Growth Challenge...reloaded

curlynikki · 09-23-2006, 08:09 AM

Is anyone interested in a grow-out challenge?!

Well, I've seen some curlies do this on NC before, but I came along too late. My motivations? I want my hair to be atleast shoulder length un-stretched by 8-8-08 (my wedding!!). It seems that my hair would show length if I didn't do certain things to hinder the growth for styling purposes.

As far as the rules, I'm not sure...maybe:

1. Little to no heat (15 mins for expedited drying but not for styling, i.e. stretching roots for length)
2. Daily/nightly moisturizing
3. Weekly DT's?
4. No products with alcohol (I sometimes use hair spray

)
5. Taking hair vitamins regularly (biotin, flaxseed oil, evening primrose...)
6. When in doubt...step away from the scissors

7. Any others you guys can think of??

If you're interested, share your motivations, goal and any other rules you can come up with

mariposa · 09-28-2006, 01:57 PM

i am - i had posted in the 3c column by accident - i'm definitely not 3c.... i'm 4a/b..... or 4b with a definite curl pattern

i think for christmas i would like it mostly to be chin-shoulder length streched...... and mostly bra strap length by next summer, if not earlier

my hair curls/shrinks so much (90%) i'm not sure there's any point to saying how long i would like it to be unstretched...... ideally it would be around my shoulders or just above

it is currently growing quite a bit and i'm happy with that

more on techniques later

HeatherNicole · 10-06-2006, 03:27 AM

I would like to participate in this...first of all, I need a trim something terrible. So I'll let you know when I get that cause I only trim when my hair is straight. However, I can tell now what I need to do

Internally

Eat better (though I have gotten better)

Drink more water (I was kickin butt in this during the summer why I stopped I dunno)

Exercise regularly (I'm a sporatic exerciser)

Take my damn vitamins ( I'm going to add a couple more to the routine, like biotin, fish oil, and Complex B I think)

Externally

STOP PICKING and PULLING AT MY DAMN ENDS I swear I have more knots and splits due to this than anything else

Deep Treatment once a week

Be more gentle when I detangle

I already do protective styling...meaning I wear it in a pony all the time. So I think I might start wearing it out more and get some air in my scalp

Find a sweet moisturizing product (thinking about Whipped Pudding by Oyin) to use daily. If I do this I'm definitely wearing my hair in a pony the majority of the time and moisturizing either every night or every other night. If someone knows a good recipe that'd be awesome too.

My goal: I don't care about reaching BSL anytime soon within the next couple years is awesome by me. I'll be happy with shoulder length by the time next year though.

I couldn't leave my homie Nikki abandoned in here so I thought I'd chime in. And who knows..maybe it's the motivation I've needed.

curlynikki · 10-06-2006, 07:01 AM

Quote:

I couldn't leave my homie Nikki abandoned in here so I thought I'd chime in. And who knows..maybe it's the motivation I've needed.

awww .... well, ,Lord knows I need the motivation and I'm doing good so far, even with the water. I need to stop picking at my ends ...and get a trim pretty soon because I do have quite a few knots. By the way, the biotin, is definitely working. I'm not sure if its helping the hair on my head, but my eyebrows (I know, right) are growing like crazy and so is the hair on my legs... I literally have to shave every morning. Oh and definitely get some Coconut oil if you don't have any. I used some last night under my leave-in and my hair is soft and my rough ass ends are smooth. I was going to take pics last night, but it was my 5 yr anniversary

so I was a lil' busy. I'll take pics today.

mariposa · 10-08-2006, 03:19 AM

nikki i just looked at your album - really adore your hair

curlynikki · 10-08-2006, 08:04 AM

Thanx Mariposa! You made my day

Suburbanbushbabe · 10-08-2006, 10:54 AM

Okay I'll chime. I want to state my goals and how I intend to achieve them.

Goal: Add 2 inches to hair's length in the next year; Stop breakage; hair is strong and healthy, with a good supporting cut.

Means:
- Trim off the skanky ends (it's been 4 months

) getting cut 10/21 - get trims when needed (8 weeks?)
- Eat more fruits and veggies, drink water; lower salt intake; add flaxseed
- Exercise at least 4 times per week
- Get more sun exposure (walks)
- Continue use of oils, conditioners, etc.
- Continue to love my hair
- Clear the clutter from my life physical and mental.
- Add more love in my life.
- ETA Plenty of sleep - (thanks dsg-girly&curly)

curlynikki · 10-08-2006, 12:01 PM

Karenmc3, you always give such great advice, I was just wondering...

when are you going to post pics of your hair?!

I'd love to see your curls and have another fotki to stalk.

Suburbanbushbabe · 10-08-2006, 12:28 PM

Curlynikki, I'd love to show my curls and I am sorry that you all could not see the before mod-CG versus the after. But I am ashamed to say I am an electronic cavewoman

I barely use this fancy Medicenter PC. That and just time and fear. I have a gift certificate and can buy a camera anytime and there's a Best Buy right across the street from my workplace. But then I have to research the best one, then when I buy it, OMG I have to hook it up (where's the scream emoticon). I am technically challenged. And get this: I sell computer storage - RAID systems for enterprise Data centers. I can explain all the different systems and the features and bennies. But don't get me near one please. That's what tech support is for

Soon, I hope.

