Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[Chicoro]

Are you ready for that gorgeous afro-textured hair of yours to flourish?
Then you are at the right place!
It's time to focus on those Luscious Ends!


Yes, hair does grow from the scalp. BUT it's those Luscious Ends that determine Length, and Healthy Length at that!

​

The Details Make the Difference!!

1. Squeeze water into hair, work water into the hair or your water based moisturizer. @keranikki stated by doing this she got hair that was fluffy and not frizzy. I noticed her hair was super shiny and she said it was because of this. She attributed this to or clarified that the Originator of squeezing moisture into the hair, or the idea was brought to the forefront by @GettingKinky .
2. Sprout Fenugreek seeds first, then use them to make your oil. @newgrowth15 taught us to sprout the fenugreek and use sprouted fenugreek seeds in the fenugreek, rosemary and clove oil blend.All the recipes I saw for the oil NEVER mentioned this. Most people just put the seeds in the oil. I've seen some people even toast the seeds in a hot pan or in hot oil. @snoop found an article online about sprouting and it said to put grape fruit seed extract, 1 drop in the sprouting water to avoid microbes. It worked. @newgrowth15 had incredible results and retention with this said it was due to using this oil.
3. Perform small trims every 3 months to help better retain the health and integrity of your hair ends. @keranikki brought this to the group. She experienced incredible retention and length gains and had the photos to prove it in practice.

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 March 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?

Extending grace to you?

 

[Chicoro]

So let's Baby Those Ends and Re-Capture that Child-Like Joy
as it relates to your hair.

It's not a Chore,
But a fun spin in the Beauty Shop Chair!


Make it Fun!
​

 

[Chicoro]

So capture that Ca - Yute
Style that makes your hair and ends sing

And don't hesitate to come and share it with us!

You just never know what you may help someone with!












​

 

[Chicoro]

No post is too long.....

No post is too short!

And....Whatever you are called to 'express' is NEVER OFF TOPIC! Believe it or not, it ALWAYS comes back to Luscious Healthy Ends!

 

[Chicoro]

Get ready to discover something about your hair that you thought you already knew!

You are an organic, ever-changing, evolving being, and so is your hair.

Unleash those Luscious Healthy Ends in 2026!

​

 

[snoop]

Saving my spot!

 

[larry3344]

Saving spot

 

[faithVA]

Will update some time in January

Here is my goal by the end of June. This is flat ironed - Dec 2017



Here is where I am now. This is blow dried - Jan 2026.



This may be optimistic. I don't know what is realistic. Will just have to see.

 

[keranikki]

Saving my spot

 

[awhyley]

My ends breaking off is the main issue I have with my hair, and I'm dedicated to my ends this year so I'm here for it!

 

[Yvette 2.0]

I'll join this year. I will edit my post as needed to reflect challenge format/requirements once they're shared.

For Quarter 1 I will focus on:

• Gentle detangling: predetangling protein-DC-saturated ends with my fingers and only then slowly and gently detangling with my UnBrush Plus
• Treatment: doing a protein treatment as the state of my hair dictates
• Styling: oiling my ends before gelling them
• Styling: opting to wear a single braid to take a break from my typical hairstyle (a wash and go)

Current relevant products:

• Hair oil: the Alodia hair oil
• Gel: Ecoslay Jello Shot gel and Innersense I Create Hold gel
• Treatment: Giovanni Smoothing Castor Oil Strengthening Hair Mask
• Protein: Aphogee 2-step Protein Treatment

I also have the K18 leave-in. I might wait until I've assessed the above practices before introducing it.

-------

Hair details:

I have fine, dense hair and I'm changing from being a straight-haired natural to mainly wearing my hair curly. This will result in a lot of added detangling, i.e. mechanical stress on the hair. I had to cut off a lot of inches to get a shape so I could wear my hair curly. I want to return to my previous length more quickly than not, so I'll need to protect these ends to really retain.

Also, I colored my hair for the first time ever. With that I'm thinking I really need to care deeply and gently for my hair overall, especially my ends.

Starting picture

 

[faithVA]

I'll join this year. I will edit my post as needed to reflect challenge format/requirements once they're shared.

