Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2024

What problem are you looking to resolve so you CAN have Luscious, Healthy Ends in 2024?

  • Total voters
    36
Dare~to~Dream said:
Interesting. Due to lack of convenience, I guess I can't see myself doing a whole wash with just distilled water. Even though a gallon of distilled water is very inexpensive, it would just take too many to use each week to thoroughly rinse out all everything (plus I will have to warm some of it for at least two rinses). If I were to try this experiment, I would just use distilled water as a final rinse for a certain period of time to gauge any results. I never tried it more than once sine it didn't wow me but maybe the results are cumulative.
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Yes, the results are supposed to be cumulative because your hair also needs to be rid of the build up of hard water. So while one wash may make your hair feel soft, it is still holding onto all of the minerals from years of use.

As I mentioned previously, I'd love to try this properly, but I would have to give up using ayurvedic masks and clay washes for a while, just because they take quite a bit of water to rinse out.

A for rinsing with cool/ cold water. I don't like it on my hair. (Though I haven't tried now that my hair has changed.) Cool water rinses tend to leave my hair feeling rough and velcro-y. This I think is partly because they cause my coils to contract. The last time I did one (maybe two years ago) I did have fun actually watching my hair shrink under the cold water at final rinse. It happens so fast, too! But as I said, it also makes it harder to deal with when I get out.

With my no-poo routine I think that my hair isn't ever completely rid of sebum. I guess the contraction happens because it solidifies in colder temps (kind of like coconut oil). If my hair stays relatively warm then it can stay soft and pliable. When it's too cool, it draws my hair up and my coils can no longer move past each other easily and then my strands feel tight. Moisturizing it after doesn't help a lot. Or maybe there's another mechanism that causes that to happen. (Also, I don't like cold water touching me.)
 
newgrowth15 said:
@snoop, how did your oil turn out? Do you like it? Are you experiencing any growth from using it?
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I've been thinking about the bolded part of your question and I should have also included in my response that I didn't really make it for "growth". More for nourishing, which I guess would lead to better retention.

The one that I made for growth (and haven't yet used) is this recipe : https://longhaircareforums.com/threads/proven-oil-blend-that-stimulates-hair-growth.1261/

I have two posts on page 6 with pictures (from 2014 and 2021). I want to use this on my edges again, but I think that I will also use it on my crown (heck, probably my whole head).
 
So, I emailed Brita Canada to find out if the filters actually soften water. My email:


Hi, I would like to know, do Brita filters soften water? Is there a particular model that would work best for softening water so avoid hard water build up when I'm washing my hair?

Thank you.



Their response:


Hi [Snoop],

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

We’re happy to answer your question about Brita filters softening water. The Brita filters for our pour-through pitchers and dispensers, faucet mount systems, and Brits Hub do not soften water. However, we do have filters for shower heads, whole- home, and under the sink.

For the fastest service, we’re going to put you in touch with our specialists who handle questions about this product. You can contact them directly by phone or email.


Interestingly enough, they don't mention if the ones for the shower heads soften water.
 
I went to my stylist today so she could dye my roots. I also asked her to blow dry my hair so she could trim the ends.

But first before she dyed my hair she shampoo’d it to remove the product so the dye would take better. She didn’t condition it after the shampoo, but then she detangled it so she could part my hair to apply the dye. She didn’t have any trouble detangling my non conditioned hair and she said my ends were in good shape.

After the blow dry she trimmed about a quarter inch of hair. It’s been 14 weeks since my last trim so if my growth rate is the same as it was in my relaxer days, my hair should be ~1.1 inches longer than it was after my last trim. I’ll measure it this weekend.
 
I did a microtrim then oiled the ends with castor oil. This week, I used claw clip and ordered silk scrungies to replace the ponytail holders. I haven't seen any hair come out when I remove the clip nor the scrungie. I also bought a horse-shoe "u" shape tool for an updoo - I just have to figure out how to use them.
 
I moisturized and sealed my hair last night with a combination of our Group Project Fenugreek oil and tallow. (I used LCOT). The oil makes my hair feel sooo soft! I love it.

The oils I used for my infusion were: babassu oil, macadamia nut oil, hazelnut oil, sweet almond oil.

I used babassu oil because of it's penetrative properties. The other three oils are an amazing combination in general. Great on the skin as well.
 
snoop said:
So, I emailed Brita Canada to find out if the filters actually soften water. My email:


Hi, I would like to know, do Brita filters soften water? Is there a particular model that would work best for softening water so avoid hard water build up when I'm washing my hair?

Thank you.



Their response:


Hi [Snoop],

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

We’re happy to answer your question about Brita filters softening water. The Brita filters for our pour-through pitchers and dispensers, faucet mount systems, and Brits Hub do not soften water. However, we do have filters for shower heads, whole- home, and under the sink.

