Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[Chicoro]

March 2025, going once, going twice......

So Don't be like Mick Jagger and be up here saying:

Instead focus on cultivating those Luscious Ends for

That's right, satisfaction guaranteed!

So see you here next month in April, same Bat Channel. If at any point you find yourself in dire straits just send up a signal

And help will arrive sooner than you realize it.

Happy Luscious Ends Building in April 2025!

 

[Chicoro]

I couldn't find any tofu in my city and don't plan to take the train into the big city until May.

So, I found a recipe on YouTube to use soy milk and lemon juice to make tofu. It's perfect because I can make the EXACT quantity I need for my Amino Acid hair masks without waste. I'll be doing that today and then washing and deep conditioning. No more buying hard to find and expensive tofu that I end up wasting. Necessity is definitely the mother of invention.

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

@Chicoro I watched this today and it reminded me of your approach to trimming. Once thing that I've noticed is that when it comes to growing very long hair regardless of hair type I start to notice similarities of hair practices converging. Of course not everything is the same but it's interesting how much does become the same.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro I watched this today and it reminded me of your approach to trimming. Once thing that I've noticed is that when it comes to growing very long hair regardless of hair type I start to notice similarities of hair practices converging. Of course not everything is the same but it's interesting how much does become the same.

Thanks! I started believing in micro trimming when I saw @keranikki had such incredible results.

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

Thanks! I started believing in micro trimming when I saw @keranikki had such incredible results.

That's awesome. I love that we're all able to learn from each other here. I think once I get my ends to a good place I will move forward with micro trimming as well.

 

[faithVA]

Reset today. Pretty much everything was the same. Before I rinsed out the conditioner I combed and then used my demand to reduce stress on my curls.

I finally repurchased my K18. I towel dried my hair, applied the K18, waited 4 minutes and used the Mielle leave-in.

Put my hair in 10 bantu knots and let it dry while I talked on the phone.
After dinner finished drying with my RevAir and installed my twist.

My twists ate definitely getting longer. I can braid them all together and tuck them under without having to use any hair accessories or pins.

Just a slight variation by parting a little differently.

 

[faithVA]

I'm going to try to hold out until the end of the month to color my hair. In 3 weeks I will clarify, deep condition and do my K18 treatment. The following week I color my hair, blow dry it and trim off 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Not sure which one yet. That will get me ready for my update picture. I will just blow dry for my mid year updates and save my flat iron until December.

I'm going to stick with flat twist through my progress pic. After that I will try to do at least 1 set of 2 strands so I can see my progress there. Once I can pull my 2 strands to the center and gather them some type of way, I may wear them more often and try to wear them 2 weeks instead of 1.

I've been doing a lot of flat twist for a single style, so I have a style where I can oil and massage my scalp. But if I don't really see any progress with the oil by the end of April, I will switch to bigger twists and easier styles.

During the month of April, I'm going to focus on using as much of the Mielle products up and then go through my stash.

That's enough of a plan for the next 30 days.

 

[Chicoro]

Reset today. Pretty much everything was the same. Before I rinsed out the conditioner I combed and then used my demand to reduce stress on my curls.

I finally repurchased my K18. I towel dried my hair, applied the K18, waited 4 minutes and used the Mielle leave-in.

Put my hair in 10 bantu knots and let it dry while I talked on the phone.
After dinner finished drying with my RevAir and installed my twist.

My twists ate definitely getting longer. I can braid them all together and tuck them under without having to use any hair accessories or pins.

Just a slight variation by parting a little differently.

View attachment 502532View attachment 502534View attachment 502536

Congratulations! Your twists have gained significant length that you can now pull them together. Bravo! Your twists and the parting are pretty and there's an undulating movement to your hair and the parting makes your hair look like a beautiful ocean wave mystically frozen in the moment. What a lovely shaped head you have, too.

All your twists look uniform in thickness, as well. The twists are smooth in that there are not a lot of small hairs sticking out. Very, very nice results.

 

[faithVA]

@Angel of the North, Here is the Healthy Ends thread.

