Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[Chicoro]

I find that too, it is very peaceful too. The little tweaks for big gains is working very well indeed.

I've been trying to imagine it

I'm really sorry to hear that, I hope they make an expeditious recovery. 11 - 22 hours is a long time, most hospitals have poor provisions for families of their patients. I hope you're getting some respite in between your hospital shifts.

Thank you so much for the well wishes and for thinking of me and my family. I sure appreciate them.

I stay in the room with my mother. I have a chair, pillow and a blanket. I just lay my head on her bed and take a little nap if I get too tired.

After I leave, I just go home where I eat and then sleep. I’m fully rested by the next morning.

 

[Chicoro]

It’s month 5! It’s May!

May you have a productive month and make even more moves toward luscious, healthy ends!

 

[snoop]

One of my mother's neighbors approached me about a hair issue she is having. So, I told her I wanted to ruminate, pray and reflect on it and told her I'd get back to her in about a week or so. I made the concoction up for her. Her edges need some support. I made a sulfur based product. I didn't take photos of it. I thought it came out nice. It smells medicinal like peppermint and sage and rosemary.

What do you use as your sulfur base?

 

[snoop]

Then, I rinse my hair with a boiled herb mix of horsetails, coltsfoots, hibiscus, clove and cinnamon sticks. The horsetails and coltsfoot provide silicone to strengthen the hair. The hibiscus acts as an astringent whereby the vitamin c in hibiscus tightens and flattens the cuticles on the hair strand. I add the clove and cinnamon because of the beautiful, perfumed scent they emit. Then, I rinse this out.

Hibiscus is also used traditionally as a cleanser. I think this also adds to the shine that you see in the end.

 

[snoop]

Thank you so much for the well wishes and for thinking of me and my family. I sure appreciate them.

I stay in the room with my mother. I have a chair, pillow and a blanket. I just lay my head on her bed and take a little nap if I get too tired.

After I leave, I just go home where I eat and then sleep. I’m fully rested by the next morning.

I'm always trying to find a hug button, but alas, there isn't one.

I wish the best for your mom's continued recovery and that you are able to take care of yourself as well, during this time.

 

[snoop]

My update is that I haven't done anything much to my hair since I've installed my mini twists since I installed them at the beginning of April. I didn't want to wash them so that they wouldn't get frizzy before I went to an event on the weekend of April 16, but here we are at a new month and my hair hasn't seen water. This is the longest I've gone in a LONG time. But because I'd doused my hair in glycerine spray a few times at the beginning of the (last) month, my hair is still soooo soft!

I've been wearing my hair in a loose bun (hair folded over), with my ends facing up instead of facing down. I figure that this is better for my ends because I like to wear my snuggy all day and the inside of the hood isn't as soft as it was when I first bought it and I think it catches my ends when I wear my twists down.

 

[Chicoro]

@faithVA and @Chicoro, thank you! Miss you all also. I don't take photos like I used to. This was sometime in 2025.
View attachment 508598

This hair is BEAUTIFUL !!!! So full, long and super dark in color. LOOK at them delicious Ends!

 

[Chicoro]

My oil process:

1. Decantation
2. Filtration
3. Sedimentation

 

[Chicoro]

What do you use as your sulfur base?

Glutathione powder and creatine powder.

 

[Chicoro]

Hibiscus is also used traditionally as a cleanser. I think this also adds to the shine that you see in the end.

You told me about hibiscus long ago! I fought you - I wanted no color deposits from the hibiscus. Now, I 'm like, "Ooooo weee, look at that pretty, purple undertone." The hypocrisy of me!

I think the fact that it lays the cuticles flat, with its astringent vitamin- c based properties also contributes to the shine. Flat cuticles reflect light really well, hence another reason for the added shine.

 

[snoop]

It's funny, I've never noticed the undertones, but I do like the citrus smell and the colour. Putting a red mask on my hair makes me feel so fancy.

 

[Chicoro]

I'm always trying to find a hug button, but alas, there isn't one.

I wish the best for your mom's continued recovery and that you are able to take care of yourself as well, during this time.

Thank you so much! She’s stable.

 

[Chicoro]

It's funny, I've never noticed the undertones, but I do like the citrus smell and the colour. Putting a red mask on my hair makes me feel so fancy.

