Luscious Healthy Ends Challenge 2017

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
Okay last one
GoalPointMethodEnds.png

  1. The first picture is Sept 2004 with the rough ends.
  2. The second picture is Jan 2005, about 5 months later. The hair is the same length. But, I kept my hair at my waist and continued to trim and keep the hair at the waist length. Hair by hair, it got longer and thicker and the ends started to look better. Instead of cutting back to my armpit, I cut the hair at waist length and continued cut and trim at the waist length goal point.
  3. The third picture is Nov 2005, about 11 months later. I let the hair begin its new journey to a longer length. My hair formed a 'V'. The hair at the bottom and middle of my back was the new goal point length to which I trimmed.
 

YvetteWithJoy

On break
Thank you! I am so glad I figured it out, too. It was a simple matter of keeping my hair from being tangled and keeping it lubricated. But there are 1,000+ ways to do that. Thanks to observing women with tailbone afro-textured hair, I was able to pick the 2 ways out of the 1,000+ possibilities that worked for me: no combing and Shea butter. Simple and cheap!

About the length, I have NEVER grown my hair with split-free ends. I usually have to grow PASSED my goal length, then cut the hair BACK to my desired length in order to have split free, even ends.

Here's what I mean @faithVA :
View attachment 415563
This photo was taken in 2014. The person who did my hair cut OFF a lot of hair [I had butchered my hair 2 years before, myself]. So, I wasn't mad at her. In THIS photo, my ends are perfectly even and almost free of split ends. But my hair doesn't grow this way naturally. It got to longer lengths, one strand at a time. Literally, strand by strand, carrying with it split ends and all! I celebrated each one of those raggedy, scraggly, split end ridden strands and KEPT them babies on my head as if I were sporting spun silk on my head. Sure did. When enough of those little strands got to the length I wanted, then I held them at that length until the rest or bulk of my hair caught up. Then, the hair is cut back to an even shorter length, where it is even and free of most splits.

Before, I used to cut my hair to get it even, BEFORE, I got to my goal length. But, for me, that was discouraging because I never felt like I was getting to my goal length. And I wasn't.

I took a chance and kept and grew raggedy ends with splits a little passed my goal length, then cut it back to the length in the photo. The only caution here is I did and do try to baby my ends and give them moisture and protection the entire time.

Now, I am doing the same thing with my hair as I intentionally try to grow my hair to tailbone length. I refuse to cut back any of my little 'break through' strands of hair [lead hairs]. I may literally only have 3 strands of hair at a new length. But I keep them, celebrate them and don't cut them back.

I would liken growing hair to bulking the body for weight lifting. You put on weight, then chisel it down and get more definition but with bigger muscles. With hair, I let my hair grow raggedy BEYOND the length I want. Then, I cut my hair back to the length I wanted so that it looks full and even (in theory). I don't like my hair with perfectly even ends in reality!

Sometimes I do this process in iterations. Meaning, if I am at shoulder length, I set my next goal at armpit length. Let my hair get a little past armpit length, then when enough of the bulk gets there, then cut it back. I repeat at each milestone length.


View attachment 415565
Here's a photo from from September 2004. I would go as far to say that the hair ends between my armpit all the way to my waist are a mess. That's about 6 inches of bad ends. But to cut all that back up to my armpits would be discouraging for me. Instead, I picked a goal length. In this photo, it is right above my waist line. So, I didn't let my hair grow passed this point. I continued to trim and cut any and all hair that grew passed this designated point. Eventually, all that raggedy hair between my armpit and waist got down to my waist. When It did, I trimmed it and the ends looked better and were healthier.

In contrast, had I trimmed all my hair back up to armpit length, I would not only have felt discouraged, but I would have been right back where I started: at armpit length! This process doesn't work for all hair, but nothing works for everybody all the time, right.

EDITED to add new photo:

@Chicoro, many thanks. You have NO IDEA how perfectly right on time this post is for me. Muwah!!! :kiss:
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
Thank you! I am so glad I figured it out, too. It was a simple matter of keeping my hair from being tangled and keeping it lubricated. But there are 1,000+ ways to do that. Thanks to observing women with tailbone afro-textured hair, I was able to pick the 2 ways out of the 1,000+ possibilities that worked for me: no combing and Shea butter. Simple and cheap!

About the length, I have NEVER grown my hair with split-free ends. I usually have to grow PASSED my goal length, then cut the hair BACK to my desired length in order to have split free, even ends.

Here's what I mean @faithVA :
View attachment 415563
This photo was taken in 2014. The person who did my hair cut OFF a lot of hair [I had butchered my hair 2 years before, myself]. So, I wasn't mad at her. In THIS photo, my ends are perfectly even and almost free of split ends. But my hair doesn't grow this way naturally. It got to longer lengths, one strand at a time. Literally, strand by strand, carrying with it split ends and all! I celebrated each one of those raggedy, scraggly, split end ridden strands and KEPT them babies on my head as if I were sporting spun silk on my head. Sure did. When enough of those little strands got to the length I wanted, then I held them at that length until the rest or bulk of my hair caught up. Then, the hair is cut back to an even shorter length, where it is even and free of most splits.

