APL 2012 Challenge

[Khaiya]

I bought a steamer and started steaming bi-weekly.
I stopped using my Protein products except for the Joico K-Pak reconstructor and hydrating balm and chelating shampoo. I use the reconstructor and hydrating balm once every 2 weeks. While I use the chelating shampoo at every wash because I discovered the water here is hard.
Right now though, I have reduced the chelating shampoo to once a week.

I started using moisture only products. I now use AOWC for my DC and Elucence MB Condish as a leave-in on wet soppy hair.

I have had a struggle with getting the right moisturizer - I tried the NTM Silky touch, but my hair doesn't like it. Maybe I need to change my technique. Right now I use a mix of AOHSR with AVJ and distilled water.

I'll leave the shedding alone, because in my opinion, it's normal and i've just accepted it myself, as long as my hair isn't thinning out i'm cool. However i do notice that when my hair is on point, moisture, low mani, etc. i shed less too so maybe if you get the breakage under control, the shedding will ease up too.

Personally i think weekly chelating is a lot, i have a friend who did that and his hair went from soft and shiny to brittle, dull and splitsville! I have never seen so many splits in one head before! So that might be something to try even though you have hard water.

I dont know much about the products you mentioned, but make sure that you are DCing with a product intended for DCing, something that instructs you to leave it on for 10-15 minutes, i found that DCing with instant/cheapie conditioners was not doing it for me at all, so i had to get a real DC.

Also you need to find a good moisturizer that you can use daily or every other day, when i was relaxed my hair could not do without WN Moisturizing Mist but it did nothing for my natural hair and boy have i struggled with splits, breakage and dryness as a result! I just started using S-Curl tho and i am in hair heaven! I cant keep my hands out my hair and the breakage (and shedding) has become almost non-existent. So try and find a water based moisturizer that works for you, you mentioned the NTM but is that creamy or watery? I find the watery ones work better for me, but you can always seal your hair with the creamy one.

P.S. Sorry so long but hope something helps

 

[Evolving78]

praise report!

my hair didn't turn on me! i had my hair saturated with coconut oil, applied the tresemme/water mix to dampen, applied Joico RM Balm.

then i dc'ed for an hour or so. rinsed, my hair felt really good. i mixed distilled water with my shampoo in bottle with an applicator spout. i only focused on my scalp. rinsed

my hair felt amazing after i got out of the shower. i blot dried with my towel, applied NT Triple Moisture leave-in and my Argan Oil. i worked those products into my hair and proceeded to detangle with my wide tooth comb. i removed the shed hairs and now i am air drying scarf method.

i am so happy that i texted my SO and told him the good news! once my hair is dry, i am going to apply a little more leave-in as a moisturizer, my Profectiv oil sheen and bun with my spin pin. i got a pretty black lacy bun net that i put over it.

thanks ladies. i am going to make sure i write everything i did for next wash day. hopefully this will work throughout the summer to get me to my goal of BSL by Dec. i'll never leave you ladies alone. i will be in the APL challenge until my bangs are APL. that's at least another 2 years!

btw, i am wigging it for my b-day. i am not trying to mess up this reggie i got going on. week 2 and counting!

 

[mamaore]

Wow. Your lack of heat is impressive! And you're right something is missing... So now it's finding your protein and moisture balance so that your hair retains the moisture you give it.

Be sure to not sleep in a ponytail/bun. You cant fully control how you sleep so reducing any extra stress on your hair is key.

Keep us informed with products and such and hopefully we can help you figure out the culprit!

I learnt to stay away from the flat iron after I had to chop off ALL my hair in 2007 from severe heat damage and relaxer overprocessing

I actually sleep in a ponytail almost every night. You may be on to something there. Maybe I could so 2 big twists and hide the ends.

 

[NikkiQ]

Ever have one of those days at work that people get on your nerves SO bad that you start to tune them out and daydream about when your hair is full APL?


....or is it just me?

 

[livinthevida]

Ladies I meant to post these this morning yet no time running out the door! Here are pictures of my hair with my go-to natural hair product - Organic Coconut Oil! I normally roller set in the evenings yet thought I try something different with the weather much warmer this week.

I achieved this look by sectioning my hair into 6 sections - 3 in the back and 3 in the front as if I were setting rollers. I then do a two-strand twist on each part and curl like a bantu knot.

This look held all day in this humidity! Loving that Coconut Oil

*ladies I'll aim for less steam/foggy photos next time! these were right after my shower!

