Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[GettingKinky]

Thanks for attaching the full picture. I always thought all your hair was in a ponytail. I didn’t realize it was more half up half down.

But it’s still super long and lush and full and my dream hair.

 

[Chicoro]

Thanks for attaching the full picture. I always thought all your hair was in a ponytail. I didn’t realize it was more half up half down.

But it’s still super long and lush and full and my dream hair.

You are welcome and thank you for the compliment. I think with your current focus, clarity and understanding you are well on your way to this length.

 

[faithVA]

I reset my hair today instead of yesterday. I'm going to try to stick to Saturdays, so I feel like I'm not so rushed on Sunday night.

I purchased the Prose shampoo and conditioner, which is based on a questionnaire. I read so many things on line, I can't remember what convinced me to try it. But I received it mid-week and tried it today. The first thing I like about it is it is fragrance free. I really like my other shampoo but it makes my eyes tear so bad that I dread using it.

I cleanses twice with the shampoo since I only cleansed once last week. Then I followed with the conditioner. My initial impression is that I like it. I can't explain it but my hair looked cleaner. I know! I can't explain it (lol). The conditioner has me thinking I have been using too heavy of a conditioner all along. The conditioner is light and it doesn't really coat the hair like my other conditioners. But it left my hair very soft. Supposedly your hair gets better with the use of these products, so I will try to use these primarily until they are gone.

After that I applied the Mielle leave-in and the KCCC and put my hair into bantu knots while I cooked dinner. Then I put in my 2 strands.

On my hair I can feel splits. I'm not sure if that is because my hair is fine. But I can touch my strands and tell where I have splits and where I don't. The back of my hair is the worst because it is fine and it is various lengths. From my ears forward where my length is, my ends are good. From my ears back it is another world. I don't foresee getting out of splitsville with the back until the crown grows out another 3 inches and I can start to even my hair out. But I do expect that with each trim, that it should get better. In the meantime I will clip the splits I find as I twist.

I'm going to try to keep my hair in 2 strands at least through the end of March and then try flat twists after that to give myself a break. Will try anyway.

 

[keranikki]

I still haven’t braided my hair, Le sigh. Instead, my hair is in two buns, M&S with diluted Infusium 23, APB 3N1 LI, and APB 4 Butter Blend. My hair is happy and my ends are tucked. I will attempt to braid my hair this week.

 

[spacetygrss]

Had some shea butter left in my measuring cup (making a hair butter) and used it to coat the ends of my hair. It’s literally freezing here, so my hair is loving the thick butter.

 

[Chicoro]

Had some shea butter left in my measuring cup (making a hair butter) and used it to coat the ends of my hair. It’s literally freezing here, so my hair is loving the thick butter.

She said Shea butter!!!!

I am obsessively and fanatically in LOVE with Shea butter!!!!

 

[spacetygrss]

She said Shea butter!!!!

I am obsessively and fanatically in LOVE with Shea butter!!!!

Girl, I recently realized that I have 6 POUNDS of shea butter in my closet. Managed to use 12 oz making this butter.
How do you forget that you have 6 pounds of something? SMH.

 

[Chicoro]

Girl, I recently realized that I have 6 POUNDS of shea butter in my closet. Managed to use 12 oz making this butter.
How do you forget that you have 6 pounds of something? SMH.

Just say the word...and I can make it ALL disappear.

If dissonance makes you uncomfortable, I can make your memory congruent with your situation:

Forgot I have Shea butter = Because I really don't have 6 LUSCIOUS, gleaming, rich, delectable pounds of Shea butter (because Chicoro took it)

 

[spacetygrss]

Spritzed my hair and then sealed the ends with my new hair butter. My hair smells good!

 

[Lylddlebit]

View attachment 500846View attachment 500848View attachment 500850View attachment 500852

These bantus are not meant to be stylish or cute, just functional to protect and minimize manipulation so as not to have to handle the hair just to go out briefly.

