My first LHC-anniversary! (with pics)

[dfotw]

A day or two late, but I wanted to celebrate one year of having found this wonderful place! :cheese:

I came upon the 'old' LHC once upon a time, lo this many years ago, looking for good henna recipes. I found them, I tried them, and I forgot all about the site... I kept on growing my hair, although on the way I came across a great deal of drug-store hair-dyes, terrible conditioners, bi-monthly 'trims', endless useless 'frizz-free!' solutions and other monsters... until, again while looking for henna recipes, I re-discovered the 'new' LHC!

My hair was at 32 inches by then (after years upon years of trying to grow it out), coarse, dry and a frizz-ball that exploded as soon as I took it out from its braid / took it down from a cinnabun held with mini claw clips (the only updo I know how to do). Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but I couldn't wear it down or so anything with it...

Since the time I joined LHC, I've tried a million things: weekly SMTs, CO washes, Monistat, beer rinses, henna, cassia, protein treatments, cone-free shampoos, oil-shampoos, shampoo bars, ACV rinses, flax seed gel, castor oil, coconut oil, Nightblooming Panacea, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a million other things.

In the end, I've settled for CV shampoo bars twice a week (with an ACV rinse), and cone-free CO washes the rest of the week. I got myself a TangleTeezer, keep coconut oil and Panacea by my bed, and do henna and/or beer rinses every couple of months.

My hair has not only grown 7 inches (even though I micro-trim on occasion), but it's now soft! Manageable! It hold a curl pattern instead of exploding into frizz! I can wear it down! And I know a million updos to wear it up!

This is the difference:

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4347/hairdownbeforeandafterl.jpg

And, my hair outside on a sunny day:

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/31/hairdownapril2011.jpg

I've also become an avid hair-toy collector, to the point where I blushed taking these pics of my hair-toys (thumbs are clickable!). On the left, hair-toys I've bought; on the right, hair-toys I've made.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7708/april2011hairtoycollect.th.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/april2011hairtoycollect.jpg/) http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7708/april2011hairtoycollect.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/april2011hairtoycollect.jpg/)

I just want to give a HUGE "Thank you!" to everyone here who has shared their knowledge, provided encouragement, answered my questions, enabled me (you know who you are! :eyebrows:), and just provided a supportive environment for me to continue to grow my hair! :flowers:

And, cheese! :cheese:

[Panth]

Wow. Exceedingly beautiful and great growth.

Congrats. ^_^

[dajanchen]

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
Congratulations dear dfotw to your LHC anniversary! I love your amazing locks and your gorgeous toys!
:bottomsup:

[CastaDiva]

Congratulations on your anniversary:) Your hair looks absolutely amazing:cheese:

[MaryLA]

Love your curls!!

[Jenn of Pence]

Happy anniversary! You've made awesome progress, and it looks wonderful.

[freckles]

wow, that is some absoloutely stunning hair! :)

[catspank]

Oooooooh! I don't think I've ever seen your hair down - it's gorgeous!!! :crush:

I just realized my four year anniversary was last month, wow!

[pepperminttea]

Absolutely beautiful; happy LHCiversary. :D

[Rocket22]

Happy anniversary! Your hair is stunning!

[xoerincolleen]

You have beautiful curls!

[Evie]

Hey, happy anniversary! :cheese::cheese::cheese::cheese:
I love the curl pattern in your hair, it looks amazing!

Can I just say as well, I love your self-made hairtoys, the hair sticks with the axe toppers are fantastic! you clearly have a lot of artistic talent :)

[vanity_acefake]

Happy anniversary. Your hair is beautiful.
And I have some envy over your amazing hair toy collection!
:)

[Yozhik]

What beautiful hair! I love the curls and I love how long it is -- I rarely see curly hair so long. :)

How long is it when stretched? Close to classic, I'd bet.

Also, I showed your hairtoy collection to my boyfriend, and he began quivering in fear at a glimpse of my future. (*insert evil laugh here*)

[Venefica]

Congratulations, you have beautiful hair. I love the pictures of your hair toy collection, especially the wolf's head bun holder and those axe sticks, they are amazing. :D

[Lildove]

Your hair is gorgeous! I love the progress that you made between the two pictures. I'm also eyeing your hair toy collection.;) I have yet to start one because my hair is still quite short but I'm excited to start looking around and shopping. I only have two plain hair sticks to my name.:o

[Pixna]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! :toast: I adore your hair (but you already knew that) and envy your beautiful toy collection. I look forward to seeing your hair and additional acquisitions on your NEXT anniversary! :laugh:

[islandboo]

Happy anniversary!!!! I am in awe of your collection, especially the self made toys - you are quite artistic. Celebratory cheese!:cheese:

[Alvrodul]

Happy anniversary, dfotw!! :toast:
I really love the pictures of your hair - it is so amazing - curly, lovely and just stunningly beautiful! I have always envied those who have curly hair - perhaps because I am a straightie myself.;)
And you have very good taste in hairtoys - that collection is certainly an inspiration for any frequent flier in the Hairtoy Addicts thread! :D

:chocolate::flowers:

[Gumball]

Happy anniversary! Beautiful hair, and great curls!

