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.

 

[Chicoro]

I had an epiphany.

It seems that I look at taking care of my hair as a luxury. For example, I need to get in there and declutter my room where I am staying. But I caught myself saying, clean that room and do that work, then, after that you CAN focus on your hair. Doing my hair needs to be like washing my body. Just like being funky is not a luxury, doing my hair should not be one either.

 

[faithVA]

I had an epiphany.

It seems that I look at taking care of my hair as a luxury. For example, I need to get in there and declutter my room where I am staying. But I caught myself saying, clean that room and do that work, then, after that you CAN focus on your hair. Doing my hair needs to be like washing my body. Just like being funky is not a luxury, doing my hair should not be one either.

I'm glad you had that epiphany. I know you are busy but hope you have had time to work it in.

 

[faithVA]

Not much going on here. Trying to remember to coat my hands with something when taking down my hair so my ends slide apart easier.

Trying some new products to see if it helps with overall moisture.

I bought the unbrush which is good for just basic detangling but last wash day I could see how much shed hair it left so I will need to pull in another brush with closer teeth.

I think my ends are better. I'm going to do a quick search and destroy today and use my splitender next week.

Depending on my retention I may do a scissor trim to even some sections out but we shall see.

 

[Lylddlebit]

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!

Aww thank you!

 

[faithVA]

September Update Series of Questions


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?

Extending grace to you?

 

[faithVA]

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!



View attachment 506206

That's definitely an old school stash I need to try that Infusium product. I have a stash too and not ready to buy anything else.

 

[Chicoro]

2025 is flying by. End of September already. I need a breather. Woo.

 

[faithVA]

Monthly Update Series of Questions


How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
I did my quarterly blow dry and Split-Ender session. My ends needed some love. The back of my hair is better but it isn't as good as the front of my hair. I'm hoping with this session and with some of the things I started in the past couple of months, that next session will be a noticeable improvement.

Despite that I am still retaining and can notice the length in my bun.

Have you had any epiphanies?
Not really epiphanies but I made a few changes.
I have been trying to figure out how to moisturize my hair between washes. I am mixing hair milk with glycerin spray and applying to my hair before twisting it back up. It is too early to tell if it works.

Have you set bolder goals?
No. Just sticking to the same goal of better ends by the end of the year.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
For some reason, I said I was shooting for APL. I must have just been in a whatever mood I was barely nape length, so no way I could grow 10 inches or whatever it is. Not really pulling back. Just being more realistic. The goal is to have the majority of my strands between shoulder length and shoulder blade.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Maybe a few. I added Aphoghee Reconstructor back into my regimen because I haven't uses protein in a very long time.

I also watched a video on how to better us my RevAir and read some things on how to prep for a better blow dry. I put all of those together today and I had a better blow dry experience.

How is your consistency?
I'm still doing my weekly. I tried to do a mid-week cleanse but right now that is too much. What I am doing instead is taking down my hair, applying an oil to my scalp. I mix Hair Milk and a glycerin spray and apply it to the end of my hair and put it back up. That is a compromise I can live with.

Extending grace to you?
Yep. No problems here.

 

[pikkonoloidlee]

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
My ends are okay. Not great, but doable. I'm still dealing with the repercussions of some damage I did last year but I do think there's been an improvement in the health of my hair overall. I think learning to manage that damage has been helpful and I think long term as it grows out I'll have a lot of success with maintaining my hair once it is all in a healthier state.

Have you had any epiphanies?
Not necessarily an epiphany but I always go back to using grease on my ends after wash day. I just find my ends tend to go better overall when I do that between washes. I'll try something different for a bit but in the end I always go back. Recently I've been using one that also has lanolin in it and I'm liking it so far.

Have you set bolder goals?
Not really. I think my initial goal was a bit bold so just getting there would be enough.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Not yet. I don't know that I'll actually achieve my goal but I think striving for it pushes me to make better choices and get better results overall.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
There was the grease on ends thing earlier. Besides that I still have been using the wax on my ends as well and I do like that especially mid wash as it contains some water. I just don't think it seals as well as grease which is most important on wash day.