For Quarter 1 I will focus on:

• Gentle detangling: predetangling protein-DC-saturated ends with my fingers and only then slowly and gently detangling with my UnBrush Plus
• Treatment: doing a protein treatment as the state of my hair dictates
• Styling: oiling my ends before gelling them
• Styling: opting to wear a single braid to take a break from my typical hairstyle (a wash and go)

Current relevant products:

• Hair oil: the Alodia hair oil
• Gel: Ecoslay Jello Shot gel and Innersense I Create Hold gel
• Treatment: Giovanni Smoothing Castor Oil Strengthening Hair Mask
• Protein: Aphogee 2-step Protein Treatment

I also have the K18 leave-in. I might wait until I've assessed the above practices before introducing it.

-------

Hair details:

I have fine, dense hair and I'm changing from being a straight-haired natural to mainly wearing my hair curly. This will result in a lot of added detangling, i.e. mechanical stress on the hair. I had to cut off a lot of inches to get a shape so I could wear my hair curly. I want to return to my previous length more quickly than not, so I'll need to protect these ends to really retain.

Also, I colored my hair for the first time ever. With that I'm thinking I really need to care deeply and gently for my hair overall, especially my ends.

Starting picture
View attachment 507500

Since you have the K18 and you have colored your hair, I recommend using it because I have found the bond treatment works in a way that protein does not. Definitely use it before you color your hair again. Color and other chemicals can break the bonds of the hair. Before my color I use both the K18 and the Aphogee. Perhaps your colorist used a bond treatment when they colored your hair. Before I used the bond treatment, the issues weren't visually noticeable and it took probably a year before I started to see issues. It seems to be dryness and brittleness that builds up over time.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Since you have the K18 and you have colored your hair, I recommend using it because I have found the bond treatment works in a way that protein does not. Definitely use it before you color your hair again. Color and other chemicals can break the bonds of the hair. Before my color I use both the K18 and the Aphogee. Perhaps your colorist used a bond treatment when they colored your hair. Before I used the bond treatment, the issues weren't visually noticeable and it took probably a year before I started to see issues. It seems to be dryness and brittleness that builds up over time.

Mmm, thank you so much for this, @faithVA! Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time!

 

[faithVA]

Mmm, thank you so much for this, @faithVA! Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time!

This week I will try to write up what the stylist told me about bond treatments versus protein and the what and why's. They address different things. She said we (stylist/hair community) focused on protein a lot because there were no bond treatments. But when bond treatments hit the scene they are better for certain things. I will get some information to you.

 

[larry3344]

I'll join this year. I will edit my post as needed to reflect challenge format/requirements once they're shared.

For Quarter 1 I will focus on:

• Gentle detangling: predetangling protein-DC-saturated ends with my fingers and only then slowly and gently detangling with my UnBrush Plus
• Treatment: doing a protein treatment as the state of my hair dictates
• Styling: oiling my ends before gelling them
• Styling: opting to wear a single braid to take a break from my typical hairstyle (a wash and go)

Current relevant products:

• Hair oil: the Alodia hair oil
• Gel: Ecoslay Jello Shot gel and Innersense I Create Hold gel
• Treatment: Giovanni Smoothing Castor Oil Strengthening Hair Mask
• Protein: Aphogee 2-step Protein Treatment

I also have the K18 leave-in. I might wait until I've assessed the above practices before introducing it.

-------

Hair details:

I have fine, dense hair and I'm changing from being a straight-haired natural to mainly wearing my hair curly. This will result in a lot of added detangling, i.e. mechanical stress on the hair. I had to cut off a lot of inches to get a shape so I could wear my hair curly. I want to return to my previous length more quickly than not, so I'll need to protect these ends to really retain.

Also, I colored my hair for the first time ever. With that I'm thinking I really need to care deeply and gently for my hair overall, especially my ends.

Starting picture
View attachment 507500

Your hair is gorgeous.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Your hair is gorgeous.

Thank you! Yours, too!

 

[faithVA]

Last January my ends were a mess. I ended better than I started. I trimmed about 3/4" off and I have switched to a hydrating regimen. Will see if that helps.