[Freyariane]

Congratulation! I love your loose locks (would love to have them :p)

[CurlAhead]

Your hair looks stunning, wish my 3b-c curls would look something like that! Congratulations!! :) :D

[dfotw]

Thank you so much for your congratulations and compliments, everyone! :flowers: Every passing day, I love this community more and more... :)


What beautiful hair! I love the curls and I love how long it is -- I rarely see curly hair so long. :)

How long is it when stretched? Close to classic, I'd bet.

Also, I showed your hairtoy collection to my boyfriend, and he began quivering in fear at a glimpse of my future. (*insert evil laugh here*)

My 39 inches when stretched right now are not quite at classic yet, but they're only 1-2 inches away! That's my next mini-goal, before I go for classic-when-dry/fingertip-when-stretched.

And tell your boyfriend he's right in worrying! ;)


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! :toast: I adore your hair (but you already knew that) and envy your beautiful toy collection. I look forward to seeing your hair and additional acquisitions on your NEXT anniversary! :laugh:

Thank you so much, dearest Pixna! With your enabling and support, I'm sure I'll have an even better toy collection next year! :D

[Slinks]

oooooo look at that !!! great growth .. and those marvelous curls .. *sigh*

[Spring]

I love your curls :)!

[PamelaViktoria]

luvly thick hair!

[chenille]

Wow, what gorgeous curls! I also envy your hair toy collection. :D That wooden one on the left end of the bottom row is lovely! And the sword ones are super cool.

[ericthegreat]

Congratulations on your anniversary! I love your dark curls, they look very exotic. You've also made some good progress lengthwise over the past year.

[tinti]

Oh my, that is Excellent growth with a big E :D Major hair envy here. Happy Hairniversary!

[HairStickler]

Congratulations, dfotw! Thanks for sharing your progress and your beautiful pictures.

[dfotw]

Thank you, you lot are really giving me a big head with all your compliments! If I'd found this site before, I might have reconciled with the idea of having curly hair before! (and stopped thinking that my hair grew oh-so-slowly!) :flowers:

[Jomo]

Your hair is lovely! Congrats on the anniversary and good luck with the growing all the way down to classic :)

[Dragon]

Happy anniversary. Nice Hair :)

[serious]

Congratulations, dfotw!:cheer:

Your hair is amazing and that last pic is...:thudpile:

[SwordWomanRiona]

Gorgeous raven curls! Just like a Noldorin Elf ;)

[rags]

All this time in the Addict's thread and I don't think I've ever seen your hair down.:bigeyes: It's absolutely STUNNING! :thudpile:

[AuburnTresses]

Congratulations! :cheer:

Your curls are gorgeous! They look so healthy, makes me wish I had such lovely curls.

I love all your hair toys, the wolf is especially cool.

[Cowgirl16]

Happy Anniversary! :cheese: You have amazing hair, your curls are beautiful. I'm envious of your toys:p

[Lippytoes]

Your hair is utterly gorgeous! Congrats on your 'versary! :)

[wvgemini]

Your curls are amazing! Congrats on the anniversary :)

[anniebelle]

Congrats! :applause

[Kathie]

Happy anniversary! May you have many more great hair years.

[dfotw]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone! I feel really loved! :puppykisses:


Gorgeous raven curls! Just like a Noldorin Elf ;)

Hehe, unusual Elves unite! :cool:


All this time in the Addict's thread and I don't think I've ever seen your hair down.:bigeyes: It's absolutely STUNNING! :thudpile:

I think one of the advantages of having so many toys is that I keep my hair up all the time, and the shock value when I wear it down is all the greater... :p

[mwedzi]

Very pretty hair! The picture of your hair is the sun is really nice. And wow at your toy collection! Did you collect them all in 1 year?

[Aaroo]

Wow your hair is breath taking, exactly what I wish to have! when I was teanager and did no treatment to my hair, it was black and had curl patterns like yours..but now it is dyed and is wavy rather than curly. I wish I can restore it to what it was..

[dfotw]

Very pretty hair! The picture of your hair is the sun is really nice. And wow at your toy collection! Did you collect them all in 1 year?

Thank you! Yes, those are the toys I've collected in one year, I had none of them when I found this community... you're all a bunch of enablers! :D


Wow your hair is breath taking, exactly what I wish to have! when I was teanager and did no treatment to my hair, it was black and had curl patterns like yours..but now it is dyed and is wavy rather than curly. I wish I can restore it to what it was..

Thank you, Aaroo! I lost a lot of my curl pattern due to dyeing before I found LHC (the curls in my 'Before' pic are mostly braid-waves), but moisturising treatments, henna and going cone-free have really given a massive boost to my curls... I'm sure you can recovers yours too! :cheer:

[Idun]

Congratulations on your anniversary and your great progress! I just love your curls!

[Emerald88]

Your curls are absolutely divine!

[KatiSasha]

Gorgeous hair, wish I could have your curls! Congrats!