Stretch With Me (3) The Realization !!

I am 24.5 weeks post. Yes that's 6months and 5 days, WoW!! During this stretch i have learned a lot.

1. I can stretch for longer than i thought
2. I can stretch without adding extensions (never stretched this long without extensions before
3. I can make waistlength !!!

The last statement is a realization that waistlength is possible, because i now know what i've been doing wrong. I've had waistlength hair before, so i should be able to achieve it again, right :o) This stretch has showed me that my hair is growing at the normal rate, but i have not been retaining the length. I now know that i must go back to some of the things that got me to waistlength before. I know that hair can and does change over time, but some things remain the same. I am encouraged because i see a lot of growth and i am determined to keep it. How?

The biggest change is gonna be protecting my ends and moisturizing & sealing. In the past moisturizing and sealing was not consistently done because i have fine hair, but i now know it is what i really need to get me to my goal !!!

I don't know how much longer i will stretch. I've had a very itchy scalp from a reaction to a conditioner, but i'll update when i can safely relax.

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Stretch With Me Challenge - Part 3

Okay ladies,

I'm on a new stretch challenge. This time i would like to make it to 6 months. I'm 8 weeks post and my new growth is like super afro right now. I have been using MN and an Indian growth oil and i have about 1 inch of new growth. Usually at 8 weeks i may have 1/2 inch of new growth, so it could be a combination of the heat (almost every day it's been 90 degrees and over in New York), the castor oil, the MN. I don't know but, it's good. I have a lot of shrinkage, so i look like i'm a little past apl. Waistlength where are you? Anyway, i'm not having too much trouble handling my hair right now. Even with the new growth the tangles are minimal. I think the heavy conditioner is keeping the new growth soft. I apply on dry hair, plastic cap, towel wrapped around my head, and leave on for 1 hour.

My deep conditioning mix :
Doo gro Thickening Conditioner
Tresemme Remoisture Conditioner with vitamin E
Vitale Olive Oil Hair Mayonnaise







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8 weeks down !!!
16 more to go !!!

Stretch With Me Challenge-Part 2

My last stretch lasted for 5-1/2 months and i'm at it again. This time i'm gonna try my best to make it to a least 6 months. I'm almost 3 weeks post. I will be wearing mostly protective styles and moving to a more natural hair products regimen. I'm not sure if i should go back to texlaxing in order to eventually go natural. Aww, decisions, decisions.

Come join me on the new Stretch With Me Challenge

Stretch With Me Challenge 17 weeks post

I'm 17 weeks post!!! It makes me feel good to say that, but it ain't all good, lol  Something funny is starting to happen.  My hair is starting to stick together in some spots and seems to be dryer than usual. I haven't changed my regimen very much, so maybe it's time to kick up the moisture a notch? Should i incorporate more oils? More co-washes? IDK, but it's getting a little harder to control the new growth now. I didn't expect it to be easy, so i will teak my regimen a little to see if  that helps !!!

Stretch With Me Challenge

Stretch With Me Challenge - 11 weeks post

Wow, i'm 11 weeks post now !!! So far it's been pretty easy dealing with the new growth.  I expected to really be struggling with my new growth now, because in the past, by the time i was 8 weeks my new growth would be so hard to manage.  I have about 1 inch of growth and that's pretty good for me. I'm a slow grower.

This is what i've been doing on my stretch :
1. Co-washing/deep conditioning in sections on dry hair (Mondays & Thursdays)
2. Air-drying
3. Applying JBCO to scalp (on wash days)
4. Applying Chi Keratin Mist (as a leave-in)
5. Applying a dime size of coconut oil to length

Extra :
moisturizing & sealing in sections (Wed, fri & Sun) 1x day

I will keep up with this regimen for as long as it works for my stretching

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Come Join the Challenge !!!

The Stretch With Me Challenge

Start Date : January 18th 2010
End Date : for the length of your stretch

Welcome Ladies,

I am three weeks post. I plan to stretch for 4 months and this will be the first time i have attempted to stretch this long !!! You can stretch for however long you would like, just a long as it is longer than you usually stretch. Let's support each other in our quest for healthier hair. Let's see how long we can stretch !!!

Rules :
1. co-washing
2. Deep conditioning
3. Low heat
4. Moisture & protein balance
5. Low manipulation
6. Protective Styles
7. Progress check-in *

Click here to join challenge