However, for January, I'm going to see if I can blow dry with my Tymo on each wash day. I will give it 2 or 3 tries and decide. I think stretching my hair will be better for my ends in the long run. I think what will make the difference is finding something hydrating and creamy for my ends before I blow dry. In the meantime, I think I will spritz my hair and ends with water and then oil my ends and then give it a try. I'm going to blow dry on high and cool. But I may find that the low heat may be quicker and better.

For the 1st Quarter
--Will oil my scalp and massage every 4 days and before every wash day.
--Will reset every 4 days if I can. If I can't I will take my twist down and moisturize my hair and oil my ends.
--Will focus on using hydrating products for shampoo, conditioner and leave-in
--Will stick with 4 or more flat twist to prevent pulling on my hair and causing breakage
--Once a month will use a protein and bonding treatment and then deep condition
--Will evaluate whether I can successfully blow dry to stretch my hair and maintain my ends.

 

[snoop]

@Chicoro

At the end of last year, you asked me to describe my method of lunar trimming. I decided to start a new post, just to make it easier:

Lunar Trimming​

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Greetings!

After returning from our yearly holiday vacation in Atlanta, I washed my silk pressed hair to begin wearing it curly again. (I used to be a straight-haired natural but have committed to only straightening on special occasions and for trims). I gave myself my own trim for the first time. Normally I would take $60-$80 and travel to a stylist and sit for hours to get my hair trimmed. So I'm feeling victorious! When I trimmed it, I did it once it was completely styled. This allowed me to see pieces that were out of place in their length. It was just a few snips here and there. I loooooove it. I think I'm a convert!!! At-home tiny trims for the win!

(For a photo of the trimmed off hair, please see the post below.)

Then . . . on this past Saturday I did my second wash day of 2026. Before starting, I revisited the strategies I'd listed in this thread for maintaining healthy ends. I employed those strategies on Saturday.

Reflection

• It felt good to finger detangle gently and slowly first and only after that detangle my ends VERY slowly once saturated with a strengthening mask that had lots of slip.
• I applied K18 leave-in, and then I applied oil to my ends before styling my hair in a wash-and-go.
• I love my hair, but it did feel a little different to have oil in my hair. I never really use it. We'll see if it makes a difference.

Overall my hair looks pretty but feels dry. I am chomping at the bits to invest in the AG shampoo, conditioner and Fast Food leave-in to see what that does for my relatively newly colored hair. I think the color is the culprit. It makes sense that adding color would mean I need to tweak my regimen.

And, oh! This past wash day I saved my shed hair. I think I'm going to weigh it so that I can get better comparisons. Lol. I don't know. Might be doing a little much. I'm just curious as to whether babying my ends will result in less snapping off of my ends, and I figured collecting all of my released hair on wash day would help me know. We'll see.

 

[Chicoro]

@Yvette 2.0 ,

Do things how you like. Don't worry about it being 'too much'.

 

[faithVA]

Mmm, thank you so much for this, @faithVA! Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time!

I forgot that I owe you an explanation of bond treatment vs protein. I am adding it to my todo list now. I completely forgot.

 

[faithVA]

I was off today so I reset my hair.

Yesterday I took down my twist, oiled my scalp with Ayurvedic oil and massaged for 5 minutes.
I used a braid spray on my ends and Mielle Hair milk to moisturize my hair before putting it back up into a few large twistss.

Today I shampooed twice - Madison Reed 1st and Coco & Eve Hydrating Shampoo
Conditioned with Coco & Eve Hydrating Conditioner
Detangled with the Denman 38 Paddle Brush

I usually use a microfiber towel and remove excess hair. I decided to skip that step and see how it works.
I used the Coco & Eve leave-in and put my hair into 4 section.

I'm experimenting with the following steps
I added a bit of argan oil to each section.
Followed that with Mielle Hair Milk
Followed by Mane Choice Thermal Serum

I spritzed smaller sections with water combed through
Blow dried each section with the comb attachment on low heat

After parting it in sections, I put a small amount of Camille Rose braid spray on the ends
I twisted my hair with Mielle Twisting Souffle

Next wash day I think I will add a little water to the Mielle Hair Milk before adding the serum.

