Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[Chicoro]

Alright, all you Pretty Sexy Things... It's time to strut your stuff and trot out, both you and your luscious, healthy, hair ends accomplishments for the month of April 2025.

Here we go:

Monthly Update Series of Questions added Sunday, March 23, 2025: (Send out 1 week before the end of the month!)

Alright, we are heading into the last week of April 2025.

How are you progressing?

What are those ends looking like?

Have you had any epiphanies?

Have you set bolder goals?

Have you pulled back on some goals?

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?

How is your consistency?

Are you extending grace to you?

 

[MzSwift]

@Chicoro ,

You've got this!! And IA w @faithVA , I believe it's that you're gaining in length so your ends are looking less full. We're claiming that! I'm standing on that even if you feel disappointed by this check in! Keep doing what you're doing bc, from what I'm reading, you aren't doing anything unhelpful or unhealthy for your hair.

@GGsKin

Fancy phone or not, those twists are SUPER CUTE!!
I love to do NL and SL styles when I crochet! You just reminded me of that and, bc of you, I might be rocking some this fall after WNG/wet bunning season ends.

 

[GGsKin]

@GGsKin
How long are you going to leave these in? Are you going to do the same process to maintain them like @keranikki mentioned that she is going to do for her hair?
-Leave in for 5 weeks
-Re-braid individual braid if the braid webs ( @MzSwift )

Additional Questions:

1. If you don't soften the added hair, is the added hair more likely to break your natural hair?
2. If you have to re-braid a braid that contains that pretty, blonde, added hair, will you re-add the blonde hair or leave it out the braid when you re-braid?

And, feel free to add whatever else you feel may add to the discussion...

Because...

I'm nosey and I got the time.

Thank you x @Chicoro I’m someone who likes to leave these kinds of styles in for ‘ages’ lol *read months at a time, redoing individual braids or twists as needed, so I’m not sure how long I’ll leave this in. It depends how this hair and the shape of the twists holds up. It’s been years since I’ve worn twists and I have not used human Afro hair on myself before. After re-twisting a couple already (my grip game takes a few to kick in, so the first ones were slipping a little), the twists are not as fluffy as when the hair is ‘fresh’. But I made the twists chunky enough that I’ve not had to add additional hair yet. I have two packs of toned blonde in my head, and one pack of unopened 613 blonde remaining. I have 4 packs of 1B- natural black in my head (with 1 pack remaining) so I have enough to redo a few for now. I can see myself buying more of this hair so that I can keep this style for a good while. And that could easily end up being the rest of the year by my standards . The hair is already at a higher price than I initially paid. I think I caught the brand during a sale.

Due to me toning the blonde, the black hair felt softer upon application, but I generally just wanted more emollients on the hair, as I felt it would suck the moisture I had applied to my own hair, which for me will lead to splits if my hair dries out. The texture is very similar to my own. I usually like to wrap my hair with the additional hair so my hair is truly protected but with this hair, it was hard to tell the difference other than my hair feeling cooler to the touch. So I couldn’t really do that technique. I’ll just play it by ear.

 

[GGsKin]

Thank you @MzSwift

Oh and I agree with you and @faithVA that @Chicoro is very well in a lengthening stage- where you hair may only be appearing thinner towards the ends because of the new lengths some of your strands are reaching. Keep going and keep the faith that your healthy practices are paying off.

 

[GettingKinky]

@Chicoro I’m sure your hair is getting longer you have been so meticulous and careful and you will see it is continuing to pay dividends

@GGsKin your twists look great. I think shorter twists are so cute.

 

[ScorpioLove]

@Chicoro
I was looking at this thing - https://www.portablewaterdi.com/shop/deionizers/mixed-bed-double-standard-deionizer?SKU=OTG2-SDDI

The refill kit is 155$ though and I’m not sure how long it lasts but definitely doesn’t seem long enough for that much money. Idk, still sifting through options.

I used the Kerastase premier pre-shampoo treatment with the shampoo and mask. It’s explicitly made for damage due to hard water. The L’Oreal metal detox shampoo had literally the same ingredients but the two active ingredients were two ingredients lower on the list so it is likely a little weaker. I suspect Redken abc shampoo or shampoo with a higher concentration of citric acid might also work but I don’t own that.

 

[Angel of the North]

Willie Morrow is an original in the afro-textured hair care industry. I called him and spoke to him once. I think it was about 12 years ago. I have no idea what was the impetus behind my call. Your post triggered this memory. I had forgotten all about that. He wrote a book and I had that, too but let it go when I left the USA. I've seen his comb attachment, too. They look like very good quality.

