Bsl/mbl 2018 Challenge!!

Froreal3

haulin hard in the paint
Just gave my hair a little bit of protein boost and moisturized with APB Bamboo spray, APB Cupuacu Avocado, and sealed with my whipped shea butter mix. I also have still been using the NJoy sulfur pomade on my scalp three times a week. I used it today for the first time this week. Two more times to go. Then I braided my twists into two large pigtail braids and pinned them up, ready for my wig.
 

SunkissedLife

basking in the sun
Goal: to grow and retain as much thick, healthy hair as possible by the end of the year from it's current shoulder length
ultimate goal: APL by my birthday in July and hopefully BSL by December

how? switching to a simple routine filled with more natural products
  • heavy moisture wash day every 2 weeks
  • moisturize and seal my hair regularly (minimum x2 week)
  • oil scalp massage often
  • protective styling - wearing my hair in twists before a twist out, more buns
 

GGsKin

Well-Known Member
After months of neglecting my hair- leaving it out or putting it up for weeks, delaying washes where I was previously washing 1-2 times a week, my hair has suffered a shed-load of shedding, tangles and breakage. My scalp has also been itching and my hair is just feeling dry. I'm gonna stop letting work take all my time and give some to my hair.

This evening, I used Nioxin Dermabrasion Treatment on my scalp- a first for me but I had that scalp exfoliation thread pinned in my mind to give it a try. I think there was some tingle but I didn't notice much upon rinsing out.

To follow; a protein shot with Nexxus Polymedic), shampoo and an APB DC (with a tea mix).

ETA: it could be in my mind but my scalp looked refreshed upon proper inspection and after rinsing protein. I've broken my large mirror so strategic mirror placement is required.
 
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Evolving78

Well-Known Member
I will use the tension method next time I blow dry. I wanted to roller set my hair, but it’s hard parting my hair when it is wet. Maybe if I just don’t attempt to part my hair in a Mohawk, and just roll from my detangled sections, I can still do it?
 

CoilyArielBrowe

Well-Known Member
I would like to join. I'm hoping to reach BSL length by the end of the year.
My hair is natural type 4,
Currently my hair is apl length
I'm trying to wash my hair once a week and generally I wear two strand twists. I might get kinky twist to start the year though to give myself a break.
I will add pictures later.
 

apple_natural

Well-Known Member
After months of neglecting my hair- leaving it out or putting it up for weeks, delaying washes where I was previously washing 1-2 times a week, my hair has suffered a shed-load of shedding, tangles and breakage. My scalp has also been itching and my hair is just feeling dry. I'm gonna stop letting work take all my time and give some to my hair.

I'm interested to know what you do to get this under control because I'm in the same situation and I always lose hair at this same stage from cutting it all off and starting over
 

SAPNK

Well-Known Member
I was confused about where bsl/mbl are on me, so I have to revise my goal from mbl to bsl by years end.
I used a tape measure to see where my hair would fall if I don't have any breakage all year. I thought I'd be almost bsl, but I noticed my bra strap looked really low, so I put a new bra I just bought on over it and it's higher, so I'm gonna go with that bra, lol.
No breakage=bsl 2019. Yay.
 

GGsKin

Well-Known Member
I'm interested to know what you do to get this under control because I'm in the same situation and I always lose hair at this same stage from cutting it all off and starting over

I'll update with my trials. It' doesn't help that my hair is fine. Its the hair 'disguised' as clumped that is getting to me. I attempt to style or detangle and notice some of these clumps are being entwined by single strands near my roots or the mid-lengths. I have to stop and meticulously unthread these strands, or resign myself to losing the whole clump. Stretching may be my answer but I'm not ready yet lol.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I'll update with my trials. It' doesn't help that my hair is fine. Its the hair 'disguised' as clumped that is getting to me. I attempt to style or detangle and notice some of these clumps are being entwined by single strands near my roots or the mid-lengths. I have to stop and meticulously unthread these strands, or resign myself to losing the whole clump. Stretching may be my answer but I'm not ready yet lol.
When is the last time you did search and destroy? It' possibe you have splits very high up the hair shaft and they are trying to take strands with them. What you describe sounds like my hair when I had severe splits. Trimming my ends was not enough.
 

Firstborn2

Stop frontin, you know me!
Count me in! I'm an APL natural. I have to make it past APL this year. I've been stuck here since I've joined the board 10 yrs ago. I make it to APL have a set back, start over, make it back to APL and here comes the set back.lol My goal is to graze MBL at the end of 2018. I will protective style 100% of the time going between wigs and crochet braids. I'm going to keep my eye on the prize in 2018, it's time to get past APL.
 

