Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[faithVA]

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
I put my hair in twist over the weekend. Today, I took down each twist and clipped the width of my index finger or close to it. I didn't trim in March so I know I was due for a trim. Hopefully with my current regimen, this is moving my ends to a better level. I'm hoping at the end of the year, the trim needed will be 1" or less.



Have you had any epiphanies?
It has occurred to me that I should rotate my shampoo. For my first shampoo, I plan to rotate between my moisturizing and hydrating shampoo and then use the 4C only shampoo as my second shampoo.

Also, that it is going to work out better if I use a bonding treatment weekly after my first shampoo, instead of trying to fit the K18 once a month.

Have you set bolder goals?
No. I'm just hoping to get all my strands pass shoulder length and maybe get some of them grazing APL.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No


Overall, I'm in a better place than I was last year this time. My twists are starting to hang better, so it is just a waiting game at this point.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
No realizations but better experiences. After using the 4C Only hair products since the beginning of April, my hair is starting to feel hydrated. My hair actually feels like it is holding water after I rinse out the conditioner. And when I take my hair down before the next shampoo, my hair still feels soft. They suggest at least giving it 90 days which will be the end of June.

How is your consistency?

I remain consistent and reset my hair every week. My goal is still to do it every 4 days in the future but I am still 3 to 6 months away from being consistent with that.

 

[Chicoro]

I blow dried and trimmed my hair today. In the middle of drying, I had to go and pick up another blow dryer. I need 2400 Watts with a comb attachment and a handle on the dryer itself.

Photo 1 of the 5:
The hair is blow dried lightly and trimmed lightly at the very ends.



Photo 2 of the 5:
Another view of the back. My ends are thickening up. My ends are in great condition. The hair is frizzy and fuzzy. My goal was to get it straight enough to trim, not to style it and not to wear it out.



Photo 3 of the 5:
Changed from some black shorts to my favorite gray shorts I always try to use when doing a length check. I couldn't find them at first.

Also, I put some jojoba oil on my hair and I put some fenugreek/clove on my hair and twisted it into a tight bun. The oil put more shine on the hair and condensed it and the bun stretched the hair and put soft waves into the hair.

No more heat was put on the hair. This is still just a light blow dry.


Photo 4 of the 5:
Turned more to the right here.


Photo 5 of the 5:
Turned back to the left a little more, again.

 

[Chicoro]

I used this as my heat protectant: My understanding is there is NO silicone in it. I do not like silicones in my hair.

Full Ingredient List
Deionized Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polyquaternium-11, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance (Parfum), Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Red #17, Violet #2​

This is the blow dryer I used:



I had four braids in the back. I divided each of those braids into the 4 to 6 smaller sections. I sprayed each section with water before I blow dried it.

 

[Chicoro]

My last heat, straightened length check was April 2025. You would think my hair would be super long after 12 months. What it's doing is filling in on the ends.

I am so glad that I escaped that 12 Year Break Cycle. That and my other set-backs have NOT been fun.

The quality of my hair is improving. The clay washes (taught to me by @snoop ) the super protective braid style and using herb rinses and clove/fenugreek oils and conditioning with heat have all really helped my hair. I also love the moisture that the mix of flaxseed gel and aloe vera gel give to my hair when I detangle. More importantly, their moisture helps me to detangle and get breakage really, really down.

Aphogee 2 Step every eight weeks (8) and Aphogee Tea Trea protein spray regularly and my water based sulphur spray.

I DID use commercial shampoo on my hair. I used the @Lylddlebit technique of applying shampoo on dry, dirty hair and then putting my hair in bantu knots with the shampoo sitting in the hair. This breaks down the oil and dirt and products. It also imparts a gorgeous smell on my hair from the shampoo I used. I use shampoo when I am going to heat straighten my hair. I need my hair to be free of product build-up as much as possible. I also prefer to use a very light conditioner, with NO heat, when I plan to straighten.

Shampoo I Used:

ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo



Conditioner I used:

Suave Ocean Breeze Refreshing Conditioner

 

[Angel of the North]

I blow dried and trimmed my hair today. In the middle of drying, I had to go and pick up another blow dryer. I need 2400 Watts with a comb attachment and a handle on the dryer itself.