Honestly the best comb attachment EVER! You tighten both sides of the circumference with screws, so it stays in place. If I was the only person to have used my dryer that I put the attachment on, it would still be like new. Unfortunately, my kids liked to borrow my dryer and they seemed to drop it way too often

I actually bought 2 thankfully, I'm not bringing it out until they leave home!

 

[Angel of the North]

Hahaha, I can’t seem to capture any pictures that do it justice on this old replacement phone I’m currently using.

Looking gorgeous

 

[Angel of the North]

I've just washed and DC'd my hair, in prep for my braids tomorrow. I will be applying Mango butter and avocado oil to my ends tonight. I've gone with a 613 and 27, which mixes and blends in very well with my colour 2 hair.

 

[Chicoro]

This thread is moving FAST! I can barely keep up.

 

[faithVA]

This thread is moving FAST! I can barely keep up.

I love it and I hate it. I was like, man I was just in here 2 hours ago. How can we be on a new page already?

I will take it over last year when threads sometimes didn't move for what seemed like weeks.

 

[Angel of the North]

I love it and I hate it. I was like, man I was just in here 2 hours ago. How can we be on a new page already?

I will take it over last year when threads sometimes didn't move for what seemed like weeks.

We're active in here for sure

 

[Chicoro]

Honestly the best comb attachment EVER! You tighten both sides of the circumference with screws, so it stays in place. If I was the only person to have used my dryer that I put the attachment on, it would still be like new. Unfortunately, my kids liked to borrow my dryer and they seemed to drop it way too often

I actually bought 2 thankfully, I'm not bringing it out until they leave home!

Dropping that Willie Morrow comb attachment is the equivalent of....

Dropping one THOSE tablets!

Them kids know not what they do!

But....

Now, we be knowing!


I wish I had bought me one. I see they still have some available on various sites around the internet in France and of course the US! Hopefully, I'll be able to get one in the future.

 

[Chicoro]

We're active in here for sure

Yeah, @Angel of the North and @faithVA

And not to forget to mention that about 687 of the 700 posts, are mine.

 

[Angel of the North]

Dropping that Willie Morrow comb attachment is the equivalent of....

Dropping one THOSE tablets!

Them kids know not what they do!

But....

Now, we be knowing!


I wish I had bought me one. I see they still have some available on various sites around the internet in France and of course the US! Hopefully, I'll be able to get one in the future.

Ijust say no now, tnem grown folk can go buy their own!

The Willie. Morrow comb is very scarce now. I've only found 1 site in the US, they're selling it for just under $50 and then international shipping plus taxes

If you find any better deals, please DM the link

ETA: I've found one just now for $40 they don't ship to the UK.... The $50 has gone up to $60 I didn't even bother to check the shipping costs.

 

[GGsKin]

Thank you both @GettingKinky and @Angel of the North

 

[Angel of the North]

I put the mango butter on my ends and it was like wax. I waited a bit, moisturised my hair, sealed with grapeseed oil, and then added avocado butter to my ends and sealed that in with avocado oil.

I think the mango butter is much harder than I'm used to, I didn't purchase from my usual supplier. I think I'll get some from them and use this one in a hair cream whip.

 

[ScorpioLove]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on split end serums?

I got one from Moroccanoil I haven’t used yet and I’ve tried the Kenra one as well (it’s too wet and makes my hair curl up, smell isn’t my favorite thing either but it’s ok).
I’m thinking that if you constantly use a split end serum after a fresh cut then you won’t get split ends. I’m not sure where it goes in my moisture routine either. Just trying to avoid another big cut and retain every inch.

 

[GettingKinky]

Even though my brain knows that my blowout this weekend will be a huge and fluffy, my heart is hoping that I can somehow achieve a more sleek result.

I’m planning to stop by Ulta on my way home to get a blowout cream. I’m thinking of either the Briogeo Farewell Frizz cream or the Redken Frizz Dismiss. My stylist doesn’t use a blowout cream so I have a tiny hope that my result will be more sleek than hers.

 

[ItsMeLilLucky]

Even though my brain knows that my blowout this weekend will be a huge and fluffy, my heart is hoping that I can somehow achieve a more sleek result.

I’m planning to stop by Ulta on my way home to get a blowout cream. I’m thinking of either the Briogeo Farewell Frizz cream or the Redken Frizz Dismiss. My stylist doesn’t use a blowout cream so I have a tiny hope that my result will be more sleek than hers.

Have you tried serums?

 

[GettingKinky]

Have you tried serums?

