… this question is addressed to the challenge participants 
Who are they:
CurlyKye- shoulder length / almost at armpit length stretched (if not longer)
Valencia-
Winona- Current length NL Goal is SL
Carmell-
Mavis
Justicefighters1913- I just want healthy hair
Scurls2- My hair is currently NL but my goal is SL
Ricasuave-
4aspiral
Marsha
Margaret
Samya
and, me Currently midback, goal is waist length by November 09
I am excited for all of you ladies and hope that you reach your length goals. One thing that is guaranteed is that you will be amazed my the positive change in your hair when you begin to make use of deep conditioning treatments and take proactive steps to protect your hair.
Well, my first official day was Monday (even though I’ve been protective styling for a week already). On Monday, I did a quick Amla treatment and had my mother-in-law cornrow my hair for me So, that was my first day! What did you ladies do? What are you wearing?
Featured Participant
I have a routine that I started a month ago that is working out well for me. I don’t have a lot of time in the morning or evenings to spend creating new styles so I think this challenge will give me a nice mix between wearing my hair out a few days and then wearing it in a protective style to help it recover and grow. I transition for 18 months wearing my hair completely straight with minor breakage. I went to the salon every two weeks like clock work. In October 2008 I cut off my relaxed ends and found a number of helpful websites; like yours. Anyway, my hair is only neck length but my goal is to get to shoulder length by the end of the summer. Just before my one year completely natural anniversary.
My routine:
- Co-wash 2X per week with a no cone conditioner
- Oil scalp treatment 3X per week or as needed (lately my scalp has been itchy)
- Deep condition 1x per week with Givonni’s Deep Moisture or KBB moisture lock
- B-clay, Amla, Henna or Shikakai power condition (one or combination of these) 2X per month
Shampoo bar and Herbal tea rinse 2x per month
Hair styles:
Low bun (you can barely see the hair for the scrunchie) lol
Pin up twist
puff
twist and twist out
wash n go
Love your website. Thanks for the inspiration.
I am very excited about this challenge ladies! As you all know there is strength in numbers, so I am getting motivation and strength for this new challenge from all of you Also, I am excited that we all have different goals and different starting lengths. Our textures, goals and current state are different, but we can unify around the health of our hair. It is beautiful!
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
i rocked a twist and curl this weekend, but now it’s in a princess leia set. i’ll do another twist and curl this weekend.
I too have been doing the protective styling for about a week now and I wore my hair in twists for half of the week and then in a pinup style for the remainder of the week. Today, I wore an Afro puff, but I’ll likely retwist my hair on Saturday and keep it up.
i have NL want to be SL. i did a B-Clay on saturday. i will do another henna in the next week or 2. i’m over due. i twist my hair on tuesday with my aloe, IC, long aid mix. love it! i made a butter but don’t really like the smell anymore so i’ve been using straight castor oil to lock in. i’ll keep the twist in for a week then co-wash and re-twist. i started my 8yr old (SL) last thursday and she is due for a re-twist. i do the same for her as mine. thinking of doing my other 2 daughters (both past their shoulders but one with major shrinkage super curlie!)… they have a very different grade than my oldest and i and i’m not really sure what to do with theirs. they have 3a and 3b type and i’m wondering if this method works for them also… any suggestions??? Thanks
Can I join this challegne? I would love to. TIA MJ
I would like to join this challenge also, as I am transitioning and this would be a boost toward my goals. Thank you.
So far, I’ve just been low-bunnin it and moisturizing nightly with glycerine,conditioner, and oil. I plan to do my first Henna on Friday night, will deep condition with Elasta QP DPR-11, then I’ll begin wearing the baggie bun Monday-Thursday. Friday-Sunday I will twist-out. Nightly, I will give myself a scalp massage with oils, then shower cap and scarf it. (I have read that this keeps the moisture in so I’ll try it..anybody tried this??) My hair is curly and fine so it breaks ridiculously easy. I am at SL when curly, dreaming of the day I can reach APL. Fleurzty, I LOVE your hair!
Hi can I jion this challenge even though I’m still transitioning?
On Monday, I co-washed, used a leave-in condish, sealed with shea butter and coconut oil and a little Audbrey’s B-gel on the front and back edges and smooth my hair into a bun. I’m still wearing my bun.Itook my bun down to oil my scalp last night with a applicator bottle filled with amla oil and castor oil. Friday will be wash and condition day to prep for a Twist out.I’m so excited.
lol…i still didn’t make it on the updated list. fleurzty, i am in the PS challenge. my current length is BSL…don’t have a goal length for the summer challenge, just healthier hair with significantly few split ends and knots.
I rocked a full flat twists this week (I have NEVER done that before). You know how Tyra and Ciara have been wearing their hair except theirs were in cornrows/flat braids and mine where flat twists. At first I was a little self-conscious because I thought my head looked bare…but add the earrings and MAC creme gloss and you couldn’t tell me nothing *haha*
This weekend I’m wearing my typical style of flat twists in the front and a pony puff in the back.
Good Luck ladies!
21 I DTed after Amla Treatment (DT Pantene Relaxed N Natural + coffee butter + growth oil) overnight) trying to get my curls back in the front I think Henna relaxed my curl to much in this area
24 Trim DTed (stillnillah +vatika frosting)
tomorrow I will be DTing again
I have a question about protective styles… Are they necessary when your ends don’t come into contact with anything? I just BC’d in March, and my hair doesn’t even brush my collar yet. I want to make sure that I retain any length I grow, but was wondering if protective styles were necessary for fairly short hair? Good luck to everyone with the challenge!
ETA: I have been utilizing protective styles since Jan 09′. This week I co-washed, DC, and used a leave-in prior to styling in 4 braids. These braids have been braided into one large braid in order to bun. Nightly I am moisturizing them with a homemade spray, hair lotion, creme and sealing with JBCO on the ends. I am currently BSL. My goal is to continue a successful transition w/ as less breakage as possible while maintaining healthy hair. I plan to trim monthly at least 1 inch. (Hope this is permissible in the challenge). Good luck to all participants.
I started the challenge with a cut on Friday. I had my hair straightened for it so since then, I have been wearing it straight but in protective styles (french braid across the front into a bun in the back). My hair is fine and my scalp is oily so that’s what I’m working with.
My hair was MBL (stretched) before the cut and is now right at the top of my bra. I don’t wear my bra high so I’m not really far from MBL again- maybe 2″. Air dried, my hair was just below the top of my shoulders.
My goal with the challenge is to thicken and strengthen my hair again and to grow out some straight pieces in the back and on the sides from too many buns. I haven’t really done any new styles in 13 years of naturalness so it’s going to be the same old bun and twist out combo but easy on the buns. Since I cut bangs and layers in my hair on Friday though, maybe it will look different for once!
Good luck ladies! Fleurzty, your hair definitely inspires me.
I am just reading the comments but does NL mean “Neck length” and SL mean “Shoulder length”? Just thougt I would ask…LOL!
I’m still in TWA stage. 1/2″ – 1 1/2″ not stretched (2″ – 3″ stretched). No length goal per say, just trying to maintain the health of my hair and to get it to the best condition it’s ever been in.