Shoulder | Armpit

The last thread about this was in May so I didn't feel quite right resurrecting it! XD
So who is going from about chin/shoulder to APL? How long do you project it's gonna take? What do you do to push it along?

I'm aaaalmost there if I stretch my wurls out. I think it'll be January before I am well and truly there, though, but hey. Time is going pretty fast. It's very nearly October!

As for what I do, I cycle on/off Biotin (it gives me crazy bad skin if I take it all the time!) and CWC. My growth rate slowed down recently and my hair has been splitting right and left recently because I just switched off cones- turns out plastic holds together broken hair well, and when you stop coating the hair with it... it stops working!

If you're past shoulder, did it take you an eternity to get to the next milestone? I feel like I've been stuck here for a long time! But I know it's getting longer. I do.

Anyway, here's a picture. I lost a chunk out of the right side because it got matted when I was clarifying :(. But I just did a protein/moisture treatment so aside from that bit, it actually feels really really nice.

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6393/214056.jpg

Post your own! Post your advice! I love to hear from people who are going through similar trials and tribulations to my own.

I'm just at shoulder now, and I'm on my way to APL. Should take me about a year, give or take a few months. Reaching shoulder was nice, because I felt like I was finally getting somewhere. Now, I feel like I just need to exercise some patience to get to APL, which will be the the longest my hair has ever been.

Oh, and your hair is gorgeous! Looks like mine does in the front with more consistency. Consider me envious!

I'm almost at APL when my hair is wet, but when it dries is sproings up to a few inches past shoulder. Feels like I've been stuck here forever, mostly because I've got shorter layers in th front. I just trimmed some gnarly ends off last week, and used the 'compact haircutting' method to add some layers in, since I had gotten sick of the way my curly hair just poofed OUT instead of hanging DOWN.

Can't wait to hit BSL, I'm hoping that I can do something more than a sock bun or stubby braid by then!

RocketDog- French twists are so the way to go! My (cheating) variation is to stuff all the hair underneath the same way and weave a pencil through it. It doesn't look so polished and pretty but it stays well and impresses people. Guess not a lot of girls know how to only use sticks!

Mine is at shoulder length and is longer when I smooth is out with a straightening iron. I have a picture of my curly hair and my straightened hair on my profile. I am not sure how long it will take but I finally quit using the cones for a while. I also cannot CO wash only. I tried this last week and my scalp felt ok at first but got so oily during the day. I have an oily complexion to begin with and kind of wondered if this may happen. So now I continue to wash my hair every day with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and then use a leave in conditioner on my damp hair. All of these are no cone. When my hair is almost dry naturally I add a little bit of coconut oil to my hair from the middle down to the ends. It seems to work great and has taken away the frizz and my hair feels so soft and easy to comb through. I use organic, unrefined virgin coconut oil that I got from a health food store that sells natural products. I slightly blow dry my hair to smooth it a little. Then sometimes I still smooth it with the straightener. I am trying to get away from the heat styling so I am looking for a style that I can wear that is wash and go while my hair grows out. I am guessing that by next summer my hair may be at least 6 inches past my shoulders, that is if I take very good care of it. The biggest problem I have is that the fried part of my hair breaks off sometimes but now that I have been using the coconut oil I have noticed that there has been much less breakage.

Another one lost in the shoulder length no man's land! I also feel like I've been here forever. I was above the shoulders last January and I'm well past my collar bone now, but I'm in that awful length that seems like it never changes of "past my shoulders but not anywhere near APL!" My growth has currently slowed considerably (I think due to my pregnancy), it'll be interesting to see if it picks up after the baby's born.
I'm trying benign neglect, I don't have a set routine aside from washing and conditioning. I've played around with Mega Tek to rather mixed results. It seems to boost my growth a bit for a few weeks, then the results taper off and I go back to slow growth. I've had a lot of trims this year (3 since January), which has definitely had an effect on my growth rate, but I'm so prone to splits that I kind of have to get 1/4 inch or so trimmed off every 3-4 months.

Good luck to all those in the "shoulder to APL" club!!

I've been here forever it seems. However, I'm inching closer to APL and I might be there by the end of December - early January!!!

I'm past APL but it felt like such a long time to get from collarbone to APL, when it was only 6 months. Chin to APL took me about 1.25 years.

I'll be (wet/flatironed) APL in about 3 more inches...give or take... I'm hoping to be there by the end of this year...but maybe Feb..which will make 1 year no cutting...I was..hmmm bottom of my ears or so...(I have pics in my albums) I was at shoulder in June maybe May

I take biotin, pernatels, & gelatin
I reculantly gave up cones and not I wont go back

I'm there with you. I'm almost at APL. I've been maintaining at shoulder for several years. It's such a "blah" length, I finally decided I needed a change.

I expect to be APL by Christmas. I thought November but I've extended it a bit. At any rate when it hits 22" I'm calling it APL whether it's just shy or not. This has been my major milestone for so long I am not waiting any longer than the time/length I've set forth. I'm at 20.5+ so 1.5" to go and that's a good 3 months. I'll check in again then.

