Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2026

[Angel of the North]

How are you progressing? What are those ends looking like?
My ends are looking good, less has definitely been more.

Have you had any epiphanies?
No

Have you set bolder goals?
No still hoping for a minimum of HL by the end of the year.

Have you pulled back on some goals?
No

Have you had any realizations about your hair or your hair care practices?
It's just dawned on me that I've been using water as the first to styling my hair for my whole life. Never really thought about it, just do it automatically, my hair is thankful for this step.

How is your consistency?
It's been terrible but this week I'm getting back on track.

Extending grace to you?
Definitely! I haven't beaten myself up for not being able to take care of my hair in the ways I would have liked. As always, my hair has remained kind to me, I feel my ends have improved, they actually seem like they've gone back to normal and I feel like my hair has grown.

 

[i4ani]

Hola ladies, I'm peeking out from the lurker's curtain because I have questions about root/mid/end care and long hair care philosophies in general, and I think y'all are the ones to ask.

If you're anticipating a haircut or trim, how does that impact how you care for your mids? Have you already mentally "let go" of your current ends and started to pay extra attention to the mids which will soon become your ends? Or something else?

Is end damage is inevitable over time? Why or why not?

I've seen people in the natural haircare space say that the energy/intention/attitude you give to your hair is what you get out of it. Has this been your experience?

Long shot and kinda unrelated, but does anyone have a philosophy of not cutting their hair (outside of trims for health)? I know that there are some cultures which consider the hair to be an integral part of the body/the body's expression and don't believe in removing it for that reason. Wondering if anyone here is in that boat.

 

[Angel of the North]

If you're anticipating a haircut or trim, how does that impact how you care for your mids? Have you already mentally "let go" of your current ends and started to pay extra attention to the mids which will soon become your ends? Or something else?

I would definitely say that by the time I'm ready to trim, it would be necessary and I would have already mentally let go of what needs to go. I don't pay any particular attention to my mid strands, I might check for any mid shaft splits though.

Is end damage is inevitable over time? Why or why not?

I think it depends on the individual head of hair. The ends are usually the weakest part of the shaft and often the part that takes the brunt of we put our heads through. It's the oldest hair on our heads, and like a lot of things, quality will lesson over time. This could be due to the types of styles worn, mechanical damage, rubbing on clothing, someone could just have a problem that presents itself through their hair.

From my understanding, finger Detangling is one of the methods that has helped some ladies to retain length and healthy ends.

I've seen people in the natural haircare space say that the energy/intention/attitude you give to your hair is what you get out of it. Has this been your experience?

I think this is true for the most part. I also know that for myself, it doesn't make a difference to my growth. By taking particular care of my hair, I get the optimal version of my hair, if I neglect/do less, it still grows, thickens up, looks good. I would still have people compliment my hair, I just know it's not at its best. A stranger would appreciate it at face value, my mind might think my hair has been in better condition when I've actively given it TLC.

I know once my hair is in the its best condition, I don't need to trim as regularly and I don't need to take as much off. I definitely think my hair retains moisture better when cared for regularly. I'll never forget that properly moisturised feeling, that is cool to the touch but not greasy on the hands.

Long shot and kinda unrelated, but does anyone have a philosophy of not cutting their hair (outside of trims for health)?

I've heard many stylists say there's no such thing as a trim, it's just a cut. The phrase trim is not part of the professional vocabulary. For me, anything under a cm is dusting the ends, anything under two inches is a trim and anything over is a cut. That's how I make sense of it.

There are lots of no trim ladies over socials, some of them have the fullest, healthiest heads of hair, I don't think this this can work for everybody. Personally, I usually trim more than is needed, I've always felt that trims help my growth cycle and helps to keep my shafts healthier. I'm planing on only doing light dusting instead of trims to see my progress when I take off the minimum.

I know that there are some cultures which consider the hair to be an integral part of the body/the body's expression and don't believe in removing it for that reason. Wondering if anyone here is in that boat.

I'd be interested to know if any members across the board have hair as an integral part of their culture, and what has that meant for them throughout their hair journey.