Before, I used to cut my hair to get it even, BEFORE, I got to my goal length. But, for me, that was discouraging because I never felt like I was getting to my goal length. And I wasn't.

I took a chance and kept and grew raggedy ends with splits a little passed my goal length, then cut it back to the length in the photo. The only caution here is I did and do try to baby my ends and give them moisture and protection the entire time.

Now, I am doing the same thing with my hair as I intentionally try to grow my hair to tailbone length. I refuse to cut back any of my little 'break through' strands of hair [lead hairs]. I may literally only have 3 strands of hair at a new length. But I keep them, celebrate them and don't cut them back.

I would liken growing hair to bulking the body for weight lifting. You put on weight, then chisel it down and get more definition but with bigger muscles. With hair, I let my hair grow raggedy BEYOND the length I want. Then, I cut my hair back to the length I wanted so that it looks full and even (in theory). I don't like my hair with perfectly even ends in reality!

Sometimes I do this process in iterations. Meaning, if I am at shoulder length, I set my next goal at armpit length. Let my hair get a little past armpit length, then when enough of the bulk gets there, then cut it back. I repeat at each milestone length.


View attachment 415565
Here's a photo from from September 2004. I would go as far to say that the hair ends between my armpit all the way to my waist are a mess. That's about 6 inches of bad ends. But to cut all that back up to my armpits would be discouraging for me. Instead, I picked a goal length. In this photo, it is right above my waist line. So, I didn't let my hair grow passed this point. I continued to trim and cut any and all hair that grew passed this designated point. Eventually, all that raggedy hair between my armpit and waist got down to my waist. When It did, I trimmed it and the ends looked better and were healthier.

In contrast, had I trimmed all my hair back up to armpit length, I would not only have felt discouraged, but I would have been right back where I started: at armpit length! This process doesn't work for all hair, but nothing works for everybody all the time, right.

EDITED to add new photo:
Thanks for being in this thread sharing all of this knowledge.

When my hair wasshort the first time I by chopped it was the curl or something similar that saved my ends.

I will try one of the gly,carin sprays and one of the butter based products on my ends from here on out. I'm not due cor dusting until December but this can't hurt.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
Thanks for being in this thread sharing all of this knowledge.

When my hair wasshort the first time I by chopped it was the curl or something similar that saved my ends.

I will try one of the gly,carin sprays and one of the butter based products on my ends from here on out. I'm not due cor dusting until December but this can't hurt.

Are you dusting based on a time schedule? Or because your hair needs it and you can see that it needs dusting?
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
Are you dusting based on a time schedule? Or because your hair needs it and you can see that it needs dusting?
My hair always needs it. I do a search and destroy regular and dust every 3 to 4 months when I straighten and do my length check.
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
So I tried some layering similar to Chicoro's idea. I will have to see how it goes.

I let my hair airdry in twist with just a heavy layer of leave-in. I took out the twist and spritzed with the Mane Choice spray. I don't remember what it is call. I worked that in well. Then I layered with TGIN twist cream. I honestly just trying to use this up. Then I put on a layer of My Honey Child Type 4 hair cream. I did a search and destroy while doing each twist. I put my hair in flat twist to the side, braided the ends of them together and tucked them under.

Every other day I will spritz with the spray and put on the MHC Type 4 Hair Cream and see how my ends feel towards the end of the week.

When I'm out of the TGIN twist cream I will see if it works with just the leave-in, Mane Choice spray and the MHC Type 4 cream.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I did a search and destroy today while my hair was plaited up. I just inspected the ends and cut any splits, dots, feathered and weathered pieces. Today and tomorrow are beneficial trim days for root work.

I don't understand this sentence. You don't mean root work as in 'Obeah', right? You mean root as in follicle root? Even if it is either one, I'm confused. Can you explain?
 

Prettymetty

Natural/4b/medium-coarse
I don't understand this sentence. You don't mean root work as in 'Obeah', right? You mean root as in follicle root? Even if it is either one, I'm confused. Can you explain?
I use the Morrocco method to trim based on the moon. There are 5 beneficial times each month to trim: lengthen, strengthen, beautify, root work and thicken. It doesn't hurt to plan the trims around the moon...even if it is an old wives tale.

The root work day is supposed to shock the follicles into a faster, stronger growth cycle @Chicoro.
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I use the Morrocco method to trim based on the moon. There are 5 beneficial times each month to trim: lengthen, strengthen, beautify, root work and thicken. It doesn't hurt to plan the trims around the moon...even if it is an old wives tale.

The root work day is supposed to shock the follicles into a faster, stronger growth cycle @Chicoro.