Me! This is my current lenght. (not a very good pic, but it works)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...000/lenght.jpg

I think that 8 months from now I should be APL. To make it more insteresting, I will be wearing my hair in the little ponytail I can do, for two months. WITHOUT looking it at the mirror so I can be happy and notice some changes by december :cheese:

edited: pfff.. 8 months?? what am I thinking? 4-5 should be enough... I hope ..!

I think I have graduated from shortie to barely-at-shoulders. So I am here! APL seems like a loooong process. I have at least a year probably. But on the other hand, considering where I started, hurray shoulders!

My hair is just past my shoulders. I'm not doing anything to 'push it along'. I have greatly reduced the frequency I heatstyle, though, so it will be healthier when it's longer.

Honestly, I feel no rush. Whether my hair is apl by New Year's or St Patty's day will not affect my life dramatically enough to stress about it. Every length has some fun or good point that another length does not, so I'm just enjoying it as I go. :)

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Originally Posted by Kaileida

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/6393/214056.jpg

Post your own! Post your advice! I love to hear from people who are going through similar trials and tribulations to my own.

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Hey Kaileida,
I'm pretty sure that I'm already at APL. At least my longest layer is anyhow. I had my hair cut back in February So it has taken till this day to get to the length I am now. I'm going for BSL. I should be there around December or January. My hair grows from .70"-.75+" per month. I have noticed that my ponytails and braids are getting longer.

(OFF TOPIC) Next to your Telecaster, I see a Fender amp, it almost looks like a Super Champ tube amp, is it? Those things are awesome! :cool: I've tried out both the 5w and 15w versions! I like them both! The effects sound very organic as well, and not so digital!

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Originally Posted by heatherdazy

My hair is just past my shoulders. I'm not doing anything to 'push it along'. I have greatly reduced the frequency I heatstyle, though, so it will be healthier when it's longer.

Honestly, I feel no rush. Whether my hair is apl by New Year's or St Patty's day will not affect my life dramatically enough to stress about it. Every length has some fun or good point that another length does not, so I'm just enjoying it as I go. :)

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This is a very good and positive way to look at it.

I'm past shoulder and well on my way to APL. I will definitely be there by my birthday in April, but I'm hoping it'll be a lot sooner (possibly by the new year if I get that extra summer growth!) I can't believe I'm even in this group!

I'm with you guys... I'm well past shoulder, but APL seems a mile away! I do think I'm finally growing again, though-- for a little while there, I seemed to be stuck at exactly 20 inches. I can tell I've started gaining length again recently, maybe another quarter-inch or half-inch. (Can't let myself think of more until it happens, lol.)

I'm waiting for BSL too! It just seems like so many more styles will be possible then. In the meantime, let's all encourage each other and hang in there!! :cheese:

Hi Ladies!

I'm at about collar bone and I'm looking forward to APL, but I don't project forward about how long it will take, so that I don't end up stressing over a "deadline." ;)

However, I do a lot to push my growth along. I'm dealing with some hairloss (most likely due to either stress or the hot water I tend to favor in my showers, since a health check came back fine), so I take prenatals, folic acid, biotin, MSM, garlic, B complex, gelatin, and C. Yes, it's a lot, but it keeps me feeling great and has made a big difference in my hair growth/quality.

I use Nioxin (yes, SLS and 'cones) and it is the best shampoo and conditioner I have ever used, hands down. I love the way it makes my hair feel and look - and best of all, within weeks of starting it I saw new baby sprouts along my hairline. Now, months later, I have a halo of 2-3" hairs and I love knowing that a year from now this is all going to pay off with a thicker head of healthy hair.

I also use Monistat and MegaTek (I alternate, and use them about 2-3 times per week) to help it grow faster. I love the Monistat, it really reduces my shedding. The Mega Tek - I hate the fake coconut smell, but I think it is a great protein treatment that strengthens and helps the hair to grow.

So, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :D

Some layers are shoulder and my longest is getting close to apl. Seems like between shoulder and apl takes forever for me, then it takes off and grows faster...don't know why. I am taking skin, hair, and nails. Trying to eat better, oil the ends. Getting ready to try henna.

Im just past shoulder length at the back with some layers at the sides just at shoulder. I get a lot of breakage from colour damage so it seems to be taking awhile to grow.

I'm past shoulder length, but I get about 1/4-1/2" trimmed every 2-3 months. My next trim in October, I am planning to get some "face-framing layers" around my face, and maybe a little more trimmed off the back or verrrry slight layering to boing up the back a bit. So I feel like I take 1 step forward + 2 steps back much of the time because my curls look bad if my ends aren't trimmed (the curls on the ends frizz and that just ruins most otherwise good hair days).

So yes, I have been hovering at just below shoulder length for a verrrry long time.

totaly almost like teh tips are brushing shoulderlength so i'm allowed here right? XD if not give me a month. but yea i'm excited for teh growth. People at school have noticed the length which is exciting.

though they mayhave noticed the picture from late august on my art desk. soo.. yea. :/ anyways its there ish.