I wore these bantus out yesterday to run some errands. They are not soaking wet but just misted with water and gelled.
The white particles in my hair are actually white points of light from gray hair strands or light reflecting off the metal bobby
pins I have in every bantu. There is no dandruff in my hair.


These bantus illuminate my progress due to my routine and products (Water, Clay mix, Fenugreek oil, Shea butter, Vaseline)

• Thickness and puffiness at the root that I can't lay down flat. This is good.
• Fewer broken short hairs visible.
• Wiry-ness of hair has greatly reduced.
• Shiniest on ends.
• Velcro-free ends at end of bantu.
• Micro breakage at roots and ends has decreased
• I can see the thickness and health returning to my hair.
• I can see the length returning indicated by the thickness of each bantu in the back.

My next blow out and trim are scheduled for end of April. I am treading very lightly with my
hair, processes and products. I used to add products on a whim, all over my head without
testing them on a section.

After losing so much hair from Olaplex, I change NOTHING in my hair routine without first
giving it great thought and trialing it. Olaplex set me back 5 years. That is NOT the product's
fault but my poor selection and implementation process. Everything is NOT for everybody.

I don't ever want a 15 dollar bottle of product or tool to set me back 5 years again. I am now even
more fiercely protective of my hair.

Bantu knots are the most useful, practical & functional hairstyle and built in hair tool that I can think of. Yours look great!

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you so much!!!!

 

[Chicoro]

Ultimately, caring for and cultivating Luscious Healthy Ends leads back to giving ourselves great self care. The hope is that with self care we can impact our time on this Earth, being able to feel and look good while we are here.


Thus, I decided to post some inspiration for us. Let's assume that lovely hat is protecting her hair and that matching coat is protecting her body. She looks so regal and at peace.
This is Mrs. Julia Ann McNight Teamer. She is 108 years old! She's got some pretty silver hair peeking out from under that hat that is
protecting her hair from the environment.



It's her birthday and she looks great! Look at how alert she is and she is standing so tall and straight. We are looking at correctly-implemented, deep, cumulative care
over a long period of time.



I hope you take the time to give yourself and of course, your hair and your hair ends, the care it needs, too.

Here's to celebrating the "Everyday Extraordinary"!



​

 

[mzteaze]

My biggest goal in recent years and now in 2025 is to improve my density. I'm fighting against my CCCA (CENTRAL CENTRIFUGAL CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA) diagnosis which, in part, includes an area on my crown from a childhood injury. However, my journey into perimenopause also has added to diffuse thinning all over.

So, for 2025, I'm going back to the basics using things I learned on this hair board since 2008. Plus a few new toys.

1) At the end of 2024, I found a local curly hair stylist (and newly minted trichologist) that's near my home. She's going to keep my ends in check while we work on my scalp. This is important as i can't use traditional protective styles.

2) I'm going back to regular weekly protein & moisture deep Conditioners. Henna/Indigo still on tap for color correction.

3) I have a LLLT cap but have added high frequency wand on my scalp to help encourage my follicles to GROW. Recently read HF was what older salons used to use to help improve scalp growth. I have to research this a bit more.

4) Nightly scalp messages with my growth serum.

5) Monthly microneedling sessions on my scalp.

 

[Chicoro]

My biggest goal in recent years and now in 2025 is to improve my density. I'm fighting against my CCCA (CENTRAL CENTRIFUGAL CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA) diagnosis which, in part, includes an area on my crown from a childhood injury. However, my journey into perimenopause also has added to diffuse thinning all over.

So, for 2025, I'm going back to the basics using things I learned on this hair board since 2008. Plus a few new toys.

1) At the end of 2024, I found a local curly hair stylist (and newly minted trichologist) that's near my home. She's going to keep my ends in check while we work on my scalp. This is important as i can't use traditional protective styles.

2) I'm going back to regular weekly protein & moisture deep Conditioners. Henna/Indigo still on tap for color correction.

3) I have a LLLT cap but have added high frequency wand on my scalp to help encourage my follicles to GROW. Recently read HF was what older salons used to use to help improve scalp growth. I have to research this a bit more.