Photo 1 of the 5:
The hair is blow dried lightly and trimmed lightly at the very ends.



Photo 2 of the 5:
Another view of the back. My ends are thickening up. My ends are in great condition. The hair is frizzy and fuzzy. My goal was to get it straight enough to trim, not to style it and not to wear it out.



Photo 3 of the 5:
Changed from some black shorts to my favorite gray shorts I always try to use when doing a length check. I couldn't find them at first.

Also, I put some jojoba oil on my hair and I put some fenugreek/clove on my hair and twisted it into a tight bun. The oil put more shine on the hair and condensed it and the bun stretched the hair and put soft waves into the hair.

No more heat was put on the hair. This is still just a light blow dry.


Photo 4 of the 5:
Turned more to the right here.


Photo 5 of the 5:
Turned back to the left a little more, again.

Your hair looks beautiful, you should do a side by side comparison with last year's trim. How much did you take off your ends? It still looks long

 

[Angel of the North]

I used this as my heat protectant: My understanding is there is NO silicone in it. I do not like silicones in my hair.

View attachment 508876

Full Ingredient List
Deionized Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Propylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Polyquaternium-11, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance (Parfum), Agave Tequilana Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Red #17, Violet #2​

I think the majority of heat protectant I have are silicone free, I've ended up with so much of the product I use the least lol. I am trying to figure out tbe best one/s for me.

This is the blow dryer I used:

View attachment 508878

I had four braids in the back. I divided each of those braids into the 4 to 6 smaller sections. I sprayed each section with water before I blow dried itit.

I'm curious, what happens when you don't have 2400w blow dryer? Do you not get a good blow out?

 

[faithVA]

I blow dried and trimmed my hair today. In the middle of drying, I had to go and pick up another blow dryer. I need 2400 Watts with a comb attachment and a handle on the dryer itself.

Photo 1 of the 5:
The hair is blow dried lightly and trimmed lightly at the very ends.



Photo 2 of the 5:
Another view of the back. My ends are thickening up. My ends are in great condition. The hair is frizzy and fuzzy. My goal was to get it straight enough to trim, not to style it and not to wear it out.



Photo 3 of the 5:
Changed from some black shorts to my favorite gray shorts I always try to use when doing a length check. I couldn't find them at first.

Also, I put some jojoba oil on my hair and I put some fenugreek/clove on my hair and twisted it into a tight bun. The oil put more shine on the hair and condensed it and the bun stretched the hair and put soft waves into the hair.

No more heat was put on the hair. This is still just a light blow dry.


Photo 4 of the 5:
Turned more to the right here.


Photo 5 of the 5:
Turned back to the left a little more, again.

Your hair looks wonderful. It is definitely fuller at the bottom.

 

[Angel of the North]

My last heat, straightened length check was April 2025. You would think my hair would be super long after 12 months. What it's doing is filling in on the ends.

You can see the thickening of the ends

I am so glad that I escaped that 12 Year Break Cycle. That and my other set-backs have NOT been fun.

The quality of my hair is improving. The clay washes (taught to me by @snoop ) the super protective braid style and using herb rinses and clove/fenugreek oils and conditioning with heat have all really helped my hair. I also love the moisture that the mix of flaxseed gel and aloe vera gel give to my hair when I detangle. More importantly, their moisture helps me to detangle and get breakage really, really down.

Aphogee 2 Step every eight weeks (8) and Aphogee Tea Trea protein spray regularly and my water based sulphur spray.

I love that everything is working out so well for you I need to relook at the ingredients of the Aphogee 2 step, I saw somewhere last week that it contains formaldehyde.

I DID use commercial shampoo on my hair. I used the @Lylddlebit technique of applying shampoo on dry, dirty hair and then putting my hair in bantu knots with the shampoo sitting in the hair. This breaks down the oil and dirt and products.

This is how I shampoo, except I spray a small amount of water first. This helps me to get a little lather, which I think assists the coverage and the process of the product breakdown. I don't spray much, my hair still looks dry with no drips once I've sprayed with the water.

It also imparts a gorgeous smell on my hair from the shampoo I used. I use shampoo when I am going to heat straighten my hair. I need my hair to be free of product build-up as much as possible. I also prefer to use a very light conditioner, with NO heat, when I plan to straighten.