I have. The last time I tried I used the Paul Mitchell super skinny serum. My blowout was still super fluffy. This time I plan to use a blow dry cream and the serum.

 

[faithVA]

Yeah, @Angel of the North and @faithVA

And not to forget to mention that about 687 of the 700 posts, are mine.

I love that too. Its fifty thousand new posts and they are all by Chicoro. I'm like, What the what? But that is why your thread stays poppin and full of people. Never a dull moment.

I do wonder, like how in the world does she find the time and energy to write such detail posts and add pictures?

I do 1 post with 4 sentences in each of the threads and I think I've done something. Just going to stay in my lane over here.

 

[faithVA]

Even though my brain knows that my blowout this weekend will be a huge and fluffy, my heart is hoping that I can somehow achieve a more sleek result.

I’m planning to stop by Ulta on my way home to get a blowout cream. I’m thinking of either the Briogeo Farewell Frizz cream or the Redken Frizz Dismiss. My stylist doesn’t use a blowout cream so I have a tiny hope that my result will be more sleek than hers.

Definitely let us know how it goes. I could use something calming on my wild and crazy hair.

 

[ScorpioLove]

Even though my brain knows that my blowout this weekend will be a huge and fluffy, my heart is hoping that I can somehow achieve a more sleek result.

I’m planning to stop by Ulta on my way home to get a blowout cream. I’m thinking of either the Briogeo Farewell Frizz cream or the Redken Frizz Dismiss. My stylist doesn’t use a blowout cream so I have a tiny hope that my result will be more sleek than hers.

I actually to layer a blowout cream and top it with the Kenra platinum mist(don’t get the spray). Makes my hair less poofy

 

[GettingKinky]

I actually to layer a blowout cream and top it with the Kenra platinum mist(don’t get the spray). Makes my hair less poofy

Which blowout cream do you use? Do you use a serum as well?

 

[GettingKinky]

Which blowout cream do you use? Do you use a serum as well? And I’m debating if I want to use a leave in under the blowout cream.

 

[ScorpioLove]

Which blowout cream do you use? Do you use a serum as well?

Redken frizz dismiss is good and I’ve used that before. I think that should work for you but I will say it’s easy for it to feel a little heavy. I use Kerastase incredible or something like that when I need a flatter look but they have a ton of other creams (nutritive one is great with detangling so that’s my regular).

The Kenra blow dry mist is filled with slippery silicones so I don’t add anything to that. I will add a little oil/ serum after my blow dry. I would only use the Kenra section by section.

Color wow is also something to try- I get a little concerned with breakage for that one though but it’s very lightweight.

 

[faithVA]

Wow, the end of April came so quickly.

How are you progressing?
Things seem about the same. I seem to have had a growth spurt in December, January and February and then March and April not much.
Since I colored my hair in December, I can see the new growth and it is definitely different in certain sections of my hair. On my sides it looks like I had 2" to 2.5" of growth. But at the center, it looks more like 1.5". It looks like my nape had very little growth. It is hard to see the back of my head. I'm thinking my crown grew down closer to my nape. At this length and with all of the various lengths on my head it is hard to tell.

So I think I have spots of growth but not all over growth.

What are those ends looking like?
I did a small trim on my ends when I colored and they are definitely in better shape than they were in December.
The back of my head due to the length has the most splits but after the trim the back feels much better. The front is maintaining.

Have you had any epiphanies? No

Have you set bolder goals? No

Have you pulled back on some goals? No. Still shooting for APL at the end of the year.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Blow drying my hair before doing flat twists helps with keeping my ends smooth. However, the rest of my hair prefers air drying. So, if I am going to blow dry my hair, I think I need to spritz my hands with some type of moisturizing spray and apply it to my ends before I twist it up. Maybe I need to also finish with a hair milk or moisturizing milk.

I will probably try the Bantu Knots again when I have more time to let them dry. I think this might give me the best of both worlds. It will allow me to air dry but at the same time keep my ends smoothed out enough so they don't wrap around themselves.

How is your consistency?
I'm very consistent. I reset every Saturday or Sunday.
However, if I blow dry my hair I am considering whether I want to take my hair down mid-week to remoisturize. Still figuring this out.

Are you extending grace to you?
Yes, I'm staying away from things that increase impatience and anxiety. I have decided to be more conservative in my goals and just stick to reaching APL in December. This allows me to extend myself grace and relax a bit.

 

[faithVA]

I did two strands in January and February and flat twist in March and April. It times to cycle back to two strands for a while. Right now I have a single flat twist in the front with a low bun in the back. I will reset probably on Sunday or Monday and put in two strands.