For the fastest service, we’re going to put you in touch with our specialists who handle questions about this product. You can contact them directly by phone or email.


Interestingly enough, they don't mention if the ones for the shower heads soften water.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this!
 
I measured my hair this morning. My measurement technique isn’t super accurate, but in the last 14 weeks my hair grew ~1.25 inches.

If I stay on track the longest parts of my hair could be 30” by this time in 2027. The shortest parts will need an extra year.
 
I'm posting this photo in a few threads this morning:

InShot_20240609_194548586.jpg

Do my ends look luscious? Not really. Are they? Probably. I'm due for a micro trim next week and with the exception of missing last months trim, I've been trimming monthly.

So then what is it? I had my braids threaded all last week. It's hard to tell, but the ends of my hair are threaded much closer together than the length. I do this to keep the ends protected. However, the this produces the same end result as when I braid or twist my two strand twists. It teases the ends and leaves them looking raggedy. Cutting these ends off wouldn't be a good thing, especially if I do this often.

I once had someone explain to me that they had trouble retaining length. They always wore two strand twists. They would trim their ends after every wash because their ends always looked so broken. Nothing in their routine seemed out of line or would indicate that they were damaging their ends. I was just about to end our conversation when I looked at them and noticed that they wore their twists the same way that I often do -- in another bound style. I immediately asked them if they wear they styled their twists like that often and they said yes. The light bulb went off. I asked them to do me a favour and to not trim their ends over the next few washes and to observe their ends after they washed their hair to see if they looked healthier than before they washed it. Their task was to update me on their length retention next time we spoke. It turned out that they were over trimming and cutting off healthy ends this whole time.

I think that it partly has to do with social media saying that you constantly have to have beautiful cut ends otherwise it means that the ends of your hair are damaged and not "healthy". :rolleyes: The social media echo chamber is a wild one. While I understand that there are a lot of people who do need help taking care of their hair, there is a lot of hair that isn't picture perfect that gets slammed for no real reason.

(Morning rant over.)
 
@snoop

giphy.gif


Amen, sis, AMEN!!

I hope she finds that her ends are healthy!
 
MzSwift said:
@snoop

giphy.gif


Amen, sis, AMEN!!

I hope she finds that her ends are healthy!
Click to expand...


I wrote this first thing in the morning and forgot to write the ending. I was tired. :laugh:

She did! She came back and thanked me for helping her out with that because she'd been cutting off healthy hair unnecessarily.
In a case like this, my ends aren't even uneven. They're just teased from the threading processes and just loosening it and combing or washing it will reset it.
 
snoop said:
I'm posting this photo in a few threads this morning:

View attachment 496903

Do my ends look luscious? Not really. Are they? Probably. I'm due for a micro trim next week and with the exception of missing last months trim, I've been trimming monthly.

So then what is it? I had my braids threaded all last week. It's hard to tell, but the ends of my hair are threaded much closer together than the length. I do this to keep the ends protected. However, the this produces the same end result as when I braid or twist my two strand twists. It teases the ends and leaves them looking raggedy. Cutting these ends off wouldn't be a good thing, especially if I do this often.

I once had someone explain to me that they had trouble retaining length. They always wore two strand twists. They would trim their ends after every wash because their ends always looked so broken. Nothing in their routine seemed out of line or would indicate that they were damaging their ends. I was just about to end our conversation when I looked at them and noticed that they wore their twists the same way that I often do -- in another bound style. I immediately asked them if they wear they styled their twists like that often and they said yes. The light bulb went off. I asked them to do me a favour and to not trim their ends over the next few washes and to observe their ends after they washed their hair to see if they looked healthier than before they washed it. Their task was to update me on their length retention next time we spoke. It turned out that they were over trimming and cutting off healthy ends this whole time.

I think that it partly has to do with social media saying that you constantly have to have beautiful cut ends otherwise it means that the ends of your hair are damaged and not "healthy". :rolleyes: The social media echo chamber is a wild one. While I understand that there are a lot of people who do need help taking care of their hair, there is a lot of hair that isn't picture perfect that gets slammed for no real reason.

(Morning rant over.)
Click to expand...

It turned out that they were over trimming and cutting off healthy ends this whole time.​

Say it again!!! I see this over and over even among some of us.

Your ends do NOT look bad. Your braids all look to have the same thickness as the next braid. The root to tip is slightly different, but that is normal unless you CHOP off your braids and hold them there for months at a time.

Your hair looks GOOD to me!
 
Chicoro said:

It turned out that they were over trimming and cutting off healthy ends this whole time.​

Say it again!!! I see this over and over even among some of us.

Your ends do NOT look bad. Your braids all look to have the same thickness as the next braid. The root to tip is slightly different, but that is normal unless you CHOP off your braids and hold them there for months at a time.