How is your consistency?
Consistency had been good. I pretty much just do whatever my hair seems to need so at the moment I'm washing my hair 2-3x per week but when my scalp is better I scale back to 1x per week. I've been on top of moisturizing my hair as needed throughout the week as well but that's less necessary when I'm washing my hair so often.

Extending grace to you?
Always.

 

[faithVA]

My Session went fairly well.

My top layers have pretty much caught up with my bottom layers. Everything but the 2 inches at my nape and front have made it into my bun.

My ends are much better and my bun is getting fuller.

 

[Chicoro]

My Session went fairly well.

My top layers have pretty much caught up with my bottom layers. Everything but the 2 inches at my nape and front have made it into my bun.

My ends are much better and my bun is getting fuller.



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Congratulations!

 

[faithVA]

Congratulations!

Thank you!

 

[SimJam]

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
My ends are okay to good. I bought a dedicated trimming scissors and gave myself a good trim about 4 weeks ago to get rid of my pesky split ends. I should have done this a long time ago as even with my hair pulling i managed to get my hair almost back to the length it was before I trimmed !! (ie: can get most of my hair up in a pony puff without 20leven clips and pins)

I didn't take any measurements last month but I will tonight

Have you had any epiphanies?
not really, just doubling down on consistency

Have you set bolder goals?
nope ... goal will always be to retain length, no specific goal length

Have you pulled back on some goals?
no

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Consistency reaps results !!!
I jumped on the hair grease on ends bandwagon late July, and well, it works for me. I keep my hair in mini/small twists, remoisturize every 2-3 days, seal with hair grease. Shampoo wash every 10 to 14 days or as needed, co-wash every week.

recently bought a headband wig because when I'm stressed I pull my hair (to the point that my right side is now noticeably thinner and shorter and my scalp is tender) so for this month Ill be saving myself from my fingers LOLOLOL.

How is your consistency?
Consistency has been improving

Extending grace to you
and also to you all

 

[SimJam]

My Session went fairly well.

My top layers have pretty much caught up with my bottom layers. Everything but the 2 inches at my nape and front have made it into my bun.

My ends are much better and my bun is getting fuller.



View attachment 506388View attachment 506390

Great progress Congrats.
You know, when I think about it ... my real ultimate goal is to be able to have my hair up in a bun without having to use a network of pins and snap clips !!!!

 

[faithVA]

Great progress Congrats.
You know, when I think about it ... my real ultimate goal is to be able to have my hair up in a bun without having to use a network of pins and snap clips !!!!

Thank you. Yes easy bunning is definitely a goal. I'm looking forward to being able to do twist and pull them in a bun.

 

[faithVA]

Whatever products I'm using and whatever process I did last week worked well. My hair usually feels pretty dry by day 2 or 3 after I blow dry.

I changed both my products and my process so no way to pin it down. But I took notes so I can repeat it next blow dry day.

Overall, I'm pleased with my hair. It felt soft and moisturized up until Thursday or Friday. I mixed hair milk and glycerin spray and applied it to my hair. Now, it is up in a banana clip bun until I am ready to cleanse.

 

[faithVA]

I usually blow dry and flat iron for the end of the year check. I'm not going to do that this year. For end of year, I will blow dry and trim and leave it at that. If I need to color, I may do that.

I'm not going to flat iron until my layer closest to my nape reaches APL stretched. In the meantime, I will just stick with my weekly cleanse and twist regimen and try to enjoy any additional hair styles I can get.

I think flat ironing at APL will be more satisfying.

 

[Chicoro]

September 2025 Update:

I COMPLETELY forgot shampoo eats up my hair!!!! I shampooed my hair and my hair was so hard and frizzy. I did not have my clays and I can't find kaolin clay in Los Angeles. I went to Whole Foods and Sprouts. I may try Trader Joes. Or probably have to just order it online.

I started going to an indoor pool to do laps. I go on Friday's at 6:30 am. After my swim, I use Vitamin C powder (ascorbic acid) in water and rinse my hair as soon as I get out the pool. Vitamin C de-activates the chlorine and removes the smell of chlorine from my hair immediately.

