Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2024

[snoop]

@Chicoro

I'll try to get the pictures done on the weekend when I wash my hair again. I did take one with my hair in a clay mask, but not stretched. I was playing with my hair and stretching it out as I was detangling it and it feels like I was making progress, but I did a basic clay mask (for me) and my curls were tight and didn't give me the same kind of stretch.

This clay mask was kaolin, bentonite, and goat's milk. I didn't even bother adding the honey. I didn't even moisturize after and was supposed to at least water rinse and put them into proper twists instead of leaving them in shower twists. I did the same thing to DD's hair so I guess I'm doing two heads again, today.

So my miseries at home are totally first world problems. Home renos with an unreliable contractor. Other than that, I'm doing well!

 

[snoop]

@Chicoro

I looked further into sprouting with GSE and found this pdf doc:

https://mickaboo.org/sites/default/files/files/sproutingMadeSimple.pdf


Two things that stood out to me was that you can use white vinegar on your sprouts to help get rid of microbes (before the initial soak) and that the GSE needs to be diluted really well if addingit to water.

I've never really worked with GSE before so I'll be following your sprouting adventures.

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro

I looked further into sprouting with GSE and found this pdf doc:

https://mickaboo.org/sites/default/files/files/sproutingMadeSimple.pdf


Two things that stood out to me was that you can use white vinegar on your sprouts to help get rid of microbes (before the initial soak) and that the GSE needs to be diluted really well if addingit to water.

I've never really worked with GSE before so I'll be following your sprouting adventures.

I use the GSE in my juice. It upswings the power of the vitamin C I take. You are discouraged from taking it, in general, but it can be taken. I'll try it in the water for the sprouts for the next batch. THanks for the pdf. You always be finding tangible stuff.

"If you are concerned about safety, you can add antibacterial solutions to the water. To do this, useone tablespoon of GSE per gallon of pure water. Thus, if you are using a small Mason jar, a dropof GSE should be enough." (from pdf posted by Snoop)

 

[Chicoro]

I started my herbal infused oil last Wednesday. The herbs being fenugreek sprouted from dried seeds, fresh rosemary and crushed, dried cloves in oil. The oil is olive oil.

I was only supposed to put in only 1 tablespoon of seeds to sprout. I put in 1/2 cup and wondered why I had so many more sprouts than last time. I put them all inside the oil mixture anyway, after sprouting them and drying them.

No bubbling of the oil this time! (Meaning no microbes like the last two times bubbling up to the surface. )

I'm going to leave the oil infusing (macerated oil) until this week end. That will be about ten (10) days in total. Then I will strain it through an old knee- hi stocking to get out the herbs.

Then, I will filter the oil in a natural coffee filter to get the oil clean and pretty and free of residue. This batch should last me for about two months.

The oil smells so pretty to me. I adore the smell of cloves.

Here are some pictures of the macerated oil:

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Chicoro
GURL......That Infusion looks so GOODT! ....

Thank you for sharing!

Let us know how it works!

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro
GURL......That Infusion looks so GOODT! ....

Thank you for sharing!

Let us know how it works!

Thank you! I appreciate that coming from you. I’m going to try to remember to keep you posted.(I forget stuff all the time!)

@newgrowth15 is from whom I learned this recipe. Her hair growth and health from the oil was and is phenomenal.

The devil is in the details and her recipe was the only one I ever saw that asked that the fennel seeds be sprouted. That sprouting parts makes ALL the difference in the world.

 

[MzSwift]

@Chicoro
GURL......That Infusion looks so GOODT! ....

Thank you for sharing!

Let us know how it works!

OK!! I thought it was just me!

I'm not even messing with cloves anymore and @Chicoro had me at the pictures!
I Iiterally said outloud "Ooooh, that looks so goooood!"



@Chicoro , you're about to have new growth fighting to push through like a Black Friday sale! Lol

Shoot, I feel like I'm getting some new growth too just looking at those pictures!

 

[Chicoro]

OK!! I thought it was just me!

I'm not even messing with cloves anymore and @Chicoro had me at the pictures!
I Iiterally said outloud "Ooooh, that looks so goooood!"

View attachment 498386

@Chicoro , you're about to have new growth fighting to push through like a Black Friday sale! Lol

Shoot, I feel like I'm getting some new growth too just looking at those pictures!

Chile,
I got more sprouts than oil up in that jar. And how is that possible?

I always got to be ‘extra’ and pushing the envelope. Then , have the nerve to get mad when things don’t ’go the right way’.

I don’t know about this particular super sprout-packed batch that’s about to come on the set, but the previous batches of this oil seem to be doing good to my hair.

All the Olaplex breakage is gone so I’m not constantly losing hair from the ends. Whatever hair may be left, perhaps the oil is fortifying and strengthening it. But, I only put the oil on the roots. The oil may make its way down to the ends.

I know one thing, my hair is so soft and pretty at the roots where I put the oil.

Question @MzSwift

Why do you not use cloves anymore? Have they been harmful to your hair or scalp?

