Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2025

[faithVA]

I was unable to trim my ends today due to a massive headache. I may try to trim tomorrow, but if I’m unable I will just trim next year in January. Gosh time is flying!

OAN, I already knew that my hair does not like coconut oil, but I never considered how coconut oil derivatives could affect my hair. I just found out that they react the same way as coconut oil, in that they react like a protein. Coconut oil makes my hair so hard and dry, which is why I refrain from products that have coconut oil. I have to thank @Lylddlebit for this revelation. Her post in another thread led me down this rabbit hole.

So, I researched shampoos that do not have coconut oil or its derivatives and settled on Verb Ghost Shampoo. In an effort to save money, I headed to TJ Maxx, but picked Verb Glossy Shampoo and Conditioner instead. Yo, you guys, my hair is so soft man. Like it’s soft and hydrated. I washed my hair yesterday with these products and my hair still feels good. Typically I would feel the need to M&S, especially with this cold weather, but there is no need. I’m very pleased with the results. I was looking forward to blow drying and trimming my hair, but all I could muster was two buns in satin scrunchies.

Now, I have to inventory all of my products and donate the ones that have coconut oil/derivatives in them.

Im glad you found something that is working wonderfully. The one thing I have learned over the past few years is getting that shampoo and conditioner step right is crucial. The following steps are unlikely to fix what has happened in the first step. Still learning.

That softness and feeling hydrated is amazing isn't it.

 

[Lylddlebit]

I was unable to trim my ends today due to a massive headache. I may try to trim tomorrow, but if I’m unable I will just trim next year in January. Gosh time is flying!

OAN, I already knew that my hair does not like coconut oil, but I never considered how coconut oil derivatives could affect my hair. I just found out that they react the same way as coconut oil, in that they react like a protein. Coconut oil makes my hair so hard and dry, which is why I refrain from products that have coconut oil. I have to thank @Lylddlebit for this revelation. Her post in another thread led me down this rabbit hole.

So, I researched shampoos that do not have coconut oil or its derivatives and settled on Verb Ghost Shampoo. In an effort to save money, I headed to TJ Maxx, but picked Verb Glossy Shampoo and Conditioner instead. Yo, you guys, my hair is so soft man. Like it’s soft and hydrated. I washed my hair yesterday with these products and my hair still feels good. Typically I would feel the need to M&S, especially with this cold weather, but there is no need. I’m very pleased with the results. I was looking forward to blow drying and trimming my hair, but all I could muster was two buns in satin scrunchies.

Now, I have to inventory all of my products and donate the ones that have coconut oil/derivatives in them.

'Strand Epiphanies' (yep I just made that up in this moment ha) are one of lifes true rewards lols. I am glad you had a hair breakthrough!

 

[keranikki]

Im glad you found something that is working wonderfully. The one thing I have learned over the past few years is getting that shampoo and conditioner step right is crucial. The following steps are unlikely to fix what has happened in the first step. Still learning.

That softness and feeling hydrated is amazing isn't it.

Yes, the softness and hydration is amazing. I’m literally amazed.

 

[keranikki]

'Strand Epiphanies' (yep I just made that up in this moment ha) are one of lifes true rewards lols. I am glad you had a hair breakthrough!

Thank you!

 

[Chicoro]

November 2025 Update:
Posted December 11th, 2025

The pool heater broke so I didn't go swimming two weeks in November. Plus, I stayed with my cousin for six days.

I sprouted fenugreek seeds to make my oil but my mother's apartment flooded and I had to vacate it for six (6) days while staying with my cousin and I did not bring my sprouts. They did well but I just didn't have the time to complete the process, so I threw them out. I will try again to get my oil started.

I bought a stick of cocoa butter from the beauty supply and made me some Shea/Cocoa butter for my ends. I like the firmness and stiffness of the butter, even though I whipped it. I like to put it on the ends of my braids.



How are you progressing?
I keep my hair braided and the ends oiled and rolled up, per usual. I undo the braids to re-moisturize. I have not trimmed it since June. Caregiving is eating me UP.

What are those ends looking like?
My ends need a trim but they are moisturized for now and rolled up/balled up and protected.

Have you had any epiphanies?
I used to take MSM for my melasma on my face. But have not used in it over a year. I have my MSM ready to go and use because it's a good time to address it in Winter. I remember that MSM sometimes adds a bit in lengthening my hair growth.

Have you set bolder goals?
No. Went back to my monthly wash schedule.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No, not really. Just a re-affirmation to stick with clay cleansing and keeping my hair braided so it does not get matted.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
I think my braids are beautiful. I enjoy them and they fit right in my current lifestyle.

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. I also want to go back to oiling my hair at night. Got to get back to my fenugreek oil. I really like that oil. It feels good and smells good in my hair and it creates an opportunity for me to enjoy my hair and make time for me.

Extending grace to you?
Most times.

 

[Angel of the North]

Hi ladies,

I've been MIA for some time for health reasons, I'm feeling ready to get back on the wagon, although I don't have the same energy levels I had when I jumped back on board earlier this year. I missed August's update because I wasn't able to assess my hair properly while wearing WAGs and being in between washes. I've done the updates from September till now, I will post them separately so that the post is not excessively long.


SEPTEMBER

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?

My ends are stil dry and feeling course, this is definitely not something I'm used to. At a glance it looks like I could do with about 2 inches taken off, but on closer inspection, my ends don't look split, they just looked and felt rough. They look a lot better after the roller set, also felt a little better too, which gives me hope.

Have you had any epiphanies?
The CRN spiked honey mousse worked perfectly for my roller set, my hair wasn't sticky, it had a nice shine and felt soft moisturised.

