PART ONE
Last week, I mentioned that I was getting quite a few questions about what I do/did to get my hair to its current length. Usually when I get asked that question, I’ll point to my regimen post. But, to be honest, that is ever evolving and what I may be doing or using today may be totally different a week or two from now. So, I started to think about the various Tips and Tricks that I’ve shared over the last year. Then, I grouped them into categories of things that I consistently do to retain as much length as I can.
Right now, my hair is the longest that it’s ever been in my life … not ADULT life … my ENTIRE life. I have what is viewed as a “looser curl” and some assume that length automatically comes with that. However, I was not one of those little girls with a thick, long ponytail hanging down her back until the yearning for a “perm” set-in and destroyed her long, luxurious mane.
Instead, my hair was fine, frizz prone and armpit length was probably the longest it ever was pre- or post relaxer. All this to say that, at 40 years of age and 12 years natural, my hair is the longest that it has ever been … EVER.
Now here’s the disclaimer! LOL! This post isn’t to say that I’ve got this length retention thing down to an exact science, that my methods are the only ones that work, that I don’t have setbacks or that I have a perfect head of hair. I am trying to grow out a shorter, dryer, coarser and more breakage-prone crown, a shorter nape, transition out henna-loosened ends and recover from the amla induced “Great Shed of 2010.” I don’t have a perfectly even, thick perimeter and although my longest areas have reached waist length, not all of my hair has (I’m testing Chicoro’s “Lead Hair” Theory and the goal point method of trimming). So, yeah … my hair is a work in progress and I hope some of the things that I learned and began incorporating late last year will help me to achieve healthier, thicker, stronger and longer hair in the twenty twelve!!
So, without further ado, here are the 3 things that I am doing to “grow” my hair long or, more accurately, retain the length that I grow!
1. MOISTURIZE: Every week (or two weeks at the most), I pre-poo with Vatika or coconut oil, deep condition, apply a leave-in conditioner and seal with an oil. I re-apply a water-based moisturizer and seal between wash sessions, as needed.
2. PROTECT: I’m not just talking about protective styling. I think about protection as everything I do to reduce stress on my hair and prevent “premature” breakage. I finger detangle, use gentle hair accessories and tools, search and destroy to trim knots and splits that can cause “collateral damage” to adjacent strands, sleep on a satin pillowcase, wear a satin scarf or bonnet every night and wear low manipulation/protective styles that tuck away my ends 5-6 days a week.
3. STRENGTHEN: Throughout most of 2011, this element was largely missing from my regimen and I think it resulted in preventable breakage. But, I rectified this in November 2011, learned how to use protein correctly and began incorporating strengthening protein treatments every 2-3 weeks, or as needed. I also use henna. But, as I do roots-only treatments due to curl loosening caused by repeated applications, it isn’t sufficient as a strengthening agent alone. So, it became imperative for me to begin using protein to reinforce the “structural integrity” of my strands.
Here are a few pictures that show my progress from 2008, when I had my hair cut to ear length straight, to present.
Sept. 22, 2008
Feb. 19, 2011 (post 2-3″ trim)
Feb. 5, 2012
Feb. 10, 2012
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PART TWO
I did the above post on the three mainstay components of my regimen that I believe have allowed me to retain a lot of length: Moisture, Protection and Strength. I’ve shared how I do these three things over the course of the last year through a variety of posts. Well, I thought it might be a good idea to put the links to these articles all together in one place. As new readers come to discover the site and “old” readers want to find a post that they know they read, but just can’t find, thought it would be helpful to have a “Library” for quick reference. I hope that you agree!
So, here is Part Two of How I Retain Length with links to core posts related to my regimen!
1. MOISTURE
The first step in moisturizing for me is pre-pooing:
My Staples – Virgin Coconut Oil & Vatika Oil
How I Pre Poo (w/Video Tutorial)
Next is deep conditioning, which I’ve recently discovered a new way of doing:
Deep Conditioning Tricks – Cool & Seal (now for post henna or post-wash protein only)
Pre-Wash Deep Conditioning
Let’s not forget the all important leave-in conditioner:
The Power of pH
(I use the Kimmaytube recipe, but modify it to use less oil for my fine hair: 2 tbsp Kinky Curly Knot Today, 2 tbsp aloe vera juice [food grade-whole leaf], 1 tsp jojoba oil or Jamaican black castor oil; the “regular” recipe includes 2 tsp jojoba oil & 2 tsp castor oil.)