I love hibiscus tea. The West African women I met in France, soak hibiscus leaves/petals with pineapple and ginger in water overnight. Yummy! They call Hibiscus ‘sorrel’.

The Mexican women I know in Mexico City mix dried hibiscus leaves with hard sugar. They call it ‘’Agua de Jamaica’’, which means Jamaican water.

It’s cheap to buy, too. It’s beautiful to look at.

It makes @snoop feel fancy.

It makes hair lustrous and it tastes good!!!!

 

[Chicoro]

The person I care for is well and out of the hospital.

I take care of myself and one way I do this is focusing on my hair or hair in general. My hair, no matter its state, is often my safe space.

 

[Chicoro]

I made a sulfur based product for someone. It was a beautiful, thick cream.

I think I’m going to make myself a simple leave-in hair product.

It was so simple to make. It took like eight (8) minutes to make it once i assembled all the ingredients.

 

[Chicoro]

Glutathione powder and creatine powder.

@snoop

I forgot msm powder. I used three (3).

 

[Angel of the North]

It’s month 5! It’s May!

May you have a productive month and make even more moves toward luscious, healthy ends!

I've been having a very productive couple of months

 

[Angel of the North]

You told me about hibiscus long ago! I fought you - I wanted no color deposits from the hibiscus. Now, I 'm like, "Ooooo weee, look at that pretty, purple undertone." The hypocrisy of me!

Does it change your hair colour?

I think the fact that it lays the cuticles flat, with its astringent vitamin- c based properties also contributes to the shine. Flat cuticles reflect light really well, hence another reason for the added shine.

This is interesting, I love the breakdown of how things work or why they work.

 

[Angel of the North]

The person I care for is well and out of the hospital.

I take care of myself and one way I do this is focusing on my hair or hair in general. My hair, no matter its state, is often my safe space.

I'm so happy to hear that you're all safely back home .

Doing my hair helps me to decompress, it gives me the kind of focus that lets me forget about everything else, it's a time that I focus completely on myself. I feel peaceful and very content when doing my hair.

I currently love wash days and get extremely irritated if my wash day is interrupted

 

[Angel of the North]

A quick update before I kick off wash day.

I would say that my hair has held up pretty well over the week. I'm happy with the products I used for heat protectants, they layered well together, and my hair although straightened, still has good elasticity, so I'm pretty confident that I've not created any heat damage.

The roots are wavy, I think that's down to being heavy handed with the Amika Hydra Rush leave in, I got it a bit wet. Then it's kind of straight, then the waves from the braid.

My ends feel better this week too.

 

[Chicoro]

I've been having a very productive couple of months

That’s what is all about. It’s a great feeling when things start to connect and when you make visible progress.

 

[Chicoro]

Does it change your hair colour?

I’m not sure. But while I have the rinse in my hair, it reflects purple in the sunlight.

This is interesting, I love the breakdown of how things work or why they work.

There are many reasons why things work or don’t work. Hibiscus actively does so many different things for the hair.

 

[Chicoro]

A quick update before I kick off wash day.

I would say that my hair has held up pretty well over the week. I'm happy with the products I used for heat protectants, they layered well together, and my hair although straightened, still has good elasticity, so I'm pretty confident that I've not created any heat damage.

The roots are wavy, I think that's down to being heavy handed with the Amika Hydra Rush leave in, I got it a bit wet. Then it's kind of straight, then the waves from the braid.

My ends feel better this week too.

Sounds like all good outcomes! Glad to hear that your ends continue to improve and feel better. If and when you trim your hair, you will be able to cultivate and maintain some gorgeous, healthier and supple ends.

 

[faithVA]

In case anyone is interested, this was the contents of the Splitender, AKA, my split ends. This is actually the most I've ever seen come out, just shows how badly leaving those braids in impacted my hair.

View attachment 508508

Although I have had this tool for many years ( I'm pretty sure that it was @faithVA who put me onto this), this is about the 4th or 5th time I've used it.

One of the main reasons I don't use it more is because the hair needs to be straight to use it. The hair dryer I used at that time definitely caused more tension but didn't get my hair straight enough, so I'd have to go over them with straighteners. This is not something I was prepared to do regularly long term, after the last time I used it, I just made sure to dust my ends regularly and that kept the splits in check.

