This year (2012), I've decided to partner up with some other natural dolls for some healthy body, healthy hair challenges. I'm an avid reader of The Natural Hair Haven, Black Girl With Long Hair, and my absolute FAVE, CurlyNikki. I love each of these sites in no particular order, but my heart lies with CurlyNikki! I learned a great deal about my hair from these sites and I recommend them to anyone who is in the process of transitioning to natural or needs a few pointers to maintain your natural hair. They are a God-send and everyone should know about them.
My 2012 Hair Challenges: Protect Ya Ends (BGLH) and 12 inches in 12 months (CurlyNikki)
I'm not much of a protective style fan. However, I know that it is necessary. For the next 3 months (January 1 -- March 31), I will be tucking my ends away to protect them from damage in an effort to retain more length. The ends are the oldest parts of our hair and is more susceptible to breakage, splits, knots, and dryness. Couple that with mediocre maintenance is recipe for disaster. So the next 3 months I'll be babying my ends and watching them very closely. Keeping them moisturized, detangled, and protected from the elements. This means I'm going to have to get pretty creative with PSing. They tend to get redundant and boring, so I'll be switching it up between bunning, roll/tucks, and I'll be adding baby twists with extensions to keep me going. No direct heat, except blow drying (2x a year). I hope to retain up to 9" of length and be fully bra-strap length (BSL) by December 2012. Is it realistic? I absolutely believe so, if I go about it the right way.
Starting length: My hair grows out in layers naturally. I started with a tapered cut when I BC'd 2.5 years ago. As of December 2011: I mis-measured my hair and I my numbers were off. Soooo...here are the more accurate measurements:
- Bangs: 12"
- Back: 11.5"
- Sides: 11"
- Crown: 12"
- First Quarter: January 1 -- March 31 (Length Check) Goal: 2-3"
- Rest Month: April (30 days)
- Second Quarter: May 1 -- July 31 (Summer months most critical. Length check) Goal 2-3"
- Rest Month: August (30 days)
- Third Quarter: September 1 -- November 30 Goal 2-3"
- Rest Month: December (30 days) Length Check and Results Reveal
How will I achieve longer, stronger hair and retain more length? Check out my Healthier Me 2012 Challenge up next!
I was going to join this challenge too on BGLH... but i just finished a challenge today and wanted to play around with my hair. Putting it up again for another 3 months eeekk... I'll decide by tomorrow and see if I want to join!
ReplyDeleteHi Valarie! Thanks for reading my post! I feel you, I'm not a PS fan either, but its worth a shot to try it. I'm sure I can stay the course for 3 months at a time. I hope you saw the results you wanted in your challenge! Heres to healthy, happy hair in 2012!
ReplyDeleteLoving your hair!! Im also doing the 12 inches and 12 months challange on curlynikki...im about to to so measurements and post pics on the thread
ReplyDeleteCurly Nikki name Kutenthick1
Hi Kutenthick1! Thanks for stopping by to check out my post! Thanks so much, I'll be doing a lot of my updates and posting pics here. I'm looking forward to our results at then of our challenge! Good luck to you, doll!
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the challenge! Your hair looks great! :)
ReplyDeletehttp://unpurposelyfunny.wordpress.com
@unpurposelyfunny: Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I'm looking forward to the progress!
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