And finally, I have to seal all that lovely moisture into my hair:
My Staples: Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)
2. PROTECTION
Protection starts with gentle handling in my book:
Finger Detangling
Tools of the Trade (gentle tools & accessories)
Next is protective and/or low manipulation styling that hides away those ends from environmental and mechanical damage:
Protective Styling … Boring?
Style Library: Updos
Then I protect the ‘do at night:
A Bonnet for Every Occasion
3. STRENGTH
I have truly realized the importance of treatments that reinforce and strengthen the hair strand.
Henna – My Two Step Henna/Indigo Process
Moisture & Protein, Finding the Balance
ApHogee 2 Minute Keratin Reconstructor
ApHogee 2 Step Treatment (my first time review and process)
I ♥ Aubrey Organics and Can I Over-Condition (Aubrey GPB rocks my world)
♥
And that’s it! Enough isn’t it?! I’m nothing if not thorough 
.
(p.s. I’ll add new articles to this post as a discover and incorporate new techniques/products into my regimen.)
is this some kind of trick, i need to see you open your hair in parts (in videos) and allow the public to see your scalp
If you go through the site, you can see many pictures of my hair parted and styled in a variety of ways. This is a post from last November when I did a tension blow-out. There is a picture with my hair parted in the front and a section was pressed. You can clearly see the hair to my scalp.
http://hairscapades.com/2011/11/29/operation-blow-out-mission-accomplished/
Here is another post from February, when I had my hair pressed. I had parted my hair down the middle to show that a hendigo treatment that I tried failed.
http://hairscapades.com/2012/02/23/hendigo-no-go/
If you don’t believe that it’s my hair, that is your prerogative. However, it is and I don’t feel a need to prove it with a special video as there are several videos on my YouTube channel and tons of pics on this site with my hair in various states. I think that they clearly demonstrate that this hair grows from my head. But, again, if you disagree, that is your right and I won’t argue the point. Thanks.
omg you should not have even bothered replying this person, some people are unbelievable!
My hair is no where near as long as Shelli’s yet, but I have retained a great deal of length since implementing many of these same techniques. You should give it a try. Perhaps someone will be asking you the same question some day
That is a rather weird request…especially to say what Shelli “needs” to do. Why would she post this as a trick? All of her tips were practical, no magic potion or growth pills, nor is she selling anything.
Are you serious? Have you gone through Shelli’s webpage and seen ALL her pictures? It is all hers. What would she gain by pretending to have long hair? I don’t want to be rude, but please find other pages to troll.
Virtual weave checking? Really? Rude.
LMBO!!!!! Oh man Crissa!!!! Love that!!! I am so jacking you for that one!!! LOL!!!! Thank you for a good laugh:)!!
There will ALWAYS be that “special someone,” the “Proof Fairy,” to try & discredit what someone is saying. All I know is that I will be trying these tools & techniques on me & my daughter’s hair. Thank you for taking the time, of sharing & explaining the process to myself, & others.
Shelli, your hair is fabulous! You are right, you have nothing to prove to anyone. Some people which much rather “attempt” to make another person look bad instead of being happy for their haircomplishments (made me a word!!). Your site and youtube are both full of pictures showing your scalp. Anyway, thank you for sharing and as always…keep inspiring.
*would
Awww, thanks Dawn!
Your hair is beautiful! Ever since I was a child, I could grow my hair about half way down my back and it wasnt thin. I also didn’t have to do anything to my hair. I went natural almost two years ago. My hair will grow unevenly past my shoulders. It’s very depressing! I’m really frustrated because my hair is harder to comb now. Your blog gives me hope that my hair will grow back.
Very informative post! Your hair is BOMB Darling! I finally made my way to your blog after spending all last year stalking your post on CurlyNikki lol
LOL!!! Awwwwww!! Thank you AmbeeCurls!!! Yea!!! You made it here!!! Hope that you’ll continue to visit as I post a lot more here than you see on CurlyNikki;).
Sure will!
Very informative post! Your hair is BOMB Darling! I finally made my way to your blog after spending all last year stalking your post on CurlyNikki lol
I think this is one my new favorite hair blogs! Congrats on all your progress and thank you for the informative posts.
Awwwww, thank you lady!!! Welcome, welcome:)!! Hope to “see” you around lots;)!!