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Chicoro @MzSwift
Lawd....Is there such a thing as DIY Ayurvedic Oil Porn? .....

 

[Chicoro]

YES. -Thoroughly drying the sprouts prevented the oil from bubbling [with microbes].

A 'double tap'action I may do is put one drop of Grapefruit Seed Extract in my soaking water to kill them microbe critters on the FRONT end of the sprouting process, in addition to completely drying the sprouts.

I'll use the grapefruit seed extract along with thorough drying the next round and that might not be for a couple of months.

 

[MzSwift]

Question @MzSwift

Why do you not use cloves anymore? Have they been harmful to your hair or scalp?

It felt like the cloves were drying out my hair. I only know it was the cloves bc I had originally bought them last year to make clove tea for my hair and it also made my hair dry. I didn't like that I had to take extra moisturizing steps to compensate for the dryness so I cut them out. I like to my regi simple. My last attempt will be to try an oil infusion and add it to my scalp tonic to see how it fares in that role.

 

[MzSwift]

@Chicoro @MzSwift
Lawd....Is there such a thing as DIY Ayurvedic Oil Porn? .....

Absolutely, there is!

And it's all I've got left bc we don't get much hair porn on here like we used to.
I live for the EOTY photos! Lol

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro @MzSwift
Lawd....Is there such a thing as DIY Ayurvedic Oil Porn? .....

On Saturday evening I strained the oil through a knee-hi and then filtered it through natural coffee filters. The filtration process was taking so long that I stapled four filters together, put some of the oil in each one and stuck all the filters in the mouth of the jar. I then folded the top of the filters over the top of the jar and put a rubber band around the mouth of the jar to hold the stapled filters in place. It worked like a charm!

Oils Statistics:

• I got almost 2/3 of the jar of pure, unadulterated Fenugreek/Rosemary/Clove oil!
• The oil has a beautiful green tinge and 'looks' like it is full of life and energy, but without the microbial life.
• It has a faint scent.
• This is batch #3 of the oil in 2024 for me.
• This is the first batch where I let the sprouts dry before placing in the oil. The other two previous batches I placed the fresh sprouts in the oil without drying. NOT a good decision on my part.
• This is the first batch that did not bubble due to 'microbial life' running rampant.
• I left the oil to macerate in a dark, warm closet for ten (10) days, then I strained and filtered the oil.
• I think the oil is pure virgin Olive Oil.

This is the filtered oil held up to the light. You can see there is NO residue at the
bottom of the jar. The coffee filters worked beautifully.





This is the jar held up against the wall, away from direct light, to show the color of the oil.

 

[newgrowth15]

On Saturday evening I strained the oil through a knee-hi and then filtered it through natural coffee filters. The filtration process was taking so long that I stapled four filters together, put some of the oil in each one and stuck all the filters in the mouth of the jar. I then folded the top of the filters over the top of the jar and put a rubber band around the mouth of the jar to hold the stapled filters in place. It worked like a charm!

Oils Statistics:

• I got almost 2/3 of the jar of pure, unadulterated Fenugreek/Rosemary/Clove oil!
• The oil has a beautiful green tinge and 'looks' like it is full of life and energy, but without the microbial life.
• It has a faint scent.
• This is batch #3 of the oil in 2024 for me.
• This is the first batch where I let the sprouts dry before placing in the oil. The other two previous batches I placed the fresh sprouts in the oil without drying. NOT a good decision on my part.
• This is the first batch that did not bubble due to 'microbial life' running rampant.
• I left the oil to macerate in a dark, warm closet for ten (10) days, then I strained and filtered the oil.
• I think the oil is pure virgin Olive Oil.

This is the filtered oil held up to the light. You can see there is NO residue at the
bottom of the jar. The coffee filters worked beautifully.

View attachment 498414



This is the jar held up against the wall, away from direct light, to show the color of the oil.

View attachment 498416View attachment 498418

That oil looks terrific.

 

[Chicoro]

That oil looks terrific.

Thank you! It looks kind of like pickle juice. Is this the color of your oil when you make it or is your oil a different color?

 

[newgrowth15]

Thank you! It looks kind of like pickle juice. Is this the color of your oil when you make it or is your oil a different color?

It's the same color. I don't filter mine as well as you do, so I have tiny bits of the herbs in mine.

 

[Chicoro]

Okay, one more fenugreek/rosemary/clove oil picture: Batch Color Comparison

The squeeze bottle contains oil from batch #2. I only used a tablespoon of fenugreek seeds to make it.
The glass jar bottle contains oil from batch #3, my newest batch, I used 1/2 cup of fenugreek seeds to make it.

To me, the glass jar of oil is darker and richer. Going forward, I think I am going to continue with the 1/2 cup of feenugreek seeds.

But first, I need to use the oil of batch #3 and see how it does my hair and scalp. Things can quickly go south when you are tweaking a process and a recipe.

The residue in the squeeze bottle is from me not filtering the oil of batch #1. I think I filtered batch #2 which is currently in the bottle and just did not scrub the bottle super clean before putting batch #2.

