Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[faithVA]

Bond treatments are the most dangerous products for my hair. I just can't use them. I've tried a couple and each time, I have had a serious hair set-back. The first one left a sink full of broken hairs in the sink. All the hairs were the exact same length. I realized that the bond product was so drying to my hair that it popped off the cuticle layers of my hair strands. The second bond treatment was too harsh and it disintegrated my hair over a four month period. I do not think bond products are bad and I do not think they should be avoided. I just think they are bad for my hair and should be avoided by me.

I've learned that there is no such thing as an innocuous hair care product, as it pertains to my hair. I used to think that only relaxer products were to be approached lightly. Not anymore. My hair is so sensitive that even the wrong shampoo choice can set my hair back with extreme dryness after the wash. Or, worse case scenario, usher in another breakage cycle.

Part of the joy of hair care for me was trying different products. But, I have learned that I have to choose from the immediate and short-term gratification of using a new product, or maintaining the health and length of my hair for the long-term, using tried and true products.

I'm tired of setbacks and watching years of care and attention destroyed by a wrong 'new' product choice. I'm grieving the loss of being able to 'experiment' and try new products. But a set-back, from my poor product choice- for my particular hair type, is worse and far more grievous.

Sorry to hear about your issues with bond products. One of the things this particular stylist stresses is understanding when a product is needed. Both bond builders and protein treatments are only for certain situations. And bond builders are primarily for hair that has been stressed by chemicals or heat or other things.

Using those things when not needed can have adverse affects. But when needed, using a quality one can make a big difference.

 

[Chicoro]

T

Sorry to hear about your issues with bond products. One of the things this particular stylist stresses is understanding when a product is needed. Both bond builders and protein treatments are only for certain situations. And bond builders are primarily for hair that has been stressed by chemicals or heat or other things.

Using those things when not needed can have adverse affects. But when needed, using a quality one can make a big difference.

Thank you so much for acknowledging my situation.

I agree with your statement about using only what you need when you need it.

I understand when I need protein and when to use it. I’m not willing to experiment on my hair to learn about bonding treatments.

My hair thrived before many of the bonding treatments came on the scene. So, I’m going to avoid them and stay blissfully ignorant to them and navigate my hair journey without them. I’m just going to have to accept this gap in my hair care knowledge.

I’ll watch, listen and learn from you all, from the sidelines.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

@Yvette 2.0 , I believe it was you, I promised a write up about bond-builders versus protein treatments. When I'm speaking of protein treatments, I'm referring to the basic treatments we tend to do a home. This wouldn't be referring to full blown, in-salon keratin treatments. Anyway.

I watched the video again and took notes. Will be interesting to see what your stylist says.
Let me know if you want me to clarify anything. I tried to summarize it because there were a lot of points.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bond Builder: Primary Purpose is to help the hair become stronger by addressing internal damage
Protein Treatment: Primary Purpose is to help the hair act stronger

Some hair may need both but used at different times for different reasons. They are not interchangeable

Protein Treatment - external, immediate
--gives support to the structure the hair already has.
--use when hair feels: weak, overly stretch, breaks during styling or hair doesn't hold up well between shampoos for stretched, heated, out styles
--can help the hair feel firmer, less floppy and easier to style
--it is support, not repair; it does not rebuild damage
--may help hair feel better and perform better immediately
--stiff hair after treatment may indicate that the hair did not need protein or that it needs more moisture/protein balance
--is meant to provide immediate results
--performance: looks, feels, behaves, handles stress
--can provide a temporary reinforcement immediately after a heat or chemical treatment to help the hair immediately after it has been stressed, to help the hair behave better right now.


Bond Treatment - internal, over time
--internal damage is not immediately noticeable but shows up over time.
--focus is on repairing internal damage caused by chemical services, heat, long-term wear & tear or other stressors
--reinforces what is happening with the hair strand
--provides internal results which are seen over time and not immediately
--over time should result in less breakage, length retention and handles styles better over time
--integrity: survive stress
--with chemicals and heat, can strengthen the internal structure of the hair and help the hair survive over time
--used for maintenance for hair that is routinely under stress

Very helpful! Many thanks! K18 has worked well for me, so now I know how to think of it, especially compared to regular protein treatments.

 

[faithVA]

Very helpful! Many thanks! K18 has worked well for me, so now I know how to think of it, especially compared to regular protein treatments.

K-18 works well for me as well. I used protein for years in various formats. But when I did the 4 to 6 back to back applications, on that last application, there was a definitive change in my hair. I noticed a difference during the 1st use but they last application changed my hair. I had been coloring my hair for a couple of years by then so it really needed some help.