 

[livinthevida]

Ever have one of those days at work that people get on your nerves SO bad that you start to tune them out and daydream about when your hair is full APL?


....or is it just me?

We all know exactly how that is NikkiQ! It's definitely not you tuning into another channel works so well to drown out all of that noise! LOL!

I too daydream of APL + BSL + WSL everyday!!!

 

[Poutchi]

Ever have one of those days at work that people get on your nerves SO bad that you start to tune them out and daydream about when your hair is full APL?


....or is it just me?

Lol... no...not there yet... When people get on my nerves I ship them to my boss... lol

 

[livinthevida]

comparison pics

wash and go dec 10 2011

wash and go march 22 2012

BronxJazzy WOW! You have great hair growth in just 3 months! Your hair looks very healthy with nice shine and curl definition!

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

@BronxJazzy WOW! You have great hair growth in just 3 months! Your hair looks very healthy with nice shine and curl definition!

Thanks...Its growing like a weed. I'm already almost armpit length. I cant wait for our progress pics in a few days.

 

[livinthevida]

Welcome aboard JulietWhiskey and mamaore! You will find we have very smart ladies here who can provide a great deal of valuable advice and support along your Healthy Hair Journey (HHJ)!

NikkiQ try it! You might be surprised of the results even with the weather! Now that I know how to care for my hair I really love wearing my hair out when its natural. Feels good to have this hair fall to my shoulders and blow in the wind

Evallusion your hair looks great! If you do braids what type are you going to put in? Please post pics too

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Before I go and wash my hair I wanted to try a new style. The fro hawk. This is my first time doing it and its just a test run but I dont know I kinda like it. What do you all think?

and one more progress pic this was my hair around may 2011

 

[NikkiQ]

Before I go and wash my hair I wanted to try a new style. The fro hawk. This is my first time doing it and its just a test run but I dont know I kinda like it. What do you all think?

and one more progress pic this was my hair around may 2011

Do you have a shot of the side? I love how the front looks on you!

Sent by me from my Android phone.Boom

 

[coolsista-paris]

Before I go and wash my hair I wanted to try a new style. The fro hawk. This is my first time doing it and its just a test run but I dont know I kinda like it. What do you all think?

and one more progress pic this was my hair around may 2011

BronxJazzy

looking good. Those cute curls .the next time you can also try to éther braid or.conrow.eachside and.in the front middle make it almost straight and mage.it go.back like à.banana (sorry dont know low.you ball.it,in french wé call that à banana lol).. But you know it sticks up high à bit. And of course if you do that....PICS! Lol that too will look so good on you i bet.

I would really love doing à fro hawk again .its cool ans sexy.

 

[coolsista-paris]

How are all of you??

I was getting pissed with my dry hair..its been sucking all moisture . Next week ill do exactly What worked 2 months ago without being lazy and jumping steps !
I added some ceramid condit on my conrows and guess What : dryness has disapeared and its sooooo soft!. I caught up on my stupid lazyness mistakes .

 

[livinthevida]

Before I go and wash my hair I wanted to try a new style. The fro hawk. This is my first time doing it and its just a test run but I dont know I kinda like it. What do you all think?

BronxJazzy this style looks good on you! How did you set the sides to go up and toward the back while keeping the curls?

 

[livinthevida]

How are all of you??

I was getting pissed with my dry hair..its been sucking all moisture . Next week ill do exactly What worked 2 months ago without being lazy and jumping steps !
I added some ceramid condit on my conrows and guess What : dryness has disapeared and its sooooo soft!. I caught up on my stupid lazyness mistakes .

coolsista-paris doing good here! I finally let my hair out today without a roller set felt good to let all this hair go to the wind even with the temperature rising outside and humidity in the air! I felt like whipping my hair like a rocker

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

@BronxJazzy this style looks good on you! How did you set the sides to go up and toward the back while keeping the curls?

I used darcy botanicals curly jelly and kccc. So my curls werent going anywhere. I just brushed it up and bobby pinned it in place. It was actually a simple style. I looked at a youtube vid and copied what she did.

 

[caltron]

Well, I've gone one week heat free and I think I'm getting the hang of it. I've been dry roller setting nightly. I've finally got the right size of rollers and figured out the tension I need to use.

Now I just need to learn how to do some sort of protective style like an updo or bun for those days when I fall asleep before I roll it. I did that once this week and had to go to work looking like a wet chicken.