 

[snoop]

Hola ladies, I'm peeking out from the lurker's curtain because I have questions about root/mid/end care and long hair care philosophies in general, and I think y'all are the ones to ask.

If you're anticipating a haircut or trim, how does that impact how you care for your mids? Have you already mentally "let go" of your current ends and started to pay extra attention to the mids which will soon become your ends? Or something else?

For me, I think that as I approach a trim day, I'm stay concerned about my ends. During the rest of the cycle, I go back and forth being concerned about my mids and my roots. I think I probably pay more attention to my ends and roots than my mids.

Is end damage is inevitable over time? Why or why not?

I think yes, because it's the oldest part of your hair and it's one of the most unprotected parts of your hair. Like, I feel as though the part of my hair that you can see is probably more damaged than the layers under it. That said, I don't believe that a LOT of damage is inevitable, at least not in a short amount of time. There are some people who will experience a lot of damage on their ends in a short amount of time, based on how they care for their hair, while other people will experience that same amount of damage in a year or more.

I've seen people in the natural haircare space say that the energy/intention/attitude you give to your hair is what you get out of it. Has this been your experience?

Yes. But I don't think it's mystical. It's more about intention. Same could be said about how you dress or how you prepare your food or even how you cultivate relationships. If you spend more time and energy or are intentional, then you will get that back -- for the good or the bad. If you think of your hair as something that you want to improve or have pride in, you'll take steps towards making your hair something that you can be proud out. If you think of your hair as a chore or that it's difficult then you're either going to spend less time on it or will look for ways to sabotage your progress.

Long shot and kinda unrelated, but does anyone have a philosophy of not cutting their hair (outside of trims for health)? I know that there are some cultures which consider the hair to be an integral part of the body/the body's expression and don't believe in removing it for that reason. Wondering if anyone here is in that boat.

Personally, no, but I'm intrigued by the idea. I feel like it would be something that I would take up sometime in the future.

 

[i4ani]

@Angel of the North and @snoop, thank you for such in depth responses. I don't have my own thoughts on these topics formed yet, but I'm sure that will change as I go further in my hhj. For now, I'll just keep on poking around and reading

 

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North and @snoop, thank you for such in depth responses. I don't have my own thoughts on these topics formed yet, but I'm sure that will change as I go further in my hhj. For now, I'll just keep on poking around and reading

That's what I did when I started back on my HHJ. Two days ago, I realised it's only documented till August. There are some threads that I've posted in that I should be able to find the routines and products I used and when I did/used them. I need to get my journal back on track as I really do understand how helpful it is to have detailed accounts of products, processes and tools.

 

[Yvette 2.0]

Greetings!

Here's my update for the month of February.

I have been constantly trimming my hair, trying to even it up. It's just not properly shaped, I'm realizing. The hair dresser that gave me the shape tried to tell me that she needed to do . . . basically, a STAGE 2 shaping . . . and I'm not feeling it. So I have an appointment with my former stylist to even things up. I miss being able to ponytail my hair, but I like the cut (long in front and shorter in back), so it's fine.

I feel like the dye in my hair has a drying effect and that I experienced some light breakage in the crown from this. HOWEVER, I am excited to report that switching up shampoos seems to be helping tremendously with my moisture levels. I'm using AG Haircare Curlfresh sulfate-free shampoo, and I love it.

I am still detangling with the UnBrush Plus with minimal breakage from detangling.

I'll let you know how the trim goes. Godspeed!

 

[Angel of the North]

So while thinking about what I could do differently to improve my ends, I remembered reading a post last year by @Chicoro in which she detailed the process she uses to tie her ends. The two things that jumped to mind was that she coats her bands in oil, and she rolls the ends into balls.

After thinking about what else I could do to assist my ends, I decided that I could protect them better when tying hair bands to the ends of a plait. I used to flip the ends back and then band up the plait till the ends were completely covered. I didn't do this for protection, I just preferred the way it looked. I haven't done this for at least 4 - 5 years and this could explain why my ends don't seem as great as they have been in the past.

