Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[Angel of the North]

My twists:
View attachment 503726
Assessment: I would do these again. I may rotate them in all summer. I will keep these twists until the end of May.

Your twists came out great, I love them! Would never have guessed you had issues with colour matching at all

 

[Angel of the North]

I've got both the gel and mousse..... I'm really hoping for good results, this is the first video I've come across with her that looks similar to mine.

 

[keranikki]

Your twists came out great, I love them! Would never have guessed you had issues with colour matching at all

Thank you!

 

[LadyRaider]

It's so weird.
I haven't seen those little pieces of ends from splits in years! Not since I started skipping the curling iron.
I started using K-18 about a month ago and now I've started seeing split ends.

Weird.

 

[Angel of the North]

It's so weird.
I haven't seen those little pieces of ends from splits in years! Not since I started skipping the curling iron.
I started using K-18 about a month ago and now I've started seeing split ends.

Weird.

Which products are you using from that range,Is it a protein based product? If it is, it may be causing you ends to dry out, making them vulnerable to splits.

 

[Lylddlebit]

My twists:
View attachment 503726
Assessment: I would do these again. I may rotate them in all summer. I will keep these twists until the end of May.

Quite the beauty!

 

[Lylddlebit]

II don't do much at all these days, I normally just put it in a single plait and then a bun. I sometimes wear a ponytail leaving the ponytail out and curly, this often has a mix of great curl definition and frizzy curls. I haven't worn my hair down in years and I'm looking for things that may help to preferably eliminate the frizz or at the very least reduce it

Products with a bit of weight will make the air dried ponytail less frizz. So will allowing the ponytail to air dry in a braid or twist for stretch then taking it down and adding a bit of product.

 

[Chicoro]

It's so weird.
I haven't seen those little pieces of ends from splits in years! Not since I started skipping the curling iron.
I started using K-18 about a month ago and now I've started seeing split ends.

Weird.

I personally can’t use bonding products. They eat up my hair. My hair doesn’t break, it just literally comes out and I’m left with a heavy, dull, ball of ‘shed’ hair.

I hope that will NOT be the case for you. I learned the hard way that most bonding products are not innocuous as it pertains to my hair. To the contrary, those kinds of products are anathema to my hair.

I say all this to encourage you to listen to your intuition and trust your gut and believe what your hair is saying and what you are seeing.

The possibility exists that the products may not be working for your hair.

Let us know what you decide to do. We like to learn and grow in knowledge over here.

 

[Angel of the North]

Products with a bit of weight will make the air dried ponytail less frizz. So will allowing the ponytail to air dry in a braid or twist for stretch then taking it down and adding a bit of product.

This is why I need to get to making my own styling products, I want light products, that will stop the frizz. I'm hoping flaxseed gel will do this, if I don't make it too thick

I normally air dry in a single braid for when I wear a bun, or just the single braid, but for a WAG ponytail, it's better for me to apply products to wet hair. Even if I dried it first, I'd still have to wet it to get my curl definition to show up. Funnily enough, braid/twist outs have always come out good (when I've done them in the past).

I think I keep banging on about trying the Miche gel to foam and antioxidants humidity gel. The Doux is also in my list to try too. Although I really want to make my own styling products, I need to find off the shelf back ups as there will be times when I will not physically be able to make stuff.

I do appreciate your suggestions, as you might hit on something that I've not thought of/missing out. It makes me think about what I'm doing and how I'm doing it, which is always helpful, thank you

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

I personally can’t use bonding products. They eat up my hair. My hair doesn’t break, it just literally comes out and I’m left with a heavy, dull, ball of ‘shed’ hair.

I hope that will NOT be the case for you. I learned the hard way that most bonding products are not innocuous as it pertains to my hair. To the contrary, those kinds of products are anathema to my hair.

I say all this to encourage you to listen to your intuition and trust your gut and believe what your hair is saying and what you are seeing.

The possibility exists that the products may not be working for your hair.

Let us know what you decide to do. We like to learn and grow in knowledge over here.

I only used bonding products when my hair was bleached and I do think that at the time they were the key to keeping hair on my head.

I'm not entirely convinced that they are actually beneficial with other kinds of damage although I have heard they can be good for heat as well.

@LadyRaider

I hope that the splits are unrelated but if not you'll know how it works for your hair. Bonding stuff is expensive so at least you can cut out that cost if it isn't.

