Happy Sunday, everyone! I just got back from the gym and I am ready to grow with this challenge!! Just took my starting pics then remembered why I hate monitoring growth because measuring your hair stinks! But I got over it. Here are my pics. Â I measured my hair a few times and consiste
ntly got around 20 inches, then yanked out one strand of hair and measured that and got about 21 inches, so I’ll use 20.5 inches as my starting point.
Also, although I don’t believe vitamins grow hair (you all know how I feel about that!), I can’t have a good ol’ fashioned growth challenge without making sure I’m getting all my nutrients. I’m currently taking Irwin Naturals Healthy Skin and Hair Plus Nails (I like these b/c they are gel caps instead of horse pills) until my Manetabolism comes. I’m also concentrating on my nutrition and working out at least four times a week.
I didn’t do much to my hair today – I just took my braids down and put it in a ponytail. But I was sure to moisturize my ends (using Bee Mine)!
So what’s up? What are you all doing for #qftpcGO? You can find additional details about what I’m doing at https://questfortheperfectcurl.com/2014/05/28/elles-sparkly-summer-grow-out-challenge/, but there are really no rules except to monitor your growth. xoxo
questfortheperfectcurl.com 
I’m gonna try this, it would be my first hair challenge and I also struggle with length retention. Ive been natuarlly since 2010 and my hair has gotten no where wish me luck!
First time I’ve ever measured my hair and all I could think was “folks actually do this on a regular basis?!?!” *can’t deal* No photos since it took an act of Congress just to obtain overall measurements. hahaha 9.5 – 10 inches all around so I’ll average it out to 9.5 inches. Even if there is no appreciable growth at the end, my goal is to have a consistent routine down, which has been sorely lacking these past few months. Let these here hair games begin! 🙂
Yes!! Measuring your hair is so freaking annoying, it’s no wonder I stopped measuring mine and doing length checks. The other day I was like, I can’t believe I ever even did this.
I’m sooo in!!
I’m there as well. I’m been protective styling since late April.. I’m doing another challenge from 1 June – 1 August. I’m looking to retain more length and have healthy hair.
I need it badly. Have natural hair for 9 years and still shoulder length. Did not know how to take care of my hair. I just discovered YT. and try out henna 3 times and did not realise that I am low po hair and get protein overload all the time and it means breakage and no length retention. I am ready for the challenge. Are you going to have guideline for the newbie?
Hey there! I posted my own guidelines in the previous post about the challenge (I’ll link to that in this post) but there are really no rules – it’s up to you how you’d like to go about getting your growth and retention. If you are looking for general information about hair care and retaining length, I have a really good post about retaining length without protective styling that is still helpful to me!
I am so ready Elle. I only measured the hair at my crown, it is 8 inches long. I am currently not taking any supplements. Is that a requirement of this challenge?
Nope, there are no requirements! You can make the challenge your own.
Im in also. I started taking MSM yesterday and will continue for the challenge and currently doing this challenge with crochet braid protective style. My growth varied between 8″-10.5″ around my big ass head.
This would be a “real” challenge for me because this past years, i’ve only retained about 2″ of growth(avg growth for me is 4″)!!!!! WHAT IS GOING ON?! 😦 My hair sheds like crazy (the bulb is at the end) and there’s a little breakage.
Did anyone else experience this? Tips and advise would be greatly appreciated
What is your routine? How do you care for your hair while it’s in protective styles and how often do you keep them in?
Hi, thanks for the reply 🙂
I usually keep my protective styles in for 1 month and spritz my hair a few times a week.
This is literally what I do every time I wash my hair:
-dry detangle with coconut oil
-apply deep conditioner on top (20mins under steamer or hooded dryer)
-shampoo (in 8 braids)-> oil rinse
-condition (detangle at this step)
-moisturize and style.
I have done the porosity test a few times and received the same results (my strands floating at the top).
Let the fun begin.
I’m so excited about this grow out challenge. I washed and measured on Saturday and got between 6.5 – 7.5 all over my head (bang, nape, left ear, and right ear. If I get more than 1 inch of growth I’m happy. Add far as vitamins I will be taking a multi for woman with a liquid iron supplement, I juice once a day, drinking more water and protective styling 100%
Hi Elle!
I’ll join in on this challenge.
History: Relaxer free since 2007. I’ve always had long hair (relaxed/natural). My hair got thelongest ever during pregnancy last year. I’ve been slacking on my regimen due to mommyhood… but I’m back. I recently got summer highlights and cut off about two inches of straw like ends.
I already pin curled my hair for the night but willmeasure tomorrow.
Goals: Stop going too long before detangling. Be more gentle with detangling. Stop using products just because the came by way of subscription and focus on products that actually benefit me. I will consider for the first time a hair and nail vitamin. And as always, my main goal is maintaining HEALTHY hair.
Hi Elle!
My length is 8″ in the very front, 9.5″ in the middle and 10″ in the back, so average length is around 9″. Right now I’m taking biotin until I can get my hands on a bottle of Manetabolism. I’m going to take better care of my hair, making sure I don’t gotoo long without detangling. I’m also doing scalp massages with castor oil. I don’t righteously have a length goal but that my hair would thicken up a bit.
Good luck ladies! 🙂
I currently take vitamins and workout. I think I will be adding JBCO and more protective styles. My normal growth rate is 1/2 inch a month so we will see if I can get more per month!
Yippie!!
I myself am taking the Manetabolism hair vitamins. Im finally getting off my lazy butt and going back to yoga (I forgot how the men take their shirts off in there :3) and as for my hair, minus moisturizing I plan on doing protective styling. Im drinking more water and making more smoothies. I don’t like vegetables at ALL, I only like spinach so Im incorporating more of that into my smoothies and daily meals.
Most importantly Im doing the LITHA method: Leave It The Hell Alone. I noticed that when I over analyze and criticize my hair this leads to me just giving up and even skipping wash days. Thus resulting in tangles and knots and less hair, and me being even more down and dejected. Later on in the month I’ll install some Marley/Havana twists.
I measured my hair (you’re so right, it is the pits) and lets say Im 12” (some pieces are 11” and some are 13”. But I like even numbers so lets just say 12 🙂 ). This is going to be a HUGE challenge for me because I have to incorporate patience. I have to remember not to rush things. I soooo lack patience!!
Overall my goal is to come outta this challenge with (atleast) 14”, with my shorter pieces being somewhere around 13”.
*takes a deep breath* Welp! Good Luck to Elle and Everyone in the challenge!
Totally ready!!! Locked and loaded, installing twist and have a base measured out the best I could. First time length check in 5 years lol!!