Shoulder | Armpit

**Maara** · November 15th, 2014, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Eastbound&Down

You seem you have a good routine. It doesn't look too damaged judging by your profile picture and you seem to be very close to APL!

Thank you so much

I am wondering about your routine and whether it has any similarities to mine.
You appear to be very close to APL you too, almost there.

I was lucky to be able to do this ponytail today. I cannot wear all the hair down because the band perfectly hides the junction between my relaxed curly hair and my unrelaxed shapeless hair. Also I am hoping to stumble upon a product that can make my hair look as presentable in pix but without the need to be very heavy-handed because I would like for my hair to be touchable as well lol. I live in Sudan and the number of available products is very limited unfortunately.

When I measure my hair, do you recommend that I do that with the curly hair or that I should straighten it first?

**Eastbound&Down** · November 15th, 2014, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by Maara

Thank you so much

I am wondering about your routine and whether it has any similarities to mine.
You appear to be very close to APL you too, almost there.

I was lucky to be able to do this ponytail today. I cannot wear all the hair down because the band perfectly hides the junction between my relaxed curly hair and my unrelaxed shapeless hair. Also I am hoping to stumble upon a product that can make my hair look as presentable in pix but without the need to be very heavy-handed because I would like for my hair to be touchable as well lol. I live in Sudan and the number of available products is very limited unfortunately.

When I measure my hair, do you recommend that I do that with the curly hair or that I should straighten it first?

I do WCC currently (shampoo, silicone free conditioner, silicone conditioner) and EVOO as a leave in on very wet hair.

I wear it up in a bun all the time practicing benign neglect.

I straighten mine because I feel that I get more accurate results month to month that way, but it is all about personal preference. Some view measuring while stretched to be "cheating" but for curlies, it's the way to go, IMO. Also, I only straighten it about once a month and avoid heat as much as possible. I never blow fry it.

If you have damage the best way to go is to oil it up treat it nicely and wear it up and protected as much as possible. Not the funnest way to go but until it gets long enough to trim out the damage, that would be what I would do. I chopped my hair into a pixie to get rid of all my damage but not recommended.

**vega** · November 15th, 2014, 08:20 PM

Hi eastbound and down , it's called hair shrinkage and I'm a little disheartened at the moment cause it's going to take forever to grow

**Maara** · November 17th, 2014, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by Eastbound&Down

I do WCC currently (shampoo, silicone free conditioner, silicone conditioner) and EVOO as a leave in on very wet hair.

I wear it up in a bun all the time practicing benign neglect.

I straighten mine because I feel that I get more accurate results month to month that way, but it is all about personal preference. Some view measuring while stretched to be "cheating" but for curlies, it's the way to go, IMO. Also, I only straighten it about once a month and avoid heat as much as possible. I never blow fry it.

If you have damage the best way to go is to oil it up treat it nicely and wear it up and protected as much as possible. Not the funnest way to go but until it gets long enough to trim out the damage, that would be what I would do. I chopped my hair into a pixie to get rid of all my damage but not recommended.

Oh I am glad to see other people using buns to protect their hair, and not wearing it down all the time. I figured out that bunning is my best option so far. It yields very little breakage.

I think that if I measure it fully stretched I may find it already at APL. I will try to do this next time I prepoo because I have noticed that the oil pulls my hair down and straightens it so that might be the best time to take that photo. But measuring it curly will give me a better idea of what I will be dealing with on a day to day basis. Only problem is that it will not clearly reveal the effects of the care I am taking of my hair

So I am wondering about your (and the other ladies') rate of growth and if you have found that anything can actually help increase it...

**tigress86** · November 17th, 2014, 05:06 AM

Hi everyone, I'm joining this thread. My hair is around collarbone length right now and I also have layers, starting from below my chin. My hair has been terribly damaged and I had to get several cuts this summer after I destroyed my hair with bleach. I'm avoiding heat and trying to take good care of my hair. I can't wait to get to APL and then BSL and have my long hair back.

**Eastbound&Down** · November 17th, 2014, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Maara

Oh I am glad to see other people using buns to protect their hair, and not wearing it down all the time. I figured out that bunning is my best option so far. It yields very little breakage.

I think that if I measure it fully stretched I may find it already at APL. I will try to do this next time I prepoo because I have noticed that the oil pulls my hair down and straightens it so that might be the best time to take that photo. But measuring it curly will give me a better idea of what I will be dealing with on a day to day basis. Only problem is that it will not clearly reveal the effects of the care I am taking of my hair

So I am wondering about your (and the other ladies') rate of growth and if you have found that anything can actually help increase it...

I get about an inch/month, sometimes less but that's average for me. 1/2 inch is the average growth rate for a lot of people. As far as growing faster: eat healthy, exercise and be patient. Biotin vitamins are recommended as well.

**lady mechanic** · November 17th, 2014, 12:08 PM

I'm so in this club! Due to horrible hair practices before I found lhc of course I have been stuck at shoulder length for TWO YEARS!!! It's taking ages and incredincredibly frustrating. I'll be *almost* apl then have to cut it all right back to shoulder because of damage

it finally seems like it's starting to grow. I'm halfway between shoulder and apl. Hopefully by may (which is my wedding) I'll be at apl!

**curlylocks85** · November 17th, 2014, 02:17 PM

I got my hair cut about 2in. in August, and now, my hair has gained 1in. in less than 2 months. I still have about 2 maybe 3 in. to go before I am a solid APL. Slowly and surely, I am making progress.

**butterflybutton** · November 17th, 2014, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by tigress86

Hi everyone, I'm joining this thread. My hair is around collarbone length right now and I also have layers, starting from below my chin. My hair has been terribly damaged and I had to get several cuts this summer after I destroyed my hair with bleach. I'm avoiding heat and trying to take good care of my hair. I can't wait to get to APL and then BSL and have my long hair back.

Welcome! It sounds like we have a similar hair journey, and length/hair type.

**meredithlegare** · November 17th, 2014, 08:59 PM

Yessss, I have been shoulder length (or just above, when it's curled) for what seems like a year. Maybe more. I cannot WAIT for my hair to be longer. But, I guess, as long as I keep dyeing it, it will take ages, huh?
I really do wanna be arm pit length quickly, but I'd much rather my hair be healthy and long so I don't have to chop it all off immediately after I get there.