Hair Comparison: APL to BSL in 9 months!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

I've been on my hair journey for several years now and I still love going through my old photos of my hair just to visually see how my hair has transformed. I've always used it as motivation to meet my next goal. Nothing speaks louder than a photo! Sometimes we feel as though our hair isn't making any progress, but until we look at an old photo, that is when we really notice a difference :)

The photo on the left (APL - Arm Pit Length) was back in November 2008 when I went to a salon for a relaxer. They hacked off at least 4-6 inches of my thin ends when all I wanted was a trim. It was actually a blessing in disguise. From this beautiful disaster, I was able to really understand the needs, likes, dislikes etc. of my hair that I never understood before. The photo on the right (BSL - Bra Strap Length) was taken in October 2009. So technically speaking, I made BSL in 9 months (August 2009) but this photo was taken in October.

What I changed in my regimen to get to BSL?:

1. I consistently started using S-curl No Drip Activator daily. My ends were craving the extra moisture.
2. Increased my protein treatments to once a week (followed by a moisture deep condition) to ensure my hair remained moisturized yet strong & fortified at the same time. 
3. Applied Jamaican Black Castor Oil to my scalp 2-3x/week. This helped to promote growth and thickness in my hair. 
4. Protected my ends in wigs and buns 90% of the time. I left my hair alone!
5. Moisturized and sealed in sections (5-6) ensuring all of my ends were covered in my moisturizer preventing dryness!

That's it! All you need is consistency & patience :)

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17 comments

  1. Your hair looks amazing! That is awesome length retention. What did you use as a protein treatment?

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    1. Thank you very much. I used Joico k-pak reconstructor and Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor. I would alternate between the two.

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  2. Replies
    1. I used Joico k-pak reconstructor and Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor.

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  3. Wow, beautiful results. I really need to incorporate more protective styling into my regimen. Hopefully soon I will be able to fit wigs into my hair budget! :)

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    1. Awww thank you Candra!! Wigs have been a great help. They have affordable half wigs at the beauty supply store as well. You should check them out :)

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  4. Hey was it a light protein treatment or a hard protein you did weekly ?

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    1. I used a light protein treatment weekly followed by a moisture deep condition for extra softness.

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  5. Melyssah is it your hair?

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  6. Your hair looks amazing. What does your hair look like with the S_curl? I guess every time I see it I imagine dripping and s-curls essentially. Is it like using ORS oil moisturizing lotion?

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    1. Thank you very much! My hair becomes slightly damp after applying SCurl. There are a few waves present. I love it.

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  7. Your hair looks thicker too . I'm in my 3rd year hair journey and still struggling to reach bsl..im below armpit now and I notice alot of shedding...I deep condition with a light protein weekly. I figured that since i moisturize every day with s curl, then a protein is What ill need once a week.what moisturizing treatment do u use?

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    1. Hi Rayyan, are you using a moisturizing deep conditioner after your protein treatments? That's very important. Moisture and protein have to be balanced. In terms of deep conditioners, I use Silk elements cholesterol, Keracare humecto, creme of nature extreme moisture, creme of nature nourishing and strengthening treatment etc. I know Scurl is very moisturizing so you feel the need to use protein weekly - but most importantly, listen to your hair.

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  8. Thanx Sunshyne,actually the weekly protein i use is called vitale olive oil hair mayonnaise.It has hydrolyzed oat proetin and soy protein,as well as botanicals and cholesterol.So i think its considered both a protein and a deep conditining treatment at the same time??
    My hair keeps shedding and im not able to reach BSL.What could be wrong?

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  9. Are you still using the new formula s-curl or the original without the added oils? I'm almost out of the original and I'm nervous about using the new version.

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    1. I'm still using the original s-curl formula without the oils added. When mine runs out, I'm not what I'm going to do.

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