 

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North, Here is the Healthy Ends thread.

Thank you

I'd like to join this challenge.... I've trimmed my hair today (around 2 inches), I've ordered a couple of butters and oils, they should arrive in the next couple of days after which, I will start focusing on my ends.

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you

I'd like to join this challenge.... I've trimmed my hair today (around 2 inches), I've ordered a couple of butters and oils, they should arrive in the next couple of days after which, I will start focusing on my ends.

@Angel of the North
Welcome!

So Ahm… what kind of butter did you order, if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North
Welcome!

So Ahm… what kind of butter did you order, if you don’t mind me asking?

Mango and avocado butters. The oils are avocado and grapeseed. They are the ones my hair loves and they give me the best results. I love that they are not heavy on my fine strands.

I use the butters to baby my ends, and seal with the oils. The butters are light enough that I can seal with those too. I sometimes use the oils to mix into conditioners/prepoo/seal moisture into my hair.

I may have a go at making some moisturisers by whipping the butters and oils together, I would probably get some shea butter as well for that as my hair really likes moisturisers that contain shea butter. Shea butter is too thick and heavy for my hair, it also doesn't seem to get absorbed the way the other two do, so I can't use it raw by itself. Nowadays ingredients to make hair and body products are very easy to get a hold of. I imagine mixing amino acids, essential oils etc. Just need to realise it

 

[ScorpioLove]

Is there a scalp health/detox thread/challenge somewhere?

 

[mzteaze]

Is there a scalp health/detox thread/challenge somewhere?

I resurrected an older thread about scalp exfoliation a while back. It's likely on page 2 or 3 at this point. But we can talk about it here too.

 

[faithVA]

Your twists and the parting are pretty and there's an undulating movement to your hair and the parting makes your hair look like a beautiful ocean wave mystically frozen in the moment. What a lovely shaped head you have, too.

I have never heard my hair described like that

Undulating...beautiful ocean wave

You are too much. Thank you!

When she gets longer going to name her Oceana based on your comments.

 

[ScorpioLove]

I resurrected an older thread about scalp exfoliation a while back. It's likely on page 2 or 3 at this point. But we can talk about it here too.

I found it on page 4!

That scalp picture on the first page is the same as my day 4/5 unwashed scalp under a microscope so I actually thought it wasn’t that bad considering the comments

 

[Chicoro]

I have never heard my hair described like that

Undulating...beautiful ocean wave

You are too much. Thank you!

When she gets longer going to name her Oceana based on your comments.

It's true.

 

[snoop]

Alright, we are heading into the last week of March 2025.


How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
Interestingly enough, I don't actually examine my ends. I guess I should, considering the nature of this challenge. I usually only ever look at my ends when it's time to trim my ends. My next trim session is scheduled for this weekend.

I've noticed a bit of breakage, a couple of times, but I'm not sure which part of my hair is coming from. It could be from the shorter hairs which I don't trim (hairs from new growth or breakage further breaking). However, I have started brushing my hair with a goat's hair brush after massaging it, but I haven't noticed any breakage that way. In the past, I would get some, but over the past couple of days, nothing.


Have you had any epiphanies?
Nothing new has come to mind. I installed my two strand mini twists at the end of January and I haven't done anything with my hair since, outside of washing, moisturizing, and trimming my ends. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure if I ever came up with a definitive strategy specifically for my ends.


Have you set bolder goals?
At some point, when I take out these twists, I'll try stretching my hair and taking a closer look at my ends. I'll probably do a bit of a search and destroy at that point.

I've started massaging my hair and spreading my sebum along my strands. There was a method that I learned about where you spread the sebum and concentrate on your ends first, to get sebum coverage, since they are farthest away from your scalp. Over time, you eventually spread the sebum up your strands to your roots. When I'm done massaging my scalp, I've started tucking my ends into the base of my bun, but at my roots to let them soak up sebum and for better protection.

I want to start looking at some hairstyles that I can do when I take my mini-twists out. I want some that will allow me to massage my scalp daily, but also tuck my ends away. Most likely some way of wearing medium or large twists.


