Thursday, August 20, 2009

Hair

"Take Back Your Hair" Challenge

I was perusing the Hair Care Tips and Product Review Discussion board of the Long Hair Care Forum the other day, and noticed that there are so many posts regarding hair challenges. For instance, a member with the screen name Music-bnatural-smile has posted a "Dirty Thirty" challenge. She states, "This challenge is for people who are trying to grow [their hair] through protective styles or stretches from relaxers and also sculpt their body through a healthier lifestyle." Some of the terms of the challenge are as follows:

"1. Pick a protective style that will be presentable for life in the real world and also working out.

2. Pick an amount of days you will workout before you heat style/relax your hair again. I will be doing 30 days (not consecutive).

3. Identify your hair growth goal and your health goal whether it be inches lost, weight gain, weight loss, arm jiggle loss... whatever... I will be doing this until I lose 30 lbs."

In addition to the "Dirty Thirty" challenge, I also saw a post for "The Best Baggy Challenge Ever!!!" and a "Six Month Ayurveda Challenge." Seeing these challenges have inspired me to come up with one of my own. This is actually something I've wanted to do for a long time now, and I figured, what better time than the present?

One of the reasons I started doing hair care videos is because I was tired of black women in particular, buying into the myth that we can't grow our hair long. The truth is, our hair is always growing (unless of course you suffer from some sort of illness that affects hair growth, or have a genetic disposition for hair loss), and we must care for it in order to preserve the length. I believe that far too many women over style and over process their hair. All the manipulation and stress that we tend to place on our hair results in breakage, and we therefore don't get to see the length we would have achieved had we properly cared for our hair. I truly believe that if more women took the time to get to know their REAL hair, instead of spending so much time and money trying to fry it or mask it with fake hair, then more ladies would be able to reach their full hair potential.

So, with that said, I would like to propose my own challenge, and those of you who are interested in participating (whether you're relaxed or natural), will post progress updates here. I want to call this the "Take Back Your Hair Challenge." The challenge will last for three months (You can start at any time), because I believe that's enough time to see results. The rules for the challenge are as follows:

DPrincess28's "Take Back Your Hair" Challenge Rules
  1. You must take a picture of your hair at the beginning of the challenge (Track the start date), and a picture of your hair at the end.
  2. Weave/braid/extension wearers must abstain from these styles for the duration of the challenge (three months).
  3. You can only straighten your hair twice during the challenge! Yes ladies, that means you must experiment with heat-free styles for most of the challenge. Let's minimize our use of blow dryers, flat irons, and hot combs!
  4. You must deep condition your hair at least twice a month (This will enable everyone to alternate between protein and moisturizing deep conditioning treatments).
  5. You must keep your hair moisturized, as this will prevent your ends from splitting and help aid in length retention.
If there's anything else that you plan to do during the three months that you believe will aid in length retention, make note of it so you can share it with the rest of the ladies.

Hair grows on average ½" a month, so every participant should at least achieve 1" of growth by the end of the challenge. I'm leaving off the other ½" because if your hair happens to be in really bad condition, you may need to trim your ends before or during the challenge to help get it on a healthy track.

Please ladies, let me see some participation! I will be posting progress updates of my hair, because I can attest to the fact that low manipulation, minimal heat, and a lot of TLC can help aid in hair growth (i.e. length retention). If you're ready to "Take Back Your Hair," join the challenge and let's see some progress!

XOXO,

DPrincess28

27 comments:

lol said...

I'll join. I'll post a picture later :)

Janelle Robinson, MPH said...

I am in D...So excited

Chrissy said...

Nice post!! I am up for the challenge. Count me in

Ms. Harmony said...

You know I'm down! I'll start September 1. Will like for us to send you the before pics once we start? Or do you prefer we send both before and after at the end of our 3 month challenge?

Danielle87 said...

I've been lookin to do somethin like this for a while....I'm wearing braids at the moment but I'm going to redo them today to start ur challenge I'm really lookin forward to seeing the outcome = )

Anonymous said...

I would love to take part in this challenge but I am a short haired relaxed sister so no heat styling could be a problem for me. Do you have an alternative for short haired sisters?

oiuyh;o said...

I am totally in!!

Anonymous said...

Count me in. Maybe this will help me re-establish a regimen of some kind!

Avillacorta said...

I am so on the ropes about this. I really really need to. But what will I do with my hair when I go to this formal event? I'm still growing relaxer off and have been relaxer free now for 3 and a half months. Oh what to do what to do. Ok I guess I have to pick a day to take the sew in out. (it is about that time anyway) and then think of a cute style for the event. D...you really keep me on my toes. LOL

tannonbaby said...

