Hair: 21 Months Post Relaxer

I am going twenty-one months strong without applying relaxer to my hair.  I still haven't clipped off those relaxed sections in the front yet (so I guess technically you could say I'm still transitioning).  Honesty, I am due to have my ends trimmed.  However, I guess I will try to do that because I don't want a professional to do it because they get a little scissor happy.  My hair is most likely going to grow out in awkward layers because that's the way it was when it was damaged and I've never evened everything out. 

Here are my usual pictures that I take when I am shampooing and conditioning my hair.

It was a long time since I've flat ironed my hair.  I was curious so I straighten my hair.  I tried not to use so much heat.  This time around I put my hair in twist and let it air dried.  Then, I put heat protectant on it and flat ironed it.  I did not get a sleek press.  My hair was really poofy.  Next time I flat iron I should just use the blow dryer first with the comb attachment (on a cool or warm setting).  Here are the pictures of my hair straight.

Do you see the picture above? My hair is touching my shoulders! I am so excited.  All I have to do is keep my hair healthy and I'll have the armpit length hair of my dreams.  I'm finally doing the proper things to make my hair grow.  I have been at neck length for so many years.  So, to feel my hair brush against my shoulders makes me want to cry tears of joy.  In fact, I can now put my hair into a ponytail and a bun in the center of my head.  I haven't been able to do that with my own hair since I was little.

As of right now, I think I will keep my awkward layers until I meet my growth goal.  In fact, what I'll probably do is let it grow past armpit length and then either cut all my hair one even length or cut the layers so they look like professionally cut layers and not hair that was just damaged.  From the two options I think I'm leaning more towards cleaning up the layers.  After I do all that, I will just be happy as long as my hair is always at least armpit length.  However, if it grows longer than that, I might keep it as long as I feel like I can manage it all. 

Yours truly,

Coily