Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge - 2021

[KenyafromCT]

And is this site still the same as back in the early 2000s? I was a member way back then. It seems so antiquated from the late 90s websites. Or is it just me?

 

[snoop]

The notification system is odd. If you miss the original notification about two times it stops notifying you. Now that you've checked this thread, you'll probably get notified again. I think the system prioritizes based on your habits -- i.e. if you don't check, it thinks that you are not interested anymore.

 

[KenyafromCT]

The notification system is odd. If you miss the original notification about two times it stops notifying you. Now that you've checked this thread, you'll probably get notified again. I think the system prioritizes based on your habits -- i.e. if you don't check, it thinks that you are not interested anymore.

Ok. Thanks for that. Y’all are always so helpful.

 

[KenyafromCT]

My ends were driving me nuts. But I think it was from my clarifying wash day on Friday. I kept snipping my SSK’s all weekend. Finally last night I decided to make a black tea spray(black tea a little fenugreek tea, peppermint/rosemary oils… jojoba, hemp, safflower Jamaican castor oils. I also added a vitamin B5 capsule.

I took my twists out. Decided to put braids back in to have some extra protection for my ends. I sprayed my hair, applied Mielle leave in and put 2 braids in. Used my DIY oil on my ends. My hair still feels soft and hydrated 12 + hours later. I made 2 bottles worth. I think this may be a better option than twists.

 

[KenyafromCT]

Keeping my hair in 2 big twists has helped my ends. I’m also using Argan Magic from TJ Maxx with my LCO.

 

[KenyafromCT]

Keeping my hair in 2 big twists has helped my ends. I’m also using Argan Magic from TJ Maxx with my LCO.

Update. The Argan Magic isn’t heavy enough for my hair. So I’ll have to nix it.

 

[faithVA]

Had my curly cut appointment today and got my ends clipped. It is so much nicer when someone else does it. Now I have a fresh start.

 

[KenyafromCT]

Had my curly cut appointment today and got my ends clipped. It is so much nicer when someone else does it. Now I have a fresh starlove th

Had my curly cut appointment today and got my ends clipped. It is so much nicer when someone else does it. Now I have a fresh start.

Looking good!! And that color!

 

[faithVA]

Thank You. It's really black and purple. My light in my bathroom is yellow

The pic below is outside so it's a truer color.

 

[KenyafromCT]

Thank You. It's really black and purple. My light in my bathroom is yellow

The pic below is outside so it's a truer color.

Those coils!

 

[faithVA]

Those coils!

Thank You. I am enjoying them. I just learned I had them last year.

 

[Jace032000]

Hey all --- can I join! I've been away from this forum for too long. Was surprised to log in and see the new format.

1. Are you relaxed, texlaxed, natural, transitioning, etc - I have a Keratin Treatment
2. Current Hair Length - Shoulder length
3. Why are you joining this challenge? - My hair is fine, I have recently moved back to my home state of Alaska where the air is frigid (obviously right?) and dry. My hair went from low porosity to high porosity in the matter of months AND --- when I comb my hair, I see little ends everywhere...even after trimming.
4. What have you tried to improve your ends? Trims...
5. What are you going to try to get those healthy ends? Going to get back into sealing. Will try to use Influance leave in honey moisture milk and sealing with an ayurvedic oil that includes castor oil day and night.
6. Any helpful tips you learned for your fellow challengers... Consistency is KEY!

 

[Jace032000]

Sealed with influance and my ayurvedic blend oil last night. Its too early to tell but I'm thinking the oil may be too light. I also massaged my scalp with influance growth cream and another ayurvedic oil....that went pretty well (and felt amazing). I'm trying a new head scarf --- but I just realized that it's polyester and not satin/silk so may need to change that.

 

[Jace032000]

Still sealing --- I'd say this is the healthiest my hair has felt in a long time. When I comb through my hair I don't see scraggly little ends on the floor and in the sink... YAY!

 

[KenyafromCT]

Sealed with influance and my ayurvedic blend oil last night. Its too early to tell but I'm thinking the oil may be too light. I also massaged my scalp with influance growth cream and another ayurvedic oil....that went pretty well (and felt amazing). I'm trying a new head scarf --- but I just realized that it's polyester and not satin/silk so may need to change that.

