Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[pikkonoloidlee]

Washed my hair tonight. Stretched vs Shrunken

Also I decided to go back to washing my hair more regularly. (3x/week) So far I'm enjoying it. I don't know that it's necessarily better for my ends. But it is better for my scalp and I do find that when I wash more regularly I have less tangling so I'm thinking that would be better for my ends but we'll see.

 

[MzSwift]

This is an interesting product. It looks like it a bonding product. Interestingly, it states there is NO water in this Wonder Water and that the product is activated by the water in your hair when you use it. I had never seen or heard of this product until your post to me.

I would love to try this but I will not because my hair doesn't like bonding products and they tend to break my hair. No experimenting or exploring products for me right now. I can't even use shampoo. Thus, all the questions for you as I live vicariously through you and your products that I WISH I could try, but won't.

The product has great reviews.

Have you been using this product long?

Thank you in advance.

Your ends look really good.

Sorry so late, I haven't been on in a few days.

Thank you!
Minus the couple of years my hair was locced, I've been using the water treatment since 2018. And that's the same time my hair turned around for the better. So I'm not really sure I can credit it but I believe that using it after I trim and also whenever my ends have been exposed to the elements for a long time has improved my retention. I started a few other ends-focused practices around the same time, that I also still employ so it could be a combo of it all. lol

 

[Chicoro]

@MzSwift
Now you KNOW I am going to ask you about your process you employed specifically for your ends. What is it please? What is your process or your step by step actions you employ for your ends, please? Thank you in advance!

 

[VarieYvette]

Do you know how your ends arrived to being velcro? I have found that if I trim them, it helps to get rid of them with a trim. When I was able to determine why I was getting them, I was able to eliminate the velcro ends. I think it is a great decision to try out the grease on the velcro ends. You can practice on the ends you have now. Then, you will be even MORE ready with your process. Freshly trimmed ends are like gold. They are not easy to come by and they need to be protected. I love grease and vaseline on my ends. Let us know how the experiment turns out for you.

I think I was being too rough and not coating them enough. There's a week I skipped the shea butter, and was using a rosemary and clove spray, which made my ends drier than the Namib desert. My hair was rough after that. Lesson learnt is always keep the ends coated from now on

 

[faithVA]

Washed my hair tonight. Stretched vs Shrunken

Also I decided to go back to washing my hair more regularly. (3x/week) So far I'm enjoying it. I don't know that it's necessarily better for my ends. But it is better for my scalp and I do find that when I wash more regularly I have less tangling so I'm thinking that would be better for my ends but we'll see.

That's some lovely hair you have.

 

[Chicoro]

Washed my hair tonight. Stretched vs Shrunken

Also I decided to go back to washing my hair more regularly. (3x/week) So far I'm enjoying it. I don't know that it's necessarily better for my ends. But it is better for my scalp and I do find that when I wash more regularly I have less tangling so I'm thinking that would be better for my ends but we'll see.

I missed this post. I agree with @faithVA that your hair is lovely! It’s so thick and full and all that texture beckons me to want to reach out and touch it!

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

I missed this post. I agree with @faithVA that your hair is lovely! It’s so thick and full and all that texture beckons me to want to reach out and touch it!

Thank you and thank you again @faithVA

A little under 2 years ago I had to cut the middle of my head down to 1" because it had thinned out so much. I'm so happy that it has filled back in again.

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you and thank you again @faithVA

A little under 2 years ago I had to cut the middle of my head down to 1" because it had thinned out so much. I'm so happy that it has filled back in again.

Wait a minute now,

Ya'll see this?!!!!

@pikkonoloidlee

How YOU gone come up in HERE, and share this triumphant story of SUCCES as it relates to thinning hair, and tap out that one lil' line of information. You need to bring your thick-haired-self BACK up in this thread and explain to us how you arrived at your amazingly, incredible, magnificent hair results.

