SmilingElephant's Hip-Tailbone Challenge 2026

[Napp]

OMG! I can't wait to try this today! It smells so good I've been seeing this all over Beyonce's internet. I want to try it as a deep conditioner today.

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I have this too in my stash. I’ll crack it open next!

 

[SmilingElephant]

I have this one and I love it! I use it once a month for strengthening. It’s too strong to use as a cowash, for me. I hope you like it!

I LOVED it!!! I used it as my hair mask today. The smell, the texture of it, everything! My hair felt extremely soft but refreshed

 

[SmilingElephant]

So, y'all...

How about a few days ago I discovered that I have 3b/3c hair?

I have been on a healthy hair journey since 2008 and went natural in 2011. It's been 14 years since then, and that's how long I've been typing my hair wrong. I always thought I was 3c/4a.

I also recently discovered that I have low porosity hair...it's also coarse, not fine...but that part I knew.

I feel like a whole other person. I've been styling my hair wrong all this time, wondering why products build up on my hair so quick.

Has anybody else had a hair revelation this year?

 

[faithVA]

So, y'all...

How about a few days ago I discovered that I have 3b/3c hair?

I have been on a healthy hair journey since 2008 and went natural in 2011. It's been 14 years since then, and that's how long I've been typing my hair wrong. I always thought I was 3c/4a.

I also recently discovered that I have low porosity hair...it's also coarse, not fine...but that part I knew.

I feel like a whole other person. I've been styling my hair wrong all this time, wondering why products build up on my hair so quick.

Has anybody else had a hair revelation this year?

By discovering that your hair was 3b/3c how did that change things for you? What are you doing differently?

 

[SmilingElephant]

By discovering that your hair was 3b/3c how did that change things for you? What are you doing differently?

I'm realizing that I need to stop overdoing the creams and gels. I use WAY too much.

I am also going a different way about HOW I style my hair. My whole top portion is 3b and the bottom/back is 3c. I'm going to start sectioning the top from the bottom instead of half and half. The top part responds well to lighter hold products like mousse...the bottom part can handle creamier products.

It's a whole new world

 

[faithVA]

I'm realizing that I need to stop overdoing the creams and gels. I use WAY too much.

I am also going a different way about HOW I style my hair. My whole top portion is 3b and the bottom/back is 3c. I'm going to start sectioning the top from the bottom instead of half and half. The top part responds well to lighter hold products like mousse...the bottom part can handle creamier products.

It's a whole new world

Very interesting. Glad you recognized the differences and how you need to handle them differently.

 

[SmilingElephant]

So today I tried, again, to style my hair differently. I sectioned the top from the bottom instead of raking everything together.

 

[snoop]

So, I've been busy editing and publishing (*ahem* Im pretty sure wunna y'all is a writer, let me know if you would like to get published I have 4 slots open right now for $100 off!)

I figured I'd give y'all a sneak peek of what my hair is doing. I don't know if there's a big difference from my last ponytail shot, but here it is...

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Before:

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Random aside: Which island are you from?

 

[snoop]

Okay, so here's my length check for September. Y'all probably can't tell a difference, but I can. And I'm really irritated because my hair is longer in the shower, because I'm the water helps it stretch out more.

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Maybe I could try taking pics in the shower, but who wants to do that? (Fully clothed, of course ) I'm the shower I am definitely waist length so I'm claiming it, dammit!

This is the same problem that I have: in the shower my hair is giving me waist length then out of the shower wet is giving me MBL.

Y'all either have to take my word for the length of we becoming fast friends.

 

[snoop]

I've been extremely neglectful of my hair this year. I feel like I'm in a perpetual hair rut.

I think that my problem is that maintenance mode is SOOO boring. I've made peace with the fact that my hair hates combs and that I don't know how to style hair, anyway. (I can't braid, flat twist, press, etc.) The only style I'm passable with is two strand twists. I've learned that mini twists are even better for my hair at the moment. I have a routine that works but stored doing it because of boredom mixed with laziness. I need to be inspired by my hair. Wearing it out leads to knots.

