Thank you
@MzSwift! for sharing your story! I am encouraged by it.
I guess I'll share mine....
Childhood, my mom always made sure I had my single braids or cornrows. I was protective styling 365 days a year basically! Thing was I didnt understand that I need moisture to retain. I too, grew up hearing that black people cannot grow long hair.
Come high school, I start caring about length and started googling about it. I eventually found this lhcf board with 0.00$ in my bank account. I was lurking for years. I think I even begged my dad to pay for my subscription once so I could comment here, he didn't get it... I shouldve asked my mom.
At least this season allowed me to escape a product junkie phase. I did learned about trimming and started implementing that every time I took down braids, especially for the back row of my hair - that section improved by trims alone. I still had no proper concept of moisturizing. Hair remained at shoulder length.
In college, I dyed my hair ginger. I looooved itttt! I probably wont ever dye my hair again unless with indigo or henna, I have no intention to maintain it and it's harder to retain moisture for me. As it grew out, and my roots started showing more and more, I realized I needed to figure out how to retain. Because I KNOW and have visual PROOF that my hair is indeed growing, but still shoulder length? Something's gotta give.
I tried all the suggestions, all the products, all the methods and I gained *some* length. Entered my product junkie era. Although very close to APL, not enough to claim armpit length unless I wanted to play delusional. I discovered my love for peppermint/menthol on my scalp, that was a win for me.
Eventually, I was a busy girl saving for university - I was working a lot, I had crochet twists in. My daily routine was quick and short: spray partings with water (with a drop of ACV), oil scalp with peppermint and spray with (cooking) olive oil spray, a quick scalp massage. Literally 15 seconds of a massage cause I was rushing out the door. In the 6 weeks of doing this, I reached APL and was nearing BSL for the first time! I did it again, different crochet hair style but same cornrows. Basically, I was so busy in that season, I only had time to wash the cornrows and reapply a new set of crochet - so that's what I did. Although I eventually grew inconsistent (and less busy) I repeated again for another 12 weeks and one sweet day, I found myself at
MBL
(or an inch away from it) . Summer time growth spurt came in handy that year to balance out my lack of discipline. It was nice to come on here and dwell with a supportive community! This board helped to keep me accountable. Shout out to all of you who keep showing up and keep lhcf somewhat alive, I know it's nothing like how it use to be but it's better then nothing.
After uni, even though I found it easier to take care of my hair when it was longer (it's like it was easier to handle shrinkage and such), I got out of an abusive relationship and had zero energy to take care of my hair. It was in some protective style that I didnt touch for nearly 3 months straight, no washing or anything (I know, gross). With that came a lot of breakage when I finally took it down.
I had to cut it back to around BSB... found myself having to keep cutting periodically, the split ends were wild! Recovery mode for a good 2 years. My hair grows slow and I was on a regular trimming schedule until I did no notice any split ends and that I could lessen the trims, go back to 3-4x a year.
I'm blessed because I tried a keratin treatment to straighten my hair last year and it didnt take. I thought it was a setback because my coils were gone, I hated it. By the next wash day they were back as if they never left. My hair laughs at straightening products. Because of my perceived setback (so much heat was used for the keratin treatment) it is possible I didnt retained as much last year, but I sure did get a good trim to end of the year and I was happy about that. I was due anyway, I didnt trim that whole year because I had no reason to, the ends were healthy. Around this time last year I got to a healthy BSL and started to smile again when I did length checks. When I compare the images below, I also realized the bra strap in the 2022 photos are shorter when I compare the location of my shoulder blade in the 2023 photos (unless I am seeing things). Whether there was a setback or not, my hair is healthy and that is considered progress to me.
November 2022
September 2023
Admittedly, I still have issues being consistent and with coming on here for personal accountability. That's why I started the
hair vows thread - because I was tired of my behaviour, still kinda am... I have all the tools, oils, etc to get back on track, and the I desire to keep to my commitment to see results is still there. The journey has been long, but I love that I now am sure of what works and doesnt work for my hair. I can keep it simple if I want or I can go all out with the hair products that I know for sure work for me.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised when I take down the cornrows under my protective style in December. I am longing for the day I get back to a healthy MBL - the gateway to my ultimate personal goal of WHIP length hair! Would be a fabulous way to start the year, at MBL. However, I've grown accustomed to slow growth, if I dont see MBL this December that's fine. I just want to see progress, I know MBL is coming... Hm, now I'm thinking I should put myself on a 30 day scalp massage challenge.
I do think that whatever phase that made me cut my hair off at shoulder length has passed, at least now.
Ma'am, you can't come in here dropping pics of that beautiful hair and NOT share what the heck the Mermaid Method is!!!!! 