The WavyTalk stretched my hair well enough that I didn't need to use anything else, I was able to get the Splitender through no problem. I went down each tress twice in both directions, overall I'm happy their gone and it could have been a lot worse.

Another SplitEnder out there. Im glad you found a way to make it work for you. I don't buy much but a few things I wouldn't be without. It takes off way less hair than scissors.

Great results.

 

[Lylddlebit]

This long/juicy post will serve as my weekly and monthly Update, I've tried to cover what's in the monthly update.

I didn't put any oils or butters on my ends this week, so I was curious to see what they'd look like. It wasn't as bad as I expected at all. The bit that looks frizzy is the bit I fold back, I know I didn't do the best job of securing my braid last week, I was just glad to get through wash day. I was pleasantly surprised because, although that bit I flipped looked frizzy, my ends felt soft and were still hydrated and are still in a much better place than they'vebeen of late. There were 3 tiny bits of lint attached to the ends, this is new to me but I know the way I tied the ends was the reason for this.

View attachment 508490

When I took my hair down, it was so soft and moisturised as well.

View attachment 508492

The picture doesn't accurately represent how soft and shiny it really was.

I decided to try out Living Proof No Frizz shampoo and conditioner today. I liked the shampoo, the conditioner was nice, I feel like it did do something to the frizz while my hair was wet, but I also get the impression that this is a line you would have to use for some time before you see the benefits. I Sat under the steamer for about 15 minutes with the conditioner. This was my hair after rinsing the DC.


View attachment 508496

Close up:

View attachment 508494

I was prepping for using my Splitender so needed to stretch my hair. I decided to go with the WavyTalk Air Sculpt and I used the paddle brush to dry and stretch my hair. I felt like as I took a braid down to detangle and add products, my ends seemed to be having a kumbaya moment and appeared to be holding strands.

For products I went with Amika Hydra Rush, I blotted the excess water/product with paper towels then sprayed in the Amika Frizz Me Not to each section before drying. I sprayed a little of Amika the Shield once I'd finished all the sections just to see what it would do. Neither of these leave ins felt heavy and they didn't weigh down my hair, so I was happy about that. When dry, my hair didn't feel sticky or anything like that it just felt normal.

View attachment 508498

The WavyTalk was easy to use, I had to do it in smaller sections than I would have liked but it didn't take long to get through my whole head when looking at the time l spent drying. I kept my hair in the same sections as for the wash and DC, I did one section at a time and once a section was dry, I'd go through it with the splitender, until the head was completed.

The WavyTalk blew out my hair nicely, there was hardly any hair in the paddle brush, I wanted to take a picture but unfortunately I hoovered it up unintentionally. My hair had a nice shine to it as well.

@Chicoro Do you remember my saying I was thinking of getting a silk press so that I could properly assess the current state of my hair? Well as my hair got dry, what I noticed was how thin my ends are. I would normally just cut that off. As I have used the splitender, I'm feeling quite confident that the hanging splits have gone. For this reason I will wait a bit longer to cut the ends off. I'm enjoying using my oil blends and seeing what they can do to my ends, length and roots. Also as it's highly unlikely that my ends should ever be in this state again, it's a good opportunity for me to care for them and secure a solid process to nurture them in this condition as you can never really say never.

This is how much I would like to take off, and it could probably do with a tad more.

View attachment 508500

The WavyTalk stretched my hair well and initially gave the effect as though I had used straighteners on a low heat, that look lasted at least until I went through with the Splitender. My hair still had texture, I didn't go in too hard on the roots as my target areas were the length and ends.

This is what my hair looked like when I'd finished. I put on the same thing I had on when I did the pull test so that it would be easier to compare. I did a further pull test, I feel like my ends are so thin that it's difficult to hold them and their so thin I couldn't actually see them through the camera lens and again, I still have the hair I'm holding on to that can't be seen.

View attachment 508504

This is the comparison to the last pull test, it's not completely accurate as I'm standing at an awkward angle, it was very difficult to get a pic whilst also pulling on my hair.

View attachment 508506

I know for sure that it was the last set of extensions/braids I had installed that has messed up my ends. I have always instinctively removed my braids between 4 - 5 weeks, I kept them in for about 7 maybe even 8 weeks. I used the French curl hair, it is very difficult to braid to the ends of my hair, so often the last inch will be loose. This has never been a problem before, I also thought my braid spray would help, it did for everywhere but my ends. Let's just say its a lesson learnt.

