Apl - Bsb 2020 Length Challenge

[faithVA]

Welcome to the APL/BSB 2020. Everyone is welcome. Feel free to join us even if you don't think you will reach your goal in 2020. Some of us will still be around in 2021. This is a multi-goal challenge.


Post the following to join

What length are you now?

What's your goal length for this challenge?

What's your regimen?

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?

What month do you expect to reach your goal?

Post your starting pic.


The challenge will officially start on January 1st, 2020 and end December 31st, 2020.

Check in at least 1x a month to let us know you are on track and to support everyone else. Let's do what we can to keep this thread lively.

Pictures
Starting Pic: Post by 12/31/2019
Grand Reveal: Post by 12/31/2020 or when you reach your goal. Post your starting and ending pictures.
During the Year: Anytime you notice progress.

Length Updates
April 2020
August 2020
December 2020: Grand Reveal


Post as many hair pics as you like because you know we love pics

 

[faithVA]

Challengers

1. faithVA
2. Realhairdontcare
3. shawnyblazes
4. apple_natural
5. Aggie
6. neika j
7. ckisland

 

[faithVA]

What length are you now?
-- Crown is NL
-- Most of the back is SL
-- Lower back is CBL

What's your goal length for this challenge? APL

What's your regimen?
Weekly cleanse, oil rinse, leave-in and twist of some sort.

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Need to figure out how to keep my ends healthier. They still split and break a lot.
Hoping doing LOC in the shower and then LOC out of the shower helps keep moisture in my hair.

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
December 2020.

Post your starting pic.

 

[Realhairdontcare]

What length are you now? 1 inch past CBL

What's your regimen? Wash hair 2x a week. Dc 1x a week. Oil scalp on wash day or as needed. Moisturize hair a few times a week. Trim ends as needed.

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB? Stop cutting so often and unnecessarily. I lost a lot of length within the last year from that so that’s why I will only be trimming my hair as needed from now on. My ends have never been as bad as others anyway so I was doing myself more harm than good!

What month do you expect to reach your goal? I’m aiming for December 2020 to at least hit apl. I figure if I give myself more time to hit my goals I won’t be disappointed when I don’t make them sooner and maybe surprised if I do before that.

What’s your goal length? Apl

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

What length are you now?
Im right at the top of BSB in the back.

What's your goal length for this challenge?
I want to be BSB all over.

What's your regimen?
I usually protective style in the fall/winter and wear my hair out in the spring/summer. I will be going back to my henna routine as well as taking a vitamin.

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Consistency

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
December 2020

Post your starting pic.
I'll come back with this.

I will update it when I stretch my hair after taking these braids out. I will have an updated picture before the end of December.

 

[faithVA]

What length are you now? 1 inch past CBL

What's your regimen? Wash hair 2x a week. Dc 1x a week. Oil scalp on wash day or as needed. Moisturize hair a few times a week. Trim ends as needed.

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB? Stop cutting so often and unnecessarily. I lost a lot of length within the last year from that so that’s why I will only be trimming my hair as needed from now on. My ends have never been as bad as others anyway so I was doing myself more harm than good!

What month do you expect to reach your goal? I’m aiming for December 2020 to at least hit apl. I figure if I give myself more time to hit my goals I won’t be disappointed when I don’t make them sooner and maybe surprised if I do before that.

Welcome to the challenge. I think you have a good plan. And I agree with you on pushing out the date. It will be nice to have an early surprise.

 

[apple_natural]

What is your goal length for this challenge?
BSL/BSB

What length are you now?
Shoulder length
12/23/19: Front center 9in, Section behind both ears 9in, bottom left corner section... You guessed it - 9inches

What's your regimen?
The plan is to keep braids until June

In braids:
Henna mask before re-braiding
Weekly: coconut oil prepoo a day or two before, wash, DC - alternate moisture and protein (gelatin mask), scalp oil, shea butter blend on hair
A few times a week: acv rinse to scalp, herbal leave-in, herbal oil, shea butter, greenhouse
Daily: Oil scalp and massage

Out of braids:
Weekly: henna gloss OR rhassoul clay DC, oil, shea butter blend - twist and bun
A few times a week: oil, moisturizing spray, shea butter blend. greenhouse
Daily: Oil scalp and massage

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Oil before water
Oil scalp daily
Strengthening treatments
Butter to ends
Nutrient rich diet! - beans, greens, grain + nuts & seeds
+ MSM, calcium, biotin, collagen, greens supplement
Drink water

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
April 2021. Although, I would like to make BSL/BSB October 2020. I need 7 inches.

Post your starting pic: One section as a length marker in media

Post updated to condense, note starting pic, and update current regimen

 

[B_Phlyy]

Possible placeholder. I gotta see what my ends looking like at my length check.