 

[Chicoro]

Alright, we are moving lightening fast through the month of March! How are those ends coming along?

 

[Chicoro]

I have discovered that I need to wash my hair one week before I blow it out to solely focus on detangling. Then, the next week I can do the blow out where it is imperative the hair is completely combed out. I blow out my hair and only and that's when I detangle every 3 to 4 months with a comb.

I am asking for trouble if I don't get out that comb one wash session before I go for the straightening and trim session. I learned this the hard way in 2024.

It's tiring to do all that, having a painful detangling session and wrestling with hair that I am trying to blow straight. I need to be ALERT and NOT fatigued when I have scissors in my hand to trim. One second slip up can set me back for years.

There is nothing worse than a scissors happy stylist than when you mess up your own hair. I don't want to live that experience again. So, I'm doing the back to back washes, one week behind the other.

Little Tweaks and Changes I've Made When Straighteing My Hair (writing as a reminder to self):

1. Wash and detangle hair with comb, not fingers, one week before I plan to wash and straighten and trim.
2. Put shampoo on dry, dirty hair and coat roots like a relaxer or conditioner. Use a clarifying shampoo first. Then place a more moisturizing shampoo on top of it.
3. Use a thin, light conditioner.
4. Section hair in 16 to 25 small sections.
5. MUST blowdry with a comb attachment.
6. Must blowdry with high heat and high air.
7. Blow dry from back then front sections.
8. Keep spray bottle and spritz each section before blowdry.
9. After section is blowdried, put in bantu knot and pull it out the way of hair not yet blown.
10. Trim in low ponytail in back and middle part behind the ear for the sides.
11. Trim a little at a time.
12. Use Aphogee 2 Step next wash after straightening session.
13. Use a deep conditioner once I wash after the blow dry and trim.
14. Micro trim every 3 Months. This year I am seeing if I can extend my trims to every 4 months. I don't want to throw myself back into that break cycle. I just got out.

These steps may not seem important. When I forgot to do one my hair did not turn out well.

Consciously made, small changes really did make a difference for my hair.

 

[MzSwift]

@MzSwift
Now you KNOW I am going to ask you about your process you employed specifically for your ends. What is it please? What is your process or your step by step actions you employ for your ends, please? Thank you in advance!

LOL!

Oh nothing fancy over here.
Just ensuring that I keep my ends physically covered at least 90% of the time either with a full head PS (crochet styles, wigs, extensions) or just under a satin men's skull cap with something over that. I also focus on putting extra product on the bottom half of my hair. I never used to do that. And sealing with heavier oils before physically covering it. I've been meaning to try Vaseline but I haven't done it regularly yet. When my hair is in mini braids/twists, they stay cross wrapped under the satin skull cap or in a top knot bun most of the time. I bun baggy 3x a week using one of these small food protectors.



Sometimes I keep it on for days at a time if I'm being lazy.
If I do a WNG ponytail with my minis then once I'm in the house for the evening, I M&S and then cross wrap them under the skull cap and a satin scarf or bandana for tension to flatten/straighten out the curls at the ends. That has helped me keep SSKs at bay. I also only use my fingers in my hair unless I'm getting ready to use heat (1-2 times a year).

Of course, I credit Ayurveda for keeping my hair conditioned to the point that DCing doesn't even come natural to me anymore. And I use the water tx in the shower every now and then if my ends feel a bit rough and also anytime after I dust/trim.

 

[MzSwift]

I have discovered that I need to wash my hair one week before I blow it out to solely focus on detangling. e again. So, I'm doing the back to back washes, one week behind the other.

THIS!

I am also gonna try this as well. It's why I don't blow dry often because... whewww!!

But I do need to check in with my hair more often. Texlaxing twice a year means two opportunities to check in with my hair. Blow drying helps me to check in on my hair and I also like feeling my hair every now and then - now that I have some hair again. lol.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@MzSwift @faithVA @pikkonoloidlee
Thank you for sharing your Progress and Healthy Hair!

