Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2023

What would you like to address and improve as it relates to having luscious, healthy ends?

  • Breakage

    Votes: 36 54.5%

  • Thinness

    Votes: 30 45.5%

  • Unevenness

    Votes: 18 27.3%

  • Split Ends

    Votes: 36 54.5%

  • Dryness

    Votes: 32 48.5%

  • Roughness

    Votes: 14 21.2%

  • Knots

    Votes: 31 47.0%

  • Dullness

    Votes: 9 13.6%
  • Total voters
    66
OMG, @Chicoro !! You are a mess!! :lachen:

I'm debating between sewing on a wig (can't decide between pixie or long, so that I can easily bun it) or installing some twist extensions bc I need some lazy hair right now. The weather is warming up and I have lots of DIY projects to complete. I need really simple hair that I can keep out of my face.
 
MzSwift said:
OMG, @Chicoro !! You are a mess!! :lachen:

I'm debating between sewing on a wig (can't decide between pixie or long, so that I can easily bun it) or installing some twist extensions bc I need some lazy hair right now. The weather is warming up and I have lots of DIY projects to complete. I need really simple hair that I can keep out of my face.
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Just make the decision, Girl. Can't have them DIY projects messing up the HAIR!
 
I clarified this week. It’s been about 9 weeks since the last time I did it. Still chugging along with weekly olaplex 3 and protein conditioner every 2 weeks.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to let m stylist blow out my hair and I’m curious to see how it looks.
 
Decided to color my hair with a semi-permanent dye. It was a bust. It barely tinted my grey hair. I’m going to try it one more time to see if I get more deposit the second time around.

The dye made my ends extra dry, which made me wonder if I was really keeping my hair moisturized this whole time. I currently have my hair in 4 plaits, Shea buttered-up under a wig. I’m going to do some mini-twists this week. Mini-twists allow me to M/S more often without messing with the integrity of my hair style. The only other option I have at my disposal is to wash my hair 2x/wk to increase the moisture and wear a WNG.

Otherwise, my ends are doing okay. My hair strands are still thickening up. My hair density (front to top of crown) is still the same. The only thing I’m going to change about my wash routine is adding Olaplex #3 to every wash day, instead of using it monthly.
 
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keranikki said:
Decided to color my hair with a semi-permanent dye. It was a bust. It barely tinted my grey hair. I’m going to try it one more time to see if I get more deposit the second time around.

The dye made my ends extra dry, which made me wonder if I was really keeping my hair moisturized this whole time. I currently have my hair in 4 plaits, Shea buttered-up under a wig. I’m going to do some mini-twists this week. Mini-twists allow me to M/S more often without messing with the integrity of my hair style. The only other option I have at my disposal is to wash my hair 2x/wk to increase the moisture and wear a WNG.

Otherwise, my ends are doing okay. My hair strands are still thickening up. My hair density (front to top of crown) is still the same. The only thing I’m going to change about my wash routine is adding Olaplex #3 to every wash day, instead of using it monthly.
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Coloring hair ALWAYS has the potential to be drying to the hair. I really don't think your hair ends care or moisture routine is lacking or not keeping your hair moisturized. That's one of the challenges that people mention about hair dyes is its tendency to be drying to the hair. You noticed a difference right away. Therefore, that tells me you are extremely attentive to your ends. Since you are aware of the changes, you can immediately put actions steps into place to try to circumvent any adverse, future issues. Thus, you need to commend and applaud yourself for your process, not condemn yourself or criticize yourself.

Bravo! Pat yourself on the back for being eagle eyed and attentive to your lovely hair.
 
alove15 said:
I’d love to join. I’m relaxed, currently 2 months into a 4 month stretch. I want thicker ends and no breakage. My plan:
-Trimming/Relaxing 3x yearly
-M+S 1-2x daily (LCO method)
-Wigging daily
-Shampoo+ DC weekly (focusing shampoo on scalp not ends)
-Gently detangling before washing
-Airdrying 90% if blowdrying
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Revisiting my post. Made a few changes.
-Transitioning to texturizing (q 10-12wks)
-Detangling in shower with the FL brush
-Taking a break from blowdrying, switching to wet sets (wash and go, twists)
-Maintaining a bob until my hair health improves
-Will still shampoo+DC weekly and PS with a closure wig
 
keranikki said:
Decided to color my hair with a semi-permanent dye. It was a bust. It barely tinted my grey hair. I’m going to try it one more time to see if I get more deposit the second time around.

The dye made my ends extra dry, which made me wonder if I was really keeping my hair moisturized this whole time. I currently have my hair in 4 plaits, Shea buttered-up under a wig. I’m going to do some mini-twists this week. Mini-twists allow me to M/S more often without messing with the integrity of my hair style. The only other option I have at my disposal is to wash my hair 2x/wk to increase the moisture and wear a WNG.