Update: Not a placeholder. I have other things to focus on at this stage in my hair journey so length goals have to be on the back burner. Plus I don't know what my actual regimen is going to be.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

I'm here! I just couldn't resist.

What length are you now?
I think the equivalent of collarbone length all around.

What's your regimen?
2020 - Wash every 1.5 weeks. Cover hair at night and protect during the day. I use acv water daily or as needed. ETA: I am testing out daily scalp oiling. I am also trying to only use natural products, except for heat days. I will be using CHI products those days

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Prepoo, strengthening treatments, oiling, butter to ends

ETA: Rationale:
I honestly believe hygral fatigue has been my downfall for... at least the last year or two or more. I had tons... Tons... TONS of knots and midshaft splits this past year although I barely do anything to my hair.
I thought I didn't need oils if I moisturized often until I read a study just... pretty much a few days ago.. that made me believe that, contrary to popular YouTube and blog opinion, the inner hair layers want to be hydrophobic (although hair does need moisture to offset friction). Oils help. Therefore, I am not only bringing oils back into my regimen, but I am putting a focus on using them (along with henna) in order to protect my hair cortex and its protein.
This concept is especially important when considering the "prepoo." I used to think it was ridiculous because shampoo strips all that back out. It isn't! Coconut oil or almond oil or any of those fatty vegetable oils that penetrate strands protect the inner cortex, including its protein, from water, according to my understanding. I will be prepooing and testing this all out for myself.
Speaking of shampooing, I don't want to completely strip my hair's outer layer of its fatty acids, which happens most often in shampooing and particularly with sulfate shampoos. I don't want the first defense, the outer layer, compromised more than I can help it because I am only cleaning hair, not a toilet. Oils help to replenish those fatty acids.
Another thing that helps protect my hair is proper pH. I have learned to value pH balancing products years ago thanks to me seeing my dad use neutralizing shampoo for his curls (although he had no chemical treatment) and then kimmaytube's video on pH backing him up. I tried it; it was awesome. Products with pH under 6.0 help me to keep my hair from frequently opening and closing its outer layer. I will be making sure my strengthening henna treatments and other natural products I want to use are pH balanced.
All this to say that I will be trying to do far more oiling and strengthening while continuing to use products with proper pH and using moisture to protect my hair against friction.

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
I would love to meet bra strap length by mid October 2020. Otherwise, Spring 2021 is my goal. I only straighten twice a year.

Post your starting pic: I'll try to get one for different sections whenever I replace my braids.

Question: what does the last "B" in BSB stand for?

BSB= Below Shoulder Blade. @apple_natural

 

[apple_natural]

Oh! Gracias! I finally got around to actually asking instead of making guesses. Thank you @shawnyblazes

 

[Aggie]

I'm in again for 2020 since I cut my hair too short in 2019. I am currently back to collar bone length so Trying to get back to APL in 2020....again !

What length are you now?
Collar Bone Length

What's your regimen?
Wash and treat at a maximum of once every 3 weeks but preferably once a week. Each wash day include protein and moisture treatments.
Trim once every 3-4 months.
Moisturize and seal a minimum of once per week

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Consistently take my vitamins
Exercise
Drink lots of water
Cover moisturized hair at night and maybe add GHE (green house effect) in my regimen some weeks.

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
I don't really want to put a date on it so I'll take it all the way to the end of the year in December of 2020.

Goal Length
APL

Post your starting pic.



Sorry my hair is so oily and greasy and flat because that is how my stylist wanted it at the time. I like my hair big and fluffy so I didn't care for it at all . But it did keep my hair straight for almost a week as a result.

 

[faithVA]

For those of you who have already signed up, will you add "What's your goal length for this challenge?" to your existing post.

Thank You

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

For those of you who have already signed up, will you add "What's your goal length for this challenge?" to your existing post.

Thank You

I’ll have it tomorrow. I was just hoping I’d have my hair out but that isn’t going to happen until end of week probably.

 

[faithVA]

I'm here! I just couldn't resist.

What length are you now?
I think the equivalent of collarbone length all around.

What's your regimen?
2020 - Wash every 1.5 weeks. Cover hair at night and protect during the day. I use acv water daily or as needed. I am testing out daily scalp oiling. I am also trying to only use natural products, except for heat days. I will be using CHI products those days

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Prepoo, strengthening treatments, oiling, butter to ends
ETA: Removed long rationale. Basically, I'm trying to protect my strands

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
I would love to meet bra strap length by mid October 2020. Otherwise, Spring 2021 is my goal. I only straighten twice a year.

Post your starting pic: I'll try to get one for different sections whenever I replace my braids.