Keep those ends Tucked, Moisturized and in Good Health

 

[faithVA]

@MzSwift @faithVA @pikkonoloidlee
Thank you for sharing your Progress and Healthy Hair!

Keep those ends Tucked, Moisturized and in Good Health

I think your visit put some magic dust in the air. I feel my roots tingling now

All ends are tucked away and forgotten over here.

 

[Chicoro]

LOL!

Oh nothing fancy over here.
Just ensuring that I keep my ends physically covered at least 90% of the time either with a full head PS (crochet styles, wigs, extensions) or just under a satin men's skull cap with something over that. I also focus on putting extra product on the bottom half of my hair. I never used to do that. And sealing with heavier oils before physically covering it. I've been meaning to try Vaseline but I haven't done it regularly yet. When my hair is in mini braids/twists, they stay cross wrapped under the satin skull cap or in a top knot bun most of the time. I bun baggy 3x a week using one of these small food protectors.

View attachment 502212

Sometimes I keep it on for days at a time if I'm being lazy.
If I do a WNG ponytail with my minis then once I'm in the house for the evening, I M&S and then cross wrap them under the skull cap and a satin scarf or bandana for tension to flatten/straighten out the curls at the ends. That has helped me keep SSKs at bay. I also only use my fingers in my hair unless I'm getting ready to use heat (1-2 times a year).

Of course, I credit Ayurveda for keeping my hair conditioned to the point that DCing doesn't even come natural to me anymore. And I use the water tx in the shower every now and then if my ends feel a bit rough and also anytime after I dust/trim.

In other words, you keep your hair almost ENTIRELY out of the air.

Almost at all times.

Air does not touch your hair! You keep your hair literally, under wraps. This is my assessment, I am not sayiing that this is what you are doing. You may not agree. But you know, I 'm going to run with it anyway.

I used to think the main benefit of covering hair at night was to minimize friction. Now, I am starting to believe that the main benefit is to keep the hair moist by fighting off the negative effects, specifically the drying effects of the air. I mentioned this to @newgrowth15 in a long forgotten post.

What I stated was that I noticed that my shed hair was soft and cottony and moist. But, after it was out of my head, even for a few minutes, that softness left immediately. So, I am starting to believe that covering the hair and keeping it covered is a secret.

I remember having a conversation many years ago with this gorgeous Muslim woman who kept her head covered. She talked about how when the women were amongst each other and behind closed doors and when they released their hair, so many had glorious hair.

 

[Chicoro]

@MzSwift @faithVA @pikkonoloidlee
Thank you for sharing your Progress and Healthy Hair!

Keep those ends Tucked, Moisturized and in Good Health

Amen to that!

 

[Chicoro]

I think your visit put some magic dust in the air. I feel my roots tingling now

All ends are tucked away and forgotten over here.

Magic dust is always welcome.

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

How YOU gone come up in HERE, and share this triumphant story of SUCCES as it relates to thinning hair, and tap out that one lil' line of information. You need to bring your thick-haired-self BACK up in this thread and explain to us how you arrived at your amazingly, incredible, magnificent hair results.

I wish I could take more credit. My hair thinned out due to illness and all credit to my hair coming back in goes to my doctor mainly.

At the time I was a bit concerned on what things would be like long term but my hair appears to be thriving now.

 

[MzSwift]

In other words, you keep your hair almost ENTIRELY out of the air.

Almost at all times.

Air does not touch your hair! You keep your hair literally, under wraps. This is my assessment, I am not sayiing that this is what you are doing. You may not agree. But you know, I 'm going to run with it anyway.

I used to think the main benefit of covering hair at night was to minimize friction. Now, I am starting to believe that the main benefit is to keep the hair moist by fighting off the negative effects, specifically the drying effects of the air. I mentioned this to @newgrowth15 in a long forgotten post.