Winter is approaching and my house feels so dry. I don't think the furnace humidifier is working so I'll have to get that looked at ASAP so that my hair doesn't snap all the way off.

I'm at the point where I've worked to grow long hair, but I'm not getting to enjoy it.

I haven't taken any hair pics in mind so hopefully soon.

 

[SmilingElephant]

Random aside: Which island are you from?

I have Jamaican ancestry

 

[snoop]

You had me at "wunnu", but that's usually something I hear from Bajans.

 

[keranikki]

This is how it turned out. It was fun, but I wasn't really feeling it. I was going for that eclectic Albert Einstein-ish vibe.

No bueno


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I’m sorry it didn’t work out, but your ponytail would look voluminous! With some big hoop earrings!

 

[Angel of the North]

I LOVED it!!! I used it as my hair mask today. The smell, the texture of it, everything! My hair felt extremely soft but refreshed

I've seen this one, you're making me want to try it too. I have a lot of products to use up over next year, I will only purchase this after I've finished at least 5 conditioners

 

[Angel of the North]

By discovering that your hair was 3b/3c how did that change things for you? What are you doing differently?

This sounds interesting., I have a couple of questions.....

How did you come about to find out your correct hair textures?

Have you noticed improvements with styling and the products you use?

What's the biggest positive you've noticed since you acquired the new hair info?

Last but not least, have I just lost my hair twin? It it appears that we only gave 3c and low porosity in common now.

 

[SmilingElephant]

This sounds interesting., I have a couple of questions.....

How did you come about to find out your correct hair textures?

Have you noticed improvements with styling and the products you use?

What's the biggest positive you've noticed since you acquired the new hair info?

Last but not least, have I just lost my hair twin? It it appears that we only gave 3c and low porosity in common now.

Believe it or not, I showed Chat GPT pictures of my hair from every angle and the verdict was always "You're definitely 3B/3C with a little 4A sprinkled in. Your curls don't coil up like 4A, they're looser than 4A."

So now, I understand why my hair gets overwhelmed with heavier products...bc it's low porosity AND it's a looser curl pattern. So some butters are too heavy for my hair...even though I was liking the moisture.

I'm still experimenting with styling, but my top layer is way too loose for braids and twists. They just DO NOT stay.

Lol I'm your Fraternal Hair Twin

 

[Napp]

@SmilingElephant Im thinking if you used a brush to style your hair it would give a more even clumped look

 

[SmilingElephant]

@SmilingElephant Im thinking if you used a brush to style your hair it would give a more even clumped look

I have tried using the Bounce Curl brush, but the issue is that I have NO patience for it. Just thought of standing there trying to clump small sections just—

 

[Napp]

I have tried using the Bounce Curl brush, but the issue is that I have NO patience for it. Just thought of standing there trying to clump small sections just—

You just need a different brush. The bounce curl brush was not made for ethnic Afro hair imo. With the brush the curls get more defined, look more cohesive, tangle less and last longer

 

[SmilingElephant]

Alright, alright, alright alright alright alright...Bock Bock, chicken chicken, Bock Bock, chicken head

It's close enough to the end of this crummy a** year so I'm gonna share some pics.

I think my hair mostly got thicker than it did longer, this year.

Today I tried the Umberto Giannini Jelly products. The shampoo, conditioner, and the Scrunching Jelly.

It was okay...more fortifying than moisturizing but I REALLY love the Scrunching Jelly
I used it by itself with no leave in and my hair feels soft, very light crunch, but my curls are so defined.





This was my hair yesterday. Completely a frizzy mess.


Wash and styled


End of year length check

 

[SmilingElephant]

I think my hair has been the same length since July

I don't know what to do.

I do know I've been stressed beyond the max this year and that's probably affecting my hair. I lost a little more hair than normal today.

My hair hates braids and twists AND wigs!

The only thing I feel is that it has gotten thicker this year...so maybe next year will be a length retaining year