18 months on LHC-pics

[chen bao jun]

I hope that I can get pics on here! I have not been able to do it up to this point. This is my hair in 2011 a year before I started here. It was very dry and unmoisturized and unkempt, which does not show so much in the picture of it curly, but does show in the photo of the same hair flatironed.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/faceless3c2_zps8f2cb6f4.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/faceless3c2_zps8f2cb6f4.jpg.html)

http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/october2012flatironed2_zps104af434.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/october2012flatironed2_zps104af434.jpg.html)

[chen bao jun]

I have no idea why the two photos in the post above came out such different sizes.
Anyway, fast forward to March 2013, after about 9 months on LHC. My hair does not look 'long' --it mostly looks 'bigger' but it certainly looks different. Also, when you see a photo of it now, unflatironed and curly, it is the same length (just about) as it was in 2011 when flatironed, which stretches it out a lot.http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/faceless3c_zps4f07b363.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/faceless3c_zps4f07b363.jpg.html)
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/hairtyping3c2_zpse26194d2.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/hairtyping3c2_zpse26194d2.jpg.html)

[chen bao jun]

There's always quite a difference stretched. This is why I say I am 'shoulder curly' and 'brastrap stretched'. Also, even though my hair doesn't appear much longer, I can do buns and hairstyles according to the length I am stretched, not according to my 'apparent' length. In 2011 and in 2011, I couldn't make any type of bun.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/hairtyping3c3_zpsa735b187.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/hairtyping3c3_zpsa735b187.jpg.html)
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/100_0406_zpsa6fa974b.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/100_0406_zpsa6fa974b.jpg.html)
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/100_0416_zps3532f1d9.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/100_0416_zps3532f1d9.jpg.html)

[chen bao jun]

I am not 100% sure of my hairtype. I call myself a 3c. My curls are different sizes. Here is the front of my hair, which I wear as bangs (or a 'fringe') and don't braid out. The front of my hair is now under my chin, so Icouldn't wear it as bangs if I did! (I do loosely twist at night to keep the curl untangled). I think these curls are 3c, possibly they are 4a, there are such different definitions out there! Back in 2011, my curls were pretty uniformly this size. Now a lot of them are bigger, as you can see in the faceless photograph with the blue floral dress. This may be because the hair is somewhat longer, I don't know. But the top is less curly than underneath. In a lot of the photos I have posted, my hair has been braided also, which straightens it out quite a lot. It's .. confusion! Anyway, it's some sort or other of African descent hair, and its tightly curly though there are people with a lot more curl than I have (my mom's beautiful hair for instance). My dad was a very mixed race person and his hair could appear two very different ways--in photos when he was young, he barely had any wave in it, and once he left his mom's house and decided he wanted to look more 'black', he had an afro, because he promoted the curl. His sisters all appeared to have wavy hair also, you wouldn't even call it curly or whurly--however, when one cut it short it turned into an afro! While the other two continued to have wavy hair when it was short. I do not understand this and can't explain it, especially as regards my dad who never had long hair at all.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/hairtyping3c1_zpseb80789c.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/hairtyping3c1_zpseb80789c.jpg.html)

[chen bao jun]