I sew. I believe satin is polyester/man made. Silk is a natural fiber. Do some research. I may be wrong.

 

[snoop]

I sew. I believe satin is polyester/man made. Silk is a natural fiber. Do some research. I may be wrong.

Satin is actually a weave, so you can have silk satin, but most of the satin we get is polyester. If you get the silk-like polyester scarf it shouldn't be bad. But a habutai silk scarf feels so wonderful on the hair.

 

[Chicoro]

Satin is actually a weave, so you can have silk satin, but most of the satin we get is polyester. If you get the silk-like polyester scarf it shouldn't be bad. But a habutai silk scarf feels so wonderful on the hair.

Silk is a weave? Wonder if that is applicable to flax and cotton?

 

[snoop]

Silk is a weave? Wonder if that is applicable to flax and cotton?

No...satin is the weave. Silk is the fiber.

 

[Chicoro]

No...satin is the weave. Silk is the fiber.

Thank you for the clarification !

 

[KenyafromCT]

I haven’t done anything extra to my ends lately. They’ve been tucked away for the most part. I just do two twists going straight back. I’ve noticed since I oiled it a few weeks ago I haven’t had many SSKs. Is this even possible?? Say it ain’t so. Or maybe my twists are working? Can things I’m doing internally effect hair ends? Biotin, fenugreek water, msm, collagen? Smoothies with tons of green leafy veggies and fruit?

 

[KenyafromCT]

Hey Hey hey.

Are we still checking in ladies? How is everyone?

 

[NaturalEnigma]

Do you guys use products that are specific for the ends. I noticed a couple of companies have serums, creams and oils that are targeted toward making your ends healthy.

 

[KenyafromCT]

Do you guys use products that are specific for the ends. I noticed a couple of companies have serums, creams and oils that are targeted toward making your ends healthy.

I use a mixture of leave ins that I’ve added DIY herb oil to.
I also oiled my hair twice. Once with bringraj a few weeks back. I definitely noticed a difference in my ssks weeks later. This week I did one have DIY herb oil and safflower oil on the right. I allowed it to sit for 3 hours. Coveted with a plastic bag. Sat under hair steamer for 30 minutes. Rinsed. Did my wash day routine. My hair is happy. I don’t see a difference in with side being softer though. Less ssks again.

 

[DVAntDany]

1. Are you relaxed, texlaxed, natural, transitioning, etc
I’m natural

2. Current Hair Length
TWA that is ear length

3. Why are you joining this challenge?
I’ve loosely been following the BGC method and they don’t focus on retaining length. Also, I recently saw some photos from about 5 years ago from the last time I was a loose natural. My ends were so busted. Prior to that, i grew my hair to the longest length I’ve witnessed as an adult by babying my ends. So I know this works.

I want waist length hair in an un-stretched curly state while wearing exclusively wash and gos. That’s my ultimate goal.

4. What have you tried to improve your ends?
To date I’ve included pre pooing, using a more gentle detangling brush and sleeping on a satin pillowcase.

In the past I self dusted my more fragile hair in the front and had my ends professionally trimmed at minimum twice a year. I also lubricated my end daily and tucked them away in a low tension style. Rarely allowing my hair to rub against clothes.

5. What are you going to try to get those healthy ends?
-I’m going to incorporate using deep conditioners that are moisture and protein balanced. I’ve witnessed my hair become over moisturized and too stretchy before .
-Regular professional trims
-Very little to no direct heat
-Sleep with a bonnet because by nature I’m a stomach sleeper who doesn’t use pillow.
-Wear satin lined hats or cover my hair in satin when I work outside
-Have a protective coating on my ends that is still conducive to wash and goes. I’m still thinking this one out.
-No color no matter how much I’m tempted to try it.

6. Any helpful tips you learned for your fellow challengers...
Not yet

Old Busted Ends



My Current Ends

 

[KenyafromCT]

I’ve been oiling my hair and concentrating on my ends. I have noticed less fairy knots. This time wet my hair first(I didn’t the last time) and used 2 different diy herb oils. My mistake was drying it with a cool blow dryer after my deep conditioning session.
I haven’t blown my hair dry in many many years. And the last time I had it done professionally was January 2019. So my technique was off. Way off. So my ends are a bit dry now. So I hydrated with water and added a leave in yesterday.

 

[Chicoro]

I do not know how to make these photos little.