Have you pulled back on some goals?
No. I'm still working on keeping my ends healthy enough to ensure maximum retention this year.


Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
So, as I mentioned above, I don't take a close look at my ends. Instead, I usually try to hide them away as much as I can and deal with them during the trim cycle. When I was trimming quarterly, I would take a look at them quarterly. I guess now that I'm trimming monthly, I see them more...?


How is your consistency?
I'm not as consistent about moisturizing my hair as I'd like, but I'm trying to decide how much of my wanting to be a daily moisturizer is based on what I'm "supposed" to be doing vs what my hair actually needs. I've gotten better at oiling my ends one to two times in a week, which I think ends up being enough.


Extending grace to you?
I try to enjoy my hair while I'm washing it and feeling the hang time of my twists. It's motivation to keep caring for my length and my ends.

 

[snoop]

One thing I am curious about is if some of us have hair growth related to the seasons.

Does my hair growth bloom in the Spring and take off through the summer? Does my hair growth slow down with the Fall and the Winter?

My body is definitely impacted by the seasons. This year I plan to pay more attention to my growth in each season.

Not saying my hair doesn't grow in the cooler months but maybe the Spring and Summer produce more.

Will keep posting since we just moved into Spring.

I'm seeing other ladies online saying that their hair is shedding right now.

I know that back in the day, there was more discussion around season shedding and people would make note/threads when it started occurring. Usually spring and fall, which I find interesting because I've not seen anyone mention summer and winter shedding.

 

[snoop]

@Chicoro I watched this today and it reminded me of your approach to trimming. Once thing that I've noticed is that when it comes to growing very long hair regardless of hair type I start to notice similarities of hair practices converging. Of course not everything is the same but it's interesting how much does become the same.

Thanks for sharing this video. This is basically how I trim my hair, with the exception of trimming my hair back to a certain length. I'm saving that for a future date.

I really should start watching historic hair care videos. I think that's where I lean in terms of my hair care practices.

One thing that she said that I've been thinking about for some time is the idea of having blunt ends/hemline instead of a tapered hairline. I've been cutting my ends bluntly (though I'm sure my hair has some taper to it if I were to stretch it out.) However, I've been growing out my nails and I've noticed two things:

1. Regularly oiling my cuticles and nails helps a LOT. When I say "regularly", I mean every time I wash my hands. I guess this is the same as L-O. I haven't tried LCO, but I should start. My hands might end up looking younger.

2. I've changed from naturally square nails to a rounded almond shape. I think that this has made the biggest difference for being able to retain length.

So this is where I'm at a loss -- and mainly because I refuse to experiment in this way. Why does this rounded shape work on my hands when in theory it shouldn't work on my hair? My hands definitely take much more abuse than my hair does, but this experiment has been eye opening for me.

Has anyone else notice that non-"square" haircuts work better for their hair? Maybe a rounded square as opposed to oval?

 

[VarieYvette]

I had a really big cut yesterday and finally go the last 2-3" of damaged hair gone. I am now completely natural and my goal is to maintain my ends at their current state of freshness for as long as possible. I am back to NL but I have 9 months to work on my 2025 goal of APL

 

[Chicoro]

I had a really big cut yesterday and finally go the last 2-3" of damaged hair gone. I am now completely natural and my goal is to maintain my ends at their current state of freshness for as long as possible. I am back to NL but I have 9 months to work on my 2025 goal of APL

That's a huge step and change. Congratulations to you on your accomplishment! Cutting hair back and going natural, are no easy tasks.

 

[Chicoro]

Thanks for sharing this video. This is basically how I trim my hair, with the exception of trimming my hair back to a certain length. I'm saving that for a future date.

I really should start watching historic hair care videos. I think that's where I lean in terms of my hair care practices.

One thing that she said that I've been thinking about for some time is the idea of having blunt ends/hemline instead of a tapered hairline. I've been cutting my ends bluntly (though I'm sure my hair has some taper to it if I were to stretch it out.) However, I've been growing out my nails and I've noticed two things:

1. Regularly oiling my cuticles and nails helps a LOT. When I say "regularly", I mean every time I wash my hands. I guess this is the same as L-O. I haven't tried LCO, but I should start. My hands might end up looking younger.