I updated my original post. But here is the pic I will use to compare each month as long as I am blow drying.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

I was off today so I reset my hair.

Yesterday I took down my twist, oiled my scalp with Ayurvedic oil and massaged for 5 minutes.
I used a braid spray on my ends and Mielle Hair milk to moisturize my hair before putting it back up into a few large twistss.

Today I shampooed twice - Madison Reed 1st and Coco & Eve Hydrating Shampoo
Conditioned with Coco & Eve Hydrating Conditioner
Detangled with the Denman 38 Paddle Brush

I usually use a microfiber towel and remove excess hair. I decided to skip that step and see how it works.
I used the Coco & Eve leave-in and put my hair into 4 section.

I'm experimenting with the following steps
I added a bit of argan oil to each section.
Followed that with Mielle Hair Milk
Followed by Mane Choice Thermal Serum

I spritzed smaller sections with water combed through
Blow dried each section with the comb attachment on low heat

After parting it in sections, I put a small amount of Camille Rose braid spray on the ends
I twisted my hair with Mielle Twisting Souffle

Next wash day I think I will add a little water to the Mielle Hair Milk before adding the serum.

I updated my original post. But here is the pic I will use to compare each month as long as I am blow drying.

View attachment 507586

Sounds like a luscious hair spa day! May your ends thrive!

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Greetings!

After returning from our yearly holiday vacation in Atlanta, I washed my silk pressed hair to begin wearing it curly again. (I used to be a straight-haired natural but have committed to only straightening on special occasions and for trims). I gave myself my own trim for the first time. Normally I would take $60-$80 and travel to a stylist and sit for hours to get my hair trimmed. So I'm feeling victorious! When I trimmed it, I did it once it was completely styled. This allowed me to see pieces that were out of place in their length. It was just a few snips here and there. I loooooove it. I think I'm a convert!!! At-home tiny trims for the win!

[I'll come back and add a picture of the trimmed hair once I'm on my phone]

Then . . . on this past Saturday I did my second wash day of 2026. Before starting, I revisited the strategies I'd listed in this thread for maintaining healthy ends. I employed those strategies on Saturday.

Reflection

• It felt good to finger detangle gently and slowly first and only after that detangle my ends VERY slowly once saturated with a strengthening mask that had lots of slip.
• I applied K18 leave-in, and then I applied oil to my ends before styling my hair in a wash-and-go.
• I love my hair, but it did feel a little different to have oil in my hair. I never really use it. We'll see if it makes a difference.

Overall my hair looks pretty but feels dry. I am chomping at the bits to invest in the AG shampoo, conditioner and Fast Food leave-in to see what that does for my relatively newly colored hair. I think the color is the culprit. It makes sense that adding color would mean I need to tweak my regimen.

And, oh! This past wash day I saved my shed hair. I think I'm going to weigh it so that I can get better comparisons. Lol. I don't know. Might be doing a little much. I'm just curious as to whether babying my ends will result in less snapping off of my ends, and I figured collecting all of my released hair on wash day would help me know. We'll see.

Here is a photo of what I trimmed. Such a small amount, but my hair looks soooo much better. It's crazy what even the tiniest spot trims can do.

 

[Chicoro]

I would like to grow and retain about four (4) inches of luscious ends in 2026.

My last trim was April 26th, 2025. I don't plan to trim until April 2026 and then every four (4) months after that, throughout 2026.

That would put my hair about half way over my behind.

Good things are: I eliminated my Velcro ends and I escaped from my 12 Year Hair Break Cycle. So, perhaps my hair will gain some healthy length.

Bad things are: I have fallen back into my old, bad habits and will let one (1) year pass before my next trim in April 2026. I have let my hair get super dry, tangled and matted at least once, as seen in the photo with the pink robe.


My starting pictures for 2026:



Blowdried hair photo - taken April 26th, 2025
Un-stretched hair photo in pink - taken October 23rd, 2025

 

[yamilee21]

I’m not going to be able to keep up, but I’ll be lurking and randomly posting anyway.