I think I can figure out the reasoning behind the lighter conditioner, but why do you prefer no heat DC before straightening?

Shampoo I Used:

ORS Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo

View attachment 508880

Conditioner I used:

Suave Ocean Breeze Refreshing Conditioner
View attachment 508884

I used to use the ORS Creamy Aloe poo, it's a nice shampoo, gentle but gives a good clean without stripping hair. I think they've changed the formula since I last used it, I think it may have had a couple of formula changes since then.

Suave is not a conditioner that is easily available over here, I have a little of the coconut one, I still haven't tried, but I imagine it to be like the Alberto Balsam conditioners.

 

[Chicoro]

Your hair looks beautiful, you should do a side by side comparison with last year's trim. How much did you take off your ends? It still looks long

Thank you for the compliment!

I was so worn out yesterday. I literally had to blowdry a section of hair, then go and peek in at my loved one or do something my loved one needed.

I love side to side comparisons. I have some time to myself so I hope to make some comparisons today!

I cut off VERY little. It was less than you took off before you headed out for your Masquerade Ball that evening when you did a trim.

Usually when I blow dry, my ends are ‘popping’ due to their roughness from either splits, knots and or lint. Not this time!

My ends were in beautiful shape. It was wonderful to experience.

I do deeper trims when I have the desired thickness at a particular length. My ends are in a smile or U shape. When the sides catch up in length to the middle, I’ll more likely do a blunt trim across, whereby I’ll probably have more to trim then.

The next blowdry and trim will be in December of 2026.

 

[Chicoro]

Your hair looks wonderful. It is definitely fuller at the bottom.

Thank you so much!

I like to nurture my ´thin ends’ because mine turn into thicker and fuller ends over time.

I see no need to trim or cut thinner ends of they are healthy and since I am wearing my hair braided and protected.

 

[Chicoro]

You can see the thickening of the ends

Yes! A definite ´No, no’ to have thin ends in some circles. This is why it is so important to know your own hair.

I’ve experienced great length loss due to setbacks over the last 12 years. But it was not because of thin ends. As I mentioned above, I cultivate and curate my thin ends until they thicken.

I love that everything is working out so well for you I need to relook at the ingredients of the Aphogee 2 step, I saw somewhere last week that it contains formaldehyde.

Many hair products contain formaldehyde. I believe some Brazilian straightening products contain the actual ingredient formaldehyde. But most other products have ingredients that break down to formaldehyde.

I used to believe that baby products didn’t contain formaldehyde but some of them do.

This is how I shampoo, except I spray a small amount of water first. This helps me to get a little lather, which I think assists the coverage and the process of the product breakdown. I don't spray much, my hair still looks dry with no drips once I've sprayed with the water.

Ok! I love the simplicity of just adding the shampoo. I bought this a while back. I let this very informed woman who was working there pick it out for me. She was a Latin woman and did not have Afro textured hair but she knew all about Afro textured hair. I was impressed but I didn’t say anything to her. I think because I didn’t want to interrupt.

I think I can figure out the reasoning behind the lighter conditioner, but why do you prefer no heat DC before straightening?

I don’t like heavy products in my hair prior to straightening. That is because I feel like they ‘cook’ into my hair with all that heat.

They block my hair from getting straight.

True story: I was using Vaseline in my hair and decided to relax my hair. I didn’t wash or pre treat my hair to try to get the Vaseline out. I figured the stylist had products to get the grease out. She washed my hair, out the relaxer in for several minutes.

The relaxer did not take.

Another male stylist in the chair next to her said, « I know I say her put in the relaxer. I saw her do it. But there’s no relaxer. »

He and I were both stunned. I had to pay for a relaxer service. But went home with my
natural hair.

I guess all my hair was so coated with Vaseline, the relaxer was blocked from getting through!

I used to use the ORS Creamy Aloe poo, it's a nice shampoo, gentle but gives a good clean without stripping hair. I think they've changed the formula since I last used it, I think it may have had a couple of formula changes since then.

I like it. It does the job for me. I use it maybe 2x to about 4x per year.

Suave is not a conditioner that is easily available over here, I have a little of the coconut one, I still haven't tried, but I imagine it to be like the Alberto Balsam conditioners.