4) Nightly scalp messages with my growth serum.

5) Monthly microneedling sessions on my scalp.

A new stylist who is also a newly minted trichologist! It’s good you’re getting in before the lock. Because once word gets out on the street, folks will probably be fighting for an appointment. With you being there from the brand-spanking, new beginning, YOU will probably always have a place. Lots of wonderful things planned to come for you and your hair in 2025. And I’m here for IT!

*scoots in seat to position self for best view of what’s about to unfold for @mzteaze and her 2025 hair journey.

 

[Chicoro]

@faithVA has been publicly mulling over, analyzing and making decisions about how frequently she plans to redo her styles, to ensure minimum breakage and maximum retention.

It got me thinking about my own situation.

I prefer to do my hair 1x per week, ideally on Sunday night. But, unless I want to look like Rasta Mouse, or a ragamuffin, it won’t be a good look.

My hair starts to unravel at day #3 of wear. My hair starts to separate from my braids. Those precious hairs can be easily broken. Or, they can loosen from the braid and wrap around the braid from which they came and create tangles.

So, because of @faithVA and her recent musings about when might be the most opportune time to redo her hair, frequency of styling during the week was at the forefront of my mind.

Thanks to her discussions, I SEE that I MUST redo my hair every three days. Going beyond that is asking for tangles, damage and breakage and plain ol’ trouble.

The conflict for me is the desire for low manipulation but having the need to address loosened hair due to my style being “too old” to wear as is.

Every three days it is for me! Thanks @faithVA for helping me to get this crystal clear clarity about yet ANOTHER detail in my hair regimen.

I always say that hair is far more complex than rocket science. And I always say it’s the details that can shift your hair journey to the next level of success.

 

[faithVA]

Ultimately, caring for and cultivating Luscious Healthy Ends leads back to giving ourselves great self care. The hope is that with self care we can impact our time on this Earth, being able to feel and look good while we are here.


Thus, I decided to post some inspiration for us. Let's assume that lovely hat is protecting her hair and that matching coat is protecting her body. She looks so regal and at peace.
This is Mrs. Julia Ann McNight Teamer. She is 108 years old! She's got some pretty silver hair peeking out from under that hat that is
protecting her hair from the environment.



It's her birthday and she looks great! Look at how alert she is and she is standing so tall and straight. We are looking at correctly-implemented, deep, cumulative care
over a long period of time.



I hope you take the time to give yourself and of course, your hair and your hair ends, the care it needs, too.

Here's to celebrating the "Everyday Extraordinary"!
View attachment 500882


​

Love it when seniors are showing out. I find it inspiring.

 

[faithVA]

My biggest goal in recent years and now in 2025 is to improve my density. I'm fighting against my CCCA (CENTRAL CENTRIFUGAL CICATRICIAL ALOPECIA) diagnosis which, in part, includes an area on my crown from a childhood injury. However, my journey into perimenopause also has added to diffuse thinning all over.

So, for 2025, I'm going back to the basics using things I learned on this hair board since 2008. Plus a few new toys.

1) At the end of 2024, I found a local curly hair stylist (and newly minted trichologist) that's near my home. She's going to keep my ends in check while we work on my scalp. This is important as i can't use traditional protective styles.

2) I'm going back to regular weekly protein & moisture deep Conditioners. Henna/Indigo still on tap for color correction.

3) I have a LLLT cap but have added high frequency wand on my scalp to help encourage my follicles to GROW. Recently read HF was what older salons used to use to help improve scalp growth. I have to research this a bit more.

4) Nightly scalp messages with my growth serum.

5) Monthly microneedling sessions on my scalp.

Definitely keep us posted.

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA has been publicly mulling over, analyzing and making decisions about how frequently she plans to redo her styles, to ensure minimum breakage and maximum retention.

It got me thinking about my own situation.

I prefer to do my hair 1x per week, ideally on Sunday night. But, unless I want to look like Rasta Mouse, or a ragamuffin, it won’t be a good look.