I've decided to go back to my former way of tieing my ends and to start adding the step of soaking my bands in oil. I don't use rubber bands but have various types that are material and I intend to soak them moving forward. Today was day 1, I used oil soaked bands to tie up both ends, I went over the bottom band with a silk band, I kind of feel like I've given a little extra protection from rubbing against my clothing.

I'm hoping these couple of tweaks will reap big rewards, I'm at a stage length wise where retention is very important. I'm thinking about weaving throughout winters as a protective style, my hair thrives when weaved, it could be the extra push I need to get back to HL and beyond. I'm so close to my first goal, I want to consciously protect my length, and protecting my ends are fundamental to achieving the goal.

Next wash day, I'm going to go back to moisturising my hair properly, the moisture retention is way better when I do it properly, the problem is it's much more time consuming, but I'll suck that up for better hair condition. My hair will also stay moisturised for longer too so I suspect that won't be a bad thing.

 

[Chicoro]

@Angel of the North

I think your plan is good.

I will add that when we are close to an important length goal, that’s a huge danger point.

Meaning, it’s when we may start to experiment to get even closer to our goal as fast as possible.

I mention this because this is my mistake and the reason for so many of my setbacks.

I implemented processes and/or products that I thought would get me just a little more extra length, just a little bit faster.

The great thing about the process you are reinstating is that it is tried , true and tested for you.

So, hold the course. As your current processes have produced your great length and health.

I hope you post a photo of your ends wrapped in the oiled rubber bands and cloth!

 

[Angel of the North]

@Angel of the North

I think your plan is good.

Thank you, I truly think that this will make some positive difference.

I will add that when we are close to an important length goal, that’s a huge danger point.
Meaning, it’s when we may start to experiment to get even closer to our goal as fast as possible.

Agreed! We've seen it happen so many times over the years. Thankfully I'm not in too much danger with that, I have no plans to experiment, tbh sticking to a simple regimen is difficult enough so I don't want to add any unnecessary steps or risk any setbacks.

I mention this because this is my mistake and the reason for so many of my setbacks.

I implemented processes and/or products that I thought would get me just a little more extra length, just a little bit faster.

The only new step for me is the soaking of the bands in oil. Retention is key for me to reach my next milestone, I'm not wanting to do anything too outlandish. I have a shampoo, a couple of leave ins and a few conditioners I want to try, I'm hoping they don't cause any problems, other than that.

The great thing about the process you are reinstating is that it is tried , true and tested for you.

So, hold the course. As your current processes have produced your great length and health.

Thank you. That's my plan, I'm bringing in things that I know have worked well for me in yhe past, and hoping the results will be the same or similar. I'm pleased with where I'm at, considering the setback I had with my ends, I feel as if I'm on track to hit the target.

I hope you post a photo of your ends wrapped in the oiled rubber bands and cloth!

I was meant to do that earlier and got sidetracked, I'll try and drop one over the weekend on wash day.

 

[Chicoro]

This is what I posted in the classic length thread:

Starting Photos!

Okay, here is my starting picture which is a montage. From left to right:
June 2024 (left photo) vs December 2024 (middle) vs April 2025 (right photo in gray shorts).





This is when I realized I was FINALLY out of my 12-Year-Grow-Break Cycle.

What is my process?

• I identify and trim at a goal length point. That is in the first picture. That is my goal length point and that is why my hair is even. I try to keep my hair trimmed at my goal length until the hair starts to get fuller at the ends. That is picture number 1, or the June 2024 picture that is to the left.
• Next, when I get a certain thickness at the ends, I let my hair drop to the NEXT goal length point. That is picture number 2, or the December 2024 picture in the middle. It looks like I gained about 2 to 3 inches from June to December (5 Month Time Frame).
• After that, my hair likes to thicken up at this new length. BUT, the thickness is NOT on the ends, the thickness starts to happen at the bulk of the hair. The hair is super puffy right above the bra strap area. The length of the hair is also starting to cover more of my back and covering over my waist and lower back. It's getting denser on the ends. This is where my hair SLOWS down in terms of length gains. This is also usually where my hair starts to break off. It rarely gets longer than this. That is picture number 3, or the April 2025 photo on the right in the gray shorts. I gained about 2 inches from December to April (4 Month Time Frame).