What I stated was that I noticed that my shed hair was soft and cottony and moist. But, after it was out of my head, even for a few minutes, that softness left immediately. So, I am starting to believe that covering the hair and keeping it covered is a secret.

I remember having a conversation many years ago with this gorgeous Muslim woman who kept her head covered. She talked about how when the women were amongst each other and behind closed doors and when they released their hair, so many had glorious hair.

LOL!!
Yes! As always, you are spot on! The air is very drying - even when it's humid, although less so. But then the sun does a number on the strands.

I grew up in an area with a very high population of Muslim women (of varying ethnicities). And yes, bomb hair!

But I didn't really put it all together until I looked back on my own hair journey via photos and journal entries. I noticed that I had the most retention and progress when I rocked a full PS the majority of the time (80% or more). Very similar to the weave and wig ladies who inspired me over the years. It finally clicked when I was required to cover my hair bc my baby was a hair puller. He did it to soothe himself so it was often, usually as I was holding him. So I started rocking crochet installs so that he could pull that instead of my hair. Then I tried exposed cornrows to give my hair a break and he would even pull my hair in cornrows! So I started covering those with a satin skull cap and bandana or satin scarf. And that's how my regi formed. Lol

I found my hair to be so shiny and happy the few times I finally wore it out. And I realized that I really don't want to deal with my hair every day anyway. Lol. I just nurture it daily and then I can enjoy rocking it out on special occasions. I really enjoy the surprise of seeing my true progress once a year!

My way of wearing my hair "out" is rocking mini braids/twists. I feel like wearing a bound style is a safer way to wear my fine strands down - there's strength in numbers! But even then, I don't get to see my true length.

 

[Chicoro]

LOL!!
Yes! As always, you are spot on! The air is very drying - even when it's humid, although less so. But then the sun does a number on the strands.

I grew up in an area with a very high population of Muslim women (of varying ethnicities). And yes, bomb hair!

But I didn't really put it all together until I looked back on my own hair journey via photos and journal entries. I noticed that I had the most retention and progress when I rocked a full PS the majority of the time (80% or more). Very similar to the weave and wig ladies who inspired me over the years. It finally clicked when I was required to cover my hair bc my baby was a hair puller. He did it to soothe himself so it was often, usually as I was holding him. So I started rocking crochet installs so that he could pull that instead of my hair. Then I tried exposed cornrows to give my hair a break and he would even pull my hair in cornrows! So I started covering those with a satin skull cap and bandana or satin scarf. And that's how my regi formed. Lol

I found my hair to be so shiny and happy the few times I finally wore it out. And I realized that I really don't want to deal with my hair every day anyway. Lol. I just nurture it daily and then I can enjoy rocking it out on special occasions. I really enjoy the surprise of seeing my true progress once a year!

My way of wearing my hair "out" is rocking mini braids/twists. I feel like wearing a bound style is a safer way to wear my fine strands down - there's strength in numbers! But even then, I don't get to see my true length.

Keeping hair covered, not necessarily wet, but covered for as long and as frequent as possible, is a length retention secret. Gotcha! It has definitely worked for you and I see it is working for you.

That tidbit of a secret is going to help a lot of people. Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[ScorpioLove]

I tried blow drying on low with the rev air and so far it worked really well and my ends felt good. I must have been use to the high setting from being natural but my relaxed hair doesn’t need that as much.

I am concerned since I am leaning towards not relaxing my hair during pregnancy and I want to avoid demarcation line breakage. Minimizing my regular blow dry heat and increasing the frequency of hair masks is my current plan to combat breakage. This would be the longest stretch of my life if I don’t relax soon so I’m hoping I can preserve most of my ends

 

[faithVA]

I tried blow drying on low with the rev air and so far it worked really well and my ends felt good. I must have been use to the high setting from being natural but my relaxed hair doesn’t need that as much.