My hair starts to unravel at day #3 of wear. My hair starts to separate from my braids. Those precious hairs can be easily broken. Or, they can loosen from the braid and wrap around the braid from which they came and create tangles.

So, because of @faithVA and her recent musings about when might be the most opportune time to redo her hair, frequency of styling during the week was at the forefront of my mind.

Thanks to her discussions, I SEE that I MUST redo my hair every three days. Going beyond that is asking for tangles, damage and breakage and plain ol’ trouble.

The conflict for me is the desire for low manipulation but having the need to address loosened hair due to my style being “too old” to wear as is.

Every three days it is for me! Thanks @faithVA for helping me to get this crystal clear clarity about yet ANOTHER detail in my hair regimen.

I always say that hair is far more complex than rocket science. And I always say it’s the details that can shift your hair journey to the next level of success.

Go ahead and make that decision. So here's a question. Since you are going to reset your hair twice a week are you going to do the same thing on both days or will you have a modified version?

 

[faithVA]

I'm not sure if it is the Prose shampoo and conditioner or if I just used the right amount of leave in and gel. But this is day 3 and my hair is usually starting to dry out and frizz. I have never had my hair look this shiny and smooth.

I'm going to add gel and water to my ends but the rest of my hair I'm going to leave alone.

Now I'm just hoping I can repeat this.

 

[GettingKinky]

I'm not sure if it is the Prose shampoo and conditioner or if I just used the right amount of leave in and gel. But this is day 3 and my hair is usually starting to dry out and frizz. I have never had my hair look this shiny and smooth.

I'm going to add gel and water to my ends but the rest of my hair I'm going to leave alone.

Now I'm just hoping I can repeat this.
View attachment 500888View attachment 500890View attachment 500892

Your curls look great. Which leave in and gel did you use?

 

[faithVA]

Your curls look great. Which leave in and gel did you use?

Thank you. I used the Mielle leave in and KCCC. I'm not sure it is that combo because I've used that combo for the past 3 weeks on my twist. Maybe I added more water. I will try to repeat it this weekend.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm not sure if it is the Prose shampoo and conditioner or if I just used the right amount of leave in and gel. But this is day 3 and my hair is usually starting to dry out and frizz. I have never had my hair look this shiny and smooth.

I'm going to add gel and water to my ends but the rest of my hair I'm going to leave alone.

Now I'm just hoping I can repeat this.
View attachment 500888View attachment 500890View attachment 500892

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Look at how moist and juicy and soft your hair looks.

What was your process EXACTLY??!!!! Please share it here. Everything! Every step and every process. The shine and softness are incredible. I’m sure it was one or two small shifts that made this incredible difference in your hair. I am sure. Quick, before a single detail escapes you, document it here for is so we can see,too.

Your hair looks GORGEOUS!!!!! Congratulations l! I KNEW 2025 was going to be like this in this thread. I could feel it!!!

 

[faithVA]

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Look at how moist and juicy and soft your hair looks.

What was your process EXACTLY??!!!! Please share it here. Everything! Every step and every process. The shine and softness are incredible. I’m sure it was one or two small shifts that made this incredible difference in your hair. I am sure. Quick, before a single detail escapes you, document it here for is so we can see,too.

Your hair looks GORGEOUS!!!!! Congratulations l! I KNEW 2025 was going to be like this in this thread. I could feel it!!!

Yeah this is new for me.

1. Put Puracy conditioner on my twist before taking them down
2. Applied Kitsch rosemary oil to my scalp and worked out
3. Sectioned my hair in 5 sections and used clamps. This isn't working so won't keep it. It isn't helping reduce sheds because the hair curls up and moves during the shampoo step.
4. Rinsed under warm water until my hair smoothed out
5. Detangled with a shampoo brush. I will change this and detangle with a wide tooth comb. I just got confused
6. Shampooed twice with Prose shampoo
7. Applied Prose conditioner and let it sit for 3 minutes and then detangled.
8. Sectioned my hair into 5 sections
9. Applied Mielle leave in to each section and added water
10. Added KCCC to each section and added water
11. Squeeze hair until the gel squishes and add more gel and water as needed.
12. Put each section into bantu knots
13. Twisted hair as usual. Parted in small sections, combed the small section and Twisted.