Your hair looks GOOD to me!
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for the complement.

As far as ends go, I totally get that stylists will promote "healthy" (read: blunt) ends an aesthetic, but I think that they need to sell it as that. When we move back to layers and feathered ends, I wonder what the messaging will look like.
 
@GettingKinky

I've heard of the halo effect when ladies are experiencing mechanical damage from over-brushing their hairlines or wearing headbands in order to slick back the edges.

I've also heard of it when ladies who have transitioned from using chemicals say their hairlines start to grow back in and give a halo effect.

Also, I've seen where ladies have started a new growth aid which causes new growth in areas that haven't grown in a while OR it speeds up the life phases of hair causing some shedding but rapid regrowth leading to a halo of shorter hairs near the head.

Because I don't recall you reporting any of those things (except maybe brushing your hair back into a bun), I'm wondering how you tie your hair up at night. Bonnets and looser materials can rub against those areas, whereas a tied scarf would help secure the areas from friction. Also, if the scarf frequently slides back at night, is it pulled back forward (friction) or is it taken off completely and retied to fix it?
 
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MzSwift said:
@GettingKinky

I've heard of the halo effect when ladies are experiencing mechanical damage from over-brushing their hairlines or wearing headbands in order to slick back the edges.

I've also heard of it when ladies who have transitioned from using chemicals say their hairlines start to grow back in and give a halo effect.

Also, I've seen where ladies have started a new growth aid which causes new growth in areas that haven't grown in a while OR it speeds up the life phases of hair causing some shedding but rapid regrowth leading to a halo of shorter hairs near the head.

Because I don't recall you reporting any of those things (except maybe brushing your hair back into a bun), I'm wondering how you tie your hair up at night. Bonnets and looser materials can rub against those areas, whereas a tied scarf would help secure the areas from friction. Also, if the scarf frequently slides back at night, is it pulled back forward (friction) or is it taken off completely and retied to fix it?
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It could be mechanical damage from bunning, but I try to be careful and I don’t make my buns tight or slick my hair down (anymore)

At night I either wear a slap cap or a buff. When I wear the slap cap I pull it down from the top so it doesn’t touch my hairline. But with the buff I pull it up from the bottom so it does touch my edges and it’s not tight so it could rub.

I guess I should stick to the slap cap and see if my edges recover.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. :)
 
MzSwift said:
@GettingKinky

I've heard of the halo effect when ladies are experiencing mechanical damage from over-brushing their hairlines or wearing headbands in order to slick back the edges.

I've also heard of it when ladies who have transitioned from using chemicals say their hairlines start to grow back in and give a halo effect.

Also, I've seen where ladies have started a new growth aid which causes new growth in areas that haven't grown in a while OR it speeds up the life phases of hair causing some shedding but rapid regrowth leading to a halo of shorter hairs near the head.

Because I don't recall you reporting any of those things (except maybe brushing your hair back into a bun), I'm wondering how you tie your hair up at night. Bonnets and looser materials can rub against those areas, whereas a tied scarf would help secure the areas from friction. Also, if the scarf frequently slides back at night, is it pulled back forward (friction) or is it taken off completely and retied to fix it?
Click to expand...
This is a really detailed, well thought out, deep, complete and thorough analysis of the situation. Wow!
 
long.hair.dont.care said:
The best way to avoid crunch ends, for me, is to water and oil my hair. Especially while in cornrows.

I trimmed my ends over the weekend. My ends were not velcrowy, it's just that shed hairs would be at the ends and I was a little fed up. Wondering if I should wash my hair more often? I don't know.
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I just have one thing to say to you, "Gimme those ENDS!"

giphy.gif
 
Here is an update of my quarterly trim cycle. In March of 2024, I had my daughter trim approximately 1 inch of hair. If you look closely at the March photo, you will notice that there is a layer of hair at the very bottom that is longer. I had my daughter cut that layer off, so that my hair would be even.

In the June picture, it looks like I have reached the same length as in the March picture.
20240616_130617.jpg
 
Wash day went well this evening. I've been using two new products. The jury is still out on Rings Curls ACV and Tea rinse.
The Lolavie detangler is a winner! I believe I had less shedding.
Any tips on preventing single strand knots? Oils help but not 100%.
 
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newgrowth15 said:
Here is an update of my quarterly trim cycle. In March of 2024, I had my daughter trim approximately 1 inch of hair. If you look closely at the March photo, you will notice that there is a layer of hair at the very bottom that is longer. I had my daughter cut that layer off, so that my hair would be even.

In the June picture, it looks like I have reached the same length as in the March picture.
View attachment 497009
Click to expand...

Looks like the shape of your hair has changed - the side layers have grown out a lot! Good job! KUTGW!!

You've reached Length Check Shirt territory! :grin:
 
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