Any digital camera recs? (for dummies

)

curlynikki · 10-08-2006, 02:00 PM

Oh well, I'll just be waiting impatiently. It is pretty cool that you sell all of that high tech equiptment (none of which I knew what you were talking about) but are intimidated by digi cams. I was too. My fiance bought a nice one a few months ago and I didn't start using it until recently. I'm not one to read instruction manuals, so as long as it is on a relatively easy setting (like a disposable camera), I'm good. I just snap, plug it into the back of the comp. and voila

Easy enough after a couple of tries...just doing it the first time takes some guts,

I totally understand your apprehension

semperfemme · 10-08-2006, 02:40 PM

I'd like to join in too!I feel like my hair growth has been suffering from always wearing my coily fro out. I think a nice bout of protective styling will do me some good.

Here are my short-term hair goals;

1. Keep my twist styles for at least 2 weeks at a time.

2. Deep condition Bi-weekly and actually stick with it.

3. Do a light protein treatment every six weeks.

4. Stick to my vitamin regimen.

5. Keep up with my water intake.

6. 20 mins cardio 6 days per week.

In the long run, I'd like to have bra-strap length by June 2007. I'm a little above armpit length when stretched. I want to stay in protective styles until June as I've worn my hair out for the past 2 years.

I like the rules we have so far! :Smurf1:smurf1.gif Now we just have to figure out how long the challenge is going to last. I also think it would be good to have OFFICIAL check in dates, where we have to post pics in our fotkis and give a brief synopsis of our routines and how they may have changed. You can update as you go along of course, but it may make it easier for people who don't have the time or patience to come to the boards on the regular.

curlynikki · 10-08-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Now we just have to figure out how long the challenge is going to last. I also think it would be good to have OFFICIAL check in dates, where we have to post pics in our fotkis and give a brief synopsis of our routines and how they may have changed. You can update as you go along of course, but it may make it easier for people who don't have the time or patience to come to the boards on the regular.

Great ideas! Give us some guidelines!

dsg-girlycurly · 10-08-2006, 07:12 PM

I would love to join this growth challenge. I'm currently participating in another growth challenge that ends May 2007 on the transitioner board. However, this challenge will end around my 2nd Nappiversary and I'm hoping for unstretched shoulder length by then...so I'm in. I plan on:

Wearing protective styles for the winter months
Wash n Wears in the summer months
Weekly deep conditions and detangling
Daily moisturizing
Low pooing (occasional clarifying poos to eliminate buildup)
Taking vitamins
Drinking water
Exercising
Trims when necessary
and here is the big one -- getting Plenty of Sleep

This is what I need -- I'll be checking in!

curlynikki · 10-09-2006, 08:10 AM

I was going to start a new topic for this, but I figured most of you would come here and read it anyway...

Last night, I tried a really simple recipe from np.com and I love it! I dumped my fantasia gel into a bowl and added about a cup of coconut oil to it. I mixed it up and the gel basically stayed the same texture, its just white now. I did my usual routine...leave-in, added the gel on top and brushed it through and sat under the hooded dryer (on low) for about 20 minutes to dry it to about 80%. The curls are gorgeous and soft. The hold is slightly firm like fantasia but you can tell its much more moisturizing. Its a great alternative to leaving gel alone all together like I was considering. Give it a try if you want a moisturizing gel. The lady from np also suggested mixing it with aloe vera gel too.

just thought i'd share

semperfemme · 10-09-2006, 11:34 AM

Okie Dokie,

How about we do a check in every 30th until the end of the challenge. (Is this six months or a year long?) On this day we post links to the challeneg section of our fotkis and post a nice paragraph (or something) talking about what we did, how well we've stayed on our goals, and of course, how much growth we've obtained since last check in.

Every album owner should start a new section for this challenge so that other members can instantly access and compliment their respective progress.

Let's see if we can all get our first length shots and new folders set up by this Friday, which happens to also be the 13th.

What do you think Nikki?

It's so weird calling you Nikki, that's my name too. LOL!

curlynikki · 10-09-2006, 01:39 PM

Ewww....Friday the 13th, I didn't realize.

Those guidelines sound great! Let's initially try for 6 months, and we'll keep going if we need to. I'll put up length pics either tonight or tomorrow

mariposa · 10-09-2006, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlynikki

Ewww....Friday the 13th, I didn't realize.

Those guidelines sound great! Let's initially try for 6 months, and we'll keep going if we need to. I'll put up length pics either tonight or tomorrow

i made a fotki yesterday - yay!
dunno when i'll get length pics in though
as far as the guidelines
how about checking in at least 2x month - once seems too long
i would like it to be weekly but that's probably too often

maybe by 15th and 30th each month and posting a photo or update at least 1x month?

curlynikki · 10-09-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

made a fotki yesterday - yay!

Yay! When are you going to post it?!
2 check ins per month (minimum) sounds great! I'll post pics 2x per month and I'll check in probably more than that. Good luck ladies!

Suburbanbushbabe · 10-09-2006, 03:39 PM

Related but shameless guano -- I need to buy a camera very soon so I can start a photojournal and am looking for recommendations. So if you are in love with your digital camera, please post in

http://www.naturallycurly.com/phpBB/...393&highlight=

Fleurzty · 10-09-2006, 04:00 PM

I haven't posted in a while, but I am definitely interested in doing the hair challenge. I actually just twisted my hair, and I hope to leave it alone for at least 2 weeks.
In a month, it'll be my 2-year anniversary, and I think my hair has done well. It's bacl to almost its original length. My challenges are as follow:
1) Smoothe my ends, use more butters
2) Wear hair in more protective styles
3) Deep condition weekly
4) Detangle once or twice a week
5) Start taking a multivitamin
6) Drink more water
I'm sure I can find more things I'm doing wrong if I think hard enough. I'll start with these and see how it goes. I want more growth and healthy, shiny, soft hair. I'll try to post pictures regularly over the next 6 months.