FOTKI

Mahalialee4

Mahalialee4

Highlights of My Growth Process 1999-2004
Actually before I started growing it out, it was neck length, about
halfway between the neck and the shoulders and it was all kinds of
lengths (LOL). Damaged. thinning and breaking. A mess. I seriously
thought I was going to end up looking like a plucked chicken. 1999.
Then I worked at getting it to stop breaking, and managed to keep it
on my head. (Major reasons... surgeries, ill health and no concern
about my hair, radical haircuts, sometimes to 1/2in long) I assumed
that hair would always be there.) At the most, I got it braided or
always cut it and kept it my own about neck length and on occasion to
the shoulders.I wore extensions. I dyed it, red, black etc. "as in
fried, dyed and laid to the side."with a curling iron. As a licensed
hair stylist, I cared the least about my own hair because I played
with it too much but did not like the fine stranded texture and I did not know what to do with it!. I thought it was too weird and kept trying to change it to "normal 4b hair".At one time it had been thick, but was very finetextured, did not like braids, twists, being down, staying curled....and now it was acting like it had died!!!!. From 1999 to 2000, I just tried to revive the dying hair.
Actual start of trying to grow it out evenly was at the end of 2000.
Severe breakage had finally stopped. I worked at strengthening the hairstrands. I also realized that braiding with extensions was weakening my hair, cutting the strands and came to realize that having myhair cut in about 6 different layers all the time was not helping the situation.
I made a radical change because I really believed there was a better way and I would never have treated anyone else's hair the way I treated
mine. My head and hair was the "ultimate experiment".I started
respecting my hair and applying the knowledge I had because I am also an extensive researcher. You could say my hair is proof of the
results! 2 years from that to now. Now I use no heat, braids, or dye.
So you can appreciate why thickness and strength, growth
and length mean something to me. I had to earn it the hard
way. I am about 4 inches from bra strap, (FEBRUARY 2000)
stretched in the back = over 10" past the shoulders. The sides are
about 4 inches shorter so it is going to grow into a natural curve on
the bottom eventually, (as well some hair is shorter at the crown,
because at one point it was all extremely layered, which I deeply
regret.) I do not plan to lock, although I admire them on others. I now
use a very big wide toothed wooden comb or brush through at least
once a week and this keeps it knot free and not tangly.
Occasionally I will leave it a whole week just curly. I have not
trimmed in over six months and so far the ends are excellent. I wear
it wrapped until recently about 99% of the time and every night with
a silk or satin scarf. I want to wait until the layers get more even
and then I will dust the ends. Products: I use Shikakai, Amla, Neem powders for shampoo, I add
yoghurt, eggs to make packs. I make a lot of recipes.LOve essential
oils and natural oils. ,
no brush, growing out layers phase. My growth update:
February 1999, (seriously damaged & breaking!)
4" bang and side temple area, 7" sides , 10" (top scattered areas
longest strands). Back length of hair was at the MIDDLE of the neck.
I began a series of Radical Recovery Treatments (personal
copyrighted 1999-2000)) : With these treatments and a complete
attitude change and hair regimen my hair went from that length to
8"(bangs) and starting at the hairline- 17" back to 20"- back (V)
or (7 "below shoulders at the back August 1, 2001. I took
photographs to visually map my progress. Then to 10" below shoulders
at the back. 4" past shoulders at the sides, and past collar bone
length from the temple area by December 31, 2001. Hair thickness has
increased dramatically, color has deepened, ends are fantastic and
the overall texture is phenominal. Measurements taken since: Full and
precise measurements were taken according to layers on February 23,
2002, to give the most accurate reflection of the overall growth of
my hair. Bangs: that were originally a problem area: 11"(now thick
and good texture) last trimmed August 2000 approx. 1 "; Sides
(temple) 11.5 "a major problem area, especially on the right side
where measured, acquired major thickness.Top of head above the bangs:
11.4"Area previously most damaged for longest period of time (5") now
10" long and thriving. Back of ear 10.5 " stretches to armpit length
when pulled to front and 4.5" past shoulders when pulled out to the
side.Longest strands from bottom of neck measure 13". Starting at the
front hairline to longest part (V) area in the back overall length
22.5". Major goal -grow out all layers. Grow into a curved "V" shape.
Marks 3 years growth. Feb. 99-Feb.2002. Measurement: March 7-2002 the
longest sections of hair at back touching top of bra strap when
gently stretched. The area behind the right ear, section showed
increase in growth of 3" this year. (front beauty spot-2-3/4" past
spot) and touches the armpit crease in front. Random measurement. I
have accumulated satisfactory growth in all areas. I intend to grow
out my layers to one overall length of 35 inches. In the process of
growing out sharply uneven layers of hair, I have accumulated to date
(Feb.22-2002)- 7=4.5=5=4=6- total of 26.5 inches of growth. The
AVERAGE OF GROWTH OVER 3 YEARS= 26.5/5=5.3" per year average. The
rate of growth based on the actual current length measured from front
of hairline to longest length of 22.5/3=6.8" growth per year. A
little above average. That means I can hope to gain the average 6"
per year. In one year that will add up to (22.5=6=28.5; in two
year=34.5" total length. AMAZINGLY, the biggest challenge for me was
to accumulate length from the middle of the neck to the shoulder
(4"), to grow it past shoulder length to reach 13 " past the shoulder
at its longest point! In 3 years that equals 17", which was an
average of 17/3=5.6"per year. All in all I really cannot complain.
The intense therapy saved my hair and in spite of everything it grew
about average. 5.3-5.6 vs 6"!
Note: I started taking a multi vitamin, MSM, Biotin, L cysteine,
Borage Oil caps in Jan 2002 to replace other supplements that I was
taking sporadically. I plan to add Amla Cplus. I have others to use
up but I will save them for emergency when I run short of the other
items to carry me over until my shipments come in.
HAIR TYPE 3B CURLY FINE TEXTURED, COTTONY AND POROUS
GENETIC POTENTIAL: HAIR THAT YOU CAN SIT ON.( I may be 90 years old when this happens, but I like the challenge. LOL
Hope this encourages anyone who has really been challenged and had toovercome breakage, setbacks etc. I have been SO ENCOURAGED when I read similar reports and updates across the Black Hair care webs.
Happy Growing. Love to see more success posts to spur me on to age
90! Bonjour.

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