Aha! Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. I appreciate it @Prettymetty !
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I think my first attempt worked well. It held sell cor r days but ultimately I think I need to refresh my hair with water after 4 days. I wasn't able to wash yesterday so today I did another loc. My hair feels clammy now but it will get me to wash day tomorrow.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
Hair Ends Nov 2017.jpg

It's working!

This is one (1) of my eight (8) braids. This braid is 21.5 inches. My longest braid is 24 inches. I am using my tailbone length regimen that I have posted several times, in detail, on LHCF!

My ends are starting to thicken up at this new, longer length. My ends are shrunken and not showing their full length. Also, my hair is shrunken because I am only pulling it in its natural state.

If I were to pull my ends they would hang about 1 inch more over the belt of my robe. The ends would probably reach to about the halfway point of the belt loop on my robe as well.

I haven't heat straightened my hair since 2014, three (3) going on four (4) years. I haven't been interested in straightening it, I guess.


Post #672 Tailbone Length Process
https://longhaircareforum.com/threa...5-and-growing-on.755233/page-23#post-23549239

What I do:
  1. Inversion
  2. Use XCEL
  3. Use Shea Butter
  4. Use No Comb Method
  5. Use a DIY Coconut conditioner
  6. Do an Ends routine using Castor Oil
 
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Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I have been following this method unofficially and IT WORKS.

Now @larry3344 ,
You KNOW I'm going to ask you about this. So here I go. How have you implemented this method for yourself? What are you doing exactly? The tailbone method or using the 6 steps I mentioned above? How do you know it works? What is changing or improving about your hair? Thank you in advance!

Chicoro
 

faithVA

Well-Known Member
I blow dried my hair last night and my ends are in much better shape than they were at the end of the year. I still have a few mid-shaft splits but I will get rid of them gradually over time.

I am debating of whether I will keep my hair stretched by giving it a light blow dry before twisting it up. We shall see.
 

Evolving78

Well-Known Member
I might blow dry my hair to check on my ends. The hard water started to cause some issues. I’m not sure what I wanna do yet. I just might wait until my touch up in a week or two.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I might blow dry my hair to check on my ends. The hard water started to cause some issues. I’m not sure what I wanna do yet. I just might wait until my touch up in a week or two.

I say wait. Why cut or trim 2x's in a two week period? I know you will trim if you blow it straight and when you get your touch up, the hair will be trimmed again.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I blow dried my hair last night and my ends are in much better shape than they were at the end of the year. I still have a few mid-shaft splits but I will get rid of them gradually over time.

I am debating of whether I will keep my hair stretched by giving it a light blow dry before twisting it up. We shall see.

I always have these. I've never been able to completely eliminate them.
 

Evolving78

Well-Known Member
Good luck! Take photos after your touch-up, please!
I decided to go against what we agreed on! Lol
Ok so I really wanted to see if the blow out Creme was a hit, or a miss.
I used it and I really like it! I’m glad I didn’t run back out last night and return it.
I’m on my last section to blow dry. I sat under the dryer first.
I may go ahead and straighten. If I do and trim, I won’t trim after my touch up. Wouldn’t make sense to anyway.
My new growth is really coming in, so I think I may straighten it to reduce tangles and knots. I’m gently removing some from my new growth now, even though I have already detangled my hair.

I wish I had a white shirt, or a cape to see my ends better. I think I will put that on my wish list.

I gotta figure out how to resize my pics.
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I decided to go against what we agreed on! Lol
Ok so I really wanted to see if the blow out Creme was a hit, or a miss.
I used it and I really like it! I’m glad I didn’t run back out last night and return it.
I’m on my last section to blow dry. I sat under the dryer first.
I may go ahead and straighten. If I do and trim, I won’t trim after my touch up. Wouldn’t make sense to anyway.
My new growth is really coming in, so I think I may straighten it to reduce tangles and knots. I’m gently removing some from my new growth now, even though I have already detangled my hair.

I wish I had a white shirt, or a cape to see my ends better. I think I will put that on my wish list.

I gotta figure out how to resize my pics.

Girl, you got to do what works for you!
 

MizzBFly

Well-Known Member
I’m going to have to try Chicoro ends regimen. I’ve kept my hair in twists for most of this year to prevent ssk but they are EVIL. I consistently trimmed the ruff ends but they are EVIL & return nonetheless, I cannot ignore it. SSK feel horrible and does contribute to more tangle getting caught in them if one is not strategic in prevention. My MBL goal for December is deferred but I’m at least full BSL.
2018- may have to blow dry lightly to keep hair stretched more thoroughly to prevent ssk
2018- try Chicoro method b4 plan 2 add blow dry as SSK extermination experiment
2018-keep clumping a priority even when wearing twist outs to prevent ssk (in conjunction with Chicoro method)
 

Chicoro

5 Year Shea Anniversary: Started Dec 16th, 2016!
I didn' have these the first few years of my journey. I ended up with them after a salon visit. Another year should help me know what is normal for my hair.

Good for you for analyzing and observing your hair and for being able to pinpoint the event that created the problem situation.
 
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