Gradual growth

I remember reading about how women with curly hair need to wait longer until they can see actual growth. Does 8 months count as long? Lol 

June to October to Febrary. 

Monthly Goals.. Wowzer!

I'm losing track of time... it's goal review time already!

Ok here we go!

1) Keep my hair in braids for a full week. Check!

2) Try a new hair style. Check!

3) Style my hair with a bow for Valentines Day. FAIL. lol

I find the last one funny for some reason. I had to work at a track meet that day so no bows or ribbons for me! But the American hammer record holder gave me a valentine so it was a pretty epic day. The other goals were very very successful! I did the banding method twice and it came out wonderfully! It stretched my hair while keeping texture so I will def use it in the future. Time for new goals!

1) Post my video about the banding method. 

2) More protective styling.

3) Do a cool braid style for leagues.

I took a video of my doing the banding method so I just gotta post it now. Also now that I am Bra Strap Length (YAYYYY!!!) I have to start protecting my ends more. Time to protective style like crazy for these last few months of winter. Finally I have conference championships this weekend so I want to do a new braid style for it. Can't wait to update on these goals!!

4th Length Check!!! Ahh!!!

Can you believe it's that time again? Okay, it's a week early but next weekend will be crazy so I did my 4th length check today instead. Here goes................

Close Up!

I am beyond excited! Not only did I accomplish my 4 month goal for passing 4 inches, but I am only a 1/4 away from my year goal with 4 months to go!!! This is so amazing :) In 4 months, my hair grew 2 and 3/4 inches! Not as fast as it grew in the summer, but still hugely significant. Here is a pic with how my hair looks presently with my growth shirt.

The ends are still really thick and healthy and it is past Arm Pit length while curly! I am very happy with my Hair Journey so far. I am finding new things everyday to love my hair and even though it's not straight, I have no urge to flatten out my beautiful curls. When I straighten it, it will look very long, but it already looks long and thick even with the shrinkage. 

My next length check will be my final one for the first year! It will be on June 15, 2014- the exact day I started measuring my hair with my length check shirt. I've come so far since that day and I can't wait to see how much further I will go! My original year goal was 6 inches. Since I'm only a 1/4 away and I have 4 months to go, my updated year goal will be between 7 and 8 inches. That will be an incredible improvement and growth for just one year. I am blessed to have hair that wants to grow like a weed. 

Before my journey, it must have been breaking so fast. I had an average yearly growth of 2 inches. Now I'm pushing 7 or 8! It's absolutely insane. Health is key! I'm learning every day.

Banding Method

Tried a new stretching method this past wash day and I love it! It's called the banding method cuz you use bands to keep your hair from coiling and shrinking. Here is what it looks like:

Even with just the bands, my hair looked super long! I took them out the next day, so they didn't have the best chance to dry but it still came out nice! 

I absolutely love this style an it gives me great length! Will be replicating in the future :)