Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[Chicoro]

I will come back and fill this in.

 

[Chicoro]

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[Chicoro]

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[Chicoro]

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[Chicoro]

Last placeholder for information

 

[snoop]

Saving my spot!

 

[larry3344]

Saving spot

 

[faithVA]

Saving my spot. Will update next wash day.

 

[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.

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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!