I had an afro for four years during the 70's--I had to work at it. My hair wants to grow out sideways rather than up. I used to have to roll it up tightly and spritz it all the time with a plant spritzer and tease it to get the 'Angela Davis' look. As soon as the wind blew, it went to more of the 'Gilda Radner as Roseanna Roseanndan' look. It works better as a 'fro when it's unkempt and dry. As soon as I moisturize properly, down it goes. This is another reason why I THINK I'm 3c, but I'm open to correction, if others think differently. I'm sure I'm not 3b but not sure I'm not at least partly 4a.
Anyway, here is my braid. It is my ambition to grow a long braid down my back. My granny had two braids, each this size, to her tailbone. You can see that mine starts out nicely but about an inch from the bottomm--it's not even taper, it's so abrupt, the whole thing just becomes maybe 1/2 inch thickness, if that! But for years and years, for almost as long as I've had my hair natural (not chemically permed, which is about 13 years now), I used to not only comb or 'pick' it very roughly, but I had all kinds of tangles from not knowing how to wash my hair properly (sulphate shampoo, very hot water, rubbing around on the top of my head) and I just used to snap them off at the bottom. I didn't even cut, just yank yank yank and snap! so I still don't have any hair at the bottom of my braid.
I'm 4 1/2 to 5 inches circumference, even when straightened, without bangs, but its growing in even thicker--I think I was pulling hair out from the root also with my rough washing. In fact, I know I was. Every time I washed my hair I got baseball sized hair balls out of it! Now I only get golf ball sized. I shed like one of those dogs that no one with carpet wants to own.
http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/uloma1/december2012natural_zps8605cf10.jpg (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/uloma1/media/december2012natural_zps8605cf10.jpg.html)

[chen bao jun]

Anyway, that's my hair journey so far. Hope it's not too boring.
I feel proud that I got the images to post, I've been trying for a while!

[spidermom]

My goodness but your braid is thick until that last little bit!

I loved the Angela Davis 'fro and tried to have it. You've probably seen the pictures.

[lapushka]

Nice progress, and I love those darling tight ringlets! :D

[Hootenanny]

Just gorgeous, chen bao jun! I really love the pic of the curls in your bangs. Can't wait to see pics when you reach your goal. It will be stunning!! :)

[chen bao jun]

I haven't! Direct me, please!
I did love my fro a lot. Not the healthiest hair style in the world (when I took mine down I found I had lost about a foot of length without ever having had a haircut) but there was definitely something about it--Afros nowadays are not as nice as what we had then.

My goodness but your braid is thick until that last little bit!

I loved the Angela Davis 'fro and tried to have it. You've probably seen the pictures.

[chen bao jun]

Thank you, lapushka and hootenanny!
Reaching my goal is going to take YEARS, but I am enjoying the journey in your company.

[spidermom]

I'd roll my hair up in a lot of small sponge curlers and then pop a wig over the top to wear while my hair dried - about 2 whole days:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/spidermom/media/afromom2.jpg.html)
Then I'd pick my hair out:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/spidermom/media/afromom.jpg.html)
Funny - my friends called my style a "natural". haha; it was soooooooo far from natural.

I lived in the deep south at the time and qualified as a real oddball, just the way I liked it. I loved this style so much!

[Hootenanny]

Thank you, lapushka and hootenanny!
Reaching my goal is going to take YEARS, but I am enjoying the journey in your company.

My journey is going to take years as well. I'm trying to have a positive attitude, but shrinkage is driving me nuts. I realized the other day that when my hair is under the shower, it's only a couple inches to waist, but once it dries, it's barely past APL. *sigh* I need to develop a healthy attitude like you have, and just start enjoying the journey. At least we have LHC and each other's good company! :)

[Firefox7275]

Definitely can see the growth, and love those ringlets!

[Tini'sNewHair]

So thick and I have to admit that I’m jealous of those perfect awesome curls :D

[jacqueline101]

Your hair is so thick and those beautiful ringlets. Your hair is envious.

[chen bao jun]

You all are so kind and encouraging! Thanks.

[chen bao jun]

I love it! I think both the blond 'fro and the black wig suit you!
I used to roll my hair up with pieces of brown paper bag. You rip a piece, roll your hair up on it and then tie the ends of the brown paper together. Is that clear? And then at the end, you pick them out, also.
About 80 of those will give you a LOT of curl (combined with some dippity-do and water).
I also found the term 'natural' hilarious. As someone once told, if afros are so natural, why do you never see photos of anyone from Africa wearing them? Its all braided hairstyles over there (or used to be. I think relaxers and extensions are now what is most prevalent there).
Anyway, it was still an AWESOME hairstyle.
Did you have the platform shoes and bellbottom jeans that were low waisted, too? Isn't it funny that all that has come back?
But not the polyester leisure suits--my husband is on a search and destroy mission to get rid of all photos of him in his salmon pink one--with an afro, of course...