GGsKin

Well-Known Member
When is the last time you did search and destroy? It' possibe you have splits very high up the hair shaft and they are trying to take strands with them. What you describe sounds like my hair when I had severe splits. Trimming my ends was not enough.

I haven't noticed but will have a proper check when I come across it again.

I don't really brush or comb or use heat so aside from the idea of clay tearing up my hair, I don't know what would cause splits so high up. If it is splits that close to my roots causing me this issue, I think I might cry. I know I saw a bubble split I cut out about 4-6 weeks ago, about inches 2 from my ends. That later spurred a trim in twists. I still wanna see condition of my hair straight. I'm just hoping it's shed hair getting tangled while my hair has been up for weeks, unwashed.

My hair has been shedding like a lot these past two washes. It seems more than usual, even for the amount of time that has passed between washes.
 
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faithVA

Well-Known Member
I haven't noticed but will have a proper check when I come across it again.

I don't really brush or comb or use heat so aside from the idea of clay tearing up my hair, I don't know what would cause splits so high up. If it is splits that close to my roots causing me this issue, I think I might cry. I know I saw a bubble split I cut out about 4-6 weeks ago, about inches 2 from my ends. That later spurred a trim in twists. I still wanna see condition of my hair straight. I'm just hoping it's shed hair getting tangled while my hair has been up for weeks, unwashed.

My hair has been shedding like a lot these past two washes. It seems more than usual, even for the amount of time that has passed between washes.
Ok. Let' hope it' just shed hair. That's highly likely.

As for splits further up it' not necessarily a result of damage. She' hairs can tangle on other hair and cause it to split. And a split on the end of a strand can wrap around a strand higher up and cause it to split. Or a strand can break really high and have a split which can cause a split in surrounding hair.

But I hope it's nothing.
 

SAPNK

Well-Known Member
My hair is in crochet braids and I'll try to keep them in another week. Then I may buy a new puff and wear that for a week. Then back to crochet braids.

I wonder if it's possible to retain an entire six inches for the year. Or at least five. Minimal to no breakage.
Honestly, I don't even know if my hair grows that much. I hope so.
 

apple_natural

Well-Known Member
Detangled with water just now because it's been over a week. I didn't lose much except for when I tried to do the entire front right 4th at once . I lost quite a few strands thanks to that idea.

Put on my Africa's best hair mayonnaise and plastic baggy. Under the dryer. Meal planning time
 

chewy

Active Member
My name is Chewy and I accept this challenge! I'm currently at APL and will shoot for MBL and have 12 months to work towards my goal. I've been blessed with growth, but retention is a whole other animal I will be focusing on that! I am natural and wear twists 80% of the time and buns the rest. At least twice a year, like clockwork, there is ALWAYS a detangling crisis that results in hand fulls of hair being ripped from my head. After this, I usually abandon my goals and stop all practices that go above and beyond my usual hair care. I believe the tangling crisis is mainly caused by tons of single strand knots. I plan on trimming my ends every 3 months to minimize the SSKs and to wear extensions to protect my ends. We shall see...
Here is my starting picture and it was taken today, flat ironed with freshly trimmed ends!hair2.jpg
 

Evolving78

Well-Known Member
I trimmed my ends today. I washed and did a moisture treatment. I allowed my hair to air dry since I was too lazy to grab my blow dryer, or sit under the dryer. I used two CON leave-ins and used carrot serum to seal. I didn’t apply any oil to my scalp, since I wanted it to breathe.
I put my hair in a bun with my spin pin and tied it up with my satin scarf.
 

curlykimmy

Well-Known Member
My sides are grazing APL, the back is full APL. I've been natural 4.5 years and made it to BSL before, but I had it cut for better shape. Plus I trim my ends a lot (I'll cut back on that). Aiming for full BSL by end of 2018.

Thanks @Alma Petra for the photo tip!!
 

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LushLox

Well-Known Member
I trimmed my ends today. I washed and did a moisture treatment. I allowed my hair to air dry since I was too lazy to grab my blow dryer, or sit under the dryer. I used two CON leave-ins and used carrot serum to seal. I didn’t apply any oil to my scalp, since I wanted it to breathe.
I put my hair in a bun with my spin pin and tied it up with my satin scarf.

How did you get on with the air drying?
 
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