Regarding my hair: What's old for me is now new! Meaning coating my hair ends with Shea butter every time I re-braid helps stop my ends from tangling. I was sort of doing this before. I used to coat from root to ends with Shea butter. I still do, but I put extra extra on the ends each time I re-braid, now.

I used to HATE when my ends curled up like this because that meant tangles and loss of length for sure. But, what I have started doing is caking the ends of my braids with Shea butter. Then, I wrap my braids around my head, secure the ends and stretch the hair. The hair semi- dries in a stretched mode and is lubricated. Most of the time, I am able to take out my braids without any tangles or hair loss. I wore my hair mostly in a protected ponytail, with the braids pulled up, but I wore it like this lots of times during the summer in July and August.

I have not trimmed my hair since August 2020. I prefer to trim my hair in a straightened state. I hope to be able to do my hair and straighten it between December 2021 and February 2022, so I can trim the ends.

I rarely wear my hair out, and prefer to trim when I fully attentive to the process. I am still traumatized from when I butchered my own hair in 2012. So, I tread very carefully when it comes to trimming my own hair.

I had no S-curl and was in Mexico! My process for my hair:

-Wet with water from root to tip.
-Used a leave in from Mexico from the pharmacy.
-Tapped roots with Xtreme Gel (made in Mexico and easy to find).
-Coated the last six (6) inches of hair with my Shea butter mix.

My hair does not drop in length, the longer it gets. One can only see the length when I straighten it. Hopefully, when I straighten it, I will have gained some more length and retained some healthy hair. I love this braided style. I've been wearing it since December 2016. I am a creature of habit. But if it ain't broke...

 

[Chicoro]

I compressed these images and I hope you can see them. These are my hair ends. I realized that I don't have any visible knots on the ends of my hair. My hair usually has some knots. I see only one or two knots.

For me, the keys are saturating my ends with Shea butter and stretching the hair out so the ends dry in an elongated position. I braid my hair tightly but the braids never stay or remain tight. The braided hair unloosens by itself.

I have not trimmed my hair in over 12 months, since August 2020. When I pull my hair down my back, more and more of it is dropping to longer lengths.

I believe my hair is the longest, today, that it has ever been!

 

[GGsKin]

@Chicoro How are you? Your pictures are wonderfully clear and your ends are knot-free and so shiny. They look happy.

 

[KenyafromCT]

View attachment 475385


I do not know how to make these photos little.

Regarding my hair: What's old for me is now new! Meaning coating my hair ends with Shea butter every time I re-braid helps stop my ends from tangling. I was sort of doing this before. I used to coat from root to ends with Shea butter. I still do, but I put extra extra on the ends each time I re-braid, now.

I used to HATE when my ends curled up like this because that meant tangles and loss of length for sure. But, what I have started doing is caking the ends of my braids with Shea butter. Then, I wrap my braids around my head, secure the ends and stretch the hair. The hair semi- dries in a stretched mode and is lubricated. Most of the time, I am able to take out my braids without any tangles or hair loss. I wore my hair mostly in a protected ponytail, with the braids pulled up, but I wore it like this lots of times during the summer in July and August.

I have not trimmed my hair since August 2020. I prefer to trim my hair in a straightened state. I hope to be able to do my hair and straighten it between December 2021 and February 2022, so I can trim the ends.

I rarely wear my hair out, and prefer to trim when I fully attentive to the process. I am still traumatized from when I butchered my own hair in 2012. So, I tread very carefully when it comes to trimming my own hair.

I had no S-curl and was in Mexico! My process for my hair:

-Wet with water from root to tip.
-Used a leave in from Mexico from the pharmacy.
-Tapped roots with Xtreme Gel (made in Mexico and easy to find).
-Coated the last six (6) inches of hair with my Shea butter mix.

My hair does not drop in length, the longer it gets. One can only see the length when I straighten it. Hopefully, when I straighten it, I will have gained some more length and retained some healthy hair. I love this braided style. I've been wearing it since December 2016. I am a creature of habit. But if it ain't broke...

This head of hair is absolutely magnificent. Wow. I began using Shea butter but it can be so hard. Is melting is in a double boiler an acceptable practice for getting it to a softer consistory to make applying it easier? Did that make sense?

 

[KenyafromCT]

Wow. You can see the difference. Great job.