I'd roll my hair up in a lot of small sponge curlers and then pop a wig over the top to wear while my hair dried - about 2 whole days:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom2.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/spidermom/media/afromom2.jpg.html)
Then I'd pick my hair out:?
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c79/spidermom/afromom.jpg (http://s25.photobucket.com/user/spidermom/media/afromom.jpg.html)
Funny - my friends called my style a "natural". haha; it was soooooooo far from natural.

I lived in the deep south at the time and qualified as a real oddball, just the way I liked it. I loved this style so much!

[Crumpet]

Gah! I love your hair! It is so remarkably thick. I agree, your ringletted curls are incredibly lovely...its the thick, gorgeous braid that kills it though. You have amazing hair. Keep it up!

[Nae]

Your hair is beautiful. Something about those ringlets in updos is just so darn elegant!!

[chen bao jun]

thanks, crumpet and nae! I haven't always appreciated my hair--it is terrible hair if you want to be 'stylish'. It jsut won't do that. Hairdressers think they will like me, but once I sit down in the chair, lol, its a different story--the thickness and the curls that fight back do NOT make them happy.
However, I am finding more and more that it's very nice hair if I just let it be and let it do what it does--that's the great lesson, I think, for all of us on LHC.

[Crumpet]

I am finding more and more that it's very nice hair if I just let it be and let it do what it does--that's the great lesson, I think, for all of us on LHC.

SO true! I try to remind myself of this about my hair (and other stuff) whenever I get down and overly self-critical.

[rowie]

However, I am finding more and more that it's very nice hair if I just let it be and let it do what it does--that's the great lesson, I think, for all of us on LHC.

omg I love your hair!http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j277/shyboyfriend/Kdollz/myfavd8.gif Now I know what you mean when you say "killer hair," and how Ficcares work well for your hair. Ughhh Damn you Ficcare for not making anymore of the old line when you and me still need more! :lol: Thanks for directing me here! Wow and what a journey you've shared so far!

Yes, I try my best to let my hair be, but I end up bunning my hair every day in fear of friction (that's what I get off of LHC now), but I like developing it as a habit since I can just focus my attention at admiring everyone's hair instead. :)

[chen bao jun]

I love your hair, rowie and I think the buns you make with your beautiful hair look great!
Thanks for the compliments.
Yeah, it is definitely killer hair--but we are making peace with each other--I keep skimpy or weak hair toys far away from it and they stay alive-- lol--

[kitschy]

Your hair is awesome! Quite an accomplishment for growth like yours.

[restless]

Very, very pretty! Those ringlets are lovely :)

[0xalis]

I looooooooove your hair! It's so pretty~

[Bagginslover]

Beautiful hair Chen! I too adore your bangs ringlets, will your hair do that all over?

Could the sudden loss of thickness in your braid be to do with your curls? If you're not stretching them all out the same, the length will get eaten and those sections won't reach the end of the braid?

[Heni]

I love your ringlets! I think buns with your hairtype look gorgeous! :o

[Tota]

Congrats on your progress! Your ringlets are so adorable <3

[chen bao jun]

Thanks again, guys! You make me feel so encouraged and that's good because I have quite a while to go.

[chen bao jun]

No, its damage. It doesn't only thin out suddenly but there's a sudden texture change for the worse just at that spot, too.
I will have to cut if off eventually.

Beautiful hair Chen! I too adore your bangs ringlets, will your hair do that all over?

Could the sudden loss of thickness in your braid be to do with your curls? If you're not stretching them all out the same, the length will get eaten and those sections won't reach the end of the braid?

[chen bao jun]

Yes, my hair does that all over but in different sizes. That's the smallest size it does.

No, its damage. It doesn't only thin out suddenly but there's a sudden texture change for the worse just at that spot, too.
I will have to cut if off eventually.

[prettyinpink]

those are some perfect spirals

[Debra83]

Great progress!!! Keep up the good work!