I am concerned since I am leaning towards not relaxing my hair during pregnancy and I want to avoid demarcation line breakage. Minimizing my regular blow dry heat and increasing the frequency of hair masks is my current plan to combat breakage. This would be the longest stretch of my life if I don’t relax soon so I’m hoping I can preserve most of my ends

I'm natural and I use the revair on low. It should be fine. I start with large sections to get a lot of the water out. Then when it's damp I do smaller sections to get the roots and finish drying.

It just takes some patience but it's worth it.

 

[keranikki]

Took a couple of pics before I forgot again. I’m n a day old WNG. I’m slowly trimming away the heat damage from the partial weave I wore last year. Unfortunately, the heat damaged hair forces me to part my hair down the middle, instead of my preferred side part. The side creates the illusion my hair is thinner than it already is.



On another note, I typically trim my hair on the new moon as a way to keep track of my microtrims. This last trim was conducted on a full moon as I was inspired by @snoop and I wanted to see if it made a difference. I want to believe I saw faster growth during this moon cycle versus the last. I’m debating on conducting my next trim on the new moon to see if I see another difference (slowed growth) or if I should wait for the next full month to ensure the growth I saw was not a fluke, lol.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

@keranikki
Thank you for sharing your Micro-Trim.

Nice Re-Start and Refresh for Spring. Looks really Good.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your simpler Regimen as we enter into Spring/Summer

Enjoy Semi-Retirement Life.

 

[keranikki]

@keranikki
Thank you for sharing your Micro-Trim.

Nice Re-Start and Refresh for Spring. Looks really Good.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your simpler Regimen as we enter into Spring/Summer

Enjoy Semi-Retirement Life.

Thank you!

 

[mzteaze]

This is my scalp goal for this spring....

 

[Chicoro]

@keranikki
How long is your hair? Does it touch your shoulders? It looks long. It has a lot of length and is it the same length all around?

You also look baby-faced, with such pretty skin and gorgeous facial features - and make-up free at that, too! Just effortless, natural beauty.

 

[Chicoro]

This is my scalp goal for this spring....

Are you saying you are wanting to experience this service this spring? I looked it up. It's a 1.5 hour service. It it seems absolutely glorious, indulgent, decadent and sumptuous. I hope you get it and treat yourself.

I like the fact that she explicitly states in her advertising that the Japanese Scalp Treatment is for black girls. So it seems like you can come with you braids and twists and you won't be scolded for not having your hair completely loosened. That's so inviting and welcoming.

I have never heard of such a service before. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[mzteaze]

Are you saying you are wanting to experience this service this spring? I looked it up. It's a 1.5 hour service. It it seems absolutely glorious, indulgent, decadent and sumptuous. I hope you get it and treat yourself.

I like the fact that she explicitly states in her advertising that the Japanese Scalp Treatment is for black girls. So it seems like you can come with you braids and twists and you won't be scolded for not having your hair completely loosened. That's so inviting and welcoming.

I have never heard of such a service before. Thank you for sharing this!

Yes, she is definitely on my bucket list of services I want to try. I was so happy to find a business that aims to offer the experience for black women. I have a lot on my plate next month but I think I'm going to schedule for May.

 

[Chicoro]

Yes, she is definitely on my bucket list of services I want to try. I was so happy to find a business that aims to offer the experience for black women. I have a lot on my plate next month but I think I'm going to schedule for May.

I hope you do. Being the nosy creature that I am, I looked up the booking. You didn’t ask me, but you may want to consider scheduling for that May appointment as soon as you can.

That’s what caught my eye, too. So often it feels like black women are just ‘tolerated’ at these types of establishments for these types of services. But her advertising, brown hands giving the service to Afro-textured haired, brown woman, in her advertising makes it clear that black women and their hair are celebrated. On her Instagram page, she explicitly states they offer the Japanese hair massage for black girls.

I believe that you are going to be treated well that you will be celebrated when you go and experience this service.