The majority of this is my same regimen. The only things that have changed recently are
1. Using conditioner before twist take down
2. Prose shampoo and conditioner. From my Sunday note I did say my hair looked cleaner and the conditioner left my hair different.
3. I'm adding water after the leave in and the gel and I squeeze it in until it squishes.

I'm glad there are only 3 possibilities to consider. I will try to do it exactly the same for the next couple of weeks.

It is day 4 and my hair feels sooo good.

 

[Chicoro]

@faithVA said:

The majority of this is my same regimen. The only things that have changed recently are
1. Using conditioner before twist take down
2. Prose shampoo and conditioner. From my Sunday note I did say my hair looked cleaner and the conditioner left my hair different.
3. I'm adding water after the leave in and the gel and I squeeze it in until it squishes.




Me, Chicoro is starting see a pattern:
@keranikki showed up with some photos and her hair was just GLEAMING and shining so brilliantly.
@faithVA showed up with some photos and her hair was just GLEAMING and shining so brilliantly.

BOTH indicated that they squeezed the water into the hair within their processes.

This is a technique that was brought to the forefront by @GettingKinky.
I'm putting my money on #3 for the shine.

------------------------

N'hésitez pas à publier ces magnifiques photos dans le cadre du défi Grow It Long 2025. Ils adoreront baver sur vos cheveux. C'est tout simplement magnifique.

Je n'ai aucune idée de ce sur quoi j'ai appuyé, mais c'est passé au français.
S'il vous plaît, allez poster vos photos dans le fil Grow It Long 2025. Ils vont saliver devant vos cheveux magnifiques. Ne restez pas ici. Je suis gourmande en photos, mais je pense qu'il est bon de les partager.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm out here stealing...speaking of which...


@faithVA

There is NOT one single split end or knotted hair in this photo. NADA.
Nothing but healthy ends. So, are you going to slow down on the
clipping and stop some of the snipping?

I am absolutely CONVINCED that this gorgeous hair in this photo did not JUST appear overnight.
It's the result of cumulative care over time, especially those split free ends.

It's that one or those two details that can become the Roseta Stone or puzzle piece that locks
your routine together to optimize and elevate the health and beauty of your hair to get you THERE!

I am still amazed at the fact that a small detail change can completely
shift the condition of hair and uncover the health and beauty that was there ALL along.

The shine, health and beauty have been within and upon your head all this time. It was one or two
small shifts or tweaks were needed to create this seismic shift that we are now seeing.

This development absolutely made my day and made me giddy with excitement today and just
blew my mind.

I.ENJOYED.THIS!

If this is happening and we are still in January, I can't imagine the things that will transpire in this
thread in the upcoming months.

I can barely handle this.

I may have to step away from this thread for awhile.

Buckle up ladies, we ain't seen nuthin' yet.

BRAVO, @faithVA !!!!

 

[faithVA]

I'm out here stealing...speaking of which...

View attachment 500898
@faithVA

There is NOT one single split end or knotted hair in this photo. NADA.
Nothing but healthy ends. So, are you going to slow down on the
clipping and stop some of the snipping?

I am absolutely CONVINCED that this gorgeous hair in this photo did not JUST appear overnight.
It's the result of cumulative care over time, especially those split free ends.

It's that one or those two details that can become the Roseta Stone or puzzle piece that locks
your routine together to optimize and elevate the health and beauty of your hair to get you THERE!

I am still amazed at the fact that a small detail change can completely
shift the condition of hair and uncover the health and beauty that was there ALL along.

The shine, health and beauty have been within and upon your head all this time. It was one or two
small shifts or tweaks were needed to create this seismic shift that we are now seeing.