I'm glad I finally delivered (lol). Can check something off my list

 

[Yvette 2.0]

K-18 works well for me as well. I used protein for years in various formats. But when I did the 4 to 6 back to back applications, on that last application, there was a definitive change in my hair. I noticed a difference during the 1st use but they last application changed my hair. I had been coloring my hair for a couple of years by then so it really needed some help.

I'm glad I finally delivered (lol). Can check something off my list

That's very encouraging to hear. Also, I'm never in a rush about these things. We'll, I guess I should say if I ever am in a rush, I'll ask.

Thanks again!

 

[snoop]

I saw this on the Hercules Sagemann website. I kind of want it just to say that I have it, but I don't think it would work on highly textured hair.

The video of how to use it is in this link:
https://www.hercules-saegemann.de/splissart/

 

[Chicoro]

I saw this on the Hercules Sagemann website. I kind of want it just to say that I have it, but I don't think it would work on highly textured hair.

The video of how to use it is in this link:
https://www.hercules-saegemann.de/splissart/


View attachment 507808

It will work beautifully on heat straightened hair! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Chicoro]

Update for the Month Of January 2026
Posted on February 8th, 2026


I made some fenugreek oil. I made a MISTAKE. I bought coffee grounds because the store I was in did not have whole beans. It made my hair DIRTY. Never again. I learned my lesson. I have to re-sprout my fenugreek and make me some more oil from scratch.

Also, I lost two WHOLE curls. That's okay because the rest of my hair did not break. I can see my hair is gaining length again. My trim date is the end of April 2026. Repeating to myself, "Ms. Chicoro, this is ONE whole year from your last trim. Don't be crying if your hair doesn't turn out the way you hope, want and expect."

I have some Shea butter mixed with coconut oil on my counter, sitting here waiting to be mixed down. I would like to get some lemongrass essential oil to put in it. Of course, I do not have any right now. But I can get me some later.



How are you progressing?
I'm feeling good about my hair and my hair progress. I just finger detangled my hair and pulled out the shedded hairs. The ends look okay. My hair is powder puff soft. I usually get lint wrapped up in my hair and I can't separate it out. That has minimized and I think I found maybe two pieces of lint in my hair,


What are those ends looking like?
My ends look like they need a trim due to the varying lengths but there are no major splits. The ends of my hair feel good. They do not feel dry, brittle or like Brillo pads.

Have you had any epiphanies?
Yes, but more in the form of a reminder.
I learned that I can wash the ends of my hair in between whole had washes. This will help me with my lint problem in my hair. So, I really liked this idea that I learned from Ms.Mississippi on YouTube.

I was reminded that women who retain lots of healthy length on afro-textured hair are Masters or Mistresses at protecting and preserving the ends of their hair. They go above and beyond protective styling. And, they are consistent.

Have you set bolder goals?
I'm starting to get my hair confidence back as my hair has finally stopped breaking after YEARS of breaking due to different causes. All of which were SELF inflicted by me, onto my own hair.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No. I can see my hair dropping down to longer lengths and gaining thickness at those longer lengths. I am keeping it simple and trying not to do anything new or different. Because I am super and uber tired of set-backs.

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
The first set back I had was when I over trimmed my hair. I took off about 10 to 12 inches over a course of a couple of days trimming. Years of health, growth and care gone in a matter of moments. It took me until 2025 to get confident at trimming and good at it enough so I like my own trimmed result. That was a great feeling of success.

The next setback for me was when my one braid turned in on itself and knotted. I couldn't believe that happened. I had to cut away about 3 to 4 inches. I have never had an entire thick braid get knotted.

The last setback I had was when I used a bond product and it literally disintegrated my hair. What I learned is that EVERY product must be treated with respect and wariness as it were a relaxer, no matter how innocuous the product may seem. My hair was FINALLY getting back to its pre-trim length when I put on the bonding product. BUT, I learned that it was beloved Queen Shea that got me back to that link before I put in that bonding product and the sprouted fenugreek oil helped too. Both of these are coming back into my hair life as I get settled back into my routine here in the US.

So it's full circle. I am actually headed toward my longest length I had which was when I first left the United States for France. Interestingly, I am approaching that length again as I reintegrate back into the US.

How is your consistency?
Meh, it could be better. I am slipping on my trims. But, at lease I am cognizant of it and am bracing myself for the outcome in April. Actually, I'm open to what comes. The one thing I do consistently is keep my ends protected.

Extending grace to you?
This has been the best thing I've learned to do. It's been a long time coming. It makes life so much more pleasant when one just relaxes and stops riding oneself. Extending grace to myself has been a big part of my joy cultivation.

 

[Chicoro]

 

[Chicoro]

It's February already! The year is out the GATE! Will your healthy hair growth be out the gate, too? Hmmm? Especially if you take care of those luscious ends! So, what do you say? Come wit' it!