I am at shoulder length in the back, just barely brushing shoulder at the sides, and my most-forward hair is at chin length. Bangs are in grow-out mode. It makes styling so challenging! :rolleyes:

Aaarrgh, I'm stuck in shoulder hell! I've spent most of this year being almost at shoulder, then shoulder, then ever so slightly just past shoulder. It's sooooo boring and doesn't look good on me at all. :brickwall Could someone please tell me it gets better at APL!? :(

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Originally Posted by LutraLutra

Aaarrgh, I'm stuck in shoulder hell! I've spent most of this year being almost at shoulder, then shoulder, then ever so slightly just past shoulder. It's sooooo boring and doesn't look good on me at all. :brickwall Could someone please tell me it gets better at APL!? :(

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I feel exactly the same as you!! I am stuck ing the same boat. I feel like my hair is stuck and it is so depressing. I feel for you!

I've got about 3cms until APL. But I've got some damage I need to cut out as well, so that's irritating.

Strangely enough, it seemed to fly from sholder to where I am now (must be because I wasn't so focused on it) but now it really seems to be dragging to get to APL and beyond.

Protein! You got to have your protein people! Also lots of water and an a-z vitamin.

My longest layers are almost APL. It's so close! I hope I'll reach it this year... But I need a trim, so maybe I wont get there until January or February.

If I reach APL in January, it would mean that I got from a very layered cut with longest layers at chin lenght to a slightly layered cut with longest layers at APL in 1 year and 8 months, with several trims to even out the layers.

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Originally Posted by Samitra

My longest layers are almost APL. It's so close! I hope I'll reach it this year... But I need a trim, so maybe I wont get there until January or February.

If I reach APL in January, it would mean that I got from a very layered cut with longest layers at chin lenght to a slightly layered cut with longest layers at APL in 1 year and 8 months, with several trims to even out the layers.

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Aren't layers the worst?! My shortest layers are only a few inches long and are the bane of my existence. Curse them! lol

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Originally Posted by Ally<3

Aren't layers the worst?! My shortest layers are only a few inches long and are the bane of my existence. Curse them! lol

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Now they are, yes, but when I first started to get my hair layered they allowed me to have that messy hair style I loved so much :D

But now they annoy me, they stop me from doing certain hairstyles since they always fall out. I chose to trim them away slowly, but some days I just want to cut my hair to above shoulder to get rid of the layers!

Just dropping in to wish you all good luck! You'll make it to APL - I managed it last year!

Sweet, I've been looking for a thread like this, I felt like I was the only one! I am shoulder length , which is typically the point I start getting annoyed and want to cut it all off again cause it seems like it isn't growing
I am really trying to refrain! I went to the hairdresser today to get my color touched up , and I even said no to a trim, pretty good effort hey? :D

I'm at SL, moving downward slowly but surely. I hope to be at APL by March or April of next year. I'm not doing anything to push things along -- mainly trying to stay healthy, eating well, taking basic vitamins (nothing out of the ordinary), exercising (lightly), and engaging in benign neglect. I am hoping that one morning I'll wake up and voila! -- I'll be at APL (or beyond)! :gabigrin:

My hair is very frustrating :( Right now, when dry it's a bit past shoulder lenght, when wet it's APL and when I stretch it with my hand it's 1 1/2 inches away from BSL.
I have no clue when will it be APL when dry.

I was thinking about it last night, and I decided that I'd like to be at least at APL by my birthday. That's six months and two days from now... Does that seem reasonable? I want to have some sort of time-frame goal, but I don't want to make it so unreasonable that I'll be disappointed.

Six months would be three inches if I'm exactly average... which I'm not sure if I am or not just yet. Would three more inches do the trick? It's so hard to judge, looking at myself! I can't be objective, lol.

Yay, I'm part of this group now! I'm at shoulder now. Not sure when I'll be to the next stage. Benign neglect all the way, baby!!!

Hi everyone! I'm currently at collarbone and growing really fast :)
I have been taking Biotin for a long time which helps a lot but I recently also started with MSM, Folic Acid, and a Vitamin B complex. I am getting almost 1" a month and I'll keep you updated!

I am about halfway between shoulder and APL. I find it difficult because my hair is so thick and it is hard to do anything other than the dreaded ponytail. I can french braid it now, but they arern't that great at staying in.

Hi everyone! I am just now barely shoulder-length. If I stretch it in the back, it's at shoulder, and the sides and front are about an inch away. :D

I was so happy when I realized that I'm finally at shoulder! My hair poufs up some when it's dry, so it's still going to be a little while before it hits shoulder dry, but I'm okay with that! :D

I'm still S/C, but once it gets a bit longer, I'll move to CWC. I am currently mixing oil and conditioner to put on my ends after washes to keep the ends moisturized (I have really dry coarse hair, and it needs all the moisture it can get, especially on the ends).

I am also currently growing out some dye (going back to my natural haircolor), and am maybe 1.5-2 inches virgin.

Hopefully by January, I'll be solidly shoulder-length when dry! :D