Grow-Out Challenge 2005

Diamondprincess~Divaedout~GrowHairGrow~Hairdiva~HairGoddess~

Hairspray~Honeydoo~IndigoRed~Jewel~Jesuschrist#1inmylife~Kal ly

~Karonica~Kbaby~~KimJ~Layla~Locsoflife~Maybeline46~Missaol~

 Missfro~Monet001~Mrs.Robertson~Neeka~Nubianqt86~Oskana ~

Pocahontas1~Pricesscato1~Princess07~QueenLinda83~Qwickstudy

~Rapunzelcurl~Renee~Retagirl~Savantrice~Shell~SilverRain80~

SimplyAlex~Smahone2~Tp1~VickyD~Yolligirl

Here's the updated members: 41 strong!! I hope everyone is doing well on their challenge. The summer is over and hopefully everyone has gained inches or health!!. Here is my update:

I'm 12.5 weeks post!! (Yaa!!!) My newgrowth is thick and extremely curly. Normally I would be relaxed right now but I'm having inner conflict about whether I should be natural or not. (I'm a scaredy cat!!) But stretched My hair in the back is and 1.5 inches past my collar bone. My hair in the front is collar bone length. I'm working on thickness right now.

I just ordered a few products from Sickbay and should be getting them in the next week or 2. I still wash once a week and condition twice a week. I've been using ORS Shea Butter Moisturizer, DG Growth Oil, and Kemi Oil. I've been wearing my hair in a "Sistaslick Bun" (I just perfected it!!) to school and up in a clamp to work. My new regimen will consist of applying a leave-in followed by a moisturizer and Kemi Oil and worn in a bun most days. At night, I will take it down, moisturize and do the baggie method at night.  I haven't taken my MSM in a few weeks but I'm going to add it back in along with a multivitamin.  That's it for me this fall.

I was thinking about going in for a trim, but if anyone has any good at home trimming tips, I'll do it myself.  How did everyone else do??

Hello everybody,

I'm still transitioning to natural.  I co-wash twice and week and moisturize with shea butter. I deep condition once a week with ORS hair mayonnaise and shampoo every two weeks with CON. I have noticed alot of growth, but I have shrinkage so I haven't actually measured and I cut about 2 inches of the permed ends off last month. I had a lot of breaking before I cut the ends and that has seemed to go away. 

For the past month I cornrow my front and either do a braid-out, plait-out or a phony ponytail for the back. I have only been taking a multi-vitamin and hair & nail vitamin. I have become sort of lazy about taking Biotin and MSM. 

I have 2 months and 2 weeks until I do my BIG CHOP  That's all I have for now.

Honeydoo congrats for making it 12.5 weeks, don't be scared.

Monet001,

I will continue to perm...  Only because I cannot get a paddle brush through it to blow it straight - with too much new growth on my head... I would rip out all the hair on my head with all those tangles and naps!  And we won't even TALK about trying to air dry 4b (and worse) hair 12 weeks post relaxer 

Layla, I agree with you. Ur transitioning?? Is anyone in here a natural press...I've been for about 7 years....Have experienced great highs and long lengths...in the last year though I experienced trauma and stress that currently have my tresses near shoulder length...[not too happy about that]...but anyway i just wanted to know if anyone presses or flat irons their natural hair...we can discuss my thermal styling regime if u like [moisture and heat protection are important of course]

I'm still on the challenge.  Trying not to get discouraged because of the shrinkage factor with my braid-outs.

Anyway, just to share, I had a dream last night...more like a nightmare.  I went to the hair stylist and told her that I want to have a deep conditioning treatment.  She put a relaxer on my hair.  When I asked her about what she had put on my hair, it was to my disbelief.  I was so angry, while she made it out to be no big deal.  I told her that I just grew several inches to my hair and that now it will take a few years before it completely grows out.

Thank God it was just a dream though.

has anyone used redken products...im thinking of trying them but they are a tad expensv.....im really interested in their extreme repair line [with ceramide tech..jst like breakthru] and also their so soft and smooth line....their website looks promising...i was planning on picking some up by thurs...

also someone asked about avedas products [their tea is great]...i have used the scalp health line [cant remember the exact names] the conditioner left my 4a natural hair feeling baby soft [im so serious] i also used the leav in cond [called elixer i think] a little goes a LONG way..and ive got lots of thick pretty hair [quarter zise for your entire head]...finally the styling creme for thick, coarse hair is very moisturizing  [forgot that name too but its white with blue writing]

canopy, u can def have 2.5 or more inches by jan [why? b/c our hair grows at wonderfull rates just like everyone elses - - the key is to stop the breaking and it sounds like the care you give to your ends is nice....moisture to prevent breakage]

im curious to know the exact shampoo and conditioner you're using....

yes, heat is not desirable but i'm a natural press [ i actually flat iron (ceramic) now but my mom and sisters still use the old comb]

anyway back to the heat...the key is a [a MOISTURIZING shampoo and conditioner] and good thermal protectant ...consider: Matrix sleek.look Iron Smoother, $13.95
Before flat-ironing, spritz this lightweight, floral-scented spray on dry hair; Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion, $14.95
Smooth it on damp hair before blow-drying; TRESemmé Instant Heat Tamer Styling Spray, $3.99
Spray on damp hair before blow-drying or on dry hair before using a curling or straightening iron.

Finally for us {women of color} additional daily moisure - - sounds like you have that covered with the shea butter on your ends

Hello Arizona, one of the first things you should do is not to use Aphogee every month, it is only to be used every 6-8 weeks.  If you use it too much you could be getting too much protein. If you are wanting to transition to natural, braids would be better than pressing the hair. Heat can cause damage to you natural hair. If you get microbraids just make sure they are not too tight(especially in the front) and be sure to keep your hair moisturized. You may want to consider no-pooing (washing hair with conditioner only). I'm not sure about the dry scalp except for maybe using jojoba or tea tree oil. I hope this helps.