Exactly! Those are my two go to’s along with a third brand called ´White Rain’. The Suave is on sale more with larger quantities and a greater selection of fragrances.

They all have fewer ingredients comparatively to other conditioners. They complete the necessary shampoo/conditioner cycle of chemistry on the hair. And, they don’t weigh my hair down. I like light, fluffy and airy hair that hangs heavy. What a contradictory statement that is!

 

[Chicoro]

Your hair looks beautiful, you should do a side by side comparison with last year's trim. How much did you take off your ends? It still looks long

April 26th, 2025 vs May 26th, 2026 (13 Month Difference)

There is not that much of a length difference. But, I do believe the hair in April 2025, on the left was lightly flat ironed and thus, stretched more. The hair on the right, the May 26th hair, was just lightly blow dried.

• In the April photo on the left:
  • My chin is higher up and my head is dipped back more. I am leaning back and making the hair appear longer than it probably really is.
  • The sides, both left and right, below my bra are thinner than in May.

• In the May photo on the right:
  • My chin is lower and closer to my chest so the hair probably hangs longer than is shown in the photo.
  • The hair is lightly blow dried and not straightened. When I press or use a flat iron, that usually extends the hair about 1 to 3 inches longer in length.

 

[Chicoro]

Update for the Month of May, 2026
Posted on June 1st, 2026


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

I blow dried my hair straight and trimmed the ends for the first time in thirteen (13) months. My individual ens have the fewest knots, splits and lint attached that I have ever seen in my hair care journey. My ends are wispy but they are filling in.

My hair drops in length in the middle and the sides catch up. My right side grows a bit faster and longer than the left side of my hair. The patten of gaining length is: First the middle, then the right side, then the left side.

When the left side gets to a longer length, the middle then drops in length again. The three hair sections seem to politely 'wait ' for one another to catch up.

Have you had any epiphanies?

YES!



-I like warm stuff. I like warm I like all my products to be warmed up on my head before I use them.
-Flax seed gel and Aloe Vera gel mixed together and warmed up help to keep my ends from detangling and breaking. This pre-poo combination makes my hair super soft. This super hydrates my hair.
-I love rinsing with an herb rinse after my shampoo. I like it to be warmed up on the stove, too.
-I did an Aphogee 2 treatment and when I rinsed it out, I noticed how extremely soft my hair was. I believe the flax and Aloe Vera warmed up make my hair super soft.

For the first time, my hair stayed soft after washing. Even when I don't use shampoo, but when I cleanse, my hair is dry and crunchy if I don't moisturize it.

My hair has stayed incredibly soft, even when I let it dry before I moisturized it. It has to be the flaxseed and Aloe Vera warm gel combination.

Also, hair growth is cumulative literally, figuratively and philosophically. If you pay attention and do things deliberately, you will build health on your hair over time.

That 12 Year Break Cycle humbled me to my knees. But, it was the best thing for me.

Have you set bolder goals?
Since I have the time, I have long hair sessions by choice and because I enjoy doing my hair. I continue this.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Nope. But, I DO NOT use new products without thought. Every product, no matter how innocuous it may seem, could potential set my hair care goals back. So, I'm sticking to my tried and true basics and ingredients.

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

Yes!

When your hair is starting to turn around, it MAY NOT look much better or a whole lot different. So how do you KNOW it is starting to turn the corner and getting better and what you are doing is working?
At month #2! When you turn the corner, and your hair continues to look better again, after the second month, after the second wash, after the second press, or whatever that process you do to observe your hair's health, that is the turning point.


Flaxseed and Aloe Vera gel combined, freshly made and warmed up leave my hair incredibly, deeply hydrated and so soft. That hydration is seeming to last way beyond the pre-poo stage.


How is your consistency?
I am trying to stay consistent with my Aphogee 2 Step treatments and keeping my ends immobilized, stretched and protected while enjoying the style I am using. I love my braids.

Extending grace to you?
Yes.

I am so thankful that I held the course and did NOT give up on my hair and myself, even when I kept going back to 'start' and having set-backs for 12 years. I almost did give up.

 

[Angel of the North]

April 26th, 2025 vs May 26th, 2026 (13 Month Difference)

There is not that much of a length difference. But, I do believe the hair in April 2025, on the left was lightly flat ironed and thus, stretched more. The hair on the right, the May 26th hair, was just lightly blow dried.