Next, to remove the de-activated chlorine, I use corn syrup mixed in shampoo. Now, I got to figure out how to get the corn syrup in the hair. I may just add it to my clays because as stated above, shampoo ain't my friend.

To get the smell of chlorine off my body immediately, I get a cheap body wash and mix in about 1 cup of vitamin C powder and some glycerin. The vitamin C de-activates the chlorine on my skin and removes the smell. The first Friday I went I smelled like chlorine for days. This Friday no lingering chlorine smell that is gone immediately.

How are you progressing?
I coat my hair with conditioner and coat my ends with Vaseline before I swim and put on a swim cap. In theory, Friday has become my new weekly wash day. I have not washed my hair and it is matted. I hope to get to it this evening.

What are those ends looking like?
My ends were crunchy and dry and tangled. I skipped the blow dry and trim. I just couldn't get to it with a focused mind. I've learned from experience to leave my hair alone if I am distracted.

Have you had any epiphanies?
Yes. Shampoo does not work for my natural hair. I can only use it when I need to press it straight. And even then it still leaves my hair crunchy.

Have you set bolder goals?
Yes, by accident. I am back to a weekly wash schedule due to starting to swim on a weekly basis. This is a lot more effort than washing every two weeks or more. So, I consider it a bolder goal.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No, not really. Just a re-affirmation to stick with clay cleansing.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Yes, a reminder that my knowledge about hair is deep and wide. I have the process to remove chlorine from my hair. It's a hair saver.

How is your consistency?
I am quite consistent in keeping my hair protected. I use my fingers to detangle when I re-do my braids. I don't keep my hair covered at night and I want to go back to that.

Extending grace to you?
I slip some moments. But, I get right back to it, right back to treating myself with gentleness and kindness or also called grace.

 

[VarieYvette]

Hello!!! Haven't had the wherewithal to post for a while, but I have been lurking.

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
My ends are pretty okay. I didn't trim at the end of August because I want to do twists this summer, and I do need the natural taper so I am holding off for now. But they are pretty heathy, curling/coiling well with minimal breakage

Have you had any epiphanies?
not really, just trying to ensure I do care for my hair with all that's been happening

Have you set bolder goals?
No, still sticking to APL by year end which was a bold goal already.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Not yet, it depends on my mum's health I may have to pull back if we get more bad news

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

That ensuring my hair gets some water on it is really the key. I had wet twists done at the beginning of September. I didn't do much since I was running around trying to take care of my mum, except water in the shower and mousse. When I took down the twists this weekend, my hair was pretty healthy despite the semi neglect. I think I found my new HG hairstyle

How is your consistency?
DOA. Very little consistency lately

Extending grace to you
Now more than ever. My mum got diagnosed with cancer in August, and since then I have been running around with her to get her surgery, and now we are waiting to find out if she needs chemo/radiation, or if the surgery got everything since she was still at stage 1/2. Coupled with my dad's cancer diagnosis earlier this year, I have really not been able to focus much on myself. But I do realise that some things have to fall by the wayside, and I am privileged enough that for now it's just haircare/skincare.

 

[Chicoro]

@VarieYvette

It’s difficult right now for you. It’s good that your mom has you to support her. And your dad has you and your mom to support him. The hard part is ensuring that you are giving yourself support. Take care of you.

 

[GettingKinky]

For the last two and a half months I’ve been dealing with a medical issue and I didn’t know if I would even get to keep my hair so I couldn’t bear to be around all this hair talk. But I really missed the camaraderie here, so I’m back.

I’ve still been washing weekly and bunning so my hair hasn’t really suffered, and it seems I will get to keep my hair.

I’m grateful, but my mindset towards my hair has changed. I want to enjoy my hair all the time because you never know what the future holds.

I’ve passed the one year mark of daily bunning, but I’m not sure that was in the best interest of my hair.

- I’m pretty sure I loosened my curl pattern
- I don’t think I gained much additional length over wearing it out (partially because my stylist trims a bit too aggressively)
- I missed out on a year of fully enjoying my hair.