I am also a little afraid of what's going to happen after wash day. My hair is behaving because I just got a retouch, but I don't know how it's going to be after I do my washes. I think I'll have to flatiron it after doing a deep condition and steam. Hopefully the deep condition will counteract any negative effects of the heat. I just hope I don't end up looking like a poodle with the roller sets.

I do notice the difference in my hair though and think if I stick with it, I'll be at a very full APL or beyond by September. It's much softer and shinier with more bounce.

 

[mami2010]

Sitting under dryer with deep conditioner on. I want to flat iron so bad but, I will just do what's right and roller set. I am about 11 weeks post and it starting to get rough!

 

[coolsista-paris]

Sitting under dryer with deep conditioner on. I want to flat iron so bad but, I will just do what's right and roller set. I am about 11 weeks post and it starting to get rough!

Moisture moisture moisture.

Im still asking myself if i should flat iron next week or not for lenth.check. I hear that less product gives best results .but Im scared of frying my hair after all these efforts to get to Apl.

 

[pookaloo83]

I usually use AO HSR to dc with but I think I need To find me a dv that us specifically for dc's.

Sent from my iPhone 4s

 

[jprayze]

mami2010 Your hair will thank you for it

 

[NikkiQ]

Well, I've gone one week heat free and I think I'm getting the hang of it. I've been dry roller setting nightly. I've finally got the right size of rollers and figured out the tension I need to use.

Now I just need to learn how to do some sort of protective style like an updo or bun for those days when I fall asleep before I roll it. I did that once this week and had to go to work looking like a wet chicken.

I am also a little afraid of what's going to happen after wash day. My hair is behaving because I just got a retouch, but I don't know how it's going to be after I do my washes. I think I'll have to flatiron it after doing a deep condition and steam. Hopefully the deep condition will counteract any negative effects of the heat. I just hope I don't end up looking like a poodle with the roller sets.

I do notice the difference in my hair though and think if I stick with it, I'll be at a very full APL or beyond by September. It's much softer and shinier with more bounce.

Have you tried doing braid outs, twist outs and bantu knots? I used to do bantu knots all the time when I was relaxed in between my touch ups and loved the wavy look. You could never tell how much NG I had either so I was able to stretch for a bit when I wanted to.

 

[pookaloo83]

Have you tried doing braid outs, twist outs and bantu knots? I used to do bantu knots all the time when I was relaxed in between my touch ups and loved the wavy look. You could never tell how much NG I had either so I was able to stretch for a bit when I wanted to.

Yep! I did the same thing.

Sent from my iPhone 4s

 

[LadyRaider]

I hope I don't cause myself a set back. But this week it was so easy to wash/condish in the morning, then twist wet and then pull out the twists and let it go before I go to work.

I got stiff, dry unmanageable curls by the afternoon using shescentit products. Ugh!
I got great curls all day using Jane Carter defining cream.
(still can't pull off second day hair though!)

 

[caltron]

Have you tried doing braid outs, twist outs and bantu knots? I used to do bantu knots all the time when I was relaxed in between my touch ups and loved the wavy look. You could never tell how much NG I had either so I was able to stretch for a bit when I wanted to.

I love the look of braidouts, etc., but I can never get those to work on my hair. My twistouts and bantu knots straighten out too easily and the braidouts just look...I don't even have words to describe how those come out.

I get so frustrated and it's hard to practice because once a style doesn't work, then you're stuck all day with it.

 

[NikkiQ]

^^girl don't give up. Use some product with a little hold and try a bantu knot out this weekend and if it doesn't work...pin that sucka up into a cute up-do. Hair pins to the rescue!!

 

[sajjy]

Made myself a u-part wig and I'm loving it. Can't wait to get paid and buy some of that onyc kinky curly hair for the summer... I'm definately hoping to make a u-part wig out of it I really prefer it to a sew-in

 

[TruMe]

I am LOVIN my hair today!! Did a CJ Repair Me Protein treatment last night and my hair is still thanking me. I also realized that it is best for me to squeeze out as much water as I can without drying my hair before I apply any product to set. The shrinkage could be a little more forgiving but all in all, looking good. :-D

 

[VictoriousBrownFlower]

Made myself a u-part wig and I'm loving it. Can't wait to get paid and buy some of that onyc kinky curly hair for the summer... I'm definately hoping to make a u-part wig out of it I really prefer it to a sew-in

I'm getting some kinky curly hair for a weave this summer too. I'm thinking about weaving it up for a yr and then seeing where I end up. I think i will be in love with my hair once its bra strap.