I am open to, I welcome, I encourage any observations, comments, suggestions and/or thoughts!

Unfortunately, I have not straightened or trimmed my hair since April 2025. So, will have been one year in April 2026. I plan to straighten and trim in April 2026.

 

[Angel of the North]

Your hair is so lovely, it definitely looks like it's thickened up in the length and at the ends. I hope this will be one of the rare occasions for you that your hair decides to grow beyond that point.

 

[Chicoro]

Thank you, I truly think that this will make some positive difference.

Agreed! We've seen it happen so many times over the years. Thankfully I'm not in too much danger with that, I have no plans to experiment, tbh sticking to a simple regimen is difficult enough so I don't want to add any unnecessary steps or risk any setbacks.

The only new step for me is the soaking of the bands in oil. Retention is key for me to reach my next milestone, I'm not wanting to do anything too outlandish. I have a shampoo, a couple of leave ins and a few conditioners I want to try, I'm hoping they don't cause any problems, other than that.

Thank you. That's my plan, I'm bringing in things that I know have worked well for me in yhe past, and hoping the results will be the same or similar. I'm pleased with where I'm at, considering the setback I had with my ends, I feel as if I'm on track to hit the target.

I was meant to do that earlier and got sidetracked, I'll try and drop one over the weekend on wash day.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate the graciousness and the thought used to respond and the detail of the response.

Most importantly, I’m excited to see your progress. I, too, am looking forward to you reaching your goal length.

 

[Chicoro]

Your hair is so lovely, it definitely looks like it's thickened up in the length and at the ends. I hope this will be one of the rare occasions for you that your hair decides to grow beyond that point.

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment and the observation.

And me, too! I too hope I can get it to gain and retain length beyond where it is in the last photo.

What I am not going to do is introduce a bonding product. I am not going to over trim.

I’m doing what I did to get to this point. I’m sticking with the same process and similar products. I say similar because I can’t get the same brands of clay in the US that I had in France. But they are they same types of clay.

The biggest difference will be the water. The water here in my home city in the US is different than the water in my home city in France. But I can’t control that. Incidentally, my water in France was super hard. So, my water change might be an advantage.

 

[Angel of the North]

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I appreciate the graciousness and the thought used to respond and the detail of the response.

Most importantly, I’m excited to see your progress. I, too, am looking forward to you reaching your goal length.

Thank you @Chicoro I really appreciate your encouragement, I love your posts and all their detail. They are informative, uplifting, and have a way of making me think about hair stuff on different levels, or remembering previous practices, things I did automatically but never documented (like flipping the end of my braid over and not having them out loose).

 

[Angel of the North]

And me, too! I too hope I can get it to gain and retain length beyond where it is in the last photo.

I truly believe it will happen for many of us this year.

What I am not going to do is introduce a bonding product. I am not going to over trim.

I know of them but I've never used them, I also know that they caused you a major setback too. They're not something I've ever really thought about, I know there's so many of them on the market that if I did ever want to try one, I'd have to heavily research first and try to get something for my hair type.

I’m doing what I did to get to this point. I’m sticking with the same process and similar products. I say similar because I can’t get the same brands of clay in the US that I had in France. But they are they same types of clay.

That's how I feel, do not fix what is tried and tested to work and is not broken. It's uncanny that you mentioned clay as I just posted a response that mentioned the maximum hydration method that uses clay. What are the brands you used in France and what are the brands you use in the States? Which do you prefer, and why?

The biggest difference will be the water. The water here in my home city in the US is different than the water in my home city in France. But I can’t control that. Incidentally, my water in France was super hard. So, my water change might be an advantage.

I'm in an extremely hard water area. I really want to fit a mains water softener but I need to figure out which one would work for my property. I've briefly entertained a few different ways to improvise in the meantime, but I've not acted on it yet.

The things I've thought of to combat hard water after some research are:

1. ACV final rinse - This has multiple benefits for me
2. Pre boil water that I could use once cooled - Too time consuming
3. Buying distilled water for my hair - Too expensive long term
4. Detox shampoo that addresses metal/calcium build up.