2. I've changed from naturally square nails to a rounded almond shape. I think that this has made the biggest difference for being able to retain length.

So this is where I'm at a loss -- and mainly because I refuse to experiment in this way. Why does this rounded shape work on my hands when in theory it shouldn't work on my hair? My hands definitely take much more abuse than my hair does, but this experiment has been eye opening for me.

Has anyone else notice that non-"square" haircuts work better for their hair? Maybe a rounded square as opposed to oval?

I am not sure I understand the distinction you are making or the the questions. Can you break it down Baby Style for me, please? Please be aware that I make simple things overly complex at times! So, if the concept is simple, that may be why I'm riding front and center on the struggle bus.

 

[snoop]

I think that I asked this question before, now that I come to think of it... but I'm wondering why it works on (my) nails in reverse.

I see a lot of hair cut like the first two images below, but not really any cut like the third. Just looking at this now, I think that a lot of people could preserve their length if their hair was cut like the third (even with layers), without incurring a lot of damage. Or at least this is what my nails tell me.











(Sorry, this is probably even less clear, but I have to run out and didn't want to wait until tonight or tomorrow to respond.)

 

[faithVA]

I think that I asked this question before, now that I come to think of it... but I'm wondering why it works on (my) nails in reverse.

I see a lot of hair cut like the first two images below, but not really any cut like the third. Just looking at this now, I think that a lot of people could preserve their length if their hair was cut like the third (even with layers), without incurring a lot of damage. Or at least this is what my nails tell me.


View attachment 502654


View attachment 502658


View attachment 502660


(Sorry, this is probably even less clear, but I have to run out and didn't want to wait until tonight or tomorrow to respond.)

I don't know the answer to your question but I do have thoughts on layers, especially with curly hair.

Layers with nails would be having your nails at different lengths and that increases breakage. For my curly hair layers mean that my longer layers will come in contact with the higher layers in multiple spots. For me that causes splits all the way up to the shortest layer.

I have thoughts about the difference between 1 and 2 but not sure how to clearly communicate it. There is so geometry involved

 

[MzSwift]

I probably will only check in when I have an issue or when I do a process to my hair like I just did.

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?

I think I am progressing well. My ends are looking great to me! They're not blunt cut and I like the way they naturally taper both as individual strands and my hair as a whole. They are straighter than the rest of my hair and I've found that straighter ends reduce SSKs for me.

While rinsing in the shower yesterday, my longest layers reached my bottom rib bone when straight! I'm making progress and will likely meet my goal of bottom rib bone this year! Not taking pix until my formal check in in Oct.

Have you had any epiphanies?

I think the epiphany I've had over the past couple of years is how much I really don't like rocking my hair straight... or loose, even.
Whenever I flat iron for EOTY pix or even for a challenge update, I've struggled with what to do with my hair after the pix are done. And ultimately, I've come to the conclusion that it just isn't worth straightening my hair anymore. But I do see value in straightening it to show more length and then throwing in some curls or doing braid outs.

Have you set bolder goals?

Nope!
I tend to set more conservative goals to give myself more wins. That helps to keep me encouraged to move on to the next small goal and, ultimately, my bigger goal.
BUT I do have the secrets of my heart's desires and am very pleasantly surprised when I meet those faster than I even imagined.

Have you pulled back on some goals?

Nope! I set conservative goals and if I don't make them, I just extend the timeline to meet them.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?

OK, kinda hair related??