You can definitely see the thickness coming through Both pics are gorgeous.

In the April photo on the left:

• My chin is higher up and my head is dipped back more. I am leaning back and making the hair appear longer than it probably really is.
• The sides, both left and right, below my bra are thinner than in May.

I think in the April pic you look like youre standing straight and in the May pic your head looks tilted down. Your May pic is probably longer if your head was not looking down. I typed this and realised you'd said this below lol. Thank you for the collage.

 

[Angel of the North]

Update for the Month of May, 2026
Posted on June 1st, 2026


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

I blow dried my hair straight and trimmed the ends for the first time in thirteen (13) months. My individual ens have the fewest knots, splits and lint attached that I have ever seen in my hair care journey. My ends are wispy but they are filling in.

My hair drops in length in the middle and the sides catch up. My right side grows a bit faster and longer than the left side of my hair. The patten of gaining length is: First the middle, then the right side, then the left side.

When the left side gets to a longer length, the middle then drops in length again. The three hair sections seem to politely 'wait ' for one another to catch up.

Have you had any epiphanies?

YES!



-I like warm stuff. I like warm I like all my products to be warmed up on my head before I use them.
-Flax seed gel and Aloe Vera gel mixed together and warmed up help to keep my ends from detangling and breaking. This pre-poo combination makes my hair super soft. This super hydrates my hair.
-I love rinsing with an herb rinse after my shampoo. I like it to be warmed up on the stove, too.
-I did an Aphogee 2 treatment and when I rinsed it out, I noticed how extremely soft my hair was. I believe the flax and Aloe Vera warmed up make my hair super soft.

For the first time, my hair stayed soft after washing. Even when I don't use shampoo, but when I cleanse, my hair is dry and crunchy if I don't moisturize it.

My hair has stayed incredibly soft, even when I let it dry before I moisturized it. It has to be the flaxseed and Aloe Vera warm gel combination.

Also, hair growth is cumulative literally, figuratively and philosophically. If you pay attention and do things deliberately, you will build health on your hair over time.

That 12 Year Break Cycle humbled me to my knees. But, it was the best thing for me.

Have you set bolder goals?
Since I have the time, I have long hair sessions by choice and because I enjoy doing my hair. I continue this.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
Nope. But, I DO NOT use new products without thought. Every product, no matter how innocuous it may seem, could potential set my hair care goals back. So, I'm sticking to my tried and true basics and ingredients.

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

Yes!

When your hair is starting to turn around, it MAY NOT look much better or a whole lot different. So how do you KNOW it is starting to turn the corner and getting better and what you are doing is working?
At month #2! When you turn the corner, and your hair continues to look better again, after the second month, after the second wash, after the second press, or whatever that process you do to observe your hair's health, that is the turning point.


Flaxseed and Aloe Vera gel combined, freshly made and warmed up leave my hair incredibly, deeply hydrated and so soft. That hydration is seeming to last way beyond the pre-poo stage.


How is your consistency?
I am trying to stay consistent with my Aphogee 2 Step treatments and keeping my ends immobilized, stretched and protected while enjoying the style I am using. I love my braids.

Extending grace to you?
Yes.

I am so thankful that I held the course and did NOT give up on my hair and myself, even when I kept going back to 'start' and having set-backs for 12 years. I almost did give up.

This is an awesome update, a lot has been conquered and achieved. I'm so happy for you and your hair.

 

[Chicoro]

This is an awesome update, a lot has been conquered and achieved. I'm so happy for you and your hair.

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much.

The hugest difference in my hair is the quality of my ends. I’ve had this length and thickness before.

No Velcro ends.

No whiter, lightened, weathered ends.

No large amount of split, knotted and or lint attached ends.

The most amazing thing to me is the overall softness of my hair.

I believe the softness is a function and result of me improving my ends.

This is the length where my hair stops gaining length and starts to break. It has difficulty getting longer and retaining length and health.

I have not seen my ends this healthy.

So, the next milestone is going beyond this current length.

I document here because I was so close to quitting and giving up.
12 years is a ridiculous amount of time to find your way out.

This break cycle was the longest one I’ve ever been in where I was knowledgeable and aware of it.

I did not give up. I almost did give up.