This development absolutely made my day and made me giddy with excitement today and just
blew my mind.

I.ENJOYED.THIS!

If this is happening and we are still in January, I can't imagine the things that will transpire in this
thread in the upcoming months.

I can barely handle this.

I may have to step away from this thread for awhile.

Buckle up ladies, we ain't seen nuthin' yet.

BRAVO, @faithVA !!!!

You are sooo cute and funny. And no you can't go anywhere. When I log in and don't see you post something, I'm like "Where she at? " So you would be missed. You keep this thread alive and one of the reasons I continue to hang out on this board. Anywayz

I just trimmed my ends at the end of December and I search and destroy all the time so yeah the picture is misleading If it looks like that at the end of March before my trim then I will celebrate.

No plans to reduce trimming at this time. I need to have some successful quarters behind me before I change that part of my regimen. You are looking at the front of my hair which is much longer and more even so it doesn't have as many splits. From my ear back is a different story.

Maybe next year after my hair evens out and gets longer, I can do it less often. My hair is fine and graying which splits more and I can literally feel the split on the ends of my hair just by running my fingers down a strand. Trimming my ends at least every 3 months makes sure that the splits don't travel all the way and take more than the 1/2" I'm trying to save.

I'm trimming my hair myself with the Split Ender so I can control how much I take off. It has two blades I think 1/8 and 1/4 or 1/4 and 1/2. Next time I do it I will share a picture of how little it takes off. Then I do a search and destroy after that so I keep total trimming to a minimum.

I will keep on top of my regimen and take a picture March or April and see how things go.

I am celebrating a good hair week. Those are rare for me. I'm glad to have an early win.

Oh that note, I went looking for a jar of KCCC. I obviously haven't bought any new product since 2020 I'm not trying to pay $22 for 8 oz of gel And Kinky Curly wanted to charge $25 for shipping. Um, No!

I don't have enough in the jar to do my hair this weekend so I'm going to have to try one of my other gels while I wait on a CVS or Sally's coupon. We will see if it turns out the same with Uncle Funky's.

 

[GettingKinky]

Since my last trim, a zero degree cut, my ends are so blunt that I’m having trouble with my spin pin buns. I can still do them but the ends don’t want to tuck in. I guess it’s like the curly version of a messy bun. You can see all the ends sticking out.

 

[faithVA]

Since my last trim, a zero degree cut, my ends are so blunt that I’m having trouble with my spin pin buns. I can still do them but the ends don’t want to tuck in. I guess it’s like the curly version of a messy bun. You can see all the ends sticking out.

View attachment 500906

I know it isn't what you want or what you like but if my hair every looked that good I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

 

[Chicoro]

Since my last trim, a zero degree cut, my ends are so blunt that I’m having trouble with my spin pin buns. I can still do them but the ends don’t want to tuck in. I guess it’s like the curly version of a messy bun. You can see all the ends sticking out.

View attachment 500906

STOP with the gorgeous ness people! I can’t take it!

Another one…It’s like I’m in the Twilight Zone with all these gorgeous heads of hair being everywhere. What is going on???!

@GettingKinky that curly bun is soooo pretty!

Perfectly even luscious hair ends, which YOU clearly have, do NOT always wrap up or braid up well.

One needs to have some ‘scraggly hair’ action going on sometimes to anchor and hold a bun, an accessory, a braid or even a Bantu knot in place. You ain’t got none of that going on! Nothing but prettiness from nape to those lovely, curly, hair ends!

But I understand that you are wanting your freshly trimmed hair to work within your established process. You’ll figure it out. It will work out.

 

[GettingKinky]

@faithVA @Chicoro you both are too kind.

I’ll play with my bunning some more this weekend, until then I’ll keep wearing it with the ends hanging out. Given the amount of leave in and botanical gel on them I don’t expect them to dry out between washes. My only issue will be if the ends tangle more since they aren’t tucked.

I can’t wait for my hair to get even longer so I can do fancier buns with fun hair toys like bun forks and hair sticks.