticking with what works- Wearing medium box braids, under a wig and washing my hair weekly

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mayoo said:

What did I learn about my hair this year?
My scalp is very sensitive to products and must be cleansed at least once a week.
That my hair thrives on a very simple regimen.
My hair doesn't need protein
My hair needs as much moisture as it can get.
I don't need combs at all.
My hair hates coconut oil
My hair loves natural products.
Shea butter is my best friend.
I don't need a conditioner and I don't need to co-wash

Biggest improvement?
I have finally established a solid regimen that I believe will help me reach my health and length goals.

What products will I continue using? What will I dump?
I have dumped every product that I had that had protein in it and every other product with chemicals in it.

i will be using
22nd Century Shampoo bar
22nd Century deep conditioner (without protein)
Oil
Shea Butter

Thats it

Hair goals and plans for next year?

• Inch closer to a vegan lifestyle
  
• Stick to my regimen
• Reach waist length by end of 2017

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• What did you learn about your hair this year? What worked and what didn't?
• Even if you think you don't want to be natural or a loose natural anymore because of how much work it is....you're gonna miss it. Protective styling and moisture/protein balance are the key.
  
• What was your biggest improvement with your hair? Any setbacks?
• Biggest improvement would be my ends after big chopping! Setback would be going from dreads to natural to perm to natural all in the first year I've taken care of my own hair...
• What products will you continue using? Which will you dump?
• Aphogee provitamin leave in, Shea butter, coconut oil, Shea moisture castor oil leave in and shampoo. Dumping wax based edge controls and hair dye/bleach/rinses.
• What are your hair plans/goals for next year?
  
• Retain as much length as possible while keeping my ends nice and healthy.
• Anything else....
• I gotta stop getting bored with my hair and experimenting all the time...wigs help with that urge though

myhairgrowstoo said:

How were you able to thicken your hair?

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