Otherwise, my ends are doing okay. My hair strands are still thickening up. My hair density (front to top of crown) is still the same. The only thing I’m going to change about my wash routine is adding Olaplex #3 to every wash day, instead of using it monthly.
Click to expand...
Do you use Olaplex or a bond builder when coloring? That can help. Also a good color safe deep conditioner in your rotation will to help combat the dryness. I know quite a few people don't deep condition right after coloring, but whenever you get to your next wash day, that will help. There are some great color safe deep treatments you can use. I actually use some of them as moisturizing deep conditioners because of how well they are designed to moisturize dry hair.
 
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Chicoro said:
Coloring hair ALWAYS has the potential to be drying to the hair. I really don't think your hair ends care or moisture routine is lacking or not keeping your hair moisturized. That's one of the challenges that people mention about hair dyes is its tendency to be drying to the hair. You noticed a difference right away. Therefore, that tells me you are extremely attentive to your ends. Since you are aware of the changes, you can immediately put actions steps into place to try to circumvent any adverse, future issues. Thus, you need to commend and applaud yourself for your process, not condemn yourself or criticize yourself.

Bravo! Pat yourself on the back for being eagle eyed and attentive to your lovely hair.
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Thank you and valid point on not immediately thinking that my regimen is not up to par.
 
Lylddlebit said:
Do you use Olaplex or a bond builder when coloring? That can help. Also a good color safe deep conditioner in your rotation will to help combat the dryness. I know quite a few people don't deep condition right after coloring, but whenever you get to your next wash day, that will help. There are some great color safe deep treatments you can use. I actually use some of them as moisturizing deep conditioners because of how well they are designed to moisturize dry hair.
Click to expand...
I used Olaplex #3 specifically for dying my hair. I followed up with #4/5, which made my hair feel a little bit better.
The DCs I have in rotation are Adwoa Baomint, Annabelle’s Perfect Blends Blueberry Cheesecake (med protein) and OMG (protein free). I will check to see if they are color safe.
 
My hair has been breaking very badly these past few weeks. I’ve been experimenting which has both good and bad.

My experiments led me to have a lot of breakage but I noticed that my hair was still breaking when I went back to my regular regimen. Here are a few things I learned:

1. My hair does not like direct heat. I must air dry or sit under the dryer. I am going to retire my Dyson to just length check blow outs from now on.

2. Mixing curl activator gel with my regular gel leads to less breakage. Brushes glide through my hair with just activator with no breakage. I just add a harder holding gel on top and it creates a great balance.

3. Moisturizing with curl activator spray vs buttery creams alone stops my breakage and is surprisingly less greasy. I really like Hawaiian silky 14 in one. I may use the spray and seal with the buttery cream but the spray is enough alone.

4.Mesh bun makers allow for my hair to breathe better than satin ones and keep less of an odor. I prefer them.

5. I don’t think the baggie is necessary if my hair isn’t covered in heavy greases and butters. I’m thinking of stopping baggying for the summer and seeing how that works. So far lightly spraying activator spray on my ends has curbed my breakage.

6. The longer my hair gets the more I appreciate affordable products that work. Proclaim and Hawaiian Silky seem like they will be my two staple brands.

I eventually want to whittle my stash to just multiples of what works.

I think I am moving in the right direction! Even though I probably lost thickness and my ends are not at their max luciousness anymore. I’m still going to hold off on trimming till the end of the year like a crazy person lol.

I don’t believe in “split ends traveling”. They just break off. Breakage however is real but I don’t think the trim is the best way to solve it if length is what you’re pursuing. You have to figure out what is causing the breakage and stop it before it make sense to cut any thing off or the same thing will happen again. I believe in the power of micro trims (after breakage has been controlled ) every 6 months instead if you are after length. The hairs will catch up eventually.
 
Napp said:
My hair has been breaking very badly these past few weeks. I’ve been experimenting which has both good and bad.

My experiments led me to have a lot of breakage but I noticed that my hair was still breaking when I went back to my regular regimen. Here are a few things I learned:

1. My hair does not like direct heat. I must air dry or sit under the dryer. I am going to retire my Dyson to just length check blow outs from now on.

2. Mixing curl activator gel with my regular gel leads to less breakage. Brushes glide through my hair with just activator with no breakage. I just add a harder holding gel on top and it creates a great balance.

3. Moisturizing with curl activator spray vs buttery creams alone stops my breakage and is surprisingly less greasy. I really like Hawaiian silky 14 in one. I may use the spray and seal with the buttery cream but the spray is enough alone.

4.Mesh bun makers allow for my hair to breathe better than satin ones and keep less of an odor. I prefer them.

5. I don’t think the baggie is necessary if my hair isn’t covered in heavy greases and butters. I’m thinking of stopping baggying for the summer and seeing how that works. So far lightly spraying activator spray on my ends has curbed my breakage.

6. The longer my hair gets the more I appreciate affordable products that work. Proclaim and Hawaiian Silky seem like they will be my two staple brands.

I eventually want to whittle my stash to just multiples of what works.

I think I am moving in the right direction! Even though I probably lost thickness and my ends are not at their max luciousness anymore. I’m still going to hold off on trimming till the end of the year like a crazy person lol.

