Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[Chicoro]

I checked under the bathroom sink and found products that I either could not fit in my luggage in prior trips back to France, or stuff that my mother bought for herself based on my recommendation, like the glycerin.

I love that cheap Queen Helene conditioner and I got two of those. I have some Creme of Nature shampoo and some Suave and Vo5 light conditioners. I may get some Aloe Vera Whole Leaf Gel, honey and some olive oil. The Petroleum jelly can be used to coat my braids if I run out of Shea butter AFTER my I do my blow dry and trim and rewash and recondition.

I prefer to use up all of my stash. These will allow me to get back on a weekly wash schedule. I am thinking I want to do weekly washes until the end of 2025. I may change my mind. I really won't know until I start, though.

I should be able to get the aloe vera at Sprouts or Whole Foods. Both are in my neighborhood. The one thing about my mother's area is for now, there are stores galore!

So, basically, I'm ready!

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you. I do know how to install 'dookie braids'. I classify them as large braids that have the knot at the base(where the false hair attaches), large parts and melted ends that taper to a point. They are basically the same braids that Janet Jackson wore in the movie poetic Justice or the Rapper Patra used to wear in the early 90's. They last about a moth and used to be really popular from aroudn '91-'98.

Both of of these are me in the 90's. These are on the smaller side but still pretty thick. I used to go even bigger. I had all the spunk on earth as a kid.

Thank you for your great, detailed explanation and for posting the photos. Even if I can't see you in the photos, I can tell from the body position that you definitely had spunk and life and energy and a power, in youth, that you STILL convey today!

That reminds me, I need to go look at your video you posted where you dropped the mic on your hair reveal as you floated across the frame in your yard. It's been too long since I've seen THAT hair reveal video! Sigh...that's a hard one to follow up after. And that's a GOOD thing!

 

[faithVA]

@yamilee21
I decided to go to the beauty supply because I needed a blow-dryer and wanted a flat iron. I love the Conair Yellow Bird that is at Costco, but I figured I'd need additional tools such as the k-cutter and the scissors. I have NEVER heard of these brands but I went cheap because I got these things to help me straighten just to trim. I usually keep my hair straight from maximum 24 hours to minimum, 1 hour.

I paid 16.95 for the blowdryer and 12.99 for the flat iron. Let's see if they hold up. My standard use of these styling tools is about 3 to 4 times per year. All together I paid about 52 dollars for everything pictured.

WHEN I get to my hair, I don't know. I hope it is no later than this weekend. My hair is matted at the roots and gummed with product. But, HEY, my ends are protected!

I already have shampoo and conditioner here. Those products are easier 'for me' to get anyway. So, I think I am good.

View attachment 506204

Play around with your blow dryer before using it and maybe let it run on different settings for about 5 minutes to see how hot they are. My experience with some inexpensive blow dryers is that the heat isn't regulated so low is really high and medium is too hot and high is burn level.

My inexpensive blow dryer is in the garage and used for house projects.

 

[Chicoro]

Play around with your blow dryer before using it and maybe let it run on different settings for about 5 minutes to see how hot they are. My experience with some inexpensive blow dryers is that the heat isn't regulated so low is really high and medium is too hot and high is burn level.

My inexpensive blow dryer is in the garage and used for house projects.

Awww, that’s terrible.

I appreciate the tips, though. I’ll try it out first just as you suggested.

That’s just smart to do for any process. Had it not been for your post, I would have tried it out on the day I did my hair. Goodness knows blow dry day is stressful enough for me as it is.

Here’s to hoping my blow dryer is not banished to the garage due to not working for my hair.