(If anyone has any other suggestions please add them.)

I'm heading towards a detox shampoo first and I really want to try the Kérastase decalcifying shampoo. That's supposed to be their best detox shampoo for hard water, and I'm okay with the ingredients.

Soft water is definitely a huge advantage when it comes to hair, skin clothes, you'll have to let us know if you notice any differences between France and US water affects on your hair.

 

[Chicoro]

I truly believe it will happen for many of us this year.

I know of them but I've never used them, I also know that they caused you a major setback too. They're not something I've ever really thought about, I know there's so many of them on the market that if I did ever want to try one, I'd have to heavily research first and try to get something for my hair type.

That's how I feel, do not fix what is tried and tested to work and is not broken. It's uncanny that you mentioned clay as I just posted a response that mentioned the maximum hydration method that uses clay. What are the brands you used in France and what are the brands you use in the States? Which do you prefer, and why?

I'm in an extremely hard water area. I really want to fit a mains water softener but I need to figure out which one would work for my property. I've briefly entertained a few different ways to improvise in the meantime, but I've not acted on it yet.

The things I've thought of to combat hard water after some research are:

1. ACV final rinse - This has multiple benefits for me
2. Pre boil water that I could use once cooled - Too time consuming
3. Buying distilled water for my hair - Too expensive long term
4. Detox shampoo that addresses metal/calcium build up.

(If anyone has any other suggestions please add them.)

I'm heading towards a detox shampoo first and I really want to try the Kérastase decalcifying shampoo. That's supposed to be their best detox shampoo for hard water, and I'm okay with the ingredients.

Soft water is definitely a huge advantage when it comes to hair, skin clothes, you'll have to let us know if you notice any differences between France and US water affects on your hair.

I used the Aromazone Clays when I was in France. In the US, I buy whatever I can find. I use mostly koalin clay.

 

[Chicoro]

Spray bottle concoction:








I am enjoying my hair. I made my spray bottle concoction. It has Vitamin B5, silk protein, rice protein, fresh and dry rosemary water, aloe vera, water, ylang ylang, creatine, glycerine and glutathione. I put in hibiscus, too.

It smells lovely!

 

[Chicoro]

Deep Conditioning w/ Heat:



I love Queen Helene with honey, oil and a heating cap. It makes my hair soft and silky.

 

[Chicoro]

Sprouted Fenugreek and Clove Oil:




I use only 1 tablespoon of fenugreek and it fills the jar.

I also like to put coffee beans and rosemary in my oil over low heat and let it sit. Then, I add my sprouted fenugreek seeds and let it sit 3 to 7 days.

 

[Chicoro]

Whipped Shea Butter:




I like to make a simple whipped, Shea butter. I like to put in lots of lemongrass essential oil. The Shea butter is decadent and deliciously smooth. The smell is so gorgeous.

My products and things I put in my hair must smell good for me to really enjoy them.

 

[Chicoro]

@snoop Clay Mix for Cleansing Hair:




I just use a simple kaolin clay powder. I don't use the pink, purple, green and yellow clays like I did in France. I ad the charcoal powder, goat milk and honey.

 

[Chicoro]

I use my Scurl as my leave-in, on top of the spray bottle concoction. I add glycerine to different things, namely the spray bottle concoction. I have my gel for my edges, the Aphogee Tea Tree for my ends. Every Friday 6 to 8 weeks, clarifying shampoo and Aphogee 2 Step.

 

[Angel of the North]

Spray bottle concoction:








I am enjoying my hair. I made my spray bottle concoction. It has Vitamin B5, silk protein, rice protein, fresh and dry rosemary water, aloe vera, water, ylang ylang, creatine, glycerine and glutathione. I put in hibiscus, too.

It smells lovely!

Ooh this looks good, I wouldn't mind trying a modified version of that (in bold). My hair loves silk proteins, I will do moisture DC next week as I did a protein treatment today, followed by a moisture DC. The week after I will use Aphogee 2 min and just rotate with whatever my hair feels like it needs.