 

[keranikki]

Quite the beauty!

Thank you my dear!

 

[GGsKin]

I love your twists @keranikki. And I agree with @Lylddlebit too. You take a pretty picture x.

 

[keranikki]

I love your twists @keranikki. And I agree with @Lylddlebit too. You take a pretty picture x.

Thank you! You guys got me blushing out here! Lol

 

[Chicoro]

This roller set came out great. You have to have healthy ends for roller sets.

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you! You guys got me blushing out here! Lol

We are your mirror.

Sometimes we spend so much time focusing on the speck and the fleck on the surface of the mirror, we overlook the mountain of beauty in the reflection.

So, Ms. Mountain of Beauty, enjoy the view.​

 

[Chicoro]

@Rocky91 has played with the WRONG person. That person would be me!

She out here broadcasting her incredible achievements in obscure threads that pop up for 3 seconds, at 2:42 am in the morning on Wednesday work days, that most of us will miss seeing.

Therefore, I, Chicoro, of LHCF, am formally making a direct deposit into the LHCF, collective, memory bank.

You may be asking, "What?"


Well, let me tell you... @Rocky91 said:


[...] I'm in an Ed.D Education Admin program and just basically finished the master's portion (yay! second master's!), so now it's time for the scary dissertation part. [...]

First of all, she's another one with an incredible accomplishment. She GOT into the PhD program and JUST completed the master's program component! But that's not all, she up in here talking about and promising potential pictures, you know....those red flags in front of the bull - them pictures that we at LHCF so love...



Anyway,

She goes on to pour GASOLINE on the fire and says:

I don't formally do visualization practices, but lately, I have formed this crystal clear image in my mind of myself that has really inspired me. [...] Here it is:

I'm on the stage during my doctoral hooding ceremony to get my Ed.D during May 2026. I am an academic BADDIE, ya hear me? Size 4-6 and visibly in shape, flawless nails and makeup, a beautiful dress/heels, luscious BSL natural hair (style doesn't even matter) underneath my doctoral tam, and most importantly...being cheered on by my wonderful family, friends, and mentors. I can't wait!

And

She had the audacity and nerve to think this information would escape my Eagle Eyed Self.

Girl, please. Not possible.


Hence, I'm depositing this information RIGHT here, in the collective memory bank of LHCF,

'cause we gone be celebrating you in the wings, backstage, waiting for the conferring of that PhD on @Rocky91 in May 2026. Even IF you got to extend that for whatever reason, to 2027 or beyond, we are ALL on DECK and R-E-A-D-Y to celebrate you. Don't take that from us.

Just TAKE pictures and share them here.

 

[Chicoro]

Don't think we have forgotten about you @keranikki and YOUR upcoming ceremony to confer your masters, and that unspoken promise (that you may not have uttered, but I inferred and believed I heard), to take and provide hair pictures on your special day.

No one escapes.

 

[Chicoro]

Who's next?


Who is next to be publicly lauded, whether you ready or not? Hmmm....trying to slip through the cracks regarding your achievements?

Not if I can help it.

* Actively scours LHCF for more of the incredible achievements of the fabulous black women on this site.

Because

I am sometimes up at 2:42 am in the morning, on Wednesday workdays, catching those obscure posts

that may last less than 22 seconds.

Signed, Chicoro "Hawk" Accomplishment Spotter​

 

[Chicoro]

Hey

How are those ends coming along?

 

[Beautified16]

It's so weird.
I haven't seen those little pieces of ends from splits in years! Not since I started skipping the curling iron.
I started using K-18 about a month ago and now I've started seeing split ends.

Weird.

I’m going through the exact same thing.

The first time I used k18 I used it with their detox shampoo and I had so many splits and breakage. I figured it was because I didn’t deep condition with it and the treatment alone wasn’t moisturizing enough. I cut 2-3 inches off.

I don’t know why but I want to finish the first 6 uses with every wash and then take it from there.

Now once I apply it, wait the 4 minutes then I’ll apply my deep condition and sit under my dryer or steamer. My hair feels so much better but I have many flyaway pieces that I’ll have to grow out.

I started using Epres during week 3 of me using K18 and noticed a difference in my hair immediately. It felt so good.

