Reader Progress: SAH

SAH has a wonderful hair story that she'll be documenting right here on Long Hair Don't Care!  Check out her start pics and her complete hair story...

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The attached pictures were taken on October 15, 2009 -- immediately after working out, so my hair was beginning to curl a little. My hair had been straightened 5 days prior using a blowdryer and flat iron.  These pics are the official beginning of my hair journey.  In the past, I have only been able to grow my hair to about 1" past my shoulders.  And even then it wasn't very full ...the ends would be thin and break pretty easily (my hair is pretty fine anyway).  I thought that 1" past my should was as long as my hair could grow until I started reading LHDC!

QUESTION:  After looking at my pics, would you call my current length "grazing" Shoulder Length, or full Neck Length? To me, in pic #s 1 and 2 it looks SL(g), but in pic #3, it looks like full NL.  Since I'm so new to this, I don't know.  I'm planning on doing the T-Shirt measuring method that I read about also, so that I can have a more accurate measure when 30 days has passed.

I don't really know where to begin with My Hair Story, without telling my LIFE story ... so I guess I'll just try to make it short ...

 

As a pre-teen, my mother would press my hair to get it straight (and I loved it when it was straight!).  By the time I would come home from school (most days) it would be frizzy around the edges and not looking the same as it did when I left the house that morning.  At this time my hair was shoulder length (SL).  Even though most people told me I had what they would call "good hair," in order for me to maintain any style that was "in" I felt as I became a teen and went to junior high, that I needed to get a relaxer. If I didn't, my hair would be a huge poofball at the end of the day (especially if it was humid outside).  SO, thus began my journey of dry, damaged, overly processed, non-growing (or so I thought) hair. 

In 2006, after much research and many, many things done to my hair over the years, trying to look cute, I decided to try going natural.  Relaxers were beginning to make my already fine hair even thinner and very limp.  What good is the use of having relaxed hair, if it is so thin and straight that it doesn't even want to hold a curl anymore?  So ... I never did the BC ... my husband (and probably me too) would have FREAKED with my hair that short!  Not everybody can do that and look good ... I'm just saying...

So, I transitioned very gradually by trimming my ends whenever I saw some new growth.  After a while, I noticed that my hair was growing and looking much healthier.  BUT, then at the beginning of 2009, I started getting bored and discouraged.  From 2006-2009 I had tried various products to achieve a curl that I felt looked good enough to wear my hair down, but was never able to quite achieve the look I was trying for.  Most times, I would look as if I had a Jheri Curl (and that was NOT what I wanted to look like!)  So, I broke down and got my hair cut into a bob (a little longer than chin length) (It was cute and I got many compliments, so, of course, that made me happy!)  This was in March of 2009 AND when I got the cut I also got a mild relaxer.  I thank God that the relaxer was mild enough that it didn't eliminate my curl pattern, it just made the curls a little less tight. 

So, now here I am, 7 months later and look how much my hair has grown without me even consciously trying!  It has grown about 3 inches!!! (just an estimate, but from my chin to the bottom of my neck is about 3 inches).   I have to admit though that as I look back, during the last 3-4 months, I have been wearing my ends protected quite a bit (because I've been working out alot).  However, I was not cleansing and conditioning very often (I know ... I know better now!)  So, now that I know how to take good care of my hair using the 3 C's (and I have started taking some supplements and increasing my protein), I am confident that I can gain at least 6 inches of growth (maybe more) by this time next year!  I am very excited and encouraged by LHDC and it's readers!

So here are my New Hair Resolutions:

• I will NOT be letting another hair stylist touch my hair -- (there are SO many reasons why ... I have had some NIGHTMARES at the beauty parlor; costs too much money AND, bottom line: 

I have come to find out that I truly do know my hair better than anyone else.

• I will BE PATIENT -- My hair growth journey is going to take some time!
• I will WASH my hair twice a week:  One Co-wash; One Regular Shampoo Wash / ACV CLARIFYING Treatment / (DEEP CONDITIONING Treatment - using plastic cap and hooded hair dryer for 30 minutes)
• I will Use a water-based moisturizer on my hair EVERY DAY
• I will Wear a PROTECTIVE STYLE (ends protected) EVERY DAY and NO HEAT until it's time for my quarterly pic on November 15th!!
• I will Cover my hair at night with a satin scarf/bonnet.
• I will Take my supplements daily.  Right now I am taking Flaxseed Oil, Biotin, MSM and Calcium+D (the calcium isn't for the hair, it's 'cause I'm getting up there!)
• I will Take in 20 grams of protein in one meal at least 6 time per week
• I will Drink Daily at LEAST 1/2 my body weight in water (Dasani is the BEST! ... so smooth!)
• I will Exercise (cardio only for now) 6-7 days per week (it is also my goal to drop 12-15 lbs. by my birthday) (end of December)
• I will Take Pics quarterly -- my next pic will be taken on January 15th.

With this regimen, I am believing that my efforts will not be in vain and that my hair will achieve growth like I have never before seen (along with the bonus of healthy hair!)
I will keep LHDC posted on my hair journey.  Please keep up the great work on your website.

SAH
Happy Hair Growing To All!  :O)

Comments

[Steph]

Thanks! Now let's just pray that I can stick with it! :O)

[Tee]

Great plan you cant go wrong.