Have you set bolder goals?
No, I don't feel I need to.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Yes. This current setback with my ends, is making me think that achieving WL by year's end, is rather lofty.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Roller setting weekly will not be an attainable goal for me at present. I also don't want to spend the amount of time a full wash day and roller set would take on a regular basis.

How is your consistency?
Not great. I returned from Portugal, did my hair the following week, which was two weeks off schedule. I'm struggling with the physical side of doing my hair,


Extending grace to you?
Yes, it is what it is. I'm accepting my inability to maintain my regimen on a regular basis, I am not beating myself up about it.

 

[Angel of the North]

OCTOBER

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
That roller set did my hair some good. I'd like to aim for bi weekly at the most or monthly at the least.

Have you had any epiphanies?
Not really an epiphany, but I really need to learn how to wrap my hair. I've not really needed to wrap my hair, the times that I did, my hair was not as long, so it was easy to do. I tried to use a doobie, the pattern was imprinted in my hair, and it didn't lay as flat as I had hoped.

Have you set bolder goals?
No,.although I'm a little more optimistic about reaching WL by December. It won't be the end of the world if it doesn't happen.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No, but I'm prepared and will not feel disappointed if I don't hit my December target.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
More a reminder, my hair still grows when I'm not doing 101 things to it on a regular basis.

How is your consistency?
Terrible! Since I got back from Portugal at the beginning of September, I've only managed to wash my hair three times. I'm pretty much back on auto pilot mode, not doing more than what is absolutely necessary.

Extending grace to you?
Yes, I'm feeling positive, I'm not overthinking anything.

 

[Angel of the North]

NOVEMBER

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
There's a huge improvement to look and feel of my ends, they seem to be slowly returning to their usual state.

Have you had any epiphanies?
More of a realisation, my hair still wraps around my silk hairbands, I'd like to think it's shed hair and not breakage. If it is breakage, it really isn't obvious as there's not noticeably shorter hair around the areas I would pull my hair back.

Have you set bolder goals?
No, I'm waiting to see what the end of the year brings. I feel like this year has been a reset, with a little consistency, I envisage great results over the next two years.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Yes. I've reassessed a few things that I can easily add to my very simplified regimen. I'm currently aiming for a minimum of one wash day per month. I want to prepoo the night before with my oil blends, focus on moisture and sealing, and babying my ends over the winter months. I've decided not to trim to my previous schedule, I will dust at the end of the year and aim for a proper trim in April.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
No, but I'm glad I didn't go straight to the scissors when my ends betrayed me, which was my first instinct. The setback would have been a lot bigger than nursing my ends back if I took off those extra two inches. We're slowly but surely on the right track

How is your consistency?
It has improved since August. I've started applying my butters and oils to my ends, I know this will make a huge improvement to the condition of my ends.

Extending grace to you?
Yes, still feeling positive, I'm really looking forward to next year. I'm using the rest of this year to set myself ready for next year, I feel confident in achieving at least 2/4 of my goals and challenges. If I manage that, I'll be happy.

 

[Angel of the North]

DECEMBER

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
I've noticed a huge improvement to my ends, they are much softer, don't look or feel dry like they did. My ends don't look like I have splits, I was going to trim this month, I'm thinking of waiting till March, that will be a year since I got back on my HJ.

Have you had any epiphanies?
No, I'm just loving the affects of using the avocado butter and oil on my ends.

Have you set bolder goals?
No, still on the same goals. I may be feeling optimistic, but the worst that can happen is that I'm a little bit off from my target. I don't have a problem with that, I'm just happy that the condition of my ends have improved.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
I did think I may need to pull back on my goals a few monhs ago, now I feel that I could be on track. I will have to do a length check on my next wash day to see how I'm progressing.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
Not over this month, everything is ticking along smoothly. I do feel like I want to start wearing my bonnets at night again. I'm using silk pillowcases though, so it's not too bad.

How is your consistency?
My consistency for moisturising and sealing my ends have been very good, I've also been trying to detangle my hair weekly to remove shed hairs and prevent my roots from turning into a bird's nest, shed hairs that are not removed create knots and tangles, potentially creating setbacks that could be avoided.

Extending grace to you?
Most definitely.

 

[Angel of the North]

@faithVA What were the changes you made to your blow drying process? I haven't blow dried my hair in years, but I will likely want to do so around April next year. I may need to look into different techniques.

I saw a video on YT of a woman saying that she uses the highest settings of heat and speed to blow dry as straight as possible in preparation for her silk press. Some comments felt her hair was heat trained, others felt her hair was heat damaged.

 

[faithVA]

@faithVA What were the changes you made to your blow drying process? I haven't blow dried my hair in years, but I will likely want to do so around April next year. I may need to look into different techniques.

I saw a video on YT of a woman saying that she uses the highest settings of heat and speed to blow dry as straight as possible in preparation for her silk press. Some comments felt her hair was heat trained, others felt her hair was heat damaged.

I'm still figuring out this process. Just wanted to add this disclaimer. I don't blow dry often. And I also use a RevAir since my hair tends to stay on the dry side.

But last time I blow dried,
--I did all of my moisturizing and deep conditioning boosters the week before.
--the day of, I did an Aphoghee 2 minute and used a balancing conditioner behind it.
--used the Olaplex bond leave-in, just because I had it.
--used a heat protectant.

With both leave-in and heat protectant, I made sure to not be heavy-handed because I think that leads to my hair being too heavy.

I made my sections bigger for the RevAir.
I didn't move the wand around. The stylist said moving it back and forth could cause issues with the cuticles laying flat.
Then immediately after removing the wand, I combed through the section with a side tooth comb. I don't remember what she said this was for.

I'm going to repeat this at the end of the month and see how it turns out.
Next weekend, I will use K18 and the Olaplex hydrating mask to get ready.

I will keep you posted.