Hang in there, Ella!  It'll take a while but we'll get through the layer-phase!

I think the next toy purchase for my HAC should be a headband.  I don't like for my hair to touch my face--drives me crazy.  The aloe gel I use usually holds my hair in place.  But very soon, my bangs will be long enough to start misbehavin' and I think a headband will cure it.  That's if I look decent with a headband.  Or maybe I'll just buy more of those snap clips.  I'm not sure if that's the proper name but that's what I call them.  I think I'll ask dh to take a photo for my personal hair growth journal that I'm keeping at home.  I had dd take the first one back in March so it's time for another.  And I should probably measure, too. 

Still doing an ACV rinse once a week, washing + conditioning daily and using aloe gel for a styling product.

I seem to be averaging one journal entry per month.  Sorry, but during this growing out period there really isn't much to report! 

I broke one of my "no heat" rules yesterday.  I used a mixture of aloe and olive oil for style control, got a little too much olive oil and my hair simply refused to dry.  I was headed for church, something I don't do every Sunday and would have been embarrassed to be seen with the wet head look.  So I broke out my hair dryer.  *sigh*  At least I left my hair a little damp and didn't fry the heck out of it.  But I sure did feel guilty.  Next time I just need to get my behind out of bed sooner to allow for more drying time.  Jiminey Christmas, I can't wait to have BSL hair...argh!!  Oh, to have hair long enough for a simple bun or figure 8!

You're right, I do need to start checking regularly for splits.  Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement!  I really liked the feel of the aloe/olive oil mix so I may continue to use that.  I even used some of it as a moisturizer for my face. 
Thanks again!

Had a "first" last night that I want to log. 

It's been so horribly humid here in Missouri.  I don't have AC in my car, so by the time I get home from work in the late afternoons I'm all wilted.  And then yesterday afternoon Hubby and I had to pick tomatoes from the garden.  It was either pick them or let them rot and we just couldn't do that so...Anyway when we came back inside to the wonderfully cool AC'd house I just couldn't seem to get cool enough.  I kept sweeping the hair up off my neck with my hands and then I would feel better.  And then I wondered...

I got a medium sized claw clip, swept up my hair, put on the clip and IT STAYED!  The back of my hair is juuuust long enough for a mini updo.     The sides, of course, with my layers would require a lot of pins to stay put but it IS do-able.  It's a small one, but a milestone in my journey nonetheless.  What a grand feeling--I'm so proud!  I want to shout for joy!  I want to engulf all of you in a !!

I've had two dreams lately in as many weeks where my hair was long, down to my waist.  It was pretty and healthy and a little wavy.    Each time I woke up happy because I had seen myself with long hair.  So is my wishful thinking influencing my dream life?  Or perhaps these are visions of things to come?  Did anybody else have long hair dreams while growing out their locks?  It's pretty cool whatever the reason!
(I also posted this in the "growing out"section)

August the first--time to measure again.  If my hair continues to run true to form then it should measure at 19 inches.  I'm still lovin' the honey conditioner.  It makes my hair very soft.  I'm also diggin' on the aloe/jojoba oil combo for control.  That jojoba oil is amazing stuff.  I was putting two drops into a quarter sized dollop of aloe gel.  But apparently that was too much because my hair looked a teeny bit greasy.  I backed off to using only one drop and ta-da!  Success!  I'm sure the jojoba oil is also helping my hair stay soft.  

No new hair toys bought lately.  Although I'd like to find some all-plastic barrettes, as in no metal parts, to use when my bangs drive me insane (which seems to be happening more and more).  I know that there a lots of kiddie barrettes that are all-plastic.  But, being 43, I kind of hesitate to wear cute little bunnies or puppies or kittens in my hair.  You know what I mean?  I need to find some grown up barrettes.  Although...I love bunnies and puppies and kittens so maybe I'll thumb my nose at convention and wear them anyway!

Yeah Trisha!  You go girl!!!!

Congratulations Trisha!  I know the feeling.  I had long hair when I was little and didn't do anything with it, and didn't really care that it was long.  Now, after growing it out after so long, it feels like I have long hair for the first time with being able to do updo's.

Lookng forward to watching you and the others achieve great lengths!

Cynde

The hair is up in a ponytail today    with the front and sides kept in place with various clips and barrettes.  Just out of curiosity I measured my ponytail--from the edge of the holder (the edge farthest away from my head) to the longest tip of my hair is about 4 1/2 inches.  It's so fantastic to have options for fixing my hair!  

I'm still shampooing and conditioning daily but I've cut back on the amount of products I use.  Before I was using about a quarter size glop of shampoo and conditioner (and my aloe+jojoba).  I finally saw the light and realized that I simply do not need to use that much product to keep my hair clean.  So now I'm using about a dime size amount of each.  

Most days I don't even brush my hair anymore until I get ready for bed.  After I towel dry in the morning, I finger-comb my hair into place and let it air dry.  Then by the time I get to work I simply finger-comb it again to make it look good and add a barrette or a comb.