This evening, I've sprayed some It's a 10 silk leave in and put my hair in a bun. I felt my hair might appreciate a little protein after the heat, it's been a hot minute. It's also moisturising and a heat protectant too. My hair still didn't feel weighed down or coated despite having layered 4 products, 3 of which being heat protectants, make me feel better about flat ironing tomorrow.

I'm still in 2 minds, I'll decide how I feel as to whether I'll straighten it tomorrow or not. I need to see what it looks like straight to see the minimum I can take off without it looking terrible, I'd also like to try a couple of products to see which of them will be better for preventing my hair from reverting.

I had another aha moment today. I remembered that many years ago, I would use cold water for my final rinse. This most likely also helped my hair to lay smoother, meaning I had less frizz. I'm not sure I have the stomach for cold water final rinses anymore, but I reckon I could handle tepid water, which is an improvement from warm water.

I have been very consistent with my regimen, I've not changed my goals and despite seeing the full extent of the damage today, I'm still feeling positive and confident that I will reach HL by the end of the year. I've realised that my hair year starts in March not January, but I believe I will still make it.

Initially I started this year (March) with the intention of focusing on length retention which I've been doing for the past 2 months, I'm thinking of adding growth to that goal as well. I'd like to cut out the thin ends over the next 2 - 3 months and then trying out some of the growth oils I've been blending for others.

My intentions for next year will definitely include thickening up my density, it's kind of dawned on me that all the hair I was losing on wash day over the last several years has affected my density. I have a lot of hair but seeing it stretched made me feel a little bald headed compared to before. It's actually crazy work that I sat on that for those years, I'd tell myself if I was supposed to shed between 50 - 100 strands daily (which I've never actually believed), then it was probably I the range of normal. I'm glad I managed to get back on top of things.

I'm most definitely giving myself grace, I'm not sitting here beating myself up about the mistakes I made in August last year which jacked up my ends, and earlier this year which caused me to have breakage. I'm accepting of the situation, I'm treating it as a learning curve, I also know that my hair will grow back and it will be completely healthy.

This is such a good post. Chalked with gems and goodies. FIRST OF ALL YOUR HAIR LOOKS LUSH, FABULOUS, THICK AND HEALTHY! I can almost feel how luscious and soft it is through the screen. What you are doing is surely working!

Next, I am glad you are loving the Wavvy Talk Air Sculpt. Good Deal + Good Performance = Win! A totally justified purchase and worthy contribution to the hair arsenal. Y'all (collectively the board) have me reconsidering Amika. They used to make this thick olive conditioner back in 2009 that I absolutely loved, but since that was discontinued, there hasn't been anything that I loved as much from them. I tried their "Kure" and "Soulfood" conditioners, which were cool, but not the great conditioner that I loved from them a decade ago. I haven't tried any of their stylers but I am open to it.

I am glad you didn't cut it off too much right away. Hair can play tricks on you when it grows out unevenly, if it is shedding, if it has a growth spurt, or if you are testing new products, or if it has different lengths. You'd be surprised by how just holding your peace in one session will make a perceived issue undetectable in the next session. As long as you stay on top of your moisture and protein, and get rid of splits while allowing the bulk or hemline to become more pleasing, it will fill in. Uneven hair is not always unhealthy. And you do have room to gradually even up your hemline and fill it in just as long as you snip the split ends off efficiently.

It's a 10 is a winner...All their stuff. I just love their leave-ins, serums, and moisturizers.

Anyhoo your hair is fabulous and I can't wait to see you meet your goals.

 

[Lylddlebit]

In case anyone is interested, this was the contents of the Splitender, AKA, my split ends. This is actually the most I've ever seen come out, just shows how badly leaving those braids in impacted my hair.

View attachment 508508

Although I have had this tool for many years ( I'm pretty sure that it was @faithVA who put me onto this), this is about the 4th or 5th time I've used it.

One of the main reasons I don't use it more is because the hair needs to be straight to use it. The hair dryer I used at that time definitely caused more tension but didn't get my hair straight enough, so I'd have to go over them with straighteners. This is not something I was prepared to do regularly long term, after the last time I used it, I just made sure to dust my ends regularly and that kept the splits in check.