I don’t believe in “split ends traveling”. They just break off. Breakage however is real but I don’t think the trim is the best way to solve it if length is what you’re pursuing. You have to figure out what is causing the breakage and stop it before it make sense to cut any thing off or the same thing will happen again. I believe in the power of micro trims (after breakage has been controlled ) every 6 months instead if you are after length. The hairs will catch up eventually.
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I love this analysis! THIS is what I'm talking about. You have to know yourself. That requires thinking in the form of analysis. Growing afro textured hair is a thinking game, NOT a guessing game! Bravo, Napp!
 
Ugh.. I have been craving biscuits, and what do I see when I come into this thread? Now I have no choice but to go make biscuits. :lol:


But since we are being random and posting biscuits and whatnot, I have a random hair story. There’s a white boy we’ve known since he was a toddler. He’s always had longish hair, and his hairtype has consistently been 2a, from 18 months to when we saw him last fall at 15… still the same 2a. But something happened over the winter, and his hair is suddenly 3b/3c, with shrinkage to rival my daughter’s. In fact, the two of them are now hair twins. It’s definitely not a perm (family is all hippie-nature-survivalists). I know kids’ hair changes as they move past infancy, and sometimes again when puberty starts, but this is one of the most drastic changes I’ve ever seen, especially considering he’s been well along puberty for a good three years or so.
 
yamilee21 said:
Ugh.. I have been craving biscuits, and what do I see when I come into this thread? Now I have no choice but to go make biscuits. :lol:


But since we are being random and posting biscuits and whatnot, I have a random hair story. There’s a white boy we’ve known since he was a toddler. He’s always had longish hair, and his hairtype has consistently been 2a, from 18 months to when we saw him last fall at 15… still the same 2a. But something happened over the winter, and his hair is suddenly 3b/3c, with shrinkage to rival my daughter’s. In fact, the two of them are now hair twins. It’s definitely not a perm (family is all hippie-nature-survivalists). I know kids’ hair changes as they move past infancy, and sometimes again when puberty starts, but this is one of the most drastic changes I’ve ever seen, especially considering he’s been well along puberty for a good three years or so.
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Is he nurturing his afro-white boy hair with good products to bring out the beauty and health? Or is he a wash with Irish Springs and rub dry hair kind of guy?
 
OK, just finished converting mini twists into straight(ish) back cornrows. The tail ends are twisted and pinned back up. They will stay protected under a satin mens skull cap. I still plan to either whole head GHE or baggie bun them at night. I'm gonna try my best to rock a wig when I leave the house. It's just so darn easy to throw on a bandana and keep it moving. Satin skull cap stays under both so my hair is always protected.
 
I washed, (blow dried) and trimmed by hair today. I'm maintaining my length at shoulder length until most of my shorter lengths, and some of my breakage from damage catches up. I put in eight canerows for a braid out, but not yet sure how long I will keep the braids in. I never do braidouts because I dislike how thin my hair looks with the style. Hair is currently moisturised and covered with a silk scarf.
 
yamilee21 said:
The whole family mostly cowashes, but I think he’s going to need a little shea butter from now on. :lol:
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​


You gone hook your boy up with some Shea butter? Or, are you going to leave him to defend and discover for himself. Some of his people just found lotion. If that is an indicator, without your help, he may not encounter Shea butter on his own until Yoda becomes old.




Since he got afro textured hair, I think you should help [an honorary] brother out.




Gift that child with some Shea butter, Girl!




​
 
Napp said:
I dont know my my first bun right after washday never sets. Its always frizzy and dull in the morning. It could be my gel and leave in combo. It seems like im going to have to use more Curl activator gel to set the hair on day one.
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Are you putting Shea butter or grease on the roots when you first do your bun? Or, do you only put your Shea butter and/or grease on the ponytail part?
 
I let my non-curly stylist blow dry and trim my hair. If it still looks good curly, I probably won’t ever go back to my curly stylist.

I want my hair to get much longer so I need my trims to get all of the bad ends, but not take any extra.
I went 18 weeks since my last trim and that was too long. My ends were very tangly.
FE7D981D-9DF8-4A60-B168-2FD5E30DC261.jpeg
 
GettingKinky said:
I let my non-curly stylist blow dry and trim my hair. If it still looks good curly, I probably won’t ever go back to my curly stylist.

I want my hair to get much longer so I need my trims to get all of the bad ends, but not take any extra.
I went 18 weeks since my last trim and that was too long. My ends were very tangly.
View attachment 489021
Click to expand...
I really want you to reach your length goals!
 
GettingKinky said:
I let my non-curly stylist blow dry and trim my hair. If it still looks good curly, I probably won’t ever go back to my curly stylist.

I want my hair to get much longer so I need my trims to get all of the bad ends, but not take any extra.
I went 18 weeks since my last trim and that was too long. My ends were very tangly.
View attachment 489021
Click to expand...
Thick and beautiful!
 
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