Question: what does the last

I’ll have it tomorrow. I was just hoping I’d have my hair out but that isn’t going to happen until end of week probably.

No rush. It wasn't for you specifically. I did not originally have that question as part of the starting post. But I thought it would be nice to know what everyone's goal was since it is a multi-length goal challenge.

 

[neika j]

What length are you now?

Between shoulder and little above (got a major cut)

What's your goal length for this challenge?

APL or somewhere close

What's your regimen?

Braids and wigs and other protective styles
Deep condition more in the winter / balence out with protein treatments.

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?

Take more vitamins, Eat cleaner, Drink more water

What month do you expect to reach your goal?

December 2020

Post your starting pic.

(Post a pic later )

 

[faithVA]

Thank you ladies for updating your goal lengths. You are the best

 

[ckisland]

What length are you now?
I'm past APL

What's your goal length for this challenge?
For the back of my hair to be BSB

What's your regimen?
Shampoo twice using ORS Aloe Shampoo
DC with Aphogee 2 Min or an ORS conditioning pack
Blow dry and flatiron hair every 7-14 days
In between straightening, wear hair in easy heat-less low manipulation style

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
Limit my trims/ how much I trim
Potentially alternate heat and heat-less weeks so I can DC more

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
June

Post your starting pic.

 

[alanaturelle]

So I haven't participated in one of these challenges in what feels like forever. But after a major setback in 2017, I had to big chop my hair and I'm happy to say that I'm almost at APL so this challenge is perfect for me. I'm holding my spot because I'll be trimming my hair next week and will come back with regimen and starting picture. Let's begin the new decade with a bang,

 

[apple_natural]

I'm trying to consider how much biotin is enough. Hairfinity has 2500 and I think thats pretty good, but i'm tempted to increase it to 5 or 10,000.... maybe I should keep it at 2500 for now. IDK!

 

[faithVA]

I took off about 1 inch after I took the pictures but I don't feel like taking more pics Maybe I will take 1 more before I return to curly.

 

[k_enitan]

@alanaturelle

Nourishment:
I have actually configured a meal plan that will give me all the nutrients by amount that is in my daily vitamin! Down to the herbs that are now in my teas...

This is so great, and also one one of my goals for 2020.

Hoping you can share some of your meal plan.

 

[apple_natural]

You know what, it is exactly the same items as Dr Gregors Daily Dozen only I have one less grain portion and more portions of beans, berries, and seeds, Also i have varied nuts. The ingredients are the same though except for my teas. I did all that work and now I see the value of other plant based plans.

 

[apple_natural]

I made my first batch of hair oil yesterday. It smelled like fried rose petal chicken. I tossed that one. Today, I made a second batch... ETA: It smells like syrup. I think its the fenugreek and calendula.

I took down a few braids to fix them. Cut more of the ends.... It'll be okay.

 

[nothidden]

You know what, it is exactly the same items as Dr Gregors Daily Dozen...

I've been meaning to watch his video on this.

I'm also in! Hopefully I'll have these locs combed out by 2020, but regardless, I'll be back w/my challenge responses and pic.

 

[apple_natural]

Considering taking a braid or so down to length reference....

 

[ms.tatiana]

What length are you now?
--APL in sides & back. Top middle is short (just cut my dead ends)

What's your goal length for this challenge? BSB

What's your regimen?
-Wash every 2 weeks. Keep hair moisturized. LOC

What do you need to do/change to reach APL/BSB?
-Keep hair in protective hairstlyes.

What month do you expect to reach your goal?
-Hopefully by June 2020, but Decmeber 2020 wouldn't be bad either.

Post starting picture:
(will add later)

 

[ckisland]

I commented in Random Thoughts that my air dried hair looks like a blowout and I just wanted to post a pic here. I'll be posting my length check next week.

 

[ckisland]

I Have To Stop Cutting My Hair!!!!!!
I went back and looked at pics from earlier this year, and I loss so much progress doing these cuts. I've cut from APL to SL, then I cut off another 3 inches after growing back to APL! It's just too much!
I'm putting myself on a trim schedule for 2020, then I can maintain my ends with a sense of control and restraint.

 

[apple_natural]

First attempt at an herbal leave-in spray tonight.

Result: I basically made an herbal ACV scurl spray. I am not adding ACV next time. I'm ditching this one. I am remaking the hair oil too in order to use the double boiling method.

I'm so serious about my hair growth for 2020. I'm tired of being stuck at shoulder length

 

[apple_natural]

I've updated my regimen because I see that so many long hairs (like waist length +) wash and dc once a week. i'm decreasing my wash day from 1.5 weeks (which is what I tend to do) to every Sunday.