For some reason, ever since I started my HHJ in 2009, I've put on weight or hold on to weight more when I'm hair care focused than during times when I've backslid. From 2009-2013, I started taking a multivitamin and incorporated HH practices. I went from a clipper shaved Ceasar cut to WL. I not only gained in hair length but I gained 20-30 lbs! It was very evident by my one year hair anniversary! I was physically active during that time and even regularly taught line dancing/hustling! By 2012, I could barely fit my length check shirt. So I tried over the next year to lose weight but it was not very visible. And then from 2014-2017 I went through some personal things (divorce, relocation, new job, began dating) during which time I kinda backslid. I wore my hair out and used heat more trying to be cute for the dating and BF, switched from natural to relaxed, you get it. While my hair suffered and hovered in MBL land, bc I was still doing things like PSing in minibraids and extensions, I quickly dropped weight and kept it off more easily when I wasn't as focused on HHJ techniques. Still line dancing, but just at home. I stopped taking my multi. From 2018-present, I've been more HHJ focused and the weight is just not falling off. Granted I've had a baby with special needs but even dieting and increasing physical activity doesn't help. I've just come to accept that I'm not gonna be able to do it all without stretching myself thin and at the moment, I'm gonna focus on growing my hair to the length I want. Then I'm gonna lay low on the HHJ, still maintaining my KISS basics though, but focus on my body more. I'm looking to be a Fabulous and Fine Fifty! Lol

I'm sure I could figure out the contributing factor if I had the energy to devote to it but I would prefer to preserve my energy for my family and hair.

How is your consistency?

My regi is KISS for the purpose of helping me maintain consistency, so I'm pretty consistent. The minibraids help during times when I fall short. They help my hair hold up during my more neglectful spells.

Extending grace to you?

I always try to.

 

[Chicoro]

@MzSwift

It seems to me that you have two divergent or diametrically opposed philosophical approaches for your hair vs your fitness. Your hair situation is a more laissez faire, type of approach. While your approach for your body is a tight, hard focus that is heavily action oriented. So maybe when you LOCK In (no pun intended) on your hair, you opt for laid back in every aspect of your life because that laid back attitude is the basis and approach you prefer to take as it relates to your hair.

In contrast for you body, you LOCK In on going hard, taking deliberate and definitive action with a specific goal in view and in focus.

Since these things are opposites, and require shifts in approaches, I could see how it might be complex trying to juxtapose these two states of being at the same time. You are literally multi-tasking from a philosophical and approach standpoint: hair - laid back, body - go hard.

It makes sense to me why when going hard, the hair says, "No, " yet when you are letting things be the body says, "No". Hence, the difficulty arises when you try to focus on both at the same time.

 

[Chicoro]

@Angel of the North
Welcome!

So Ahm… what kind of butter did you order, if you don’t mind me asking?

@Angel of the North ...people are amused at my question...because, well, I have a Shea butter obsession. So, when someone mentions a butter, my eyes glaze over in ecstasy at the thought of it.

I have never reflected on this before, but if a man were to bring and gift me with Shea butter, I think I'd fall in love with him.

Shea butter for Life!

And when I got me some Shea butter, I know everything is 'gone' turn out alright. So let me end this by saying,

So I KNOW everything is going to be just fine.​

 

[MzSwift]

@MzSwift

It seems to me that you have two divergent or diametrically opposed philosophical approaches for your hair vs your fitness. Your hair situation is a more laissez faire, type of approach. While your approach for your body is a tight, hard focus that is heavily action oriented. So maybe when you LOCK In (no pun intended) on your hair, you opt for laid back in every aspect of your life because that laid back attitude is the basis and approach you prefer to take as it relates to your hair.

In contrast for you body, you LOCK In on going hard, taking deliberate and definitive action with a specific goal in view and in focus.

Since these things are opposites, and require shifts in approaches, I could see how it might be complex trying to juxtapose these two states of being at the same time. You are literally multi-tasking from a philosophical and approach standpoint: hair - laid back, body - go hard.

It makes sense to me why when going hard, the hair says, "No, " yet when you are letting things be the body says, "No". Hence, the difficulty arises when you try to focus on both at the same time.

Thank you!

And I believe you're spot on, yet again.

 

[Angel of the North]

I have never heard my hair described like that

Undulating...beautiful ocean wave

You are too much. Thank you!

When she gets longer going to name her Oceana based on your comments.

Your hair is looking healthy and thick! I loved your parting and the fact that you can protect your twists without any accessories