 

[Dare~to~Dream]

I’m going through the exact same thing. The first time I used k18 I used it with their detox shampoo and I had so many splits and breakage. I figured it was because I didn’t deep condition with it and the treatment alone wasn’t moisturizing enough. I cut 2-3 inches off. I don’t know why but I want to finish the first 6 uses with every wash and then take it from there. Now once I apply it, wait the 4 minutes then I’ll apply my deep condition and sit under my dryer or steamer. My hair feels so much better but I have many flyaway pieces that I’ll have to grow out. I started using Epres during week 3 of me using K18 and noticed a difference in my hair immediately. It felt so good.

I have a box of K-18 that I've yet to try. I got it on sale so I was like why not? I'm not using it just to be using it though. I'm having an issue with a section of my hair and I wanted to see if this will help with that since I've tried everything else. I was just going to use it as instructed by waiting the 4 minutes but I was going to apply a moisturizing leave in on top with no rinsing. So from your reading your posts, it's probably best to apply it wait the allotted time and then use a moisturizing deep conditioner with heat on top of it? Then rinse it all off. Is that correct?

 

[MzSwift]

@Chicoro

You are KILLING ME up in here!! I'm laughing and cheering you on!
This is why I love who you are and the positive energy and encouragement you bring to this community.

Yes, @Rocky91 , your e-sistas are on here rooting for you!! WHOHOO! CONGRATULATIONS!!
You've got this, girl!!
And please bring on the pitchas!

 

[Beautified16]

I have a box of K-18 that I've yet to try. I got it on sale so I was like why not? I'm not using it just to be using it though. I'm having an issue with a section of my hair and I wanted to see if this will help with that since I've tried everything else. I was just going to use it as instructed by waiting the 4 minutes but I was going to apply a moisturizing leave in on top with no rinsing. So from your reading your posts, it's probably best to apply it wait the allotted time and then use a moisturizing deep conditioner with heat on top of it? Then rinse it all off. Is that correct?

Yes that is how I have been doing it and I prefer it that way. The heat is optional. I saw ehisarah on Tik Tok show her bond repair routine and that is what she did. Along with other people online complaining that the K18 treatment alone just was not enough for their hair, in terms of moisturization.

 

[Lylddlebit]

I only used bonding products when my hair was bleached and I do think that at the time they were the key to keeping hair on my head.

I'm not entirely convinced that they are actually beneficial with other kinds of damage although I have heard they can be good for heat as well.

@LadyRaider

I hope that the splits are unrelated but if not you'll know how it works for your hair. Bonding stuff is expensive so at least you can cut out that cost if it isn't.

They are good for heat. That is what I use them for.

 

[Rocky91]

Aww you ladies are too sweet!! @Chicoro and @MzSwift, thank you!!
You have me grinning like a fool and cracking up at work. Something in the universe must have told y'all I could use a pick-me-up today

 

[Chicoro]

Aww you ladies are too sweet!! @Chicoro and @MzSwift, thank you!!
You have me grinning like a fool and cracking up at work. Something in the universe must have told y'all I could use a pick-me-up today

By the way, I peeped your hair update photos and comparisons from February and April. It was either Grow It Long or the Roller setting thread. Your hair looks wonderful. And, I saw that beautiful, popping definition and tone in your arms and especially in your upper back! Did you notice that about your photos? Wow!

 

[ScorpioLove]

Yes that is how I have been doing it and I prefer it that way. The heat is optional. I saw ehisarah on Tik Tok show her bond repair routine and that is what she did. Along with other people online complaining that the K18 treatment alone just was not enough for their hair, in terms of moisturization.

I definitely always condition after k18. It doesn’t really have slip

 

[faithVA]

I finally got in my mid-week rinse. Kept it simple and used up some product. Just threw my hair into flat twist towards the crown. Put them in a barette and tucked the ends under. I did them quick so they won't last. But they will last until I reset on Saturday or Sunday.

I will see if I can find quicker styles as I do this each week.

 

[keranikki]

Don't think we have forgotten about you @keranikki and YOUR upcoming ceremony to confer your masters, and that unspoken promise (that you may not have uttered, but I inferred and believed I heard), to take and provide hair pictures on your special day.

No one escapes.

My sinuses were so inflamed (allergies), but I tried to make it look cute, lol.

 

[keranikki]

@Rocky91 I’m rooting for you Love!