I really love your blog. I feel like out of all the natural hair girls I can relate to you the most. I’ve never had long hair in my 21 years of living and it’s not really that long now but I’ve never in my life had hair this healthy. It’s a bit frustrating taking advice from girls who seem to grow their hair overnight or have had long hair before. I guess that’s why I find your hair journey to be so relatable. I also have loose texture 3b and some 3c and people assume my hair can grow out easier but I’m think it actually makes it harder.So Basically….your my HAIRO! lol
Awwwww, thank you Mo!! I don’t know if it makes it harder, but I think that all textures can be composed of fine strands that are more susceptible to damage. Sometimes people seem to think if you have a looser curl, it means your hair can grow long easily. And, as you said, that’s not necessarily the case. It’s not the looseness of the curl, but the thickness and strength of the strand, as well as care and manipulation practices that impact length. As you said your hair is the healthiest it has ever been, I’m sure you’ll start seeing it grow to the longest lengths you’ve ever achieved too:)!! Thank you so much for your kind words and hope that you continue to enjoy my blog:)!!
I just came across this and I know I’m late-sorry but…Wow Shelli you’re better than me…I would not have responded…but I like your response- very classy! Love your blog and keep up the good work.
I really enjoy your blog and taking note of what works and doesn’t work for you. Your length retention is impressive. I’ve reached my hair goal and have set another one. I’m BSL going straight for waist in a year. I’ve retained length but also suffer from breakage. I’m hoping that adopting some of your techniques and combining them with mine will allow me to reach my goal. Keep up the great blogging!!
As I sit here with a cap on my head doing a deep condition…I am reading just your pre-poo regimen and I am so lost as to how to do it. Is there a tutorial or video on it? I would love to have the length that you have. What leave in should I use and what do I do with the JBCO? Please help! Thanks Shelli.
Joanna, the link to my pre-poo video is above in the post … see 1. Moisture. All those blue bolded titles are links to posts that explain things in more detail.
I just cut off all of my hair and just have a twa and really want to get my hair your length which was my hair length as a child and teenager then got into chemicals and destroyef it all I need some simpler guidance starting over again with my little tiny bit of hair and also something to help my eight year old daughters hair grow long too. Both of us have very dry hair
Hi J, here is a post where I share some basics for natural hair care. http://hairscapades.com/2011/08/01/pearls-of-wisdom/
Hope it helps.
Thanks very much for your information. Your hair looks very beautiful. I have started doing a lot more moisturising treatments, particularly using coconut oil.
You should take it as a compliment Miss Shelli, your hair is so beautiful it had to come out of a packet, it couldnt possibly be your own home grown locks ;0)
i love it and im going to try and do this your hair is beautiful!
I struggle with length when it comes to my hair. I’ve been natural for two years now. I’ve always had thick hair, but even with a relaxer my hair never seemed to grow past my shoulders. I love your length and really would like to see my hair get there one day. I love this post and your blog.
Thank you so much Vickie!! Well, I hope that you find information here that helps you achieve your goals!!
I love your hair and the information that you give. I have always transitioned between wearing my hair straight and natural curls, however somehow last year, I was wearing it straight by using a straightening foam by Bed Head and a flat iron, it always reverted back to my curls but now, on the left side, there are a ton of stick straight pieces. It’s not dry, and there is no shedding, or breaking so I’m not sure if that’s heat damage or if it’s just been trained but I’m looking for something to fix it. Does the “Z” from Mahandi actually help with that or will I just have to grow and chop?
Thanks,
Awwww, thank you so much Lovely! As to the zizyphus, I think that works on hair that has been weighed down by henna because it lifts some of the dye deposit. I don’t think that it’ll restore curls lost due to heat damage. But, you know, it’s not too expensive and it might be worth trying! But, just make sure to condition after using it as it works like a clarifier and can be drying. Speaking of clarifying, have you done that? Sometimes hair gets limp because it has product build-up, though, it does sound like you have heat damage since the straightness is in a localized area. Heat damage doesn’t necessarily cause the hair to break or shed. It just changes the structure of the hair. Have you tried doing a protein treatment (followed by a moisturizing DC). Protein helps put “structure” back into hair and the moisturizing DC helps restore elasticity. If the damage isn’t severe, that may help restore some of the curl. Okay, HTH!!
Did you go to cosmetology school?Im 14, My hair and my familys hair is pretty close to african hair since we got a relaxers,my mom,my sisters and myself have been going naturaul for a year now,the relaxer really jacked our heads up,our hair has shortened a lot,(like shorter than ear length)Will all these tips grow our hair long and silky like yours?Will the methods still work?
Hi there! Lovely blog and hair indeed! I am very much so interested in trying out some henna. I’ve been on my journey for 2 years 6 months and I’ve grown to enjoy it although challenging. I did the big chop and had less than an inch. Now I think I’m between 8 and 10 inches throughout. I keep my hair in two strand and flat twists often, but I think I’m ready to see if I can reap some benefits from henna. I’m doing my research before hand though. I just wanted to share that with you since you are gracious enough to share yours. Thank you!