Wash day went well, I'm pleased with how things went, although my hair is still in the process of drying. My hair is much smoother than it was yesterday, I'll need to wait until it dries to see how frizzy it looks to properly compare. I moisturised properly, so that should be good till next wash day pretty much, I will continue remoisturise and seal my ends 2 - 3 times a week as is necessary. I'm feeling very positive moving forward

Today I lost the least amount of hair during the process than I have been over the last 8-10 years. I think the Umbrush/+ is a huge part of this. I saw a few short splits during my rinses, theres definitely some breakage at the parting across the middle of my head, but the good thing is I'm aware of it and can work on repairing the area.

 

[Angel of the North]

Deep Conditioning w/ Heat:



I love Queen Helene with honey, oil and a heating cap. It makes my hair soft and silky.

That was my first DC I purchased at the beginning of my HHJ back in the early 90's. I don't mind olive oil mixed into DCs, but I prefer Avocado and grapeseed over olive and tend to use them both for everything, I find the olive oil too thick and heavy on my fine strands if used neat. Avocado mostly in the colder parts of the year and the grapeseed in the warmer parts.

 

[Angel of the North]

Sprouted Fenugreek and Clove Oil:




I use only 1 tablespoon of fenugreek and it fills the jar.

I also like to put coffee beans and rosemary in my oil over low heat and let it sit. Then, I add my sprouted fenugreek seeds and let it sit 3 to 7 days.

I've used fenugreek in the past but it acts like a protein in my hair, so it's not something that I feel I need in my regimen. Sunflower oil is my oil number 3, and oil number 4 is papaya seed oil.

 

[Angel of the North]

Whipped Shea Butter:




I like to make a simple whipped, Shea butter. I like to put in lots of lemongrass essential oil. The Shea butter is decadent and deliciously smooth. The smell is so gorgeous.

My products and things I put in my hair must smell good for me to really enjoy them.

DIY hair whip is on my list of things I want to do. I actually think this will solve my hunt for a HG creamy moisturiser/leave in.

I like good smelling products too, I like citrus and tropical smells. I love shea butter in my moisturiser, I want to try making one with shea and one without. Coconut oil will have me shedding like a gooden, it gives me protein overload, I can have it in small doses, but I stay away from it where possible but love the smell of coconut lol.

 

[Angel of the North]

@snoop Clay Mix for Cleansing Hair:



I just use a simple kaolin clay powder. I don't use the pink, purple, green and yellow clays like I did in France. I ad the charcoal powder, goat milk and honey.

I think I'm leaning towards bentonite green clay as it' supposed to be great for low porosity, charcoal is one of the other things that's getting looked into alongside the different clays. I need to go and check my journal about honey, I can use it but I know I have to be careful how I use this as honey can also act like protein in my hair. When done right, great moisture and conditioning properties.

 

[Angel of the North]

I use my Scurl as my leave-in, on top of the spray bottle concoction. I add glycerine to different things, namely the spray bottle concoction. I have my gel for my edges, the Aphogee Tea Tree for my ends. Every Friday 6 to 8 weeks, clarifying shampoo and Aphogee 2 Step.

S Curl is my HG moisturiser, it is usually my first step after water under gels/creamy leave in or moisturiser I don'tuse it religiously, but definitely gravitate towards it in the warmer months.

The Aphogee green tea is an old fave of mine that I want to bring back into my regimen. It's not too harsh but definitely helps to combat shedding or breakage.

I used to use the Aphogee 2 step but I've switched over to the Avlon reconstructor treatment. It gives me the same level of protein with only one step, no heat required within 30 minutes.

I bought the extreme gel last year but I'm yet to try it. I bought so many gels and mousses for my wash and go season, but didn't get around till trying all of them. I've made a good start of figuring out what works well for me, and where they best fit into my regimen.

 

[Angel of the North]

So here is a pic of my ends when I finished.


This is the hair loss after detangling, I was loosing so much hair every wash day. The Unbrushes' individual bristles are much thicker than the tangle teaser teeth, the split my individual strands. This could also be playing a factor with my ends, the length of my hair was where I used it.