This is my second time on this journey. I started this journey in August. It's been about 7 months and I haven't had an ugly stage... because I choose not to. I feel like there was power in that. I psyched myself out the last time and through my whole journey I was never fully comfortable with myself or my hair. That was the whole reason they didn't last. Not this time. I am very confident in myself and my hair and it is showing. For my fellow newbies I think you should try to make the same decision and I promise you it will help!