One year anniversary (pic heavy)!

[Chocowalnut]

My one-year was on the 23rd but after breaking down during a roadtrip I postponed this post so I could make it good.
My hair story..
I started out about a year ago after my big chop from about APL to neck length. My hair had been bleached so many times (whole length, not just the roots), dyed black and bleached back to blonde (this was the most damaging), flat-ironed, blow-dryed, etc.. I did not know anything about hair care at that time. I always wondered why I never liked my hair and why it wasn't shiny/nice looking, so I would go through cycles of dying it different colors to try and get that healthy look, never knowing I was going about the completely wrong way to achieve it. So last year I chopped to NL and also found LHC, and have learned quite a bit since then. I stopped dying/bleaching my hair and using heat on it all the time. (Now I have been heat-free for a few months). I started using henna and loved it at first, but I am now growing out my natural color. Before I was frustrated I couldn't ever just wash my hair and go, and that I had to style it to look good. Now, I have found my perfect routine (pretty much)- wash it, do not touch as it dries, that's it, and it looks better than it ever has. I have had 2 trims, maybe an inch each time, since I started here. I still have a long way to go on my hair journey. My goal is TBL or so, and right now I am still working on apl, plus with growing my natural color out, it is going to take awhile, but I will get there. My hair has never been longer than BSL, and that was when it was bleached and damaged. I am grateful to LHC and everyone here for all the great advice so far ^.^ And now, pics!

Orginal hair pre-big chop:




Post big-chop, HEAT-styled, curled:


Post big-chop, henna'd:


And, my hair today, natural with no manipulation (sorry so many pics):


You can see the lighter red is the rest of the bleached hair:




Natural hair color growing in:


Thanks for looking, hopefully there is some improvement, I feel like it's healthier, so I am happy with it

[Baby_doll]

Your hair is so pretty! It's grown alot! It's beautiful, and changed so much since her beginning, even looks alot thicker!

[Hotrox]

Wow, so much improvement in just 1 year and a lot of growth too, congratulations

[GabrielleRose]

Happy anniversary! Your natural hair is absolutely thud worth!

[Adiro]

Congratulation on such amazing progress! Your hair is so beautiful now! ( and I also like it with the henna)

[Johannah]

Happy anniversary! Congratulations!

[ErinLeigh]

Your hair is absolutely gorgeous.

[Nebulae]

Congrats on a year, and what a difference it has made! I love your waves, they look amazing!

[Tini'sNewHair]

Congrats, you are on the right path. Gorgeous hair

[Begemot]

Your hair is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your story and best of luck growing to TBL