I'm in. I will start Sep 1, as that is the next time I will straighten my hair. I'll take pictures and send them over. I'll add to my challenge to resume working out 5-6 days/week and little to no refined sugar/carbs. I was doing really well for a while and have lost focus as of late.

mewmew said...

Im in!! I did my big chop on the 12th of August so... its about 1/2" long right now. But, I'm excited to see what will grow out of my scalp LOL

bluebonnet67 said...

I am in! This sounds like a great challenge!

beautifulblackhair said...

Hi DPrincess,

I have just relaxed my hair last month. I normally do a relaxerevery 4 to 6 months. I have noticed that my hair grow faster, longer and stronger when I don't relax it as much or use heat.

After seeing you videos with all the styles I can do without perm I am going to do it. I like the curly look and can still go straight once in a while. I am just afraid of my curl pattern and worried that my hair will be kinky and not curly.

I have also started a blog www.EthnicHairGrowth.com to combine all my research and post results of my efforts. I will upload some pic of my permed hair flat iron and wet.

Thank for sharing ... you are fantastic..

"Grow it Longer, Stronger and Healthier"

Purpleola said...

I'm so in!! I'll start Sept 1st.

jada07 said...

I'm down to participate but I am getting my hair done on September 3rd and am probably going to cut a few inches so the pic I send on the 1st will not be accurate. I'll send a new pic after my appointment if I do cut it and there is a difference.

Strawbaree said...

Wow! I love the challenge idea. But I am a wig wearer...I wear half wigs most of the time. I dont' use heat, but I do wear the wigs...can I wear my half wigs in the challenge? Because I use that for a protective style. Does that count?

Oh! And for the body...do you want us to take body shots? Because I want to lose weight, too.

OH! And where are you going to lose 30 lbs.? LOL!

DPrincess28 said...

Hey Strawbaree,

My challenge is in pink, so what you read in blue above was a snippet of another lady's challenge that I was quoting from. I'd love to lose about 10 pounds, but if I lost 30 I'd look a mess, LOL!

Anonymous said...

I will join, I have been waiting for such a challenge, I will post pre picture soon. THanks for doing this. September first, I am READY ;-)

Missy M. said...

I'd like to join. How do I post a picture? I just took one yesterday. That could be my Sept. 1 picture. This is exciting!

Anonymous said...

I will join this D.....I was just talking about doing this just becuz i wanted to see if my hair will make some changes...

1twinkeR said...

you're calling me to different level of control lol...but i'm up for the challenge.
this would be somewhat difficult for me because of rule #3...i usually use my flat irons at least once a month. needless to say, i'll need to find several protective styles to use lol but from your prev. vids and blogs you've provided a lot of good reasons why i shouldn't use so much heat. i would really like to grow my hair out and it remain in a health state

Mz. Inquisitive said...

I would like to join in on your challenge. I did the BC 1 week ago today. I decided on this after months of contemplating....I was tired of being a prisoner to my relaxed tresses. I was late for everything because I was not leaving out of the house if my hair was not right. I tried the wig thing; it wasn't for me. I am also trying to get rid of some of this weight that has found a home on me. I do want my hair to deter me from my goal....not wanting to work out because of me not wanting to mess up my hair. I do not want any of that. It’s not hard for me to find an excuse, and I do not want to make it easy on myself… You inspire me. Keep up the good work.

toniberoni said...

Hello D
You are a intelligent,beautiful and supportive woman that has inspired me to go natural without using a texturizer or doing the big chop. I want to have versatile hair and from watching your videos you have proved that it is possible (curly-straight-great!). The longest strands of my hair are almost in the middle of my back but over all it’s uneven, dry, brittle and split. I put too much protein in my hair and I choose to not trim my hair as often (3-4 months) so my hair could grow longer and now I’m left with split ends all the way up to my scalp. So ladies it’s true if you don’t trim your hair that could really happen. I plan to cut at least 2-3 inches off and the split ends in between. I know I’m at late starter but my goal at this point is for my hair to go back to being soft. I will email you my picture Monday.- thanks

Sassy & Sexy said...

Hey can I join the challenge now ??

Love your blog

Miriam said...

looks like you have plenty sisters to do this, its fab.. i am gonna do it.. ive not used heat for 1 week, used the EV Olive oil, and my hair is not shredding, im excited ladies, D.. Keep on keepin on..
lol

luv mizz

peepla said...

hmmm I've been doing a year to year challenge....yours is easier. I can do 3 months without thinking about it. hahahaha anyway, I just cut my hair again just for a start over....so I'll try it that way now.

Anonymous said...

I started unknowing have been doing the challenge for about a month now. Me and the two strand twist have become fast friends. I'm noticing already that my hair isn't breaking off as much as it did. And it's growing. Thanks so much for yur advice I who'd be so lost without yu and your blog. -t.sunshine