The WavyTalk stretched my hair well enough that I didn't need to use anything else, I was able to get the Splitender through no problem. I went down each tress twice in both directions, overall I'm happy their gone and it could have been a lot worse.

Have you noticed your split end stop while using the split ender? The reason I ask is becuse it's design reminds me of a lint shaver (for clothes) and I sometimes wonder if the blades scrape the healthy parts of the strans making them susceptable to more splits by scraping the cuticle. Do you every reach a baseline of no splits while using it?

 

[Lylddlebit]

I got to straightening my hair today. I decided to do one side with the Tymo Ionic Plus brush and the other side with the Tymo Flipro. I have this chasing comb I bought from the salon I last had a silk press at, I triedView attachment 508536 to use it today, it's a bit awkward until 2 inches down the shaft.

View attachment 508522

I did my right side with the brush and my left side with the Flipro. I only used the comb part if the Flipro and one pass was enough to get the results you can see, I had to go higher on the heat with the brush and had to do 2 or even 3 passes in some parts. You can definitely see the difference.

I sprayed on more Frizz me not and the shield and then got to it, when I finished I used a very tiny amount of the Olaplex N°9 serum through the ends and the front of my hair. I still had a tiny bit of frizz at the front, so I used a tiny bit of Philip Kingsley Frizz fighting gloss and that has made a good improvement.

View attachment 508526

View attachment 508528

View attachment 508530

My ends are see-through! Zoom in...

My hair was literally tangling itself together at the ends so I knew I had to trim It. My hair before the trim.

View attachment 508532

This is what I know needs to go!

View attachment 508538

I took off about an inch of that.

View attachment 508542

How the ends looked after the trim....



View attachment 508544

I need to lose another inch, I will do this slowly with regular dusting till its all gone. My hair will be straight for the best part of this month which is weird, but after that, it'll be business as usual and I will go back to conditioning my ends with the oil blend.

You all saw what a difference the oils made, I'm pretty confident that with the worst of my ends gone, they will continue to do a good job on the rest. I can't imagine what my ends would be like if I hadn't started to condition them.

Great results...and great plan! What temperature did you use to press your hair?

 

[Lylddlebit]

One of my mother's neighbors approached me about a hair issue she is having. So, I told her I wanted to ruminate, pray and reflect on it and told her I'd get back to her in about a week or so. I made the concoction up for her. Her edges need some support. I made a sulfur based product. I didn't take photos of it. I thought it came out nice. It smells medicinal like peppermint and sage and rosemary.

...To have a hair product concoting, advising and freely giving neighbor sounds like a dream come true. Lucky neighbor!

 

[Lylddlebit]

Looks can be deceiving It's not thick at all, it just looks like it is. If there wasn't still a bit of texture, that ponytail would be smaller in width. It feels great though It's so soft.

I had intended to take a picture of when I took the rollers out, but I was in a hurry to go meet my mum. When I took them down, and brushed it out, it pretty much looked exactly as it did yesterday.

Usually it would look perfect, (There are actually pics of my having done this in the threads somewhere) two reasons why I think it wasn't:

1. Those dreaded ends
2. I would normally use a creamy leave in

I didn't use a creamy leave in this time because I was testing out how the products I used react to the elements. I think for what I need, they might work, but it's hard to say because a hot function room with multiple bodies, is the perfect environment for hair to revert.

This evening I put my ponytail back into a braid, I badded creamy leave into the front and length, and then added my oil blend and a little butter to the ends. It's business as usual until my next wash day.


Thank you I actually really loved it too, I prefer when there's a little texture,.it was still blowing in the wind, there were times yesterday when my hair seemed to be getting more wind swept than a few people who you might expect go have more movement. Considering it's been 7 years since I last straightened it, it didn't turn out bad for the first go.

The wise words of 'The Player's Club' said "Sometime you have to use what you've got to get what you want"
Texure is a feature that makes your hair, your hair. So when texture makes your hair look fuller , while you want it to look fully that is a gift! Use it to it's full advantage until the bulk and desnity catches up with what the texture is portraying for you. This FEATURE allows you styling options while the strands thicken up.

 

[Lylddlebit]

That might be the rollers giving it body

So I'll say it again"


"Use what you've got to get what you want"