 

[Chicoro]

My ends seem to be chugging along just fine. My hair is a bit velcro-ish, but not like before. I JUST braided my hair the morning and took the photos at night and the hair was already fuzzy. But I can't complain because the health of my ends is so much better.














These braids are in the front of my head and the texture is a bit silkier, but still
velcro-ish on the ends if I am not careful.

I revamped my process and since January 2024 I have been doing:
-micro trims every three (3) months
-using the fenugreek/rosemary/clove oil
-eliminated hair bond products like Olaplex
-continuing with using clay to wash
-keeping ends protected with oil and shea butter
-covering head at night along with baggy-ing ends at night

 

[Chicoro]

We are in the month of September. How is everyone doing? I am unable to post giphs. My mouse is acting funny.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Chicoro
WOW! There really is a such a thing as DIY Hair Oil Porn!!! That Oil looks

How does it smell? Like Fenugreek or Cloves or Olive?

 

[Chicoro]

@Chicoro
WOW! There really is a such a thing as DIY Hair Oil Porn!!! That Oil looks

How does it smell? Like Fenugreek or Cloves or Olive?

Let me explain it like this:I took a perfumery class.

In a perfume blend, the first thing you smell in a perfume is called the 'top note'.
The next thing you smell is called the " 'mid' or 'heart' note"
The last thing you smell is called the bottom note.

So with this lovely oil, the first thing I smell is the fenugreek, which I would consider the top note.

Next, what comes through faintly is the pretty clove scent which is the mid or heart note. It takes a few seconds of the nose resting above the oil blend to catch the clove smell.

Lastly, what comes through is the rosemary, which is the woody or bottom note. The rosemary takes the longest to come through. Rosemary can be a top or mid note, but in this blend, it comes through for me as a bottom note. It might be because of the small quantity of rosemary used.

It's a beautiful, complex oil blend. It's rather gourmet in its physical, visual and olfactory make-up. I absolutely adore this oil blend. I find it quite the joy to look upon, to smell, to feel it on my fingers and to use it in my hair. Thank you @newgrowth15 ! And thank you for asking this quesiton @IDareT'sHair because I would have never thought to put the scent of the oil in these terms had you not asked! It was a nice experience to hoover my nose over the jar of oil of batch number 3 to try to discern and explain how this gorgeous oil smells.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Chicoro @newgrowth15
Thank you for posting this very intoxicating oil elixir.

It sounds amazing and the results are growth-worthy.

Your description of the 'scent' is everything

 

[Chicoro]

@IDareT'sHair
Will you be making the oil and trying it,too?

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@Chicoro
Sounds like a nice little project for Winter ....

 

[keranikki]

We are in the month of September. How is everyone doing? I am unable to post giphs. My mouse is acting funny.

Chile….I’ve been gone for a minute, but I’m back. The shenanigans I have put my hair through this year by chasing an aesthetic that I have never been genetically gifted…I’m happy I still have hair on my head and it’s still growing. My phone is about to die, but I will come back to post details.

 

[ScorpioLove]

Chile….I’ve been gone for a minute, but I’m back. The shenanigans I have put my hair through this year by chasing an aesthetic that I have never been genetically gifted…I’m happy I still have hair on my head and it’s still growing. My phone is about to die, but I will come back to post details.

I relate to this no context even needed. Social media will have you feeling bald headed.

 

[keranikki]

Chile….I’ve been gone for a minute, but I’m back. The shenanigans I have put my hair through this year by chasing an aesthetic that I have never been genetically gifted…I’m happy I still have hair on my head and it’s still growing. My phone is about to die, but I will come back to post details.

1st shenanigan: I stopped installing mini-braids. Why did I stop? Cause I was bored and I was tired of doing them every 5 weeks. Also, my hair is so fine in the front of my head, which causes the style to look lackluster.

2nd shenanigan: I wore a straight partial weave, twice in a row, and received heat damage. I have fine hair, of course it was going to burn! So why did I do it? I felt braids were too harsh for my fragile edges and I just wanted something different. Up to this point, I was wearing my hair in mini-braids or WNG.

3rd shenanigan: I had knotless braids installed. “I thought your edges were fragile?”, they are but I will be able to stop the damage by keeping my hair supple with braid spray and Queen Shea! I was half wrong. My hair thrived, overall, but my edges were dang near bald.

I had to do a lot of soul searching, lol.

 

[newgrowth15]

@keranikki, we all make mistakes. I'm glad you recognized yours before it was too late. Now you can course correct and get back on track to healthy hair.

 

[MzSwift]

@keranikki

((BIG HUG))

IA, sounds like you were able to recognize where things went wrong for your hair and you are back on track!
My mini braids/twist are scalpy in the front too, esp when they're first installed. That's why I prefer the way they look after I've gotten a couple of weeks in them. My "trick" for making them look better is to make them smaller in the front area from my ears forward. Also, I rock headbands or pin back the front ones on one side.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

@keranikki I've had my share of shenagans lol. I'm with you Sis, you are not alone. Remember that one time where I relaxed my hair twice in one month? Glory to God, I didn't lose any hair