Once I get through that next phase of my treatment I’m going to start wearing my hair out again.

I’m so glad to be back and to see that everyone is doing well even if we are all dealing with our own difficulties and struggles.

 

[Chicoro]

@GettingKinky ,

It is so lovely to have you back with us.

Time and experiences do impact one's perceptions and perspectives.

It's been one year already of running for you? And, it is not even December 2025.

So happy that you can keep your hair. Wonderful to hear about your shift in thinking to wear your hair and enjoy it more.

I think @Lylddlebit has a thread JUST on that very topic: Enjoying one's hair. Maybe if she reads this she can post the link to her thread for us!

 

[Chicoro]

We are down to the last three (3) months of the year. Let's taste, savor and enjoy the month of October as it relates to those thick, Luscious, Healthy Ends!

 

[Lylddlebit]

For the last two and a half months, I’ve been dealing with a medical issue, and I didn’t know if I would even get to keep my hair, so I couldn’t bear to be around all this hair talk. But I really missed the camaraderie here, so I’m back.

I’ve still been washing weekly and bunning so my hair hasn’t really suffered, and it seems I will get to keep my hair.

I’m grateful, but my mindset towards my hair has changed. I want to enjoy my hair all the time because you never know what the future holds.

I’ve passed the one year mark of daily bunning, but I’m not sure that was in the best interest of my hair.

- I’m pretty sure I loosened my curl pattern
- I don’t think I gained much additional length over wearing it out (partially because my stylist trims a bit too aggressively)
- I missed out on a year of fully enjoying my hair.

Once I get through that next phase of my treatment I’m going to start wearing my hair out again.

I’m so glad to be back and to see that everyone is doing well even if we are all dealing with our own difficulties and struggles.

Love to see you back! That is exactly how I feel about my hair. I love enjoying it and wearing it in ways that make me smile regularly because one setback can wipe out years of progress and I like enjoying the investments along the way.

You learn a lot about your hair when you enjoy it through every stage.
@Chicoro mentioned that we have a enjoying our hair thread. Come on over
@GettingKinky, where the styles are cute, the stress is lifted, and the enjoyment balances the efforts! Long or short, straight or textured. We put so much time and effort into our hair that it's always a good time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Thread 'The Enjoying Our Hair Thread'

Aug 8, 2023

Just wondering...

...how often we each enjoy our hair. I ask this broadly so you can answer based on enjoying your style, enjoying wash day, enjoying how good your hair feels, experiencing hair freedom, meeting that latest milestone, that hair risk that paid off, how often you are reminded how fly your hair is at any given moment, etc. The list of ways to enjoy your hair goes on and on. So how are we enjoying our hair these days? How often are you enjoying your hair?

I do think it is important to enjoy my hair often enough to justify the effort and time I put into it when I do a...

• Lylddlebit
• Replies: 256
• Forum: Hair Care Tips & Product Reviews

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[faithVA]

For the last two and a half months I’ve been dealing with a medical issue and I didn’t know if I would even get to keep my hair so I couldn’t bear to be around all this hair talk. But I really missed the camaraderie here, so I’m back.

I’ve still been washing weekly and bunning so my hair hasn’t really suffered, and it seems I will get to keep my hair.

I’m grateful, but my mindset towards my hair has changed. I want to enjoy my hair all the time because you never know what the future holds.

I’ve passed the one year mark of daily bunning, but I’m not sure that was in the best interest of my hair.

- I’m pretty sure I loosened my curl pattern
- I don’t think I gained much additional length over wearing it out (partially because my stylist trims a bit too aggressively)
- I missed out on a year of fully enjoying my hair.

Once I get through that next phase of my treatment I’m going to start wearing my hair out again.

I’m so glad to be back and to see that everyone is doing well even if we are all dealing with our own difficulties and struggles.

My thoughts are with you and wishing you well during your next phase of treatment. You were missed and I'm glad you're back.

 

[SimJam]

big hugs to everyone "going through it"