@Chicoro I didn’t take a picture of my hair just before my last wash, but it looked exactly like your pink robe one. I have been trying so hard not to let it mat up so far this year - in fact, no matting is my 2026 goal, even more so than “luscious” ends. But so far, it seems as if the only way to keep the matting at bay is to detangle and rebraid/retwist every day, which feels like too much manipulation and doesn’t help with the thinning/breakage situation.

 

[Chicoro]

@yamilee21
Are you trying to dethrone moi, the Matted Hair Queen? My hair loves to loc and dread up. This is why I struggle to retain super duper long lengths.


What helps me with the matting:
-Oil is very important. But how and when to use oil is JUST as important for my hair. I wet my section, put in my SCURL. Then I coat that same section with oil. The result is hair with less fuzzies and it stays smoother and unbraids cleaner with less matting, and minimal breakage.

-Braiding a certain way. I MUST section my hair for braiding so that as I braid down to the end of the section I maintain the same three braid sections. When I braid my hair now, I keep the same three sections from root to tip of the braid. Hope this is clear. ´Cleanly’ braided hair results in a less fuzzier braid.

-Protected Ends- I braid my hair as described above. Then I grease the ends, the last half of the braid with Shea butter or Vaseline. Then, I roll the braid up, and secure the rolled hair with a coated rubber band. Key: My Matt Queen hair can’t be rolled up from the very ends. I place my finger at the middle of my braid, then roll the hair up to that point. I place a finger perpendicular to the braid, in the middle of the braid, as if my finger was a roller. Then I roll my braid up from there. The ends are the ‘last’ section that’s tucked and not the first section tucked. This makes a big difference and keeps my ends from tangling less.

-Cover head at night. This minimizes direct friction on the hair. I like to moisten my braids a little, then put a plastic cap on, then put a scarf over that. And sleep like that.

-Minimize use of shampoo or try to avoid drying shampoo. I can’t use any brand. The cleansing surfactants or chemicals in ALL brands of shampoos are too harsh for my precious hair to use regularly. I use a clay mix that @snoop gave me. I use shampoo when I need to strip my hair to get it super clean before I press it or straighten it. I straighten every 3 months to 2 times a year.

-Use a lubricating pre poo. I like to use aloe Vera, glycerin and oil on my hair to finger detangle before washing. I also wash and section in loose braids after I have finger detangled.

-Condition with heat. This relaxes my hair and sets me up for cleaner braids (smoother) that won’t tangle as easily or get fuzzy.

I personally have to be super vigilant about my hair. Or, I’ll be joining the ranks of Rasta Mouse in a matter of weeks, having dreads just like him.

If I do these things, I can go for a week without re-doing my hair.

It sounds like a lot. But they are conscious, thoughtful choices I have to make IF I want to keep matted hair at bay.

Sadly, if I can’t get to my dry, loose hair, for even a week, it gets matted.

It says to me, “Chicoro, I don’t care if you did your lil’ routine faithfully for a year. If you leave me free and dry for just three days, I’m matting up tight, and fast. Too bad for you.”

Signed,
Your Hair

I used to lose whole curls. And I used to have Velcro ends. Because of what I do now, these two aforementioned things ( losing curls and having Velcro ends rarely happen) now.

But the matting seems to wait on me like the neighbor hood bully on the corner.

The matting is my hair’s natural tendency. So I try to lovingly guide that tendency so we both can be happy.

 

[Chicoro]

In defense of my beloved Shea butter:

I’ve been using Shea butter for over 9 years. Shea butter elevates a good routine to greatness. It can produce extraordinary length and thickness on Afro textured hair.

But, just like you can’t out exercise poor eating habits, Shea butter can’t out do a poor hair care routine or damaging products.

In my case, I applied a bonding product to my hair and it destroyed my hair within 4 months. That was in December 2021 when I applied a popular bonding product to my hair. Do I think that bonding product is bad? Absolutely not! It just wasn’t for my hair.

So, I had to lose all the hair where that product was applied. Then, grow my hair out some more. Now, I’m at the gaining healthy hair stage.

So, it’s not Shea butter’s fault or lack of capability that my hair is where it’s at.

Shea butter can’t save already damaged hair. But it can greatly enhance healthy hair that is is maintained with a solid, routine where the hair is already thriving.